About Shenzhen
What to see and do in Shenzhen
Weather in Shenzhen
Airport in Shenzhen
Visa

Shenzhen

Shenzhen is a city of sub-provincial administrative status in southern China's Guangdong province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. Owing to China's economic liberalization under the policies of reformist leader Deng Xiaoping, the area became China's first'and ultimately most successful'Special Economic Zone.

Shenzhen's novel and modern cityscape is the result of the vibrant economy made possible by rapid foreign investment since the late 1970s, when it was a small fishing village. Since then, foreign nationals have invested more than US$30 billion for building factories and forming joint ventures. It is now reputedly one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Being southern China's major financial centre, Shenzhen is home to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange as well as the headquarters of numerous high-tech companies. Shenzhen is also the second busiest port in mainland China, ranking only after Shanghai.

In 1979, Shenzhen (then mostly underdeveloped countryside facing Hong Kong) was designated the first of China's Special Economic Zones (SEZ). The plan was to create a sealed off enclave to experiment with market reforms and performance incentives without posing a threat or risk to the established economic system elsewhere in China. Shenzhen won the honor as it could easily connect to the capital and management resources of Hong Kong and serve as a buffer between a more open border with Hong Kong and the rest of mainland China. Currently it has a population of approximately 8 million, compared to only 300 thousand in the 1980s.

As a purely economic creation, the city lacks much in terms of historical sites but much like Las Vegas, if you have enough money, anything is possible. Since the 1990s, Shenzhen has cultivated tourism and shopping as another cash cow to supplement industry. The various theme parks and shopping arcades attest to Shenzhen now has to offer to those with an interest other than business.

What to see and do in Shenzhen

The Shenzhen Metro is the most convenient and easy to understand method of transport around the Shenzhen city area. It is very affordable, each ride is RMB 5 or less. The train comes about every 3 minutes. Unfortunately, as of 2009, the Metro only runs until 11PM. Here are some useful web resources:

Taxi meters start at RMB 12.50 for the first 2 kilometers, then RMB 0.60 for each 250 meters. Late night costs slightly higher.

Local buses run everywhere and start at RMB 2 for most trips. The longest bus trip in the city will cost RMB 7. Smaller or "mini-"buses start at RMB 3, they generally drop you off right at the door. The mini-buses were supposed to be phased out, but some are still operating. They have now been phased out within the Special Economic Zone but are still operating around outside of it. Most bus lines operate every 5 minutes. Be very careful of your wallet and try not to use your phone on a bus (it can get snatched out of your hand). Note that this is no more likely to happen than in any major American city.

There is also an International Airport in the Bao'an District. Planes in China are often late (around 3-4 hours). Beijing is by far on the bottom of the list for OTP, whereas long distance bus and train connections to just about anywhere in China leave on time. (Luohu station, Metro stop: Luohu, exit A. This is the same station as the connection to Hong Kong at Lo Wu. NOTE: Buses are located under the Shopping Center, while trains are located next door. As this is where the border crossing for Hong Kong is, the areas are very crowded all day long. Watch your belongings.

Communication tips:

Get a card of your hotel (if you are lost and no one understands your Mandarin)

Get your hotel staff to write down the destination names for you on paper.

As a migrant city Mandarin is more widely spoken in Shenzhen than the Cantonese common elsewhere in the region. Taxi drivers are more likely to speak Mandarin than Cantonese.

Shenzhen is a linguistic melting pot. You will likely hear every dialect and accent of Mandarin as well as the Guangdong languages of Cantonese, Teochew, and Hakka.

C:UNION ' This is a great place to discover Shenzhen's surprisingly vibrant alternative community. A variety of live bands from around China and sometimes abroad perform here every Saturday night, followed by a dj playing electronic music. Shows start around 8PM and drinks start at RMB 30. You can also check out the surrounding neighborhood whose restaurants and small art outlets create a hip vibe along the brick pedestrian roads. Metro to Ciao Cheng Dong, exit A. Walk right and then take a right at the OCT building with the green lighting.

Base Bar ' A live rock music venue in Shangbu, Futian. Great vibe and great interior deco. There are nice three-sided booths along the walls for larger groups. A variety of acts play into the early morning; door cover can sometimes run up to RMB 100 so check online [www.basebar.net] to make sure that the given night's acts are worth seeing. Friendly waitstaff with Communist Star armbands serve up cocktails starting at RMB 30 (the Gin-Tonic is a must) or bottles of Jim Bean for RMB 380. Accessible from the Ke Xue Guan metro station, not far from Party City. Or show the Chinese address to a cab driver.

