A Fun Day in Futian

Shenzhen is such a great city - and so wide and massive. Many people ask, what are some fun things to do for a day trip?  First, I would say pick a district! Today we are going to focus on the central district of Futian and share some fun things I have done that you may want to copy.

Start Out On the Greenway
Shenzhen is a green city! They have invested heavily on a long bike trail across the south part of the city along the Shenzhen Bay. In Futian, it winds up and down the district and you can go from the Lok Mau Chao border across to a government protected marsh area.

So if you are coming from Hong Kong, you can head on up to the Lok Mao Chao border and cross into Futian. With some upfront map research, you can even walk from the border crossing to the Greenway (in about 15 minutes) by following along the Free Trade Zone (FTZ).

Once you find this amazing Greenway Path, you can rent a bike or you can just enjoy a nice stroll through the area. There are more and more parks being developed as the government opens some of the protected park.

Grab some ice cream and drinks and catch a seat on the park benches, it will be a fun filled morning.

Check Out The Electronics Market, Hua Qiang Bei
Once you grab lunch and are ready for a change of pace, head on over to the biggest electronics market - in the world! The famous Hua Qiang Bei awaits you for all your gadget desires. Make sure you have good walking shoes on and have fueled up on food and drink - this is a massive multiple block marketplace with buildings full of shops with multiple levels each building.

Wander around, or find themed buildings for various electronics goods - from finished consumer products to components and parts - you can find everything you would ever want! Don’t be shy to bargain, often these aggressive sales reps will test various prices on you. Enjoy the haggling and experience of the hyper fast and crowded market. I wouldn’t recommend buying something you rely on for the long term, many of the goods are not genuine and returns are few and far between.

This is a marketplace I recommend all my friends visiting Shenzhen to experience at least once. But don’t say I didn’t warn you - it is exhausting and vast. Budget at least a few hours for a full walkthrough of some of the many marketplace buildings and save energy for our next stop.

Grab Some Food & Fun at Coco Park
Now that you have had some green and some gadgets - time to enjoy a night out on the town. Take a few stops on the metro to the Shopping Park stop in Futian and you’ll walk into a premier shopping experience. New restaurants and shops opening on a regular basis, there is always something new.

After a tiring afternoon in Hua Qiang Bei, you may just want to find a cafe to relax. From Chinese food to a wide variety of Western food, you can find whatever your heart desires: pizza to dim sum. We recommend browsing around a bit inside the mall as well as across the street which has become quite the popular bar and nightclub center.

Once you have enjoyed your fill of food, the night is still young! Over the years Coco Park has become the main destination for party goers, and you can have your pick of dance clubs and pubs. From Irish to Spanish to Techno, you can keep your dancing shoes busy till the sun comes up!

Futian District is a Complete Day In Shenzhen

While just a few destinations here, this will be an action packed day for a first time Shenzhen visitor! Before starting the adventure, I recommend:
1) Downloading the map before starting your journey - with limited Chinese internet, you may not be able to  access all the maps and websites. Print them out or download them on your phone the night before.
2) Wearing comfortable shoes - This day itinerary has a lot of walking in it. Get comfortable walking shoes or sneakers as you will be on your feet quite a bit.
3) Be patient - there will be some crowded areas, especially Hua Qiang Bei. The Greenway will also be busy if it is an afternoon and the weekend. Just keep calm and remember this is China and crowds are just part of the experience.

I wish you the best on your journey and would love to hear how this day trip worked out for you in the comments below.

About the Author: Mike Michelini
Michael Michelini is an American internet marketer on the border of Hong Kong and China since late 2007. He consults for Chinese and multinational companies, large and small, in e-commerce and marketing and has been featured in various media outlets include Forbes, Tech in Asia, GuangdongTV, Start-ups HK and more. His passion is content marketing and building online communities. In April 2016 he organized and held the first "Cross Border Summit" bringing together like-minded business people from all over the world to discuss various aspects of trade in and between China. He can be found on the web at mikesblog.com or globalfromasia.com

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