Dafen Oil Painting Village (大芬油画村), located in Shenzhen, is one of the many local Hakka villages in the area, with a population of over 300 original residents. The village gained prominence in 1989 when a Hong Kong art dealer, Huang Jiang, discovered its unique charm and the warmth of the villagers. He brought a group of painters to Dafen, renting a residential house to start one of the few domestic oil painting production, acquisition, and export industries in China. Over time, the village blossomed into a hub for oil painting, with over 1,000 galleries and more than 10,000 artists and painters, creating a complete system for oil painting production and export.
As more artists and painters settled in Dafen, additional larger art dealers emerged alongside Huang Jiang, further expanding the village’s reach. Each art dealer was surrounded by a group of skilled painters supplying their works, leading to a steady growth in the village’s scale and reputation year after year. This evolution gave rise to what is now known as Dafen Oil Painting Village.
Today, Dafen primarily focuses on original oil paintings and the reproduction of artistic works, alongside related industries such as traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy, handicrafts, and framing supplies. The oil painting industry has expanded from Dafen to cover regions like Fujian, Guangdong, Hunan, Jiangxi, as well as Hong Kong and Macau. Its artwork is primarily sold in Europe, America, and Africa, reaching global markets.
Visitors to Dafen can explore numerous oil painting studios and watch artists at work, providing a unique glimpse into the creative process. The village offers a variety of oil paintings for purchase, including custom options, making it an excellent destination for art lovers and casual visitors alike. Strolling through the streets and capturing the vibrant artistic atmosphere is an enriching experience, turning a simple visit into an art-filled journey.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 – 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 24 hours a day throughout the year |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0755-84732622 |
Location and Transportation
Dafen Oil Painting Village is located at No. 15 Xinfen Street, Longgang District, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 306, 371, 376, 822, 836, M141, M183, M265, M271, M301, M309, M329, M385, M404, M417, M421, M476, or M508 and get off at Dafen Oil Painting Stop (大芬油画村站).
Metro: The closest metro station to the attraction is Dafen (大芬) on line 3. After getting out of the station from Exit A1, walk about 400 meters to the southwest reach the village.
