Splendid China Folk Village Is Shenzhen’s Cultural Hidden Gem

If you’ve always had a curiosity about China — all the different ethnic groups that live there and all the famous landmarks that make up the country — Splendid China Folk Village is going to be the perfect excursion for you.

This place gives you a rundown of China’s people and places without feeling like a boring trip to a museum.

As an American-born Chinese, I knew very little about China. Yes, I knew about all the customs and traditions that my family follows; I knew about Shanghai and Hong Kong (where my parents are from) and the Great Wall of China — but outside of that? Total black box.

Splendid China Folk Village is essentially a crash course on all the cool stuff China has to offer. It’s actually China’s first cultural theme park too.

Is it worth visiting? 100%.

Even though I went into my Splendid China day blind (meaning I didn’t do any research about the park before I went), I still had an amazing time. With that said, there are A LOT of things I wish I had known prior to visiting, such as:

• the fact that English tour guides are available to show you around the park
• the absolute must-watch shows happened later in the night (I left in the mid-afternoon, bummer!)

Here’s everything you need to know about how to have the perfect day at Splendid China.

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What Will You See At Splendid China Cultural Park?

This cultural park is split into two areas:

• one area consists of 82 mini versions of famous landmarks throughout China
• the other is a “folk culture village” area made up of life-sized replicas of villages from 56 different ethnic groups.

Both parts of the park are included in your admission.

Admission Costs:

• Full Fare Admission: 220 RMB
• Half Fare Admission: 110 RMB – Children between 1.2m – 1.5m in height, seniors between 65-69, active military
• Free Admission: Children under 1.2m, seniors 70+, disabled, disabled military

👉 Pro Tip: Buy your tickets in advance on Trip.com. Trip.com is one of the only sites that don’t require a Mainland China phone number to buy tickets. Plus, advance purchase tickets are cheaper than buying at the gate.

One aspect of the park might sound more interesting to you, but both are enriching in their own ways.

The miniatures area will give you a lay of the land of the country (China is massive, so there’s a lot to see/learn), while the folk village area will introduce you to the people of China (all 56 ethnic groups that make up the country).

Even though I am an American-Chinese, I knew very little about China as a country. I was definitely more interested in the Folk Village area prior to going, but after visiting both areas of the park, I found both parts of the park to be well worth a visit.

You’ll learn about entirely different things, so make time in your day to visit both!

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Splendid China Folk Village: Park Highlights

Splendid China Miniature Scenic Area

The Splendid China Miniature Scenic Area was completed and opened on September 21, 1989. Covering an area of 320,000 square meters, the scenic area is a collection of China’s 5,000 years of culture and landmarks — all rolled up into one park area.

You can think of this portion of the park as a paved garden stroll (it’s a massive area) with China’s most famous landmarks interspersed throughout.

At each of the landmarks, you’ll find written information as well as audio commentary (in English and Chinese) that explains what you are looking at, its significance, and the history behind it.

Without the audio commentary, I think it would have been a lot more mundane of an experience, but the audioguide did help to make it a more immersive experience.

I found the miniatures area to be a really easy way to decide on what landmarks/destinations to add to your future China bucket list!

When I saw the Hanging Temple of Datong replica (above), I immediately knew I had to visit it one day. I had the same reaction to quite a few other miniatures, too.

Folk Village Areas

While the miniature landmarks area is great for getting a lay of the land of China, the Folk Culture Village is where the fun really happens!

Every day, a variety of folk customs are staged here, depicting the costumes, ethnic villages, local customs, and national culture of various ethnic minorities in China.

If you aren’t familiar with the fact that China is made up of dozens of ethnicities, you will learn a TON of new information here. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the groups you will learn about:

• Mosuo People – Mosuo people live by Lugu Lake in Ninglang County, Yunnan province; their literary works are mostly handed down orally, with stories about the creation of the universe, matriarchy, and worship of the Goddess. A family usually has about 20 members who are all from a mother’s line.
• Va People – Va nationality is mainly located in South Yunnan, with a population of 400k. The believe in primitive religion, respecting nature and ancestors.
• Lahu Nationality – The Lahu people are scattered in the mountain areas of Puer and Lincang cities, with a population of 450k. They speak Lahu and believe in primitive religion, respecting nature and ancestors.

You can wander through the replica villages, catch live performances, and even jump into some of the activities.

There are various shows/deminstrations held at the different village areas, so be sure to check the schedule and try to time your visit to catch some of them.

Large-Scale Performances (Must-Do!)

If you’ve never had the chance to see a large-scale Mainland China performance, Splendid China provides the perfect opportunity for you to pop that cherry.

Large-scale Mainland China shows — the ones that have their own dedicated theaters — are next level. They’re grand and well-thought-out, and they certainly don’t skimp on special effects, costumes, and cast members.

At Splendid China, there are three big shows that take place daily (in the following order): Legend of the Desert, New Oriental Dress, and Dragon and Phoenix Dance.

Legend of the Desert

Legend of the Desert is China’s first live-action stunt war horse show. This show takes place at the Horseback Battlefield and features the same special effects used in film and TV.

