Shekou in a minute
Shekou is the southern tip of the Nanshan peninsula and the place where China's reform era started: the Shekou Industrial Zone, set up in 1979, was one of the first places in the country opened to foreign investment. That history left Shekou with a port, an international crowd that never left, and a relaxed small-town feel.
It's still the heart of expat life in Shenzhen. Sea World's pubs and patios host quiz nights, comedy open mics, live bands and the Saturday hash run, and international schools and serviced apartments fill the streets around it. Old factories have become Nanhai E-Cool and the Design Society museum.
It's also Shenzhen's front door by sea. Ferries from Shekou Cruise Center at Prince Bay run to Hong Kong, Hong Kong airport, Macau and Zhuhai, and the fishing port still supplies the seafood market just inland.
Shows & Nightlife in Shekou
All shows →
Tonight · 9:30pm
Live Band Every Night at The Terrace, Sea World
The Terrace's house band T.A.S. plays covers every night from 9:30pm in Sea World, followed by DJ sets.
The Terrace · Shekou露台餐吧
Tomorrow · 9pm
TakeOut Comedy Open Mic (Sundays)
Free English stand-up open mic upstairs at The Flames, Sea World. Sign up on the night or just watch.
The Flames · Shekou炙焰西餐厅
Wed 14 Oct · 8pm
Mamas Gun «DIG!» World Tour — Shenzhen
British contemporary soul band on their DIG! world tour: tight grooves and big harmonies.
MAO Livehouse Sea World · ShekouMAO Livehouse 海上世界
Wed 14 Oct · 9pm
TakeOut Comedy Open Mic (Wednesdays)
Free English stand-up open mic in Sea World on Wednesdays: sign up with the host to do five minutes, or just come and watch.
The Flames · Shekou炙焰西餐厅
Meetups in Shekou
All meetups →
Today · 1:30pm
Shekou Hash House Harriers: Saturday Trail Run
Every Saturday a bus leaves George & Dragon in Sea World at 13:30 for a hilly trail run or walk, then back to the pub for the circle. Just turn up.
George & Dragon British Pub · Shekou圣乔治西餐厅
Tomorrow · 11am
She Embodies · She Remembers: Women's Circle at The Garden
A two-hour women's circle on a Shekou rooftop garden, led in English by Raissa Mendes.
The Garden (The Yoga Garden) · Shekou
Tue 13 Oct · 7:30pm
Shekou Language Exchange at Barfly (Tuesdays)
An easy hour of English–Chinese conversation over a drink at Barfly, a Shekou pub since 2012.
Barfly Creative Commune Pub · ShekouBarfly 创意公社酒馆
Wed 14 Oct · 7:30pm
Shekou IMAGINE Toastmasters: Wednesday Public Speaking Night
Toastmasters public-speaking club in Shekou, Wednesday evenings 7:30–9:30 at Shekou Television on Gongyuan Road. Guests can visit for free.
Shekou Television (SKTV), Merchants Building · Shekou
On now in Shekou
On now · until 18 Oct
Lindy Lee: Stars of the World — Sea World Culture & Arts Center
Last two weeks: about 50 works by the Australian artist Lindy Lee, including a walk-in room of perforated steel that throws star-like light, in Shekou until 18 October.
Design Society · Shekou设计互联
On now · until 28 Feb
Jon Burgerman: It's Great to Create! — Prince Bay Art Center, Shekou
British artist Jon Burgerman's colourful, hands-on show opens Shekou's new Prince Bay Art Center, 30 Sep 2026 – 28 Feb 2027, from ¥38.
Prince Bay Art Center · Shekou深圳太子湾美术馆
Every week in Shekou
Where's what in Shekou
The plaza around the old Minghua cruise ship: pubs, restaurants, live music and MAO Livehouse. Shekou's centre of gravity on a Friday night.
🚇 Line 2 / Line 8 / Line 12 — Sea World02Sea World Culture & Arts Center 海上世界文化艺术中心The waterfront building that houses the Design Society museum, with free terraces looking out over the bay.
🚇 Line 2 — Sea World03Prince Bay & the Cruise Center 太子湾 · 蛇口邮轮中心The new waterfront at the tip of Shekou, with the ferry and cruise terminal, a seafront promenade and Prince Bay Art Center.
🚇 Line 12 — Taiziwan04Shekou Old Street & the fishing port 蛇口老街 · 渔港Older low-rise Shekou around the fishing port, with the seafood market where you can buy the catch and have it prepared on the spot.
🚇 Line 2 — Shekou Port05Nanhai E-Cool 南海意库The former Sanyo factory, one of Shekou's first foreign-owned plants (1982), now offices, cafés and event spaces.
🚇 Line 2 / Line 8 — ShuiwanNeighbourhoods & landmarks in Shekou
All landmarks →
Getting around Shekou
Line 2 runs from Shekou through Houhai to the Futian CBD, with Line 8 trains running through on the same tracks. Line 12, opened in 2022, runs north from Shekou along the west side to Nantou, Bao'an and Shenzhen World.
Shekou Cruise Center at Prince Bay (metro: Taiziwan, Line 12) has fast ferries to the Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong airport's SkyPier (for air passengers), Macau's Outer Harbour and Taipa, and Zhuhai's Jiuzhou Port. Check the current timetable and arrive early to clear immigration.
Shenzhen Bay Port is a short taxi ride away, or take Line 2 to Houhai and change to Line 13 for Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint.
Eat & drink in Shekou
Pick your crabs, prawns or grouper at the wet market and have them prepared on the spot. Go after the summer fishing ban lifts in August, when the Fishing Festival marks the first catch of the season.
Pints at George & Dragon, comedy open mics at The Flames and live bands at The Terrace. Our Sea World nightlife guide has the rest.
Tacos in Shekou →Two of our five favourite Mexican places in Shenzhen are at Sea World.
George & Dragon →Shekou's British pub, and the meeting point for the Saturday hash run.
Any day in Shekou
Places in Shekou
Popular in Shekou
Shekou: questions people ask
How do I get the ferry from Shekou to Hong Kong or Macau?
Go to Shekou Cruise Center at Prince Bay (Taiziwan station, Line 12). Ferries run to Hong Kong's Sheung Wan ferry terminal, Hong Kong airport (for flyers), Macau Outer Harbour and Taipa, and Zhuhai. Bring your passport and check today's sailings.
Why do so many expats live in Shekou?
It has been international since the first foreign companies arrived in the late 1970s and 80s. Today it has international schools, plenty of Western restaurants, and the pubs around Sea World where the community meets.
What's on in Shekou at night?
Quiz nights, comedy open mics and live bands around Sea World, gigs at MAO Livehouse Sea World, and plenty of patios. See the Sea World page for this week's listings.
Where can I buy fresh seafood in Shekou?
Shekou Market near the fishing port. Vendors can prepare what you buy on the spot. Late summer, after the fishing ban lifts, is the best time.
Which metro station for Sea World?
Sea World station on Lines 2 and 12 (Line 8 trains run through too).
Other areas
Checked 4 Oct 2026 · Sources: Shekou Cruise Center: ferry routes and metro (Wikipedia), TurboJET Macau–Shekou sailings, Line 12, Shenzhen Metro (Wikipedia), Find Nanshan: Shekou heritage, Sanyo/E-Cool, seafood (Newsgd, Aug 2024), Fishing Festival at Shekou Market (Eye Shenzhen, Aug 2024), Bar streets: Sea World (Eye Shenzhen, Apr 2023)