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Shìmín Zhōngxīn metro, exit B). It showcases the city’s short yet dynamic history of social transformation before and after Deng Xiaoping’s policies of gǎigé kāifàng (reform and opening) through spectacular life-sized dioramas and massive interactive multimedia presentations. The most interesting exhibits include the collections of propaganda art popular in the 1940s and the colourful scale models in the folk culture hall. The old Shenzhen Museum (Shēnzhèn Bówùguǎn Lǎoguǎn; 0755-8210 1036; Tongzin Lu, Futian; h9am-5pm; Kěxué Guǎn metro, exit A, 3, 12, 101, 102 or 104) in Litchi Park (Lìzhī Gōngyuán) has been converted into a museum of ancient arts that has less interesting displays of some 20,000 jade, porcelain and bronze artefacts.

Culture junkies rejoice: arts scenes are no longer a pipedream in this Temple of Mammon. For a complete list of museums, arts and cultural events, pick up a copy of the bi-monthly Life Art Map, available at museums. The city’s cultural ambition is obvious, especially in the Overseas Chinese Town, 15km west of Shenzhen City. The OCT-LOFT Art Terminal (Huáqiáochéng Chuàngyì Wénhuàyuán; 0755-2691 5100; Enping Lu, Overseas Chinese Town; 10am-5.30pm Tue-Sun; Qiáochéng dōng metro, exit A) is an ambitious project intended to attract artists to gather and explore, discuss and consume. This excellent museum complex exhibits works of international and local contempor-ary Chinese artists. Some communist-era warehouses have been converted into artists’ studios, hip cafes and bars.

Just one metro stop from the Art Terminal is He Xiangning Art Gallery (Héxiāngníng Měishùguǎn; 0755-2660 4540; www.hxnart.com; 9013 Shennan Lu; admission Y20, free on Fri; 10am-5.30pm Tue-Sun; Huáqiáochéng metro, exit C, 245 from Shenzhen Bay Port). It has an esoteric collection of hybrid Japanese/Chinese water paintings by the legendary late master of modern Chinese art, He Xiangning. Pick up a pamphlet in English at the ticket office, as there are no English descriptions by the displays. Adjacent is the Beijing Water Cube–like OCT Art & Design Gallery (Huá Měishùguǎn; 0755-3399 3111; www.oct-and.com; 9009 Shennan Lu; adult/student Y18/8; 10am-5.30pm Tue-Sun). The focus of this new gallery is on fresh, mainland avant-garde designers. A marvellous collection of innovative design pieces in various art forms is on display. Exhibits change frequently.

Just a few minutes’ walk from the gallery is a series of dated theme parks that are always packed with snap-happy Chinese tourists. They’re fun destinations for a family day out. Window of the World (Shìjiè Zhīchuāng; 0755-2690 2840, 0755-2660 8000; www.szwwco.com; adult/child under 12yr Y120/60; 9am-10.30pm; Shìjiè Zhīchuāng metro, exit J, 90 or 245 from Shenzhen Bay Port) hosts a collection of scale replicas of famous world monuments. Foreigners being misidentified as part of the exhibits is not unheard of.

Reverse roles at the adjacent Splendid China (Jǐnxiù Zhōnghuá; 0755-2660 0626; www.cn5000.com.cn; adult/child under 12yr incl entry to China Folk Culture Village Y120/60; 9am-6pm; Huáqiáochéng metro, exit B, 245 from Shenzhen Bay Port), home to miniature replicas of China’s own famous sights. Included in the admission is China Folk Culture Village (Zhōngguó Mínsú Wénhuà Cūn; 0755-2660 0626; www.cn5000.com.cn; adult/child under 12yr incl entry to Splendid China Y120/60; 9am-10pm; Huáqiáochéng metro, exit B), which has two-dozen faux minority villages complete with minority-culture demonstrations. A mini-monorail run by the Shenzhen Happy Line Tour Co links the three parks, along with several other sights.

Some 20km east of Shenzhen City, a whopping Y3.5 billion went into making OCT East (Dōngbù Huáqiáochéng; 0755-2503 1837; www.octeast.com; Dàméishā, Yantian District; admission Y200-229; 9.30am-6pm), an upmarket and incredibly beautiful theme-park-cum-resort that will certainly awe you. It feels like a supersized Universal Studios plus Chinese Disneyland, with a mock Swiss village, a golf complex, a tea valley and luxurious hotels to keep you entertained and pampered.