What it’s about: In the early years of the Yuan Dynasty, an immortal legend about the victory of justice over evil took place on the ancient Silk Road, adding a new chapter to the glorious epic.

During this show, you’ll see action-packed fight scenes featuring war horses and even camels.

Extra fee: Yes

New Oriental Dress

New Oriental Dress is a large-scale performance that features both ethnic costumes and epic dance performances.

This show has won the National Lotus Award for Costume and Dance (one of the highest awards for Chinese dance).

During the performance, you can expect 120 professional dancers dressed in more than 350 sets of ethnic costumes, assisted by beautiful stage design (sounds, lights, and other high-tech effects).

Extra fee: No (this show is included with your admission)

Dragon and Phoenix Dance

Dragon and Phoenix Dance is a large-scale Chinese variety show that happens to be pretty darn epic. The sheer scale of this show is crazy; it’s a see-it-to-believe-it type of show.

If you can only make it to one of the shows, make it the Dragon and Phoenix Dance show. There’s dancing, acrobatics, magic, music, lights, high-tech special effects, waterworks, literally the whole shebang all rolled up into 55 minutes.

The performance is known as a must-see show for tourists visiting Shenzhen. The dance, opera, unique talent, lanterns, magic, and other folk arts blend together to exhibit how beautifully Chinese people do performing arts.

All in all, the show will allow you to experience 5,000 years of Chinese culture and is a must-watch for first-timers in China!

Extra fee: Yes

Village Performances

There are 20-minute performances at various villages throughout the day. At the time of writing, you’ll find performances at the following villages: Uygur, Tibetan, Dai, Wa, Li, Mosuo, and Yi.

At the entrance of the park, you’ll be able to see a big screen with a timetable of all the shows taking place throughout the day. I recommend taking a picture of the screen and referring to it later on (the showtime information is only shown at the park entrance, not throughout the park).

It is all written in Chinese, but the information center is steps away from the big screen so you could always go there to ask for advice and recommendations.

River Boat Rides

This boat ride takes you through a river corridor where you can admire the ethnic villages on both sides of the lake. You’ll have a local guide explaining everything you’re seeing which makes the riverboat ride both scenic and educational.

I’m not sure whether dedicated English tour guides are available at the river cruise or not, but the park does offer English tour guide service by the hour. Given that I hardly saw any other Westerners here, my guess would be that all boat tours are in Chinese and if you need translation, you’ll have to bring your tour guide along with you on the cruise.

Extra fee: Yes

• On weekdays: 20 RMB for adults | 10 RMB for kids within 1.2m – 1.5m in height
• On weekends and holidays: 30 RMB for adults | 15 RMB for kids within 1.2m – 1.5m in height

Decorated Streets

Throughout the park, you’ll find various “streets” decorated in local styles. Not only are they so cute, but they also house gift shops, costume shops, and stores featuring local handicrafts.

New Impression China Street – When you visit this street, you’ll feel like you’re on a bustling street market in history. Expect skilled pottery artists, Peking Opera drums, handicrafts, and more.

Phoenix Arcade – Lined with pretty archways on both sides, the Phoenix Arcade houses gift shops that sell all kinds of traditional cultural souvenirs.

Hiuzhou Street – White walls, gray tiles, and Hui-style buildings decorate this area, along with realistic sounds that let you relive the time of the Hui merchants of Southern China.

Multiple Restaurants With Different Cuisines

I love how the park lets you experience the diverse country of China through its different cuisines.

Throughout the park, you’ll find a variety of restaurants and snack shops showcasing regional Chinese cuisines. One thing’s for sure — there is no shortage of noodle dishes!

In total, there are about 8 restaurants you could choose from. And unlike the majority of other theme parks, the food is super affordable!

For a sit-down meal, Tianyige Restaurant serves Cantonese classics like roast duck and roast pigeon, Manhaisha Restaurant offers flavorful Yunnan dishes, and Laobeijing Restaurant features local favorites like Laobeijing noodles with meat sauce.

For more regional uniqueness, the Sahantala Banquet Hall in the Naadam Mongolian Yurt serves Mongolian specialties like roasted lamb, braised steaks, and mutton soup.

And if you’re just looking for a quick bite, the park also has cafes and snack shops offering light bites, including black sesame rice balls.

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Planning Your Trip To China?

Here are some of our other China travel guides to help you plan an incredible trip:

Shenzhen:

• Where To Stay In Shenzhen, China: 3 Top Areas For Travelers
• 3-Day Shenzhen Itinerary: Dim Sum, Culture, and Shopping

Hong Kong:

• Go City Hong Kong vs. Klook Pass Hong Kong: Which Is Right For You?
• 3 Perfect Days In Hong Kong: What To See, Do, and Eat
• Hong Kong Disneyland: Is It Worth The Money?
• Lamma Island Day Trip From Hong Kong: 7 Top Things To Do
• Where To Stay In Hong Kong: 4 Trendy Neighborhoods We Love

China In General:

• Preparing For China: 30 Essential Things To Know Before Your Trip
• 7 Must-Have Apps To Help You Survive In China (+ What eSIM To Get)

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