Shenzhen Hotels

The rapid reboot of that village into one of the world’s primary centers of economic and commercial growth is now legend in Shenzhen. This is a proud, dynamic city that has come into its own not just in the PRC but, indeed, Asia and the world. The skyline expansion has run unfaltered at a breakneck clip, new suburbs pop up every year and the subway system has gone from non-existent to one of the most extensive on the planet in what seems like the blink of an eye.

The busy Pearl River Delta port city has strides to make in the arts and culture and quality of life departments in order to catch up with neighbors Hong Kong and Guangzhou. Still, given Shenzhen’s improbable metamorphosis, the city has already demonstrated a dramatic and flagrant ability to reach for the sky.

Shenzhen’s Top 10

Shenzhen Local

Like any good sub-provincial metropolis in the People’s Republic of China with over 10 million people, Shenzhen is big and envelops many city-like districts.

Futian is the primary hub of Shenzhen and is home to some 1.3 million people. The district is the scene of frantic high-rise development and has the skyline to prove it. Points of interest include Lianhua Mountain Park, Shenzhen Garden and Flower Exposition Center, Guan Shan Yue Art Gallery, Mangrove National Park and Shenzhen Cultural Center.

Luohu has just under 1 million people and is the home of Wutong Mountain, Lake of the Immortals Botanical Gardens, Dong Men Pedestrian Street, Tea World Terminal Market, Hubei Village Eat Street, and Jiahua Foreign Trade Market.

Nanshan has over 1 million people and points of interest like Chiwan Fort, Xin’an Ancient City and Happy Valley and Window of the World theme parks.

Yantian has just over 200,000 people and desirable tourist targets like Dameisha beach, Xiaomeisha beach and Chung Ying Street.

Bao’an, with close to 5 million people, is tops in Shenzhen. The suburban district outside the Special Economic Zone is, for the most part, a behemoth factory city.

Longgang has over 2 million people and while a busy suburban district, is home to some desolate coastal areas, such as Ju Diao Sha, Dong Chong and Xi Chong beach. The Longgang Museum of Hakka culture is worth a visit as well.

Shenzhen Eat & Drink

As a prominent migrant and expat city that moves at the furious pace of business, Shenzhen has a big and eclectic restaurant scene. From regional mainland fare to branché continental, wine bars to sushi bars, mealtime need not be dull in the city.

Shenzhen Events

Shenzhen has been in such feverish expansion mode over the last two decades that it has yet to develop a bona fide international festival scene in the mold of a Shanghai or Hong Kong. Still, a few annual events do stand out.

The month-long Shenzhen Nanshan Litchi Cultural Tourism Festival runs from late June to late July and, aside from a lot of ripe lychees, features a diverse program of events.

The Dragon Dance Art Festival is one of the most popular festivals in Shenzhen and takes place in Longgang District.

The Grand Theater Festival is held in January and features a diverse lineup of traditional and contemporary performances.

Shenzhen Cultural Center has a regular program of events and exhibits on rotation. The home of Shenzhen Concert Hall and Shenzhen Library is impressive, thanks in no small part to the efforts of avant-garde architect Arata Isozaki.

New Shenzhen Stadium, host of the 2011 Summer Universiade, or World University Games, has a capacity of 60,334 and is the stadium of record for football, athletics et al.

When To Go

Shenzhen has a subtropical climate with a discernible monsoon effect. The wet season features heavy rain, typhoon thunderstorms and brutal humidity from May to September, with significant showers in April and October as well. Summer temperatures range from 76°F (24°C) to 90°F (32°C).

The mild winter and dry season is unquestionably more comfortable. Conditions from December to February waver between 53°F (12°C) and 71°F (22°C), with minimal rain. The months of March and November are warmer but not altogether unpleasant.

What To Miss

Rogue taxi drivers, patent tourist trap attractions and city tour swindles form three obvious pitfalls to avert in Shenzhen.

While not facile to identify a scam artist cab driver before you reach your destination, get some help from a hotel concierge or local if your Mandarin or Cantonese is weak. Otherwise, you could wind up with a “special” tourist rate.

Shenzhen has a profusion of amusement park attractions that were purpose-built with domestic tourists in mind and, perhaps more cynically, as opiate-like diversions for a spent, underpaid labor class. The point is that whatever novelty places like Sea World Shekou, Happy Valley Theme Park, Minsk World and Safari Park Shenzhen have hastily dissolves once you get past the gates.

Shenzhen “city tours” that ferry busloads of tourists from factory to factory, for a tidy payola on subsequent wholesale purchases, on top of the per head tour price, need to be put out of business. If you want to see the ins and outs of a jade jewelry factory, for example, hire a driver and book a private tour through a local connection. Otherwise, give these tours a wide berth and experience the city on your own.

Getting Around

Shenzhen is 40 km from Hong Kong and connects to the city via ferry, MTR, bus and taxi. Visitors do need to apply for a visa before they cross over to the People’s Republic mainland, however. A short list of nationals from the likes of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the EU can obtain a five-day Special Economic Zone Tourism Visa on arrival, after the rigamarole of Hong Kong immigration and customs that is. Alas, those with a valid U.S. passport, good for six months minimum, must apply for a regular multiple-entry visa.

Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport has yet to undergo a significant expansion and upgrade and is still one of the top 25 airports in the world. In China it ranks in the top 5 in total passenger movements and is a formidable competitor to Hong Kong International and Guangzhou Baiyun International. Although the hub currently processes up to 27 million passengers a year, Shenzhen’s sharp rise requires more capacity - and soon. For the moment, Shenzhen Bao'an serves the likes of Beijing-Capital, Shanghai-Pudong, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Seoul-Incheon, Singapore, Taipei and Tokyo-Narita. Visitors can also access the city by train from a host of spots on the mainland.

The Shenzhen Metro has 5 lines, 137 stations and is by far the best way to get around the city. By 2020 the number of lines, stations and total track will double. The city also operates a decent bus and minibus network. Taxis proliferate but since drivers are rarely conversant in English, be sure to ask your hotel for assistance with place-names in Chinese characters.