A scene taken from the Qingshuihe railway-themed park. Photos by Liu Xudong unless otherwise stated
Shoppers select jewelry at Shuibei.
Fairy Lake Botanical Garden. File photo
A dancer performs at Dongmen.
For numerous residents of Shenzhen, Luohu District epitomizes the city's transformative journey — a place where dreams come to reality. As one of the oldest districts in the city, Luohu boasts both historical landmarks and modern developments. This unique blend of the "old" and the "new" shapes the aspirations of many Shenzhen locals.
Qingshuihe railway-themed park
Qingshuihe is a place in Luohu that is closely related to Shenzhen's railway tradition. It was once home to Caopu Railway Station, also known as Gongye Railway Station. The place had long served as a transit hub for farm products bound for Hong Kong.
Thanks to the rapid development of Shenzhen over the past few decades, the former railway station fell into disuse and has now been converted into a railway-themed park.
Upon arrival, visitors will be immediately drawn to a green locomotive, which was manufactured in 1967 by Dalian Locomotives Factory and is one of the earliest diesel locomotives in China. Visiting the park will evoke the nostalgic feeling associated with the green train.
Add: Qingshuihe Subdistrict
Metro: Line 3 to Caopu Station, Exit D3
Shuibei area
A Chinese saying goes: "For the finest jewelry in China, head to Shenzhen; for the best jewelry in Shenzhen, make your way to Luohu's Shuibei."
Shuibei, once a fishing village and a 15-minute high-speed train ride to and from Hong Kong, has transformed into China's premier gold capital. It supplies more than half of the country's gold jewelry items, weaving together the worlds of wholesale and retail.
Some of the larger multi-level malls amongst the many in the area include: Shuibei International Jewelry Trade Center on the corner of Tianbe 4th Road and Beili North Road; Jinli International Jewelry Trading Center on Beili South Road; and Shenzhen Gold Plaza at 1 Shuibei Road.
Metro: Line 3 to Tianbei Station, Exit C
Dongmen Old Street
Dongmen Old Street, also known as Shenzhen Dongmen Commercial Pedestrian Street, is the earliest business district in the city.
The so-called "Dongmen" refers to the east gate, one of the four gates of the original Shenzhen Market. The first McDonald's chain on the Chinese mainland is located here.
The history of Dongmen Old Street can be traced back to the middle of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), when it was still named Shenzhen Ancient Market. At that time, a number of villages appeared one after another in the present-day Dongmen area, including Chikan Village, Luohu Village, Getang Village and Hubei Village. Markets were frequently set up among the villages. In other words, Dongmen was just a country market at the beginning.
The renovated Dongmen Pedestrian Street was officially opened on Oct. 1, 1999, covering an area of 176,000 square meters, including eight municipal roads, one style street, and three large leisure squares, becoming a modern commercial pedestrian block that retains its traditional charm. Here you can eat snacks, shop, and experience night market culture.
Over the recent years, Dongmen Pedestrian Street has become a hotspot for livestreaming, featuring performances by singers, dancers, and cosplayers, drawing crowds of onlookers, and giving the area a lively atmosphere.
Add: Bounded by Lixin Road in the north, Shennan Road in the south, Dongmen Middle Road in the east, and Xinyuan Road in the west
Metro: Line 1 or 3 to Laojie Station, Exit E
Fairy Lake Botanical Garden & Hongfa Temple
Shenzhen Fairy Lake Botanical Garden, a model of urban landscape gardening, is located in the eastern suburban region of Luohu District, west of the city's highest mountain, the Wutong Mountain, and east of the Shenzhen Reservoir.
It is a botanical garden and a scenic spot that combines ethnicity, local essence, and modernity. Occupying an area of 6.68 million square meters, the botanical garden consists of six major scenic spots.
The botanical garden was also selected as a national 4A-rated scenic spot by the National Tourism Administration in 2007. It was named a national key park by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development the following year.
Hongfa Temple, covering over 30,000 square meters, is located to the east of the Fairy Lake, halfway up the Wutong Mountain. It is the most important local Buddhist holy place. During Buddhist holidays, this is an important destination for people who practice the Buddhist faith or want to gain a peaceful mind.
Add: 160 Xianhu Road
Metro: Line 2/8 to Xianhu Road Station