Don't go to Dafen Oil Painting Village | A local's firsthand experience: a 5km unconventional art and culture walk in Shekou – don't be fooled by travel guides!
Last week, while buying fish balls in Shekou Old Street, I saw a few tourists holding up their phones and asking how to get to Dafen Oil Painting Village. I almost blurted out: "That's a place that even locals wouldn't turn into, and you're taking a taxi there specifically?"
Having lived in Shenzhen for seven years and traveled to Shekou more than twenty times, I've found that the truly worthwhile artsy routes are never listed in travel guides. Dafen Oil Painting Village, OCT Creative Park (weekend edition), and Nantou Ancient Town Main Street are three "visual deception sites" that locals have voted with their feet.
1. Three "art photo spots" that even locals pass by without going in.
Dafen Oil Painting Village: The main alley is crowded with electric bikes carrying picture frames, tourists line up to take photos in front of the painted walls, and painters are busy rushing to finish their low-priced paintings. The art is overwhelmed by the smell of wholesale. Locals only go in to buy art supplies; they wouldn't even turn in if they were just passing by.
OCT Creative Park on weekends: T Street Market is packed with people, the backdrop of old factory buildings is filled with wedding photography reflectors, and the prices of creative shops are inflated. Locals only go for a coffee on weekdays and leave, avoiding the crowds on weekends.
Nantou Ancient Town: After renovation, the main street has become a mix of chain milk tea shops and boutique general stores. The city wall bricks are tied with LED strip lights, and the sense of history is only maintained by street signs. If you really want to see the ancient town, you should stand under the arcade buildings of Shekou Old Street for a while.
II. Starting Point: Shekou Old Street and Shekou Market – The fishy smell is more authentic than in the exhibition hall.
Exiting Dongjiaotou subway station, walk along Shekou New Street. Dried fish hangs to dry at the entrances of the old alleyways, and elderly women select oysters under the arcades. Looking down from the second floor of Shekou Market, the red and blue awnings of the stalls resemble a living map of seafood. It's worth stopping for ten minutes: listen to the vendors' calls in Cantonese, and smell the mingled aromas of sea salt and fresh seafood. The best spot for a photo is at the second-floor staircase on the east side of Shekou Market, overlooking the colorful awnings and crowds; the light is best between 7 and 9 am.
Nearby dining options: Rice noodle roll shops and fish ball noodle shops near the market entrance offer affordable prices and have a better wok hei (wok aroma) than chain stores in shopping malls. For a more formal meal, there are roast meat stalls and Chaoshan-style rice noodle rolls on Shekou Old Street; order a platter and relax.
III. Nanhai E-Cool – The old factory buildings are more attractive at 4 PM than the weekend market.
Nanhai E-Park, converted from an old factory building in the Shekou Industrial Zone, has no entrance fee or photo booths. At 4 PM on a weekday afternoon, sunlight streamed through the old window frames onto the design company's signboard, and art students were sketching at the stairwell corner. It's worth stopping for ten minutes to see how an old factory building has had its original structure preserved, rather than being plastered with neon signs. The best vantage point is the corridor between buildings five and six, shooting upwards at 4 PM against the backlight, capturing the old steel windows and greenery with depth and dimension.
Nearby dining options: A small shop in Shekou, diagonally opposite the E-Coo, offers affordable beef offal and sweet soup, perfect for a break after a long walk. There are also several neighborhood cafes nearby; the folding chairs outside are more sought after than those inside.
IV. G&G Creative Community and Shekou Cinema – Locals' Living Room and Street Theater
G&G Creative Community was originally an old factory, but now it feels more like a public living room for the people of Shekou. On weekends, there are sometimes small markets or independent film screenings, while on weekdays it's so quiet you can hear the wind rustling through the tin roof. It's worth stopping for ten minutes: look at the handwritten event blackboard at the entrance, and if there's a street theater or open mic show, just sit on the steps and watch. The best spot for taking photos is next to the old yellow iron gate in the G&G atrium; the sidelight at 3 pm makes portrait photography less harsh.
