“The romance of Shenzhen lies 547.6 meters above the ground.” Standing on the 116th-floor Skywalk of Ping An Finance Center, beneath your feet is the bustling Shennan Avenue, in the distance is the interlocking Shenzhen-Hong Kong skyline connected by Shenzhen Bay Bridge, on your left is the glass forest of Futian CBD, and on your right is the emerald outline of Lianhuashan Park. Known as “Shenzhen’s Fountain Pen,” this skyscraper is not only the 5th tallest building in the world but also the best vantage point to unlock Shenzhen’s panoramic view. The choice of over 8 million tourists in Futian District in 2025 proves: only by visiting the Skywalk can you truly understand Shenzhen’s “height and speed.”
🚀 Core Experiences: 5 Thrilling Moments from Elevator to Clouds
1. 55 Seconds “Through the Clouds”: China’s Fastest Observation Elevator
The ultra-high-speed elevator with a speed of 10 meters per second is like a “vertical roller coaster,” taking only 55 seconds to reach the 116th floor from the ground. The OLED dynamic screen inside the elevator synchronously plays naked-eye 3D images: from farmland villages in 1980 to today’s skyscraper clusters, Shenzhen’s 40-year changes are condensed in the ascent. Those who are timid may grip the handrail due to the visual sense of weightlessness, while the bold can look up to feel the illusion of “breaking through the clouds.”
2. Guinness-Certified Glass Observation Deck: A 547-Meter-High Heart-Pounding Challenge
In the 1,400-square-meter 360° fully transparent observation hall, the most shocking is the Guinness World Record-certified “highest glass-bottom cantilevered observation platform.” Stepping on the transparent glass, you are 500 meters above the ground, with the traffic on Shennan Avenue scurrying like ants and the buildings in Futian CBD seemingly within reach. Tested best photography tips: wear light-colored clothing (to avoid dark colors absorbing light and making your face look dark), shoot from a low angle looking up at the edge of the glass platform to create a “floating in the clouds” effect with perspective, and the “non-reflective area” on the east side allows glare-free night photography.
3. AR Navigation + High-Tech Experiences: See Shenzhen Through Time and Space
The newly added AR navigation in 2025 is a hidden highlight! Scan the QR code with your mobile phone and aim at the outside, and the farmland in 1980, factories in the 1990s, and today’s CBD will be superimposed. Even the construction process of Ping An Finance Center can be dynamically replayed. In addition, the must-try projects include:
- VR “Sky Coaster”: An immersive thrilling experience shuttling between the north and south towers
- Green Screen Studio: Compose creative blockbusters such as helicopter ladders and hot air balloons (free shooting, printing requires payment)
- Starry Sky Projection: After 7 PM every night, the ceiling projects the Milky Way, matching the city lights as if “standing in the universe looking at Shenzhen”
4. 114th-Floor Damper: High-Tech Against Typhoons of Category 17
Take the elevator down to the 114th floor to see the “heart” of the building—a giant damper weighing 400 tons. The commentator will detail its principle of resisting typhoons of category 17 and earthquakes of magnitude 8. The sight of the metal sphere swinging slightly with the air flow allows people to intuitively feel the engineering miracle of super high-rise buildings, making it suitable for children to learn scientific principles.
5. Sunrise, Sunset + Light Show: A Visual Feast of Three Scenes a Day
- Sunrise (6:30-7:30): Overlook the city’s central axis waking up from darkness to the north, with mist lingering over Lianhuashan Park
- Sunset (17:00-18:00): Shenzhen Bay is dyed golden to the west, with the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor connecting the two banks like a ribbon
- Light Show (19:30 and 20:30 every Friday/Saturday): Ping An Finance Center turns into a giant screen, cooperating with the Civic Center Light Show to interpret the “Shenzhen Speed” theme animation. The best viewing spots are the west-facing windows of the observation deck or the Civic Center Square downstairs
📝 Practical Guide: Pitfall Avoidance + Money-Saving Tips
Tickets & Opening Hours (2025 Latest)
| Ticket Type | Price | Remarks |
| Adult Ticket (Book 1 Day in Advance Online) | 180 RMB | 200 RMB at the scene; recommended to book via official WeChat account |
| Student Ticket | 160 RMB | Student ID required; 50 RMB special tickets available on some platforms |
| Senior Ticket (60+) | 120 RMB | ID card required for purchase |
| Child Ticket (1.2-1.5m) | 100 RMB | Free for children under 1.2m |
| Double Ticket | 360 RMB | Book 1 day in advance to save 40 RMB |
Opening Hours:
- Weekdays/Sundays: 10:00-20:00 (last entry at 19:15)
- Fridays/Saturdays: 10:00-21:00 (last entry at 20:15)
- Chinese New Year’s Eve: 10:00-18:00 (last entry at 17:15)
Transportation Guide (Subway Preferred)