Dafen Oil Painting Village ' Home to hundreds of artists duplicating classical Western paintings and doing original work, is accessible by bus 106 from Luohu (RMB 3).

Happy Valley Theme Park.
This is a place for kids and families. Usually packed on weekends by families, the fun park offers more than 100 attractions ranging from the thrilling Space Shot to the lovely cartoon-themed events. It also holds daily performances of various themes.
Hours of Operation: 9:30 -- 22:00 (9:00 -- 22:00 on weekends)
Metro Stop: Hua Qiao Cheng (Exit A), Line 1
Tel.: 26949168

He XiangNing Art Museum ' China's second national modern art museum, in addition to the National Art Gallery of China. It contains an excellent collection of world-class modern paintings, and is currently host to the "Fresh Eyes 06" exhibition. It is well worth a visit for anyone interested in art. He Xiangning Art Gallery is located in Overseas Chinese Town (OCT) of Shenzhen. It is accessible via Shenzhen Metro at Hua Qiao Cheng Station, Exit C (or, if closed, use Exit D). Walk west towards the McDonald's restaurant (in direction of terminus station, f rom Exit D towards Exit C). The art gallery is next door to McDonald's (on the left). Admission is just RMB 20, and entrance is free on Fridays.

Minsk World' A military theme park centered around the former Soviet aircraft carrier Minsk. The island, flight deck, second and fifth decks of the carrier can be toured. A short film on the carrier's history can be viewed in a small theater to the left of the entrance from the shore. Many key captions and display boards are in English, but Mandarin is predominant. There are tour guides stationed at various exhibits that will give brief explanations of them in Mandarin only. Periodic performances with a military theme occur on the flight deck and fifth deck. For RMB 30, you can take a 5 minute motorboat ride around the starboard side of the Minsk and get a good view of it that is not possible from the shore. There are also several exhibits of PLA military equipment on the grounds. Admission is RMB 110. The park can be reached via taxi from Lo Hu.

This is a military-themed park based on a retired aircraft carrier, the Minsk, which was built in the former Soviet Union and was once the world's fifth largest of its kind. Moored at Dapeng Bay now, the vessel houses a military museum highlighting a MiG-23 fighter and other aircrafts. There are also regular Russian dance shows and honor guard performances. Location: Shatoujiao in Yantian District Tel.: 25355333

Safari Park Shenzhen.
The first of its kind in the country, the park is a 120,000-sqm subtropical garden housing nearly 10,000 wild animals and birds of more than 300 species. These include some of the world's rare species such as panda, golden money (golden snub-nosed monkey), antelope, flamingo, red-crowned crane (Manchurian Crane) and Amur Tiger (Manchurian Tiger). The park also offers a variety of circus shows. Location: By Xili Lake in Nanshan District
Tel.: 26622888

Shenzhen Garden and Flower Exposition Center ' A huge outdoor park with a pagoda and beautiful waterfall. Metro: Qiao Cheng Dong, exit A. Admission is RMB50.

Shenzhen Horse Racing Club.

Shenzhen Musuem. Located at 1008 Shennan Road Central, the museum that aims to "carry out patriotic education". Exhibits are labeled in english. Has a focus on local history, from the "corrupt and racist English Government" of the Opium Wars, to the growth of Shenzhen from a fishing village to major city over the last thirty years. Closed Mondays. Metro: Shi Min Zhong Xin.

Shiyan Lake Hot Spring Resort.

Splendid China & Chinese Folk Culture Village ' This part combines two different sections. The first part is a miniature park of China. You can find the famous Forbidden City, Terracotta Soldiers, Tibet Potala Palace, Huangshan Mountains, Yunnan's Stone Forest, and of course the Great Wall of China. This miniature park covers 300 thousand square meters, fully forested with beautiful greenery and flower. The second part of the park is build up from 56 different houses, each one representing one of the 56 nationalities in China, such as Miao, Yi, Bai, Mongol, Uygur and many others. You can find here real people, culture, fashion, habits, religion, language and food. Do not miss the greatest colossal performance at Chinese Folk Culture Village. Metro: Qiao Cheng Dong.

