Taking a walk around university campuses can be a refreshing way to spend a leisurely weekend if you've grown tired of loitering at familiar malls and parks. Enjoy the scenic surroundings and the youthful energy of students, and you may find that having a meal at a campus canteen is surprisingly rewarding.

The following are some campuses to visit in Nanshan.

Shenzhen University

At the Yuehai Campus, the must-visit spots include the Zhiyi Building, whose white exterior featuring numerous square holes is highly Instagrammable; Wenshan Lake, where black swans glide across the water; the Alumni Plaza; and a pine tree with sloping branches.

The Tingshan Canteen here offers Cantonese-style roast duck and other meats, steamed dim sum and snacks, rice noodles, and roast dishes with rice.

At the Lihu Campus, the most frequently visited spots are the sports ground, the library, and the vast lawn.

The Famu Canteen on this campus features Korean-style rice, Shaanxi noodles, and egg rice bowls.

Visitors need to pay a 30% surcharge on menu prices and are advised to dine around 1 p.m.

Both campuses are open to visitors from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Reservations can be made via the university's WeChat account or miniprogram.

Yuehai Campus: 3688 Nanhai Boulevard

Lihu Campus: 1066 Xueyuan Boulevard

Shenzhen University Town

This area features three adjacent campuses: Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate University (SIGS), Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School (PKUSZ), and Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen (HITSZ).

There are two picturesque lakes in the area, and a rocket-shaped installation at HITSZ is worth a visit.

SIGS's Heyuan Canteen offers chicken noodles, Cantonese-style roast meat, and buffet-style fast food.

PKUSZ has two canteens, serving Chinese fast food, beef noodles, fried rice, and Sichuan and Chongqing dishes respectively.

HITSZ's Canteen No. 1 features Cantonese roast meat, rice noodles, and beef rice bowls.

Visitors need to pay a 30% surcharge on menu prices and are advised to dine around 1 p.m.

Reservations can be made via the university town's WeChat account or miniprogram.

Shenzhen University Town: 2239 Lishui Road

SUSTech

Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) is a rapidly emerging public research university founded in Shenzhen in 2011 with a mission to reform higher education and foster innovation. Its beautiful campus features flowers blooming all year round.

The Central Canteen offers fried dishes and Korean-style rice; the Liyuan Canteen offers Japanese and Korean food as well as noodles and dishes from Northwest China.

The campus is open to visitors from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Reservations for the next seven days can be made via the university's miniprogram.

SUSTech: 1088 Xueyuan Boulevard