Shenzhen has a number of manmade attractions that are guaranteed to impress most children. If the miniature China doesn’t excite them, then a trip to Happy Valley theme park surely will. If they’re not too exhausted, a trip to the city’s safari park will leave them with lasting memories. If your kids are looking to expel any excess energy they might have, a trip to one of the city’s parks for a run-around will be sure to aid a good night’s sleep.

Chinese Folk Culture Village
This is a stunning park boasting a mini replica of the entire country. It is home to 24 villages, a number of traditional Chinese houses and cobbled lanes as well as real people living in this life size model, daily dance performances and food from all over the country. Among the mini villages, you will find the famous Forbidden City, Terracotta Soldiers, Tibet’s Potala Palace, Huangshan Mountains, Yunnan's Stone Forest and of course, the Great Wall of China. This park will provide hours of fun for the entire family. Phone: +86 7556 606 526.

Happy Valley
This theme park is the largest theme park in Shenzhen and is made up of nine different sections including Spanish Square, Cartoon City, Adventure Hill and the Maya Water Park. Live performances are scheduled every day which are guaranteed to entertain children of all ages. There is also a number of on-site restaurants and even accommodation for those wanting to stay overnight. Website: www.happyvalley.com.cn. 

Safari Park Shenzhen
Shenzhen’s very own safari park covers an enormous area of one-million square kilometres. It was the first safari park to be built in China and is also home to a whole host of tropical plants and flowers. There are over 10,000 animals coving 300 species, with some of them being rare and endangered. You will also find an on-site circus; elephant, seal and bird performance halls; a children’s amusement park; Monkey Hill; Crocodile Lake; an aquarium; Parrot Path and an overhead walkway with a watch tower. You may find that you need a couple of days to take in all the sights of the park, so if you have time to spare, a trip to the safari park will delight children of all ages.

Sea World
Sea World is a great place to visit when the heat of the day has kicked in and humidity levels are soaring. It is home to an abundance of sea life, ranging from sea horses to sharks. There are many tanks and enclosures where your children will be able to learn about the deep blue sea.

Despite being a relatively new and modern city, Shenzhen offers visitors a range of cultural attractions. The city boasts two excellent art galleries, over 40 historical sites and a number of interesting museums.

Chiwan Tianhou Temple
The temple is located adjacent to Chiwan Village and is the largest temple which honours the heavenly queen of Guangdong Province.

Dapeng Fortress
This impressive castle can be found approximately 55kms from the city centre. The fortress was originally built to resist Japanese pirates, but today its remains are one of the top tourist attractions in the area. Despite losing much of the structure to decay, visitors can still learn a lot about the city’s past from this building. Phone: +86 7554 302 269.

He XiangNing Art Museum
This impressive facility is regarded as being second only to the National Art Gallery of China. It hosts an impressive collection of world-class modern paintings as well as interchanging exhibitions. The gallery can be found in Overseas Chinese Town. Website: www.hxnart.com.

Historical and cultural sites
The relatively small city of Shenzhen boasts over 40 sites of historical and cultural interest. Wenwudi Palace can be found in Pingshan Township, Longgang District and is the best-preserved palace of its kind in the city. Nantou Ancient City is a testimony to the city’s ancient civilisation and is regarded as a common historical source of information which is shared between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The Left Chiwan Ancient Fort can be found east of Chiwan Village. It was built during the reign of Emperor Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty and is an excellent example of ancient defence facilities.

Shenzhen Art Gallery
This gallery is one of the city’s landmarks which was originally built in 1976 and known as Shenzhen Exhibition Saloon. It later changed its name in 1987 and underwent complete refurbishment. Today, the gallery is equipped with modern technologies and boasts areas for art exhibitions, preservation, storage and research. Over 20 annual art exhibitions are held here as well as permanent displays of works by some of the country’s most prolific artists.

Shenzhen offers a complex cuisine which is a combination of dishes from all provinces in China. Hot and spicy specialties of Sichuan Province are perfectly fused with cold dishes of northeast China and of course, the famed Cantonese cuisine can be found everywhere. International restaurants are popping up throughout the city, especially Japanese and Thai restaurants.

The morning tea of Guangdong Province has been revered in China for a long time. Traditionally, this tea is enjoyed alongside dim sum. Morning tea can often extend until lunchtime and is enjoyed by most locals, even if only at weekends.

Popular dishes in Shenzhen include: chaozhou, a porridge dish with seafood; yanjuji, (salt-baked chicken); niangdoufu, stuffed bean curd, and hongshaorou, braised pork with soy sauce.

If you are left craving for junk food, you will find the perennial fast-food restaurants such as McDonalds, Pizza Hut and KFC in the city centre. There is even a Starbucks coffee shop here.

Shenzhen was one of the first Chinese cities to embrace the outside world and is heavily influenced by its rich neighbour Hong Kong. Because of this, shopping opportunities can be found in abundance. While you will not find as many souvenir shops as you may elsewhere in the country, you will find countless department stores and shopping centres selling everything from basic household goods to high-quality designer goods. Best buys in the city include electrical appliances, fashionable clothing, jewellery and seafood.

It is easy to find the best places to shop in Shenzhen as the centre is divided into distinct shopping zones. You will find the most eclectic range of shops in Dongmen Pedestrian street, while in Hua Qiang Bei you will find the best electrical suppliers. The famous Women's World is dedicated to fashion, while the Chinese and English street offers tax-free shopping.

Shenzhen is not home to many outdoor activities, although it does house some stunning parks and gardens which are perfect for an afternoon stroll or a game of football. Golf courses abound in the city and while not all are open for public use, there are many that welcome guests.

Fairy Lake Botanical Gardens
Located in Liantang, Luohu District these stunning gardens are the largest in Guangdong Province. There are over 3,000 varieties of plants and trees and plenty of places to explore or simply sit back and relax in this ideal spot for nature lovers.

Golf
Shenzhen boasts 12 golf clubs, with Mission Hill Golf Club the largest and most impressive in the city. Most of the courses are open to the public, although booking is essential as golf is very popular in Shenzhen.

Lakes
Honey Lake is a stunning resort that blends recreation with sightseeing. It is home to an impressive water park that is guaranteed to keep children occupied. Chinese families can be seen enjoying picnics and activities by the lake and there are eateries and food stalls available to keep hunger at bay. Xili Lake Resort can be found next door to the Safari Park Shenzhen and Shenzhen University City, so is perfect to travel to either before or after going to the safari. Due to its proximity to the university, the lake is often buzzing with student activity and is a great place to come and people-watch. Available activities at the lake include: fishing, canoeing, swimming, picnicking and nature trails.