Right next to Splendid China, the folk culture park dazzles with the histories and mysteries of the country's ethnic groups.Scattering around the 180,000-sqm park are 24 villages built in 1:1 ratio, inhabited by real ethnic people who present their traditional arts, customs, languages and cuisines. Traditional culture performances are held there every day. Like Splendid China, the park is also heavily forested.
Hours of Operation: 9:00 -- 21:00
Metro Stop: Hua Qiao Cheng (Exit D), Line 1
Tel.: 26600626

Splendid China also known as Miniature of China, the 300,000-sqm park features replicas of more than 80 scenic and cultural wonders in the country. Here you can find the mighty Great Wall, the imperial Forbidden City, the ancient Terracotta Army, the legendary Shaolin Temple and the mysterious Potala Palace of Tibet. The park is beautifully forested to shelter its visitors from the subtropical sun.
Hours of Operation: 9:00 -- 18:00
Metro Stop: Hua Qiao Cheng (Exit D), Line 1
Tel.: 26602111

Window of The World ' Travel around the world in one day. This 480,000 square meters park has a beautiful natural landscapes and wonderful lighting at night. Inside, you can climb the 1:3 ratio Eiffel Tower, Egyptian Pyramid, Pisa Tower, Taj Mahal of India, Grand Canyon, and other famous places of interest. Metro: Shi Jie Zhi Chuang. Window of the World

Like Splendid China, this 480,000-sqm park features more than 130 miniature replicas of scenic and cultural wonders. The difference is that these are landmarks from all over the world. Here you can find the Golden Gate Bridge and the Niagara Waterfall of the United States, the Kremlin of Russia, Italy's Pisa Tower, Egyptian pyramids, the Taj Mahal of India and an Eiffel Tower built in 1:3 ratio.

Although these replicas would probably not attract Western visitors much, the park's daily dance performance and regular carnival-like events are of great fun. Beautifully illuminated at night, it is also an impressive city scene. Hours of Operation: 9:00 -- 21:00
Metro Stop: Hua Qiao Cheng (Exit J), Line 1
Tel.: 26608000

Xian Hu Buddhist Temple.

Shenzhen is a popular place for Hong Kong people to go to get a massage. Prices are low compared with Hong Kong, though generally higher than elsewhere in China. A foot massage, pronounced 'xi jiao', (which actually often consists of massaging your shoulders, back, arms, legs, and feet!) costs RMB 25 - RMB 50 for 60-80 minutes depending on the location, time of day, and quality of the establishment. A full-body massage (pronounced 'an mo' or 'song gu') costs RMB 50 - RMB 150 for 90-120 minutes. Some places offer a 3 hour massage consisting of 1 hour of foot massage plus 2 hours of full body massage for only RMb 68 (excluding tips). It is customary to give the masseuse/masseur a RMB 10 per hour tip at a minimum.

The "Oriental Palm Spring International Club" is worth a special recommendation. For the ridiculous price of about RMB 96 you get 24 hours of access to a spa pool, saunas, showers, baths, relaxation lounges, sleeping capsules, personal TV screens, fruit and drink bars and much more. All kinds of massages are offered for a similarly low price, and you'll be pampered left and right all the way from entrance to exit. Including a meal or two and some two hours of massages you can spend a day like a king for a mere RMB 500. The RMB 96 entry fee is waived if a person gets over RMB 168 worth of spa services. It is best to take a taxi as there are no metro stations nearby. Oriental Palm Spring runs a shuttle to Huang Gong as well. This can be found at the basement by the bus depot.

Caution: In most hotels, prostitution is widespread. In some seedier areas, "massage" may actually mean sex. Use your best judgment.

Yangtai Mountain
It is located in Mt. Yangtai in Bao'an District with its main peak measuring 587.3 meters tall, blessed with plentiful rain and the agreeable climate, representing the headstream of the main streams and rivers of Shenzhen which is abundantly surrounded with the luxuriant trees and flowers with many different wildlife animals running along. At the foot of Mt. Yangtai is the residential area of Hakka people. During the Anti-Japanese War, Yangtaishan Guerilla saved the lives of several hundred Chinese and overseas cultural figures and patriotic democratic personages, particularly Mao Dun, Zou Taofen, He Xiangning, etc., and transferred them to safety and concealment in Yangtaishan District, thus Yangtaishan is well reputed as "Mountain of Heroes".

Zhongying Street
Zhongying Street is located in Shatoujiao Town, Yantian District, Shenzhen City. The boundary tablet that was erected in the center of the street in 1898 with the inscription of "CHINESE BOUNDARY 1898 NO x ", splitting the original Shatoujiao Town into two sections with the eastern part called Shaotoujiao of the Chinese Boundary and the western part called Shaotoujiao of the British Boundary, so it is also called "Zhongying Street". UP to the present it still represents the sign of demarcation line of "one country, two systems", so Zhongying Street is famous for its unique political and historical brilliance featuring "One Street, Two Systems".

