The folk culture of Yantian District forms an integral part of Lingnan culture. Yantian's folk customs, including wedding and funeral ceremonies, were established through long social practice and carry profound meanings. The residents are mainly comprised of Cantonese and Hakka people, and this demographic structure remained unchanged until Yantian District was established in 1998. These two major communities each have their own unique traditions. The Cantonese were mainly engaged in fishing and salt production. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the region was reputed as "a land of fish, rice and fruits." Yantian people therefore inherited many fishermen's customs from their ancestors, such as worshipping the sea god and other deities, as well as performing certain rituals. The Hakka community practiced ancestor worship, performed lion dances, sang Hakka folk songs, and treasured unique foods such as stuffed bean curd and glutinous rice wine.

Today, these traditions are gaining renewed vitality through Shenzhen-Hong Kong cultural integration. In May 2026, the Tin Hau Festival celebration marked its 19th anniversary as a municipal-level intangible cultural heritage item, with a grand parade jointly launched by Shenzhen and Hong Kong teams that drew more than 30,000 residents and visitors.

The Shatoujiao Fish Lantern Dance, a national-level intangible cultural heritage with over 300 years of history, has in recent years entered communities and schools and been integrated into modern life through cultural creative products.

The Shatoujiao Qilin Team, since its reorganization in 2023, has won awards at an international competition and has toured places such as Kashgar in Xinjiang.