Have a happy day at the Happy Valley Theme Park
Guess who is competing with Hong Kong Disneyland for the Happiest Place On Earth? The Happy Valley Shenzhen theme park was the first park in the Happy Valley chain, which has parks in cities all over China. It is made up of nine main areas, Spanish Square, Cartoon City, Mt. Adventure, Gold Mine Town, Shangri-la Woods, Sunshine Beach, Typhoon Bay, Playa Maya Water Park, and Happy Times.
Some highlights of the park including the River Raft Ride, but not the ride itself. Towards the end of the ride’s track, you can operate water cannons for 1 or 2 CNY (0.15 - 0.20 USD) and soak the people who are on it. Another popular ride is the bullet coaster, which has a 67.4-meter (221.2-foot) drop and goes at 134 kilometers per hours (83 mph).
Go hiking on Wutong Shan
Ditch the urban jungle for a real one. Wutong Shan is Shenzhen’s highest mountain, standing at 943 meters (3,094 feet). It is a popular destination for locals, so expect to be outstripped by elderly walkers and young families as you puff along. Wutong Shan has a few routes, you can opt for the safer route of stairs (do note that towards the top the trail is quite steep), or try out other paths that will take you into the greenery and past creeks and streams.
Most trails start out from Wutong Village. Once you are conquered the mountain, you will be treated to the sight of Shenzhen sprawled below, the glistening harbour and Hong Kong in the distance. Then it is time for you to brave going down the stairs again.
Watch Art in Action at Da Fen Oil Painting Village
Most major Chinese cities now host artist's villages, where thousands of artists live and create replicas of the world's best paintings. Da Fen, which became an artist's hub in the 1980s, stands out for its impressive past, it once produced more than 60 percent of the world's oil paintings. Just do not expect a quaint artist's retreat, the over 5,000 artists in Da Fen often produce the paintings in factory conditions, turning them out like cars on a production line.
There are also hundreds of individual artists who will paint a replica of Rembrandt or Monet in just a few hours with paintings cost as little as $40.00. Even if you do not plan on buying a piece of art, it is a fascinating cultural phenomenon and walking through the dusty streets, lined with works by the great masters, is nothing short of surreal.
Watch the fountain display at Seaworld
Seaworld is a plaza that is popular with locals and expats alike. It is beautifully designed, and you should definitely visit when the sun is setting for some great views. Seaworld has a lot of Western and European cuisine. If chopsticks frustrate you and you are looking for something a little more familiar, stop here for a meal.
The centrepiece of Seaworld is the Minghua, which was once a cruise ship. It is now been beached and turned into a hotel. Every night, there are 2 ten-minute fountain shows that take place next to the Minghua. One is at 7 pm, and the other is at 8 pm. On weekends, an additional display takes place at 9 pm.
Enjoy Theme Parks at OCT East
Overseas Chinese Town (OCT) is a massive complex consisting of nature parks, theme parks, and cultural villages. In OCT East are two main theme parks, Knight Valley and Tea Stream Valley.
Knight Valley has a water park, a tropical forest, and a skywalk made of glass. Tea Stream Valley is the more calming area where you can enjoy the natural setting of the Wetland Garden, take tea in the Sanzhou Tea Garden or the Ancient Tea Town.