The name of Shenzhen first appeared in 1410 during the Ming Dynasty. Local people called the drains in paddy fields "zhen" or "chong". The name "Shenzhen" means "deep drains", because this is an area crisscrossed with rivers and streams, and there are deep drains in the paddy fields. Shenzhen became a township at the beginning of the Qing Dynasty.

 

Shenzhen is one of the most populous cities in China. It is situated in Guangdong Province adjacent to Hong Kong. It is approximately 100 kilometres (62 mi) south of China's third-largest city, Guangzhou. The city is on the list of UNESCO Creative Cities.

Downtown

 

In 1979, Shenzhen — then a group of farming and fishing communities along the Hong Kong border with a total population of a few hundred thousand — was designated the first of China's Special Economic Zones (SEZs). The plan was to create a sealed off enclave to experiment with market reforms and performance incentives without posing a threat or risk to the established political and economic system elsewhere in China. Shenzhen won the honor because of its proximity to the abundant capital resources and management expertise across the border in Hong Kong. Since then, it has been a real boom town and today is a bustling city of 14 million. 

 

Church (Catholic & Christian) in Shenzhen

 

 Shenzhen Christian Church (Mandarin)

 

  Address: 126 Meilin Road, Futian 

 

  Phone: 0755-83118817

 

  Worship service: Sunday 9am / 12pm / 7:30pm

 

  Note: there is also an English bible study group there every Sunday afternoon (2-5pm)

 

- Catholic Shenzhen St. Anthony Church (Mandarin & English)

 

  Phone: 0755-83197191

 

  Worship service: Sunday 9am-10:30am (Mandarin), 11:30am-12:30pm (English)

 

Bao'an

 

- Bao An Christian Church of Shenzhen (Mandarin)

 

  Address: No 4, Lot 75, Liutang Road, BaoAn 

 

Nanshan

 

- Shenzhen Nanshan Church (Mandarin)

 

  Address: 2/F, Building 4, 1124 Nanshan Road (Industrial area of the Nanyou property)

 

Buddhist Temples in Shenzhen

 

Hong Fa Temple

Hong Fa Temple is arguably Shenzhen’s only major Buddhist temple. It is housed within the Shenzhen Fairy Lake Botanical Garden, a picturesque property located in the Wutong Mountains. The temple’s expansive design allows for leisurely exploration and its location within the botanical garden makes it the ideal destination for a day of roaming around. While the lake itself is the biggest draw and should not be missed, the temple and other attractions are guaranteed to please.

 

Add: Shenzhen Fairy Lake Botanical Garden, Lian Tang Area, Xianhu Road, Yantian District, Shenzhen

 

Dongshan Monastery

Dongshan Monastery, first built in 1394, is a monastery of the Zen Buddhism in Southern China. It is situated south of Mount Longtou (dragon head) which in ancient time was variably called Jiufeng or Dongshan (East Mountain, probably because it is situated east of Dapeng Fortress).  edit Dongshan Monastery Photos

 

Taoist (Daoist) Temples in Shenzhen

 

Tian Hou Temple

The Tian Hou Temple is an ancient attraction situated in western Shenzhen’s Chiwan Village. This temple is dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea and was built for the fisherman to receive blessing. It was originally built in 1410, but has been destroyed and rebuilt several times since. The temple grounds overlook a shipyard and feature two museums for exploration. The ponds are an interesting sight, in the shape of the sun and the moon to represent yin and yang with the goddess balancing them in the middle. Also located near the temple is the royal tomb of the Southern Song Dynasty’s last emperor.

 

Add: Small Nanshan Mountain, Chiwan Village, Nanshan District, Shenzhen

 

Guan Gong Temple

This temple is dedicated to a fierce warrior from the famous novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Within the temple, you will find a huge statue of the warrior himself, Guan Gong. This is an active temple with offering tables and fortunetellers. Look on as people pray or purchase your own incense or oil and participate yourself. In the courtyard, be sure to admire the statue depicting a famous scene from the novel with three generals taking an oath of brotherhood.

 

Add: South side of Zhongshan Park, 3109 Nanshan Dadao, Nanshan District, Shenzhen

 

Chen Yang Hou Temple

This temple is said to date back to the Ming Dynasty, but was most recently rebuilt in 1994. It is located in one of Shenzhen’s oldest and most prosperous regions, Xia Sha Village. The temple is nestled within a park area also containing statues of well-known Buddhist and Taoist figures. The streets of the park are lined with lampposts representing popular characters from Chinese literature.

 

Add: Xia Sha Village, Jinsha Road, Xia Sha Avenue, Futian District, Shenzhen

 

San Sheng Temple

Dedicated to the "Three Saints" of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism, this temple is believed to be one of the newest in Shenzhen. The figures within the temple represent the two keys to success: scholarly achievement and military might, particularly popular in Cantonese-speaking areas. Two other popular figures, the Goddess of Mercy and the God of Wealth are also featured in this temple. Located within Meilin Park, the temple is easy to spot atop a hill near the Meilin Reservoir.

 

Add: Guli Area, Meilin Park, Meilin Road, Futian District, Shenzhen

 

Phoenix Mountain Temple and Dragon King Temple

If you venture into Shenzhen’s northwestern part, you’ll find two small Buddhist temples. The first is a small but popular Phoenix Mountain Temple, constructed by a general during the Southern Song Dynasty and overlooking a pond. The second, located further up the mountain, is the Dragon King Temple named after the well-known character from Chinese folk tales. Both of these temples boast a large number of tourists and worshippers alike. Apart from being notable religious landmarks, they are architectural wonders filled with elaborate details that anyone will enjoy.

Add:  Phoenix Village, Fuyong Street, Bao’an District, Shenzhen

 

Mosques (Masjid) in Shenzhen

 

The Meilin Mosque is the only mosque in Shenzhen. It has a small garden and can be seen with its two mosaic covered minarets. A prayer hall and office are located within the compound. 

Contact Information

Address: No. 7, Meilin East Road, Shenzhen

Location: In the city center area