Luohu is the oldest part of Shenzhen — the original border district that grew up around the Lo Wu crossing into Hong Kong. It has a denser, more chaotic energy than the planned districts further west: markets spill onto pavements, restaurants occupy narrow lanes, and the streets around the railway station are perpetually busy with cross-border travellers.
Dongmen, Luohu's main shopping district, is one of the liveliest street markets in southern China. The lanes are packed with stalls selling clothing, accessories, watches, and electronics at prices well below the mall rate. The area is particularly popular with Hong Kong residents who cross the border specifically to shop here.
Luohu Commercial City, a mall directly attached to the Lo Wu border crossing, is famous (and notorious) for its floors of counterfeit and replica goods — luxury brand knockoffs, copied electronics, and imitation designer clothing sold openly. The experience is entirely local and unlike anything in a standard shopping mall.