Nanhai E-Cool Creative Park南海意库
Converted factory buildings in Shekou turned creative-industry park: design studios, offices and event rooms.
1980s Sanyo factory blocks turned green creative park: design studios, cafés and events
Nanhai E-Cool (南海意库) is a creative-industry park in Shekou made from six factory buildings completed in 1982 and leased to Sanyo, among the first foreign-funded factories of the reform era. China Merchants bought them back in 2005 and, instead of demolishing them, converted them from 2006 into what are now five garden-style office blocks.
The conversion was an early showcase for green building in Shenzhen: solar panels built into the structure, a constructed wetland for recycling water and planted façades that have grown into walls of bougainvillea and tropical plants. The steel frames of the old workshops were kept, which gives the place its look. A further upgrade of the public spaces was carried out between 2018 and 2020.
Today more than 120 companies are based here, about two-thirds of them in design. For visitors it is a leafy, walkable block of cafés, small shops, galleries and event rooms a few minutes from Sea World, good for a coffee, a browse or one of the talks and workshops held here.
What to see and do
Converted Sanyo workshops
Low-rise factory blocks from 1982 with their industrial frames intact, now wrapped in greenery. Good for photographs in the afternoon light.
Green building features
Solar panels built into the buildings, geothermal heat pumps, solar chimneys for ventilation and a wetland that recycles water, all fitted during the conversion.
Design studios and creative firms
Architecture, landscape, industrial design, animation and game studios fill the offices, so the park has a working-studio feel on weekdays.
Cafés and small shops
Ground floors hold coffee shops, florists, vintage clothing and other independent stores, several of which double as bars or event spaces.
Event spaces
Exhibition platforms, a music plaza, conference rooms and rooftop gardens host talks, markets and workshops, many of them listed on event platforms.
Visiting
- Hours
- Shops and cafés keep their own hours
- Tickets
- Free to walk around
- Getting there
- Metro Lines 2/8 to Shuiwan station, about 300 m; or Sea World station (Lines 2/8 and 12), Exit B, a short walk
- Address
- 6 Xinghua Road, Shekou, Nanshan District (南山区蛇口兴华路6号)
- Time needed
- 1-2 hours
- Pair it with Sea World: the two are a few minutes apart, so you can have coffee here and dinner by the ship.
- Weekday afternoons are quiet and good for photos; weekends bring more people and pop-up events.
- Many events here are posted on Huodongxing and on organisers' WeChat accounts rather than on the park's own site, so check the listing for the room and building number.
- The park is a working office complex, so some buildings are staff-only. Stick to the ground-floor shops and public areas.
FAQ
What is Nanhai E-Cool in Shekou?
A creative-industry park converted from 1982 Sanyo factory buildings, home to more than 120 mostly design companies plus cafés, shops and event spaces.
How do I get to Nanhai E-Cool?
Take Line 2/8 to Shuiwan, about 300 metres away, or get off at Sea World and walk a few minutes north. The address is 6 Xinghua Road, Shekou.
Is Nanhai E-Cool free to visit?
Yes. The park is free to walk around; you only pay in the cafés, shops or for ticketed events.
Sources: Nanhai E-Cool official site (nanhaiyiku.cn): address, transport, facilities · EyeShenzhen: Nanhai E-Cool (May 2025) · Guandian: park story of Nanhai Yiku, history and green retrofit (background) · Shenzhen Party: Shekou Nanhai E-Cool (background) · checked 2026-10-04