Nanshan in a minute
Nanshan is Shenzhen's tech district, home to the Science Park, Shenzhen University and the headquarters towers of Houhai, all wrapped around the curve of Shenzhen Bay. It's young, busy on weekdays and spoiled for space at the weekend, with a bayfront promenade that runs for kilometres.
This is where a lot of expats work, and plenty live here too. Shekou and OCT are technically part of Nanshan, but they have their own guides on this site. This page covers the rest: Houhai, the Science Park, Qianhai, Nantou and the bay.
Come for the waterfront, the galleries (Fotografiska, BASE and the Nanshan Museum), big concerts at the Spring Cocoon, livehouses under the Spring Bamboo, and the 1,700-year-old lanes of Nantou Ancient Town.
Shows & Nightlife in Nanshan
All shows →
Wed 14 Oct · 9pm
Xu Ke Quartet: Jazz Standards Night at ROOTS HOUSE
Guitarist Xu Ke's quartet plays classic jazz standards (Sonny Rollins to Wayne Shorter) on two Wednesdays at the small OCT-LOFT jazz bar.
ROOTS HOUSE · NanshanROOTS HOUSE爵士酒吧
Fri 16 Oct · 8pm
The Chairs — 10th Anniversary Tour, Shenzhen
Taiwanese indie-pop band The Chairs (椅子乐团) celebrate ten years with two nights at CH8.
CH8 Livehouse (Yuehai) · NanshanCH8-LIVEHOUSE（深圳粤海店）
Fri 16 Oct · 9pm
Jazz Jam Night at ROOTS HOUSE
Free Friday jam at the OCT-LOFT jazz bar: the Wen Bochao Trio opens at 9pm, then the stage opens to players from 10pm.
ROOTS HOUSE · NanshanROOTS HOUSE爵士酒吧
Meetups in Nanshan
All meetups →
Today · 7:45am
Shenzhen Striders Park Run (Saturdays, Talent Park)
Free, volunteer-run timed 2.5 km or 5 km loop of Shenzhen Talent Park every Saturday morning. Warm-up at 7:45, all paces welcome.
Shenzhen Talent Park · Nanshan深圳人才公园
Today · 10am
AFROFIT at Sigma Coffee
A Saturday morning Afro dance-fitness class on Sigma Coffee's Xili rooftop.
SIGMA Coffee Park · Nanshan西格玛咖啡公园
Mon 12 Oct · 7:30pm
DMZ Toastmasters: Monday Public Speaking Night (Houhai)
Monday-evening Toastmasters club in Houhai, Nanshan, 7:30–9:30pm. Free guest visits.
Mangguowang Building (Houhai) · Nanshan芒果网大厦
Thu 15 Oct · 2pm
Rakuten, Coupang, Amazon Japan & SHEIN: Japan–Korea Seller Meet-up — Shenzhen
Free Cifnews afternoon in Qianhai where Rakuten, Coupang, Amazon Japan and SHEIN recruitment managers explain how to start selling into Japan and Korea in 2026. Talks are in Chinese only.
Cifnews office, Qianhai Enterprise Mansion · Nanshan雨果跨境（前海企业公馆12栋）
On now in Nanshan
On now · until 30 May
David Hockney: Bigger & Closer — Shenzhen
The immersive David Hockney show first staged at Lightroom London, now at Shenzhen Bay MixC's new BASE Digital Art Center, with English sessions.
BASE Digital Art Center · NanshanBASE数字艺术中心
On now · until 30 May
Prehistoric Planet: Dinosaurs — Immersive Experience, Shenzhen
An hour among life-size dinosaurs from the Apple TV+ and BBC series, projected floor to ceiling at the new BASE Digital Art Center, with English sessions.
BASE Digital Art Center · NanshanBASE数字艺术中心
On now · until 29 Nov
Prix Pictet: Storm
The 12 shortlisted series from the world's big photography-and-sustainability prize, in Fotografiska Shenzhen's opening season.
Fotografiska Shenzhen · NanshanFotografiska深圳湾美术馆
On now · until 14 Mar
TOILETPAPER: ToiletFotoPaperGrafiska
Maurizio Cattelan and Pierpaolo Ferrari's candy-coloured, surreal image world, in its first China show.
Fotografiska Shenzhen · NanshanFotografiska深圳湾美术馆
Every week in Nanshan
Where's what in Nanshan
Nanshan's newest CBD: the Spring Bamboo tower, Shenzhen Bay MixC, Fotografiska, Talent Park's lake and the Spring Cocoon stadium.
