Early this week, Shenzhen Metro Line 12 and the spur line of Line 6 started operation. Nicknamed “King of Transfer,” Line 12, with 33 stations, covers most areas in the far west Shenzhen and encourages passengers to explore more places via transfer stations on lines 1, 2, 5, 9 11 and 20. The following are some of the best spots worth a visit on Line 12:

Zuopaotai East Station 左炮台东站

A cannon is on display at the Left Fort. Cao Zhen

From this station, people can walk to the Left Fort (左炮台) in the far southwest corner of Shenzhen. The site has witnessed the centuries-old coastal defense history in Guangdong. From the 16th century to the 19th century, Chinese armies and people defeated Portuguese, Dutch and British invaders in the sea of Chiwan. The Left and Right Forts were built in 1669 and used to have 12 cannons. They played a critical role in the defense during the Opium Wars in the 19th century.

The statue of Lin Zexu at the Left Fort. Cao Zhen

Today, on the remaining site of the Left Fort, the statue of opium smuggling fighter Lin Zexu, a cannon on a sea-view platform, old barracks and stone steps all tell the past stories of those brave people who had protected China.

Also within walking distance, people can check out I-Factory (价值工厂), an exhibition and event space transformed from the old Guangdong Float Glass Factory. Its Instagrammable vertical silos offer a unique, otherworldly space; graffiti and 3D projection mapping shows on the façades breathe new life into the aging behemoth.

Visitors take selfies at “The Siløs Metaverse” exhibition at I-Factory. Sun Yuchen

Taiziwan Station 太子湾站

Shekou Cruise Homeport. Sun Yuchen

Taiziwan Station is very close to the Shekou Cruise Homeport (蛇口邮轮母港), the largest international cruise homeport in South China. From there, you can take a short voyage on a sightseeing cruiser to appreciate some iconic spots on the sea in west Shenzhen and beyond.

Sea World Station 海上世界站

An aerial view of the Sea World in Shekou. Sun Yuchen

Located in the social hub of Shekou, Sea World Station offers transfers between Metro lines 2 and 12. Sea World, boasting a wide array of cuisine from all over the world, is home to the majority of expats in Shenzhen and a tourist attraction for visitors. At the Olé supermarket in nearby Gateway One (汇港购物中心), you can buy a variety of international products.

Moving southward to the seafront, the Sea World Culture and Arts Center (海上世界文化艺术中心) is a premiere art, design and performance complex and Pier Park (防波堤公园) on the Shenzhen Bay Coastal Leisure Belt is an ideal place to relax and view the sea.

A view of Nanhai E-Cool. Sun Yuchen

Nanhai E-Cool (南海意库) to the north is a center for more than 100 creative enterprises in the sectors of architecture, industrial design, art creation and landscape design.

Huaguoshan Station 花果山站

A view of the G&G Creative Community. File photo

From this station, people can quickly walk to the G&G Creative Community (G&G创意社区), a trendy, hangout complex focusing on community connections and new lifestyles. Events and parties are regularly held on weekends and holidays, celebrating music, dance, contemporary art, wine and more.

As a part of the Shekou Coastal Cultural and Creative Street Block, Shekou Net Valley (蛇口网谷), within walking distance of the Metro station, is an internet and e-commerce industrial base integrated with high technology and cultural industry.

Sihai Station 四海站

Sihai Park

Shekou is an amazing neighborhood in Shenzhen and you can find peace at Sihai Park (四海公园). Built in 1987, the park has a beautiful waterfront environment; lush plants provide a rich habitat for biological communities; sports tracks, plank roads, landscape pavilions and bridges draw in residents of all ages to linger. At the Walmart (沃尔玛) supermarket near Garden City Center (花园城中心), you’ll find all the tastes from home.

Nanyou Station 南油站

Nanyou Station offers transfer to Line 9 and is adjacent to the Raffles City (来福士广场) shopping and dining mall. Palace LUXE Cinema (深圳百丽宫影城) in Raffles City is currently holding the Abbas Kiarostami retrospective movie screening.

Taoyuan Station 桃园站

Taoyuan Station is an interchange station of lines 1 and 12. The most popular spot near the station is Nanshan Museum (南山博物馆), which has hosted several hot exhibitions, showcasing rarely seen artifacts such as Afghan treasures, Syrian relics and Egyptian golden mummies. The museum also undertakes the Nanshan history and the ancient Maritime Silk Road history research work.

The west side of Nanshan Museum faces the Nanshan Library (南山图书馆) and its north faces the Nanshan Cultural and Sports Center (南山文体中心).

Nantou Ancient City Station 南头古城站

From this station, visitors can have quick access to Nantou Ancient Town (南头古城), which has a history of almost 1,700 years. Known as the historical and cultural root of Shenzhen and Hong Kong, the town boasts the typical Cantonese architectural style in most of its houses. Inside the town, Dongguan Guildhall (东莞会馆) built in 1868 and the Xin’an County Government Office (新安县衙), a reproduction of the original that operated from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to the early 20th century, are worth a visit. In 2020, some parts of the town were renovated for food and beverage businesses, cultural spaces and creative product stores.

Zhongshan Park Station 中山公园站

A relief sculpture of Sun Yat-sen is seen in Zhongshan Park. Yang Mei

To the north of Nantou Ancient Town is Zhongshan Park (中山公园) where you will find a remaining wall of Nantou Ancient Town built in 1394. Pick some flowers at Dutch Flower Town (荷兰花卉小镇) to the west side of Zhongshan Park. The flower town is a popular place where you can buy flowers, pets, rocks and garden supplies and take selfies in front of European-style houses, windmills, a flower terrace and other Dutch symbols including a pair of large wooden shoes.