Listed as a UNESCO Creative City, Shenzhen is celebrated across China and increasingly around the world as a thriving center for architecture, art, and design. In the Futian Central Business District, business travelers will notice office towers and hotels created by internationally acclaimed firms such as Rem Koolhaas’ Office for Metropolitan Architecture. One standout example is the Shenzhen Stock Exchange building, completed by OMA in 2013, which features a distinctive elevated three-story “miniskirt” encircling the tower’s base.
Housed in a restored industrial building, the OCT Art and Design Gallery (closed Mondays) presents rotating exhibitions by prominent Beijing and regional artists. The glass-and-steel warehouse space regularly showcases graphic design, fashion, and industrial design projects. The adjacent OCT Art Terminal expands the cultural program with dance performances, multimedia installations, and a selection of stylish cafés and bars where visitors can relax between exhibits.
On the first Sunday of each month, the complex hosts a lively market where local artists and makers sell handmade postcards and prints, jewelry, clothing, and other crafts—an excellent opportunity to discover unique, locally produced design goods and to connect with Shenzhen’s creative community.