Dining options nearby: The community offers light meals and handmade bread at mid-range prices, with portions suitable for one person. For something more local, head to the Chaozhou fish congee restaurant on Liyuan Road. It only opens at 5 PM, and their shrimp and crab congee is incredibly fresh.
5. Sihai Park – The lounge chairs in the community park are the epitome of relaxation in Shenzhen.
Sihai Park isn't a tourist attraction; it's the backyard garden of Shekou locals. The stone benches by the lake, the old men playing chess, and the teenagers ice skating—they're more authentic than any art installation. It's worth stopping for ten minutes: watch a free local life exhibition at the pavilion in the middle of the lake, or sit for a while under the lychee grove. The best spot for photos is the Nine-Arch Bridge at the park's east entrance, capturing the lake's reflections and the people doing their morning exercises; early morning or evening is ideal.
Nearby dining options: There are well-established wonton noodle shops and Hakka pickled noodles near the north gate of the park, costing only a few dozen yuan per person, and the taste is consistently good. If it's summer, grab a cup of herbal tea from a roadside stall – it's more refreshing than milk tea.
6. Ximu Sunian Bookstore – The lights in this independent bookstore are more photogenic than the Instagrammable walls.
Walking from Sihai Park to Zizhuyuan Park, you'll find Ximu Sunian Bookstore tucked away on the ground floor of an old residential building, its small entrance easily missed. Inside, old books are piled high to the ceiling, the owner has a cat, and book clubs are occasionally held. It's worth stopping for ten minutes: find an old edition of a Shenzhen local history, sit by the window and watch passersby. The best spot for a photo is hidden among the greenery near the bookstore entrance; at 7 pm, the warm yellow lights create a more story-filled picture than the murals on the Dafen wall.
Nearby dining options: There's a community canteen and a Northeastern dumpling restaurant on the next street, costing only a few dozen yuan per person, with thin wrappers and generous fillings. If you're craving dessert, walk back to the vicinity of Garden City; there's an old-fashioned herbal jelly shop.
7. Outside the Sea World Culture and Arts Center – Photo spots only, no entry to the exhibition hall.
Many are drawn to the spiral staircase at the Sea World Culture and Arts Centre, but the queue for photos on weekends can stretch halfway around the building. Locals prefer its perimeter: the waterfront promenade, the Nuwa Mending the Sky statue, and the pier. It's worth stopping for ten minutes to photograph the angle between the building and the sea from the perimeter. Before entering the exhibition hall, think carefully about whether you're really there for the exhibition; otherwise, the perimeter is free, which is even better. The best spot is on the southeast corner waterfront pier; at 5 pm, the sunset paints the glass curtain wall gold, and it's less crowded then.
Dining options nearby: Walk to the Sea World food court, where international cuisine tends to be mid-to-high-end, perfect for finishing your evening meal. If you're on a budget, head towards Shui Wan MTR station, where you can find roast meats and braised pork knuckle rice.
In closing: Don't ask the locals if I didn't tell you.
1. Season: Shenzhen is best for this trip from late October to March of the following year when it is neither humid nor sunny; from June to August, there are often afternoon thunderstorms, so remember to bring an umbrella and wear non-slip shoes.
2. Target audience: Suitable for people who enjoy urban observation and independent shops; if you are only looking for good photos, Dafen Oil Painting Village and OCT Creative Park may be more satisfying for your photo-taking desires, but don't blame the crowds.
3. Time: Tuesday to Friday afternoons are the most comfortable. Many small shops in Shekou are closed on Mondays. G&G may have events on weekends, but it will be crowded. Avoid holidays.
IV. Transportation: The entire route is accessible by subway. Enter from Dongjiaotou and exit from Sea World. No need to take a taxi. Wear a pair of old sneakers, as some of the floors in Nanhai E-Park are still old terrazzo.
5. Mindset: This route has no breathtaking "attractions," only a leisurely pace rarely seen in Shenzhen; don't approach it with a stamp-collecting mentality, just go wherever the road takes you.