GO Guangdong Route:

Dafen Art Museum→Sunrise Art Center→TNT Contemporary Art Space

Dafen Oil Painting Village

At its peak, 70 percent of oil paintings in the U.S. and European markets were produced in China, while 80 percent of Chinese oil paintings were produced in Dafen.

Dafen Oil Painting Village is located just a 30-minute drive from downtown Shenzhen and has been nurturing the oil painting industry for more than 30 years. Today, the village boasts an oil painting museum, thousands of galleries, workshops, and studios. Whether you are an art buyer, an enthusiast or simply looking for a creative experience, Dafen is a must-visit destination.

In 1989, entrepreneurs like Hong Kong art dealer Huang Jiang came to Dafen. Taking advantage of its affordable living costs, labor costs, and geographical proximity to Hong Kong, they began to produce and purchase oil paintings in Dafen and sold them abroad, thus introducing the oil painting industry.

Dafen Oil Painting Village

Dafen Art Museum: A time capsule of village’s artistic awakening

Dafen Art Museum, Dafen Oil Painting Village

Founded in 2007, the Dafen Art Museum emerged as the village’s first cultural manifesto—a space not merely for displaying artworks, but for its own identity: What defines Dafen?

Constructed by the Shenzhen and Longgang governments, the museum spans approximately 20,000 square meters, making it the largest museum by exhibition area in Shenzhen at that time. In 2008, Dafen Art Museum was selected a "Best Public Project" under the "Good Design is Good Business" China Awards Program by Business Week and Architectural Record.

The museum witnessed the transition from OEM production to a vibrant creative arts hub in the village. Initially, local artists focused on fulfilling domestic and international OEM orders. However, in recent years, the original art scene has flourished, with over 400 artists now residing in the village and producing their original artworks.

In the museum, exhibitions highlight more art pieces created by local artists, featuring the changes from Monet reproductions to “Impressions of Shenzhen.” The artists emerging styles reflect a brand new identity, reshaping how Dafen sees itself.

Dafen Art Museum, Dafen Oil Painting Village

To attract more talented painters, the Longgang Government built public rental houses and alleviated the living pressure of painters in Dafen Oil Painting Village. The project was later renamed "Houses for Talents in the Dafen Oil Painting Village, comprising 268 apartments. 

In May 2013, with the support of Shenzhen Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, Dafen Oil Painting Village took the lead in China in holding a vocational skill competition for painting. The winners became eligible for Shenzhen’s talent benefits.

Opening hours: 9:30-17:30 (closed on Monday)

Tel: 0755-84732622

Sunrise Art Center: A revived Hakka house for cultural exchange

Sunrise Art Center, Dafen Oil Painting Village

Founded by oil painter Chen Qiuzhi, the Sunrise Art Center merges childhood memories with artistic ideals. In 2006, Chen rented a Hakka house in Dafen, which had been damaged by a typhoon and restored it into a studio that fuses traditional Huizhou Hakka style and modern design. Its furniture and materials come from reclaimed relics across China, arranged in a naturally harmonious layout.

Chen describes the center as a living artwork rather than a curated space—an unfinished piece that evolves over time. The name “Sunrise Mountain” honors the hill where he played when he was a child and reflects his devotion to traditional Chinese aesthetics.

Covering an exhibition area of more than 3,000 square meters, the gallery is mainly engaged in oil painting, contemporary ink painting, traditional calligraphy and painting, sculpture, cultural and creative products, decorative arts, art planning. 

Sunrise Art Center, the three-storey courtyard, with blue bricks and black tiles, is naturally embellished with ancient wood furniture.

Unlike commercial galleries, the center operates as a cultural exchange hub. It hosts exhibitions, salons, and gatherings, attracting artists and visitors from Hong Kong, Macao, and beyond. In the fast pace of urban Shenzhen, it offers a tranquil space where art, life, and culture flow freely.

Business hours: 10:00-18:30 (Monday to Sunday)

Tel: 0755-84707285

TNT Contemporary Art: A frame factory transformed into cross-cultural incubator

TNT Contemporary Art Space, Dafen Oil Painting Village

Feng Jianmei, the owner of a frame factory in Dafen, established the TNT Contemporary Art Space in 2018. Covering an area of 2,000 square meters, TNT provides international artist residencies and exhibition space. The facility has formed partnerships with over 100 contemporary artists from around the globe and has developed a diverse collection of original artworks.

TNT Contemporary Art Space, Dafen Oil Painting Village

The modern exhibition space meets the needs of contemporary art exhibitions, including installations, video works, documentary projects, as well as paintings, graphs and sculptures. The space mainly displays the oil paintings, digital paintings and other works of Chinese and foreign resident artists, so that local artists, cultural industry practitioners, and art enthusiasts can engage closely with foreign artists.

“We’re enhancing the brand, training artists, and gathering world-class resources,” Feng states. Her vision is to expand Dafen’s global artistic influence by investing in innovation and authenticity.

Business hours: 9:30-18:30 (Monday to Sunday)

Li & David Gallery: An East-West love story painted on canvas

Dafen Oil Painting Village

Among Dafen’s 1,200 galleries, one tells not only an artistic journey but also a romantic one. Chinese artist Li Zhaoyan and British painter David met through their shared passion for painting and are now living together in the village.

Li, from Guangxi, paints tranquil southern landscapes with a nostalgic tone. In 2008, David, known for his vibrant Western palette, discovered into Li’s gallery and was captivated by her artwork. Despite the language barrier, they connected through art and held their wedding at the Dafen Art Museum in 2009, with 60 fellow artists as witnesses.

Their gallery represents a microcosm of Dafen’s creative ecosystem. Each year, the village produces millions of oil paintings exported worldwide. But it's the small, independent galleries that power this unique art economy.

Their styles continue to evolve independently while also influencing one another. Li focuses on pastoral scenes, whereas David leans into bold, imaginative abstraction. They regularly critique each other’s work, blending Eastern and Western perspectives.

In 2011, with David's assistance, Li successfully held a solo exhibition in the U.S., showcasing Lingnan landscapes on a global stage. Today, David manages overseas sales while Li concentrates on original creations. They believe that Dafen’s strength lies in its ability to blend artistic spirit with commercial savvy while Shenzhen’s openness continues to attract attracting talented individuals from around the world.

Their story reflects Dafen's emerging international presence. Together, they aspire to see painters shine more brightly on the world stage, showcasing Chinese artistic creativity to a global audience.

TNT Contemporary Art Space, Dafen Oil Painting Village

Dafen Oil Painting Village

Dafen Art Museum, Dafen Oil Painting Village

Sunrise Art Center, Dafen Oil Painting Village

Reported by Zhang Shujing

Edited by Yin Juewen

Photo by 大芬油画村