- Subway: Line 1/3 “Shopping Park Station” Exit D, 5-minute walk (highly recommended); Line 3/4 “Futian Station” Exit 1, 5-minute walk
- Bus: No. 3, 64, E25, etc., get off at “Shopping Park Subway Station”
- Self-Driving: It is recommended to park at COCO Park Parking Lot (2 hours free for members); Ping An Finance Center Parking Lot is more expensive at 15 RMB/hour
- Traffic Avoidance Tip: Shennan Avenue is congested from 7-9 AM on weekdays; prioritize subway travel
10 Pitfall Avoidance Tips (Tested by Locals)
- Avoid the peak hours of 10:00-14:00 on weekends (waiting time over 1 hour); the least crowded time is after 3 PM on weekdays
- Don’t buy the 80 RMB/photo shooting package in the scenic area; mobile phone night mode takes more natural photos
- The air conditioning is extremely cold at high altitude; be sure to bring a thin jacket (even in summer)
- Wear pants or long skirts to avoid exposure on the glass platform
- The glass platform has limited load-bearing capacity; do not let many people stand together
- Outside food and drinks are not allowed; there is a coffee shop and light meals at the observation deck (pricey)
- Visibility is limited on rainy days; check the weather forecast in advance
- Bring your ID card! Student/senior discounts require real-name verification
- There is a free luggage storage on the 116th floor; traveling light makes viewing more comfortable
- For festival events (such as May Day drone show), make reservations 3 days in advance
🗺️ Surrounding Itineraries: 1-2 Day Tour in Futian CBD
🌟 1-Day Essential Itinerary (Walking + Subway)
09:00 Lianhuashan Park (Free) → Climb to Deng Xiaoping Bronze Statue Square to overlook the panoramic view of CBD11:00 Civic Center → Visit Shenzhen Library (photography at the Sky Corridor) + Concert Hall12:30 COCO Park Food Street → Lunch (Recommended: Chaoshan Beef Hot Pot/Hakka Cuisine)14:30 Ping An Finance Center Skywalk → 3-hour in-depth experience (including VR + photography)18:00 Shuiwei Village 1979 Cultural Park → Dinner (Salt-Baked Chicken + Stuffed Tofu, average 60 RMB per person)20:30 Civic Center Light Show → End of itinerary🌟 2-Day Extended Itinerary
- Day 2 Morning: Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center (visit exhibitions/fashion week, free reservation) → Morning Tea at Huanggang Village (Golden Emperor Prawn Dumplings)
- Day 2 Afternoon: Sea World Culture and Arts Center (direct access via Line 2) → Yantian Coastal Boardwalk (Yantianxu Station on Line 8)
- Transportation Connection: Take Line 8 from Futian to Yantian (1 hour’s ride); hike on the boardwalk to enjoy the sea view + seafood dinner
🍜 Food Map: Modernity and Fireworks in CBD
1. Within Walking Distance (15 Minutes)
- High-End Option: Din Tai Fung on the 4th floor of Ping An Finance Center, crab roe xiaolongbao with cloud view
- Cost-Effective Option: “Old Shenzhen Wonton Noodles” on B1 floor, 25 RMB bamboo noodles + water chestnut wontons
- Internet Celebrity Check-In: %Arabica Coffee at COCO Park Open-Air Plaza, enjoy drinks while watching street performances
2. Short Drive (10 Minutes)
- Shuiwei Village 1979 Cultural Park: Hakka Building Salt-Baked Chicken, Chaoshan Seafood Porridge
- Huanggang Village: Golden Emperor Morning Tea (Prawn Dumplings, Steamed Chicken Feet, average 50 RMB per person)
- Meilin Food Street: Hakka Three Stuffed Treasures, Pickled Noodles (suitable for 2-day tour extension)
3. Festival Limited: 2025 Futian Food Festival (April-May)
Held at COCO Park, gathering local snacks such as Chaoshan Beef Balls and Guangzhou Clay Pot Rice; 20% discount with Skywalk ticket
🎉 2025 Festival Event Guide
| Event | Time | Highlights |
| Shenzhen Fashion Week | March | Free reservation at Convention & Exhibition Center, designer new product shows |
| Futian Litchi Festival | June | Pick litchis at Meilin Reservoir (100 RMB per person, all-you-can-eat) |
| Additional Light Show Sessions | May Day/National Day | Drone show + theme light show |
| Futian Shopping Festival | December | Business district discounts + lucky draw for Skywalk tickets |
| Vertical Marathon | May 20th | Challenge 3,201 steps to the 116th floor |
💡 Ultimate Itinerary Suggestions
- For Photographers: Enter at 16:00 PM to take consecutive photos of sunset + night view + light show, gaining three types of landscapes
- For Family Trips: Enter at 10:00 AM, first experience AR navigation + damper explanation to avoid crowds
- For Couples: Enter at 19:00 PM on Fridays to watch the light show + starry sky projection; proposing on the glass platform is super romantic
- For Budget Travelers: Follow the official WeChat account “Futian Culture, Sports and Tourism” for free Skywalk tickets often given away during festival events
🏨 Accommodation Recommendations
- High-End: Park Hyatt Shenzhen (2-minute walk, room with light show view, over 1,500 RMB/night)
- Cost-Effective: Futian CBD Homestays (near subway, 300-500 RMB/night, fully equipped)
- For Students: Youth Hostels near Shopping Park (150-200 RMB/night, convenient transportation)
