Exploring Bao’an Central
Bao’an District of Shenzhen is going through somewhat of a renewal with gleaming new residential hi-rises popping up along with shopping malls and more. At its heart is the 40,000 seat Bao’an Stadium adjacent to which is the 8000 seat gymnasium and swimming center which features an indoor competition and training pool plus outdoor pools.
The sports centers take up two complete blocks which also feature loads of public space including basketball half-courts, ping pong tables, and exercise equipment. Apart from having a healthy aspect, I wonder how many of China’s future sports stars will emerge from the area.
Across from the stadium is a Starbucks, Walmart Ajisen Ramen, Pizza Hut, KFC and Wal Mart. There’s also a boutique coffee shop, Moon River, located at the at the metro exit B of Bao’an Stadium Station which leads to this little shopping and casual dining area.
At the other end of the sports stadium, on Chuangye 1st Road, there’s a bar street emerging with two cozy bars/cafes already open. Across from that is a McDonalds, a Vanguard supermarket and in the middle of the 5th Avenue Apartment buildings is a long open pedestrian shopping street, at the time of writing being a new development all the shops will still empty apart from a restaurant and small movie theater.
At the intersection of Xinhu Road and Yuan 1st Road, there’s an electronics market, SEG same as at Huaqiangbei, which spans across 4 floors including components, pc accessories, phone accessories, mobile phones, computers, and laptops. There are many brand name products along with cheaper generic items for sale.
At Bao’an Center Station, which is only a block away from the stadium station, is Commercial Field Plaza where there’s a Jusco (Japanese supermarket), movie cinema, Cafe De’Coral, coffee shop and several bakeries. Upstairs there are a few more eateries including a Raindrops Cafe, a large Cantonese restaurant with great Dim Sum (Dian Xin) and a small Cantonese cafe offering great value eats.
At the Bao’an Center Station you can jump onto the Huangzhong Line and head towards Qianhaiwan where there isn’t much at the moment but looking at the plans Qinhai is going to be one very special area. Many are touting it as a new ‘Hong Kong’ and even comparisons to Singapore, which is not surprising considering the price reports of residential properties already sold and yet to be constructed.
Heading in the other direction along the Huangzhong Line you can get off Lingzhi Station and head out exit A, turn about, then 2 minutes walk along Qianjin 1st Road and you’ll find a Metro supermarket stocking lots of imported foodstuffs. If you head along Qianjin 1st Rd in the other direction there’s a Haiya Department store and McDonalds. Nearby is Bao’an Art City which has 5 floors of individual stores selling traditional Chinese style artworks and some contemporary works.
Nearby, but a short taxi ride away on Jinhua Road is the YEM Hotel Culture and Property Complex and Huibao kitchen supplies market, which is a very handy place if you are looking for kitchen equipment whether for home or restaurant. Across the road from this is the Western Jewellery Market which is a relatively new building featuring several floors of gold, silver, jade and other jewellery. Nearby on the corner of Qianjin 2nd Rd and Xin’an 4th Rd there is a big new jewellery center called the Gem’s Cube Expo which has a four-star hotel attached being the Gems Cube International Hotel.
Also in the vicinity of Lingzhi Station is the new Haiya Mega Mall, a massive mall that takes most of the block between Jin’an 1st Rd, Xinzhen West Rd and Baomin 1st Rd it features a mix of residential, luxury shopping, dining, and leisure. There’s also several shops along Jin’an 1st Rd and Xinghua 2nd Rd.
Back on metro line 1 and a short walk from Pingzhou Station is the new Times Mall, a small shopping mall but head down Baoyuan Rd and you’ll find and there are new developments of residential and offices plus a sparkling new wild looking 5-Star Avant Garde hotel and F518 Idea Land which is some kind of incubation area for creatives.
And that’s just a little of what Bao’an Center has to offer.
Bao’an Center map featuring my picks of the top hotels
The Bonanza Hotel
4 star
Guangdong, China
Not to be confused with Haiya Mega Mall...
Bao'an, Shenzhen, China, 518126
Bao'an, Shenzhen, China, 518126
Bao'an, Shenzhen, China, 518126
Bao'an, Shenzhen, China, 518126
Where to stay in Baoan? Check out my picks of the top hotels in Bao’an District
