As the New Year’s Day holiday approaches, Shenzhen’s tourism market has entered a “pre-heating mode”, showing a gratifying momentum of “diverse offerings and booming visitor flow”.
Theme parks are brimming with a wide array of activities. From the intangible cultural heritage lantern show at Splendid China to the technological fireworks display at Window of the World, from IP collaborations at Happy Valley to family-friendly fun at Xiaomeisha Beach, immersive New Year’s Eve experiences are crafted for both locals and tourists. Young people gather in this coastal hub for concerts by renowned singers such as Sandy Lam and Chang Chen-yue, driving up booking volumes for nearby hotels and transportation services. Sports and leisure activities are also invigorating the city—events like the Shenzhen 100km Hiking Marathon and the New Year Celebration Carnival attract numerous outdoor enthusiasts, allowing them to soak up the city’s vitality amidst mountains and seas. With the diversified integration of “technology + culture + ecology”, Shenzhen is presenting a rich and colorful New Year’s Day cultural and tourism feast for residents and visitors alike.
Theme Parks Kick Off New Year Celebration Season
As night falls, the 530,000-square-meter sea of lanterns at Shenzhen Splendid China illuminates instantly. Exquisitely designed lanterns bloom one after another, depicting mythical figures with fluttering robes and delicate pavilions and towers. Tradition and light and shadow blend seamlessly at this moment. As early as December 5, the 2026 Shenzhen Splendid China Spring Festival Lantern Show and Intangible Cultural Heritage Chinese New Year Celebration kicked off with the lantern-lighting ceremony, welcoming guests from all over the world.
“The lantern show uses modern technology to present traditional culture—it’s both visually appealing and entertaining!” said Mr. Li, a retired teacher. “I saw many children guessing lantern riddles while their parents explained the stories behind them. This is the best way to inherit culture.”
Starting from December 25, Shenzhen Window of the World launched the “Sparkling New Year Celebration Season”, with the grand premiere of Napoleon Legend, the opening masterpiece of the “World Cultural Epic” series. Between the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower replicas, with the sky and earth as the stage, a panoramic immersive experience unfolds. Technological fireworks from the Eiffel Tower replica shine in harmony with the brand-new lighting effects, and knight sword dances accompanied by high-altitude special effects take the stage spectacularly. There is also the romantic “Star Flash Carnival Balloon Rain”, where thousands of glittering balloons carrying wishes and dreams drift down from the sky, weaving a brilliant and joyful night scene together with the cheering crowds and dazzling lights on the ground.
To celebrate the New Year’s Day holiday, Shenzhen Happy Valley will launch a special 4-day limited-time New Year’s theme event—the “Shining Joy Festival”—from December 31, 2025 to January 3, 2026. Centered around collaborations with the Peacekeeper Elite IP, New Year’s Eve balloon rain, park-wide snow experience and revamped theme parades, the event combines non-stop diverse performances day and night with over 40 amusement rides, aiming to provide residents with a new holiday option that is full of New Year’s rituals and winter ambiance.
Youth Hub: Star-studded Concerts
For many tourists, attending a New Year’s Eve concert in Shenzhen is one of the main motivations for their New Year’s holiday trip. They visit exhibitions, explore trendy stores and check in at popular landmarks during the day, and ring in the New Year amidst the chorus of thousands at concerts at night. According to Tuniu’s booking data, among cities hosting New Year’s Eve concerts on December 31, 2025, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan and Shenzhen rank high in booking popularity. Booking volumes for flights, train tickets and hotels near concert venues in these destinations have all seen significant growth.
Journalists learned that from December 31 to January 4, 2026, the Shenzhen Bay area will be shining with star power. Two heavyweight singers in the music industry, Sandy Lam and Chang Chen-yue, will hold consecutive concerts, presenting a double feast of New Year’s Eve special edition and final limited edition shows, igniting the audience with classic melodies and youthful rhythms. Meanwhile, Luohu District will host the “Singing Luohu—2026 Vitality New Year Music Party” at Shenye Taifu International Home Furnishing Plaza from December 31 to January 1, creating a New Year’s Eve carnival that integrates culture, commerce and tourism.
Tuniu’s data shows that post-80s and post-90s family tourists are the main force of New Year’s Eve trips, accounting for over 70% of total bookings. The participation rate of post-00s young tourists in New Year’s Eve trips has increased significantly, making up more than 20% of the total booking volume.
Where to take kids during Shenzhen’s New Year’s Day holiday? On December 27, the pre-sale benefits for the Xiaomeisha “New Wish” Penguin Festival were officially launched. Xiaomeisha Ocean World will bring cute and joyful experiences to tourists with its group of adorable Antarctic penguins. Xiaomeisha Beach Park will also feature New Year’s carnivals with dynamic music and dance performances, as well as the highly ritualistic activity of lighting up the coast with sky lanterns.
Sports and Leisure Activities Boost Vitality
From 9:00 on December 27 to 7:00 on December 28, the 25th Shenzhen 100km Hiking Marathon in 2025 kicked off at Guangming District Mass Sports Center, with thousands of outdoor enthusiasts once again exploring Shenzhen on foot.
Liu Tao, a programmer and one of the hikers, sighed, “After spending a long time in the world of code, I need to return to the real world to feel the warmth of the land. Participating in the 100km hiking event, I met strangers from all walks of life—we encouraged each other and shared food and water. I felt a surge of vitality and kindness.” It is understood that this year’s 100km route carefully connects diverse landmarks such as Hongqiao Park, Guangming Country Trail, Dapingzhang Forest Park and Guangming Science City Smart Park. The approximately 73-kilometer route integrates urban greenways, rural mountains and forests, and the scenery of the technology new town, allowing participants to experience the symbiosis of Shenzhen’s natural ecology and urban vitality with every step and every view, and explore their ideal “faraway land” on foot.
During the New Year’s Day holiday, celebrating the New Year through sports has become a new trend among residents. The “Smart Start to New Year’s Day, Run Towards 2026 Huiyun Smart Run City-wide New Year Celebration Carnival” will be held at three major venues in Shenzhen on January 1, 2026. The event will take place at Shenzhen Bay Park, Bijia Mountain-Lianhua Mountain and Shanhai Liancheng venues. Residents can step out of their homes and welcome 2026 through healthy leisure activities such as hiking and running, and feel the city’s vitality amidst mountains and seas.
