The best places to go shopping in Shenzhen

If you’ve read our guide to a weekend in Shenzhen, you’ll know this Greater Bay Area city is brimming with cultural and dining experiences. But there’s more; Shenzhen is also a shopper’s paradise, with retail spaces catering to just about every interest. 

To help you find what you’re looking for, we’ve created a guide on where to head for clothing, food, kid-friendly products and more. Check out the best places to shop in Shenzhen below.

For fashion 

Upperhills  

With an artsy-meets-industrial vibe, this shopping complex (and its eye-catching murals) will find its way into your phone’s photo album, just as its wares will find their way into your wardrobe. Aside from well-known international sports and luxury brands, you’ll also find local fashion brands, sustainable designer labels, furniture retailers and more represented here. 

Other highlights include a Muji Hotel, cute cafés with al fresco dining, and an impressive footbridge connecting the complex to two different parks.  

5001 Huanggang Road, Futian District 

MixC Shenzhen Bay

This ultra-modern shopping centre is a popular destination to go luxury brand hunting. Part of the appeal is its pedestrian-friendly design; shoppers can stroll along a wide boulevard lined with big-name outlets, each with a unique storefront. 

There’s more to see beyond fashion though. MixC has separate sections for dining and art, the latter of which regularly hosts exhibitions and immersive art experiences. 

2888 Keyuan South Road, Nanshan District

One Avenue 

Centrally located in Futian’s business district, this mall combines a traditional indoor retail experience with other forms of recreation, spanning art installations and photo-taking spots to outdoor public spaces and themed exhibitions. 

In addition to an endless selection of clothing shops, from household names such as Nike to local chains, enjoy exploring the high-end skincare and cosmetics stores, tech stores including Xiaomi, charming homeware and stationery outlets, and the many eateries.

348 Fuhua 1st Road, Futian District

Luohu Commercial City

Have an event that requires a little dressing up? Whether you’re preparing for a formal occasion or a themed costume party, you can have tailor-made suits, prom and wedding dresses, or quirky designs stitched into reality at this retail building. 

The multi-storey complex houses an abundance of independent retailers that offer a large variety of items, from imitation designer goods and electronics to jewellery and toys. There’re several tailor shops on the fifth floor alongside a fabric market, where you can choose the fabric for your custom order.

25 Guangchang Road, Lo Wu District

For furniture and homeware

Art Design Centre 

This aptly named shopping centre is the place to go for designer homeware and inspiration on how to beautify your home. Goods on offer range from ornamental items and wall-mounted art to armchairs and patio furniture, with styles extending from modern to traditional. Product displays are thoughtfully arranged, making your exploration of the complex a delightful experience.

The building also encompasses an art gallery, plus a cosy rooftop bar and lounge area with outdoor seating and an extensive food menu.

Zhanyi Road, Lo Wu District

Jiazhifu 

This multi-storey shop is dedicated wholly to furniture, filled with reasonably priced mattresses, dining sets, cabinets, coffee tables and more. Looking to add a distinct aesthetic to your living room? The sixth floor is home to hardwood furniture, much of which resembles traditional Chinese décor. Meanwhile, the fourth floor sells kids’ homeware, spanning pastel-pink wardrobes to fun bunk beds.

If you haven’t seen enough, try Baoneng No. 1 Space, another largescale furniture store on the same street.  

3045 Bao’an North Road, Lu Wu District

For art and design

Yushin Books 

This shop is designed around a spiral motif – said by some to evoke imagery from the film Inception. Even if you’re not a bookworm, the mesmerising curved archways, looping shelves and mirrored floors – all bathed in warm lighting – make for great photos (and are worth the storage space they’ll inevitably take up on your phone). It’s no wonder this shop went viral for being one of the most beautiful bookstores in the city.

86 Zimao Street, Nanshan District

Zhongzhou Bay C Future City 

In this mall , digital screens displaying pink blossoms and flowing water are interspersed with vertical gardens of ferns and vines, bringing the space to life. Some of the digital panels even respond to interaction – just watch as streams of water diverge and reconnect around shoppers as they go about their business. Those familiar with Teamlab’s brand of immersive art won’t be surprised to find out that these exhibits were developed by the company, which also hosts a permanent exhibition here.

A noteworthy shop in the mall is Tsutaya Bookstore, which boasts beautiful décor and a chic café alongside its displays of books and assorted homeware.

9283 Binhe Boulevard, Futian District

Oct-Loft Creative Culture Park 

Formerly an industrial estate, this large complex is now filled with art galleries, cafés, restaurants, shops and green spaces. It occasionally hosts exhibitions and live music events, as well as a biweekly market where you can scour booths for adorable crafts and jewellery.

All shopped out? Grab a seat surrounded by bookshelves at Old Heaven Bookstore and order a cuppa or simply soak up the park’s laidback atmosphere. Admire the street art, spot the eccentric statues guarding storefronts, or chill in the shade of towering trees. 

Jinxiu North Street, Nanshan District

For food

MixC Wanxiang Tiandi 

If you like the idea of al fresco dining but don’t want to brave the elements, head to MixC Wanxiang Tiandi. Several cafés on the ground floor provide covered outdoor seating, while others occupying the mall’s top floors come with patio tables, romantic string lights and parasols.

When it comes to the cuisines on offer, take your pick from among roast duck, Western fare, suancaiyu (spicy and sour fish soup with origins in Sichuan), craft coffee, fancy bubble tea and much more.

9668 Shennan Boulevard, Nanshan District

Coastal City 

Of the more than 300 retailers at this huge mall in Nanshan, around a third are dining establishments. Seafood lovers can try the all-you-can-eat Xiting or No.79 Yuchuan Seafood Theme Restaurant, while fans of skewers can order heaps of chargrilled beef, shrimp and more at Yujiankaoba (遇見烤吧‧燒烤). For the road, snag some sugar-crusted or flaky French pastries from the gilded display shelves of Cosmetique Dr. Madeleine . 

15 Haide 3rd Street, Nanyou, Nanshan District

For electronics

Huaqiang Electronic World 

This six-floor complex is a bustling paradise for collectors of digital accessories. The bottom level is filled with lights for every occasion – festive, outdoor, and everything in between. As you move up the building, you’ll find trinkets spanning cartoon portable chargers and drones to digital cameras and even home and beauty gadgets like food blenders and facial devices. 

1019 Huaqiang North Road, Futian District

Seg Electronics Market

Housing an almost intimidating number of electronics retailers, this is a no-frills marketplace for tech where you can find a wide range of computer components, laptops and accessories. Whether you’re on the hunt for webcams and CCTV or monitors and gaming gadgets, you’re bound to find it here.

Seg Plaza, Zhenzhong 3rd Street, Futian District

For kids

Futian Coco Park 

Boasting several play zones, toy and figurine shops, and Shenzhen’s largest Lego store, this mall has plenty to delight and entertain little ones. The claw machine wonderland, LLJ Clamping Station (LLJ夹机占) is sure to attract your children’s attention with its wall of plushies on display. Meanwhile, the kids’ clothing shops might not be the most exciting for the young ones, but their guardians will be happy with the selection. 

268 Fuhua 3rd Road, Futian District

Sungang Stationery Toy Gift Wholesale Market 

With scores of colourful stationery items, plushies and boxed models stacked high on shelves and even bikes on display, this market in Lo Wu (also spelled Luohu) district offers enough of an assortment of goods. We guarantee that the whole family will find a souvenir (or several) to take home.

1025 Bao’an North Road, Lo Wu District