OCAT Shenzhen华侨城当代艺术中心
The city's serious contemporary art space, in a former factory at the top of OCT Loft.
Shenzhen's pioneering contemporary art centre, in two old factories in OCT Loft
OCAT Shenzhen (华侨城当代艺术中心, OCT Contemporary Art Terminal) opened in January 2005 inside what became OCT Loft, the old Overseas Chinese Town factory estate in Nanshan. It began under the He Xiangning Art Museum with funding from OCT Group and registered as an independent non-profit museum in April 2012. It heads a small network that also includes venues in Shanghai and Xi'an, a research centre in Beijing, and Hua Art Museum on Shennan Avenue.
There are now two sites. The original galleries are in Building F2 in the South Zone. The newer OCAT B10 sits in the middle of the North Zone, in a 1993 factory built for a magnetic-disc maker and later used by Konka. URBANUS architect Meng Yan converted it in 2022, keeping almost all of the original structure.
Expect anything from serious solo and collection shows to family-friendly ticketed exhibitions. It works well as the cultural anchor of an afternoon in OCT Loft, with its bookshops, cafés and the B10 Live music venue.
What to see and do
OCAT B10
The 2022 museum in a former disc factory: a ground-floor hall with café and shop, galleries, a library and kids' art space on the second floor, and an open-air level on the third.
F2, the original South Zone galleries
Where OCAT started in 2005 in a converted factory building; it still hosts shows, recently under the name OCAT A Gallery.
Anniversary and collection shows
OCAT draws on its own collection for occasional surveys, such as the 18th-anniversary show at B10 in 2023 with work by 30 artists.
OCT Loft around it
Galleries, design studios, bookshops and the B10 Live music venue all within a few minutes' walk.
Visiting
- Address
- Building F2, South Zone, OCT Loft, Enping Street, Nanshan (南山区华侨城恩平街华侨城创意文化园南区F2栋); OCAT B10 is in the North Zone of the same park
- Hours
- Set per exhibition: recent OCAT notices give 10:00–17:30 (2025) and 10:00–18:00 (Dec 2025). Older listings say closed Mondays; check the OCAT WeChat before going
- Tickets
- Varies by show. Dec 2025 examples: ¥48 single at B10, ¥89 single at OCAT A Gallery; some smaller shows free
- Booking
- Via OCAT's WeChat account (OCATShenzhen); ticket enquiries 0755 2691 7199 / 2691 5102
- Getting there
- Line 1 to Qiaocheng East (侨城东), Exit A, then about 10 minutes' walk; or Line 2 to Qiaocheng North (侨城北), Exit B, closer to the North Zone and B10
- Time needed
- About an hour per site; half a day with the rest of OCT Loft
- Check which building a show is in before you set off: F2 is in the South Zone, B10 in the North Zone, both inside OCT Loft and a short walk apart.
- OCAT used to be entirely free, but many recent shows are ticketed, so don't count on walking in without paying.
- OCAT sometimes sells combined passes across its venues (a ¥100 four-show pass in December 2025), including Hua Art Museum.
- Weekday mornings are calm; OCT Loft gets busy on weekend afternoons.
FAQ
Is OCAT Shenzhen free?
Not always. OCAT used to be free, but many recent shows are ticketed, roughly ¥48–89 for a single ticket in late 2025. Check each exhibition.
Where is OCAT in OCT Loft?
The original galleries are in Building F2 in the South Zone; OCAT B10 is in the centre of the North Zone.
How do I get to OCAT Shenzhen by metro?
Qiaocheng East on Line 1, Exit A, or Qiaocheng North on Line 2, Exit B.
What is OCAT B10?
OCAT's second Shenzhen building, a 1993 disc factory in OCT Loft's North Zone converted by URBANUS and completed in 2022.
Sources: OCAT Shenzhen (official account, Sohu mirror): December 2025 exhibitions, venues, hours and prices · OCAT B10 exhibition notice with hours and address (Apr 2025) · Eye Shenzhen: OCT-LOFT, metro exits (May 2025) · @LOFT via Trueart: OCAT B10 building history and layout (Jun 2022) · Wikipedia (Chinese): OCAT founding, 2012 registration, network (reference) · checked 2026-10-04
On now
Good to know
- Entry
- Some shows free; many ticketed (¥48–89 per show, Dec 2025)