True to its name, Tri Space New+ Youth reimagines what a bookstore can be. Visitors are asked to remove their shoes before entering — a small ritual that signals the shift into a relaxed, home-like environment.

Tucked away in Shekou, Coffee Flower Book feels like a well-kept secret. Soft yellow lamps cast a gentle glow over stacks of books that seem to breathe history.

The Nanshan, Yantian, Longgang and Bao’an energy ecological parks are four urban waste treatment facilities operated by Shenzhen Energy Environment Co., Ltd. They are not only waste-to-energy plants that use innovative solutions, but also public science and technology education centers and leisure destinations — turning NIMBY (not in my backyard) into YIMBY (yes in my backyard).

OCT-LOFT, a vibrant cultural park that blends raw industrial architecture with creative design, contemporary art and avant-garde music, has recently turned two buildings near its south entrance into a lively block called LOFT53.

Shekou Sea World is an internationally-minded enclave of bars, clubs and live music venues, alongside plenty of restaurants and cafes.

Bookworms and art lovers will marvel at the astonishing shū qiáng (literarily “book wall”) at this cultural center, an architectural cliff-face of illuminated bookshelves.

A high-end venue for live music, showcasing a diverse lineup ranging from folk guitarists to hip-hop artists and electronic beats.

From hair metal to experimental jazz, all genres are equal at this warehouse live-music venue that welcomes eclectic performers from around the world.