Dameisha and Xiaomeisha beaches
Dameisha and Xiaomeisha beaches are located on the side of Dapeng Bay of Shenzhen, Dameisha Bay is approximately 2000 meters wide while the Xiaomeisha Bay is approximately 800 meters wide, the sea sand is yellow and white with small particles, plain an soft as if a crescent moon were delicately embedded in the green mountains and the blue sea, highly reputed as "Oriental Hawaii" which is the favorite holiday destination attracting tourists for holiday, leisure and amusement and even surfing and fitness.

These two parks are decent place to enjoy green mountains, blue sea and golden sand beaches. Dameisha, the bigger one of the two, is a public area, while Xiaomeisha requires a 20-yuan entrance fee. In Xiaomeisha there is an aquarium zoo called Shenzhen Sea World, well stocked with whales, sharks, manatees and showing various aquatic antics. Dameisha features a public garden called Lunar Square with a bar and a restaurant selling Western food. Location: Near Dapeng Bay in Yantian District Tel.: 25062323 (Dameisha), 25060000 (Xiaomeisha)

Wutong Mountain
The main peak of Wutong Mountain stands 944 meters tall, the first peak in the Pearl River Delta and "Heavenly Pond of Wuling Range". Now there are Forest Park and Sport Park, constituting one of the best scenic spots for sightseeing while mounting up to the top of the mountain. Standing on the mountainside of Brave Man Slope, you can survey Hong Kong, Dapeng Bay, Yantian Port and Shatoujiao ushering in the early morning sun ray, where you are surrounded with the unrestrained and far-ranging seas and the skies with a carefree and joyous mind.

Shennan Thoroughfare
Shennan Avenue running through the downtown area of Shenzhen City is the busiest traffic road in Shenzhen, starting from Sanjiu Hotel along the Yanhe Crossing on the east to Nantou Inspection Station and it is an 8-lane dual carriageway with green belt sandwiched between the two neighboring lanes with a total length of 17.2 kilometers long. The essence of the buildings in Shenzhen stand brilliantly along both sides of Shennan Avenue with the most important tourism scenic spots and famous enterprises scattered along the avenue as well, so it showcases the street landscape with the high degree of modern features, rarely-seen in Mainland China.

Overseas Chinese Town
Overseas Chinese Town is located in Overseas Chinese City Landscape Area, including many theme parks such as "Splendid China", "Chinese Folk Culture Village". "Window of the World" and "Happy Valley", highly integrating the traditional Chinese culture, the Chinese folk culture with the World cultural essences, presenting a perfect combination of the natural landscape with humanistic landscape and adopting the modern scientific and technological expressive means of sound, light and electricity, etc., coupled with the opera and song performances in the oriental "Broadway", highlighting the combination of the quiescent and dynamic exercises and a variety of new styles and patterns, thus causing a great attraction to the audiences.

Lotus Hill
Even in ancient times, Lotus Hill got a Holy Name and was well reputed for its natural beauty and purity. Lotus Hill is located in the north side of the downtown area of Shenzhen City and derives such a name for its similarity to the lotus in shape. Lotus Hill covers a total area of 166 hectares, offering the largest expanse of public green space in the urban center. Lotus Hill is actually one of the most important municipal parks with abundant landscape and scenes with elegant and magnificent hills and waters around. Standing on the hilltop, you can appreciate a panorama view of the central area of the city.

This 166-hectare public park, fully forested, is an ideal place for family fun in the heart of the city. The focal point of the park is a viewing square at the top of the Lotus Hill, which got its name from its shape (like a lotus). The square commands decent vistas of Shenzhen and highlights a statue of late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, who inspired the creation of the city. Below the hill are a lawn for kite flying and a lake for fishing.Location: By the western part of Hongli Road in Futian DistrictTel.: 83067950

Dapeng Fortress
Dapeng Fortress is located in the east side of Longgang District in Shenzhen City with its former full name as "Dapeng Military Fortress for Protection of Households in the Town", which was built to fight against the invasion of the Japanese pirates, covering a total area of 110,000 square meters, initially built in 27 Year of Emperor Hongwu Period in the Ming Dynasty (or in 1394 ), which is at present the only key historical and cultural site under the protection of People's Republic of China. During the period of Opium War, the "Zhenwei general Military Camp" of the famous general bravely fighting the British invaders, Guangdong navy prefect Lai Enjue and the "general Military Camp" of Fujian navy prefect Liu Qilong are most imposing with extraordinary brilliance and elegance. In September 1839 Lai Enjue directed his military men to win the victory in Jiulong Maritime Battle, thus starting the prelude of the Opium War. So this is an ideal place to worship the national martyrs and heroes, getting well informed of the history and appreciating the ancient styles and relics of the Qing Dynasty.

