Attractions

Dance drama 'Garden' to be staged in Longgang

A promotional poster for the dance drama "Garden".The Beijing Dance Drama and Opera House will present the dance drama "Garden" at the Longgang Cultural Center Grand Theater on Oct 31 at 8 pm and Nov 1 at 3 pm.Inspired by Karel Čapek's classic play R.U.R., which originally coined the word "robot", the production is set on a barren planet in the future where humans mass-produce robots. An emotionally starved engineer secretly creates a robot with an extraordinary capacity for empathy, while another robot gifted to the general manager's wife slowly develops a sense of being alive.First performed at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in September, the drama explores the essence of life and emotions rather than the surface-level pros and cons of technology. Using the "garden" as a spiritual image, it conveys a humanistic message of coexistence through love and renewal.The creative team includes art director Xu Rui, directors Bai Hua and Gong Xingxing, and choreographer Xu Junrui. Lead roles are performed by Liu Jia as the awakened robot, Wang Jinge as the general manager's wife, and Zhang Zhenguo as the general manager.Tickets range from 120 yuan ($17.9) to 580 yuan ($86.9), with a 50 percent early-bird discount available for most ticket categories.

HK musician finds new stage for cross-border music in Shenzhen

A music event at the venue.Hong Kong musician Ding Zhengkai has turned an old textile factory in Yuanshan subdistrict, Longgang district, into a live music venue, which has become a hub for young artists from Hong Kong and Shenzhen.The 800-square-meter Show Hit Live House, which opened in 2023, features piano rooms, drum rooms, a band room and a 400 sq m performance hall with professional lighting and sound.Ding, who released his debut album in Hong Kong in 2019, decided to move his life and work to Shenzhen that same year, drawn by the city's innovative and youthful atmosphere. Longgang authorities helped him with the venue's design and soundproofing, providing reference plans from existing music spaces.Since opening, the venue has hosted events including Hong Kong-style concerts, cross-border band performances and the 2025 Straits and Greater Bay Area music gathering. More than 100 young musicians from Hong Kong and Macao have performed or exchanged ideas there.Ding has also written songs about Shenzhen, including "Fun Longgang, Interesting" in 2025, inspired by the district's development goals, and "Deep Love" for APEC this year, blending Cantonese, English and R&B.As an international outreach ambassador for Longgang, Ding plans to invite more young musicians from Asia-Pacific countries to perform in Shenzhen. "Music is the best language. It needs no translation," he said.

Shenzhen boasts new cultural landmarks

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen) has recently unveiled the final features of its School of Music with the completion of two "Art Boxes", which have become the new cultural landmarks in Shenzhen.Two "Art Boxes" stand at the new campus of the School of Music, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen).Initiated in 2022, the school welcomed its first cohort of students and faculty in August 2025. With the completion of its core landmarks, called "Shangyuelou" or "Music Appreciation Building", and "Yanyilou" or "the Performing Arts Building", this world-class arts institution is now fully operational, serving as a high-end cultural and artistic platform in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.Located at the intersection of Yanlong Avenue and International University Park Road in Longgang district, Shenzhen, the new campus spans approximately 73,800 square meters, with a total building area of around 130,000 sq m and a capacity for 1,000 students. Its design integrates elements of Lingnan culture and regional characteristics, creating a harmonious blend of performance, teaching, and living spaces.The campus features a south-north division, with compact teaching facilities in the south and open living areas in the north. Key facilities include an 818-seat opera house, an 800-seat concert hall, a 200-seat modern music hall, and a library. Advanced acoustic technology ensures top-tier sound quality, while the music hall boasts a 60-stop pipe organ meeting international standards.Additionally, the campus offers over 400 practice rooms, rehearsal rooms, and research centers, alongside comprehensive living and sports amenities. Public areas, such as waterfront landscapes and green spaces, foster interaction among students and the community, making the campus a vibrant hub for musical and cultural exchange.

Culture

→ HK musician finds new stage for cross-border music in Shenzhen

Longgang transforms idle space into neighborhood social hub

Local authorities have transformed an unused space beneath a bridge in Shenzhen's Longgang district into a public fitness area for people of all ages. A new standard pickleball court is one of the venue's main features.Located in Yuanshan subdistrict, the facility puts this beginner-friendly sport within easy reach of local residents. Blending features of tennis, badminton and table tennis, pickleball demands little space and appeals to players across age groups. The bridge overhead offers natural shelter against strong sun and rain.The court also encourages interaction among neighbors and strengthens community ties, delivering tangible benefits to residents via smart reuse of underutilized city space.

Free Mid-Autumn art pop-up event opens in Longgang

A free Mid-Autumn pop-up art event will take place in the outdoor area of Longgang Vanke Plaza on Saturday, Sept 19, inviting both local and foreign residents to dive into festive Chinese cultural experiences.Moving art out of galleries into a bustling shopping complex, the gathering features live moon-themed music under evening breezes. Participants can join collective calligraphy sessions and write personal wishes on moon-shaped paper for custom inscriptions.A large glowing-moon installation offers great photo opportunities, with on-site photography support available. Working artists will mingle with visitors and share creative tips.Attendees who share event photos on social media can join a lucky draw for shopping vouchers and cultural souvenirs. Admission is free with no prior booking required. Guests are welcome to drop in anytime to savor the romantic Mid-Autumn ambiance.

GBA youth inject new vitality into cultural heritage

In the process, they forged a stronger sense of cultural identity — and brought tradition into contemporary expression.The performance featured Peking Opera from Beijing, Huangmei Opera from East China's Anhui province, and folk instruments such as the guzheng (a Chinese zither) and pipa (a four-stringed Chinese lute). Folk dances, alongside an original Hakka nursery rhyme sung in the Hakka dialect, brought Lingnan cultural heritage vividly to life.On-site tickets sold out quickly, while a live-stream extended the audience well beyond the venue, allowing viewers to enjoy the performances online."It was both thrilling and nerve-racking to perform on such a big stage for the first time," one young performer said. For many, the experience offered cultural insights seldom covered in school textbooks.More than just a talent show, the event served as a grassrootscultural exchange hub for youth across the Greater Bay Area. These young inheritors are redefining local heritage for modern audiences, showcasing the cultural confidence of contemporary Chinese youth to the world.

Dance drama 'Garden' to be staged in Longgang

HK musician finds new stage for cross-border music in Shenzhen

Shenzhen boasts new cultural landmarks

Longgang transforms idle space into neighborhood social hub

Free Mid-Autumn art pop-up event opens in Longgang

GBA youth inject new vitality into cultural heritage

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