🚇 Line 2 / Line 11 / Line 13 — Houhai02Science Park 科技园Tech-company towers, tech salons and meetups, Toastmasters clubs and pickleball courts.
🚇 Line 1 — Hi-Tech Park / Line 13 — Hi-Tech Central03Qianhai 前海The special cooperation zone on the west coast, with glassy new towers, Qianhai Kerry Centre, a waterfront park and the Happy Monk at Uniway.
🚇 Line 1 / Line 5 / Line 11 — Qianhaiwan04Shenzhen Bay Park 深圳湾公园Kilometres of bayfront path for running, cycling and sunset, with mangroves, egrets and Hong Kong across the water.
🚇 Line 9 — Shenzhen Bay Park05Nantou Ancient Town 南头古城The old walled town that was once the county seat for the whole area, now restored lanes of snack shops, cafés and small museums.
🚇 Line 12 — Nantou Ancient City06Xili & Liuxiandong 西丽 · 留仙洞The university and campus belt in the north of the district, now on Line 13, with the Vanke Design Commune's design studios and events.
🚇 Line 13 — LiuxiandongNeighbourhoods & landmarks in Nanshan
All landmarks →
China Resources Tower 华润大厦 · 春笋The white, ribbed "Spring Bamboo" tower on the edge of Shenzhen Bay.Landmark
Shenzhen Bay Sports Center 深圳湾体育中心 · 春茧The white lattice "Spring Cocoon" — stadium, arena and a bayfront promenade.Landmark
Houhai 后海Towers on the bay: the Spring Bamboo, Fotografiska and sunset on the promenade.Neighbourhood
Science & Technology Park 科技园 · 科苑Tencent's backyard: tech salons, Toastmasters and after-work pickleball.Neighbourhood
Qianhai 前海Shenzhen's newest CBD: a waterfront free-trade zone of parks, towers and sunset lawns.NeighbourhoodGetting around Nanshan
Line 1 runs along Shennan Road through the Science Park to Futian. Line 2 links Houhai with Shekou and the CBD, Line 11 is the express to Futian and the airport, Line 9 serves the bay, Line 12 connects Nantou, Shekou and Bao'an, and Line 13 runs from Shenzhen Bay Port through Houhai and the Science Park up to Xili.
Line 11 from Houhai or Qianhaiwan goes straight to the airport.
Shenzhen Bay Port crosses by bridge to Hong Kong's Yuen Long side. Since December 2024 Line 13 has its own stop, Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint, two stops from Houhai.
Eat & drink in Nanshan
Cantonese and Hakka snacks, bowl puddings, sweet soups and noodle shops in the old lanes, plus coffee and Western food.
Shenzhen Bay MixC →Houhai's big mall under the Spring Bamboo, an easy pick before a gig at ON AIR or a show at the Spring Cocoon.
Mexican in Nanshan →La Roja near Keyuan made our list of the best Mexican restaurants in Shenzhen.
The Happy Monk, Qianhai →Beer, burgers and sport on the screens at Uniway in Qianhai.
Any day in Nanshan
Places in Nanshan
Popular in Nanshan
Nanshan: questions people ask
Is Nanshan a good area to live in Shenzhen?
It's one of the most popular choices for expats: close to the tech employers, the bay and the international schools, with Shekou's expat scene on its doorstep.
What's the difference between Nanshan, Shekou and OCT?
Shekou and OCT are both in Nanshan District. Shekou is the old port and expat neighbourhood in the south, OCT is the culture-and-theme-park area by the Futian border, and 'Nanshan' usually means Houhai, the Science Park and Qianhai.
How do I get from Nanshan to Hong Kong?
Use Shenzhen Bay Port. Line 13 stops at Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint station, two stops from Houhai.
Where's the best sunset in Nanshan?
Shenzhen Bay Park and Talent Park face west across the bay. Walk the promenade from Shenzhen Bay Park station (Line 9) as the sun goes down.
Which metro for the Spring Bamboo and Spring Cocoon?
Houhai (Lines 2, 11 and 13) for both. Dengliang (Line 2) is also close to the Spring Cocoon stadium.
Other areas
Checked 4 Oct 2026 · Sources: Line 13 and Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint station, opened Dec 2024 (Wikipedia), Line 13, Shenzhen Metro (Wikipedia), Line 11 airport line (Travel China Guide, updated Aug 2026), Nantou Ancient City food guide (China Explorer Tour, 2025)