Shenzhen - Day 3 (Coco Park - PAFC Mall)

Our initial plan was to stay two nights at the Paco Hotel, then take a train back to Guangzhou for two nights to attend the second phase of the Canton Fair before returning to Shenzhen for one night because our flight back is from Shenzhen. However, except for attending the Canton Fair, neither of us is really keen on exploring Guangzhou again. So we decided to change our plan by extending another three nights in Shenzhen and taking a day-trip train to Guangzhou to attend the Canton Fair.

Instead of staying at the same hotel, we decided to try the Shangri-La Hotel. We checked out of the Paco Hotel and headed over to the Shangri-La Hotel, which is conveniently close by. Being able to check in early at 11.30am is something we like about the hotel.

After leaving our bags in the hotel room, we made our way to Coco Park. The hotel staff was very helpful in helping us identify the exact pick-up spot from the hotel for a Didi trip, as we were unsure about it (Fare - ¥ 23.43). We reached Coco Park around noon, but we have no idea what to eat for lunch. As a result of our aimless wandering, my partner grew agitated, since a hungry man is an angry one. 

Coco Park

Coco Park

Coco Park

Coco Park and Ping’an Finance Center

We ended up at a random restaurant named Mukmeem. We ordered two dishes: sweet and sour pork and stir-fried beef with string beans. While eating half-way, Jlo and his wife came and joined us for lunch. We ordered additional dishes: stir-fried beef with hor fun, red pepper honey-glazed spare ribs and a steamed egg with white shellfish. The sweet and sour pork is crispy on the outside, but there's fat and tendons on the inside. It is served with fresh cream in a frozen green ball. Overall, the meal does not taste amazing to us.

While leaving the restaurant, Jlo's wife saw a free ice cream dispenser at the entrance. Each of us had a small cup of coconut-flavoured soft serve ice cream. However, the soft serve ice cream has a grainy texture and lacks flavour.

(Total bill - ¥ 381.10 including tea charges of ¥ 10 per person)

Mukmeem

Restaurant ambience

Rice - ¥ 5

Sweet and sour pork - ¥ 88

Sweet and sour pork

Stir-fried beef with string beans - ¥ 68

Stir-fried beef with hor fun - ¥ 48

Red pepper honey-glazed spare ribs - ¥ 78     

Steamed egg with white shellfish - ¥ 38

Free ice cream

We spent the rest of the day inside the mall because it's raining outside. I happened to pass by a puzzle shop and guess what? They have a puzzle sphere light with my all-time favourite Chip and Dale character! I'm glad that I didn't hesitate to purchase that globe. It's been a while since I bought something for myself.

 

Lego shop

Lego shop

Soft toy shop

Puzzle shop

Chip and Dale puzzle sphere light - ¥ 98

Coco Park

We had our tea break at Molly Tea. We shared a cup of jasmine mango ice blended with konjac jelly and pomelo. I'm a big fan of konjac jelly because the texture is smooth and easy to chew. Overall, the drink is nice.

Jlo and his wife left early to catch their flight back to Kuala Lumpur. We continued to hang around the mall and later walked over to PAFC Mall and Coco II Mall, which are across from Coco Park. The Ping’an Finance Center (PAFC) is the tallest building in Shenzhen. However, the mall was lifeless, with numerous empty store lots. There's a food court named Taste Chamber, but it's empty. 

Molly Tea

Pistachio jasmine coconut - ¥ 19 and Jasmine mango ice blended with konjac jelly and pomelo - ¥ 21

Cute packaging for snacks

PAFC Mall

PAFC Mall

PAFC Mall (Taste Chamber)

PAFC Mall (Taste Chamber)

We walked back to Coco Park and had our dinner at this Sichuan Cuisine Restaurant. We ordered vermicelli with shrimp, Sichuan spicy popcorn chicken and sauteed bullfrog with pickled peppers. The service is good since the waiter will assist you in stirring the vermicelli with shrimp. However, this dish is very oily and has a strong garlic taste, with fresh shrimp. On the other side, Sichuan spicy popcorn chicken is so spicy that it numbs my lips and tongue after eating it. Fortunately, hot Chinese tea tastes good and helps to lessen the numbness. Overall, the meal was greasy and not great.

(Total bill - ¥ 260 including tea charges of ¥ 6 per person)

The Sichuan Cuisine

Tea and tissue

Vermicelli with shrimp - ¥ 69

Vermicelli with shrimp

Sichuan spicy popcorn chicken - ¥ 79

Sauteed bullfrog with pickled peppers - ¥ 98

Coco Park (night view)

Coco Park (night view)

After dinner, we took the metro back to our hotel. It's very convenient because the Shopping Park Station is right within the mall. The metro fare is only ¥ 4 per person from Shopping Park Station to Luohu Station. Since it's still early, we explored the shop lots surrounding our hotel and went to 7-Eleven to buy some snacks. I bought a box of cranberry and nut cookie sticks, while my partner chose Ovaltine cookie sticks. I nearly slipped and fell again because of the slippery floor while we strolled around the shop lots.

I tried the Ovaltine cookie stick, but it doesn't taste good to me. I prefer the cranberry and nut cookie sticks. It's so good that I can't stop eating. The cookie stick has a delicate texture and easily crumbles in your mouth. Most importantly, the strawberry-flavoured coating is not too sweet and it's sprinkled with almonds, crispy rice and dried cranberries.

That night, I was so excited to unbox my Chip and Dale puzzle sphere light, which I had purchased this afternoon. It took me less than an hour to complete the puzzle. The sphere light works perfectly and I'm loving it. Given that Sabah periodically has power outages, it will undoubtedly be put to good use.

Cranberry and nut cookie sticks - ¥ 6.50 and Ovaltine cookie stick (buy one free one) - ¥ 10.50

Ovaltine cookie stick

Chip and Dale puzzle sphere light

Chip and Dale puzzle sphere light