A Day Trip to Shenzhen Bay Culture Square

 

Living in Shenzhen never gets boring. This city has the surreal capacity to reinvent itself regularly. I clearly remember being at Talent Park last year, almost around the same time of year, and seeing the construction site of what now is the Shenzhen Bay Culture Square, a new and fascinating cultural complex (not the only one in our city, of course) that has many options for anyone who enjoys the arts, adults and children alike.

Today I decided to pay a visit to this new center, and the first thing that strikes me is how conveniently everything is arranged there. Shenzhen is hot and humid, and walking outdoors during the hottest months of the year (which, in our case, make up about half of it) is not always the best option, especially if you are a family with small kids. Shenzhen Bay Culture Square kept that in mind by building a whole underground passage called The Pink Street, which you can access directly from the entrance.

The Pink Street, besides the obvious dominantly pink decoration, is a covered underground passage that runs from one end to the other of the whole complex. If you access it from the North Wing, you will find yourself inside a pink, air-conditioned bubble, surrounded by many restaurants and shops where you can enjoy a variety of drinks and even have lunch with your family at the very thematic pink McDonald's.

At this point, you might be wondering, where’s the culture part, right? Well, we’re almost there. Once you have wandered through the North Wing and enjoyed a cup of coffee or an ice cream, you get to a crossroads, almost where the pink McDonald's is, and there is the entrance to the Design Museum. This museum is a multi-level space that holds a variety of art and design exhibitions from local and international artists and hosts multiple art-related activities for adults and children.

It is very easy to access, and most of the signs and instructions are bilingual. You can purchase tickets right there at the entrance using one of their electronic vending machines or online through their mini program. The ticket to see all the exhibitions and collections is very affordable, and in the mini program you will also find information about the activities they have for children. Honestly, even if not all the exhibitions are in English, the museum is such a fun experience that you will still be able to enjoy it because that’s the beauty of art: it doesn’t need words to be experienced.

Once you have spent your time at the Design Museum, you can continue your journey and explore the South Wing of The Pink Street. There you can find a good number of indie and designer shops that range from a gorgeous ceramics store with amazing china directly brought from Jingdezhen (the Porcelain Capital of the World) at very reasonable prices, to an authentic Peruvian store with excellent crafts to decorate your home (yes, I’m Peruvian, so trust me), and even a second-hand store that has everything, from clothes to books in very good condition looking for a new home.

The whole visit to Shenzhen Bay Culture Square can take you a good couple of hours, depending on how many stops you make. Even if you’re looking for a quiet place to escape from the heat, there are so many café options in the North Wing of The Pink Street that you can spend a whole afternoon there just people-watching or reading (disclaimer: it might be possible that everyone thinks the same, and you find a small crowd during lunchtime). 

Now, if you were thinking that was it, you are wrong; there’s much more to explore that I haven't told you about yet. If you haven’t realised by now, Shenzhen Bay Culture Square is located right where Talent Park is, so if the weather allows, I recommend a visit to the park just to take a stroll by the bay or sit down and enjoy the breeze, if there’s any. Sunset time is perfect because it is then that the park starts turning on its beautiful lights, and you can experience a completely different perspective of it. Mosquito repellent is highly recommended, though.

Finally, if you are in the mood for an artventure, I recommend that you go across the street from the Talent Park entrance heading towards MixC Mall. There you will find The White Project art gallery, which hosts a variety of excellent art exhibitions from local and international artists, all carefully curated against the beautiful backdrop of the bay and its surroundings. The best part of it all is that admission is free; you just have to scan their mini program and get a QR code. They even have a cute little café inside, and their personnel are very welcoming and happy to help with the mini program.

How to get there:

Didi: Type “Shenzhen Bay Culture Plaza” to go right to the entrance.

Metro: Metro line 13. Station Talent Park.

Address: 深圳湾文化广场 广东省深圳市南山区科苑南路2516号

That is all from me. I hope you have found this recommendation useful and go pay a visit to Shenzhen Bay Culture Square one of these weekends. It will make for a great day out. If you’re curious about the creative experiences offered all around our city, keep an eye out for my next article. I have a surprise for you.

See you next time, and remember: stay creative.

Marjorie Hernandez-Aliaga (MHERAL)

Instagram: @mheral_artstudio