Sometimes you just need a little artistic inspiration, whether it’s through design, art or music. Now, with artistic culture and hipster culture overlapping in many ways, the most artistic pockets of a city are the most fashionable as well. Shenzhen's artistic crowd and hipsters are mainly concentrated in OCT but there are more authentic areas a bit outside of the city as well.

Photo: Bionicbrew.com

1) Old Heaven Bookstore View In Map

An English and Chinese language bookstore in OCT with a small adjoining cafe, Old Heaven is ground zero for much of the artistic crowd in Shenzhen. The bookstore also sells music and vinyl records and hosts small concerts in the cafe. It is also known for its film screenings and art exhibitions. The design of the OCT area was inspired by areas like Brooklyn or Berlin with old converted warehouses and commissioned street art.

Add: 120 Building A5, OCT Loft, Second Phase, Nanshan District, Shenzhen

地址：深圳市南山区华侨城创意园二期A5栋120#

Getting There: Take Metro Line 1 (Luobao Line) to Qiaocheng East

2) L.S.D. View In Map

Chaotic and colorful as its namesake, L.S.D., is a bar and live music house. The venue also has a notable international restaurant. L.S.D. Home, a funky vintage furniture and accessories store, is also part of L.S.D.

Add: F1, 105 A, OCT Loft Shenzhen

地址：深圳市华侨城创业文化园F1栋105A

Gettting There: Take Metro Line 1 (Luobao Line) to Qiaocheng East

3) B10 Livehouse View In Map

The best live space for music in Shenzhen. B10, managed by Old Heaven Bookstore, is right in the middle of OCT Loft (Shenzhen's answer to SoHo). The space has hosted the OCT-Jazz Festival for over three years. The converted warehouse also often features art and video installations and artist lectures.

Add: B10 North entrance, OCT-LOFT Cultural Park, Nanshan District, Shenzhen 

地址：深圳市南山区华侨城创意文化园北区B10 

Getting There: Take Metro Line 1 (Luobao Line) to Qiaocheng East Station

Website: http://www.b10live.cn/

4) Wutong Mountain Art Village View In Map

Located near the lush green hills of Wutong Mountain, Wutong Art Village is a small, colorful town with mountain views and a small clean river running through it. The town was once mainly a factory area but has since been reinvigorated as a home for many of Shenzhen's artists. The small town has local galleries, coffee shops and stores selling handmade clothing and other artisan goods.

Add: Wutong Mountain Village, Luohu District, Shenzhen

地址：深圳市罗湖区梧桐山村

Getting There: Take Bus No. 211 to Wutong Mountain bus terminus

5) Dawang Cultural Highland View In Map

One of the coolest and least known hip hideaways in Shenzhen, Dawang Cultural Highland is an artist center and space for resident artists. There are about two artists at a time living in the Dawang Cultural Highland art space and studios. These artists often display works and give weekly lectures in Chinese and English. The space itself is beautiful and untouched: about twenty minutes from Dawang Village and an hour from the city. There are currently more galleries being constructed in an art space in the Dawang Village itself which is more accessible for visitors being only fifteen minutes bus from downtown Luohu.

Add: 1088 Dongchaojie Dadao, Luohu District, Shenzhen

地址: 深圳市罗湖区东湖街道1088号

Getting There: Take Bus No. 211 to Dawang Qiao

Website: http://www.da-wang.org/en/Presence.aspx?id=6

6) Dafen Oil Painting Village

Dafen Oil Painting Village manages to magically toe the line between tourist attraction and authentic art village which makes it worth a visit. If buying a perfectly faked Van Gogh or commissioning a portrait of your cat isn't your thing, go to check out the number of original artists as you get lost through the windy alleyways of the small urban village. Dafen is also hands down the best place in Shenzhen to buy painting supplies and it has a few hip coffee shops to pass the day in.

Getting There: Take Metro Line 3 (Longgang Line) to Dafen

7) Bionic Brew View In Map

Bionic Brew is quite possibly the only bar in Shenzhen that can be rightly deemed a “hipster,” hangout. This is mostly because of the setting. Graffiti filled walls and simple tables and bar stools give the space a simple and artistic design aesthetic. Also, they make their own amazing brews.

Add: 112 Shahe Jie, Nanshan District, Shenzhen

地址: 深圳市南山区沙河街112号

Getting There: Take Metro Line 1 (Luobao Line) to Baishizhou Station

Website: http://bionicbrew.com/

8) BJ Fixed Gear View In Map

The first and best store for fixed gear bikes in Shenzhen, BJ Fixed Gear is based in Dongmen and has a loyal following of those who are brave enough to ride a fixie in Shenzhen traffic. BJ will custom build a bike for you and will order parts in quickly if they don't have exactly what you want. They have an awesome range of crazy colors and add ons for your ride. B&J is known for being the most reliable, quick and friendly store for fixed gear rides in all of Shenzhen.

Add: 2413, East Building, Dongmen Shopping Plaza, Luohu District, Shenzhen

地址：深圳市罗湖区东门百货广场东座 2413

Getting There: Take Metro Line 1 (Luobao Line) or Line 3 (Longgang Line) to Laojie and take exit C

Website: http://the-twoenjoy.blog.163.com/

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Keywords: Hipster Shenzhen Art galleries in Shenzhen