THE Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province recently announced the list of “2024 Guangdong’s Most Beautiful Public Cultural Spaces,” with three venues in Shenzhen earning a spot: the Qianhai Bay Branch of Shenzhen Library, the Blue House in Futian District, and the CIC Creativity and Innovation Center in Longgang District. Qianhai Bay Branch of Shenzhen Library 深圳圖書館前海灣分館 Opened for trial operations in 2023, this branch has quickly become a cultural landmark in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Specializing in books focused on trade, economics, and modern services, and covering topics such as business, law, finance, communications, architecture, tourism, and healthcare, the library offers a curated collection of over 6,200 books. It also includes foreign-language books to meet the diverse reading needs of local residents. The branch regularly hosts community events such as academic summits, technology salons, professional service exchanges, English reading sessions, handmade bookmark workshops, and book donations. Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m., closed Sundays Add: Inside the Qianhai International Talent Hub (前海國際人才港內) Metro: Line 1 to Liyumen Station (鯉魚門站), Exit D Blue House 藍書坊 Located in Jingmi Community Park, the Blue House is a cultural venue designed by the renowned Chinese architect Liu Xiaodu. Spanning 720 square meters, it holds over 2,400 books on architecture and is divided into several zones: a reading area, a cultural exhibition space, a UABB display area, an activity zone, and a coffee lounge. Supported by the Futian District Library, the Blue House offers cultural resources, academic exchanges, and serves as a specialized literature center for urban architecture. It also collaborates with a coffee brand to operate “Shuyu Coffee 2.0,” with proceeds contributing to the venue’s operations. Book area hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Shuyu Coffee hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Add: Inside Jingmi Community Park, Futian District (福田區景蜜社區公園內) Metro: Line to Meijing Station (梅景站), Exit A2 CIC Creativity and Innovation Center CIC創新創意中心 Situated at the Longcheng Creativity Commune (Longcheng CC), the CIC Creativity and Innovation Center spans 4,300 square meters across two floors. The first floor, covering 2,400 square meters, features spaces showcasing digital creative works, including an exhibition hall, a small theater, and a studio, providing ample room for growth and collaboration within the digital creative industry. The center also houses Juxiang Bookshop and the ALILI Art Museum’s CC branch, creating a multi-functional hub for cultural and creative activities. The second floor, themed “Exhibition and Performance+,” offers a 700-square-meter space for large conferences, forums, music and theater lectures, artistic performances, and cultural exhibitions, fostering a diverse array of cultural collaborations. Add: Inside Longcheng Creativity Commune, Longgang District (龍崗區龍城CC創意中心內) Metro: Line 16 to Huanggekeng Station (黃閣坑站), Exit C (Liu Yangyang) | 