Aerial view of the Luhu Art Center, a new landmark in Longhua District. Photos courtesy of Luhu Art Center

With the debut of the award-winning dance production “Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting,” Longhua District officially opened its first professional performing arts venue, the Luhu Art Center, on Jan. 15 — a milestone that signals the district’s rise as a new cultural hub in northern Shenzhen.

Located in Longhua’s central-axis area, the center welcomed leaders and guests from across Shenzhen, including representatives from the China Oriental Performing Arts Group Co., Ltd., which produced the opening performance. Designed to integrate nature and architecture, the venue brings world-class artistic experiences closer to home for Longhua’s more than 3 million residents.

Longhua official Zhao Yanyan, speaking at the ceremony, described the Luhu Art Center as Longhua’s largest and most advanced cultural facility to date and said its opening will significantly enhance public cultural services and benefit local residents.

The Luhu Art Center showcases a vibrant lineup of cultural events, with promotional banners reflected in the surrounding water feature.

A cultural infrastructure milestone

The opening also included official naming ceremonies for nine national arts organizations joining Longhua’s cultural ecosystem, as well as the unveiling of the Shenzhen branch of the China Oriental Performing Arts Group Co., Ltd.’s art training school.

The Luhu Art Center is the first high-end performing arts facility in Longhua and has already received several international honors, including the World Architecture Festival Award and the World Architecture News Award. The venue houses a grand theater, public arts spaces, and a library — designed not just as a performance site, but as a cultural landmark embedded in everyday life.

Exterior and interior views of the newly opened Luhu Art Center.

This marks a turning point for Longhua. With the completion of facilities like Jiulongshan Sports Park, Shenzhen Library (North Branch), and Shenzhen Art Museum (North Pavilion), Longhua has rapidly transitioned from a cultural shortfall to cultural growth.

In recent years, Longhua has also completed a district-wide cultural service network with 75 community cultural centers, six street-level cultural stations rated at the highest provincial level, and a robust system of neighborhood reading rooms and fitness zones — including over 2,300 sports facilities and nearly 400 venues bookable through the “iShenzhen” platform.

Global stages, local audiences

Exhibits and promotional posters on display for the premiere of “Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting.”

The opening performance of "Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting" brought traditional Chinese aesthetics to the Luhu stage in a visually stunning interpretation of the famed Song Dynasty scroll "A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains." Tickets sold out quickly, and audiences responded with enthusiasm.

More major productions are on the way: international classics like ballet "Swan Lake," original musicals such as "This Life, Must Drive on," Cantonese opera staples including "The Legend of Lun Wenxu," and the West End musical "Singin’ in the Rain," are all scheduled to be staged. The venue will also present local and youth-friendly formats including drama, children’s theater, live music, talk shows, and cross-genre performances.

The programming model will follow a dual approach of local talent incubation and premium content curation, while also offering public engagement events such as backstage tours, masterclasses, and open lectures — aiming to build a city where art is widely accessible.

Culture meets commerce: A new growth engine

Visitors browse booths and interact with exhibitors inside the Luhu Art Center during its opening festivities.

Beyond the stage, the center’s opening has already proven to be a driver of cultural tourism and spending. A themed exhibition accompanying the premiere performance allowed visitors to explore costumes, set pieces, and immersive installations extending the world of the dance. Branded merchandise — plush toys, velvet bags, and art-inspired magnets — sold briskly, blending aesthetics with everyday function.

“A single ticket can open the door to a much broader cultural economy,” said an official from the Culture, Media, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Longhua. “Luhu Art Center is not just a theater. It’s a catalyst for lifestyle upgrades, tourism, and creative industry growth.”

In 2025, Longhua received nearly 8.95 million tourist visits, up 12.56% year-over-year, generating 5.98 billion yuan (US$858.13 million) in tourism revenue — an increase of 14.95%. Officials expect these numbers to climb further as the performing arts become a new economic engine.

According to district plans, Longhua will develop a matrix of venues anchored by Luhu Art Center — one main theater, seven supporting sites, and 12 performance spaces — offering over 8,300 seats and hosting more than 2,000 performances annually.