Fairy Lake Botanical Gardens
Also a base for academic research, the 590-hectare park boasts dozens of attractions of natural scenery and botanical mystery. It is home to more than 4,000 species of plants, including some very rare ones. Here you can find gardens of bamboo trees, desert plants, Cycas trees, gymnosperm plants and aquatic plants. Set in the park is also one of the largest temples in Guangdong Province, Hongfa Temple, which attracts many local and Hong Kong Buddhists. Location: Liantang in Luohu District Tel.: 25738430

Evergreen Resort
This 200,000-sqm resort is Shenzhen's first sightseeing farm and well known for its natural beauty and rural settings. It features over a dozen attractions including a tropical forest, a butterfly garden, fishing pools, a pottery house where you can create your own art works and a few fruit farms where you can lease a patch. Location: Near the Moon Bay (Yue Liang Wan) in Nanshan District Tel.: 26646988

Guangming Farm
It is also an ideal resort for people who seek natural beauty and peaceful rural life in the city. It offers a variety of attractions including fruit farms, dairy farms, fishing pools, an archery club, bungee jumping and outdoor barbeque. The park boasts a 300-meter-long grass skating course with a total area of 60,000 square meters, the largest of its kind in China. It also has Asia's largest pigeon garden. In summer, it is a perfect place to pick fresh litchis, Shenzhen's best known fruits. Location: Guangming Avenue in Bao'an District Tel.: 27400054, 27400076

Waterlands Resort
The resort is a 173-hectare subtropical beach park sitting by the mouth of the Pearl River, which gives visitors a distinctive sea view. Imbedded with many pools and brooks, it features over 10 attractions including a rural village with a traditional winery, a water fun park, a garden of the rare mangrove trees and a museum showing China's history of ecological development.
Location: Shajing in Bao'an District
Tel.: 27259888

Weather in Shenzhen

Shenzhen has a mild climate as well as plentiful sunshine and rainfall all year round. The measured temperature is 22.4 C (72.32 F) on average. Long but not overly hot summers and short but relatively warm winters make Shenzhen the ideal tourist destination in any season. However it should perhaps be noted that Shenzhen is located at the estuary of the Pearl River and is therefore an area which is often influenced by typhoons. Generally the most significant typhoons occur from May to December and especially from July to September. The best time to visit Shenzhen is really August to September when a series of celebrations are held.

Additionally, the China Hi-Tech Fair is held in Shenzhen from the 12th to the 17th of October every year. It is therefore always advisable to make reservations well in advance of your visit to Shenzhen as the area is particularly busy during these days.

January                  19 C to 14 C

February                19 C to 15 C

March                     22 C to 17 C

April                        25 C to 21 C

May                         28 C to 24 C

June                        30 C to 26 C

July                          32 C to 27 C

August                    32 C to 27 C

September             31 C to 26 C

October                   28 C to 24 C

November               24 C to 19 C

December              21 C to 16 C

Airport in Shenzhen

Visa

To be able to travel to Shenzhen you need to have a valid China Visa, issue from your local government at the China Embassy, Chinese visa fall into four types: diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, service visa and ordinary visa. Ordinary visa is further divided into the following 8 categories each marked with a letter: (1) Tourist and family visit visa (L-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China for tourist purpose, family visit or other personal affairs.

(2) Business Visa (F-visa ) is issued to a foreign citizen who is invited to China for visit, research, lecture, business, exchanges in the fields of science, technology, education, culture and sports, or attending various kinds of trade fairs or exhibitions, or short-term study, intern practice for a period of no more than 6 months.

(3) Student Visa (X-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China for the purpose of study or advanced study for a period of six or more months.

(4) Work Visa (Z-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who comes to China to work and his or her accompanying family members, or to give commercial performances in China.

(5) Transit Visa (G-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who is to transit through China on his or her way to a third country (or region).

(6) Crew Visa(C-visa)is issued to crew member performing his/her duties on board an international train, or on an international airliner, to a sailor on board an international ocean-liner or freighter, and also to their accompanying family members..

(7) Journalist Visa (J-visa)is issued to foreign journalists. J-visa has two categories: J-1 visa and J-2 visa. J-1 visa is issued to resident foreign journalists in China and their accompanying spouses and under-age children, J-2 visa to foreign journalists who visit China for temporary news coverage.

(8) Permanent Residence Visa(D-visa)is issued to a foreign citizen who has been approved by China's public security authority to reside in China permanently.

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