The city
Shenzhen is the fastest city in China — a fishing village in 1980, a megacity of 17 million by 2020. Across the border from Hong Kong, it’s the Pearl River Delta’s tech engine: home to Huawei, Tencent, DJI, and BYD, with more patents per capita than almost anywhere on Earth.
It’s a young, dense, relentlessly practical city — and one of the easiest places in China to get around. The metro is vast and cheap, the food is Cantonese and excellent, and the skyline keeps getting taller every time you visit.
From the airport
| Route | Destination | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 11 (Airport Express) | Futian | 19 min |
| Metro Line 3 | Luohu, Laojie | ~50 min |
| Airport Bus A1–A13 | Hotels citywide | 30–60 min |
| Taxi | Futian CBD | 40–60 min |
| High-speed rail, from city center | Guangzhou / Hong Kong West Kowloon | 36 / 14 min |
Worth your time
Lianhua Mountain Park
The city’s green lung. A short climb to the Deng Xiaoping statue at the top, with a full panorama of the skyline from the summit.
Shenzhen Bay Park
Fifteen kilometers of waterfront promenade along the bay. Go at sunset — the light on the water is the best free show in the city.
Ping An Finance Center
599 meters tall. The “Lingdi” observation deck at 547 m puts you above the clouds line and over the whole bay.
Window of the World & Happy Valley
OCT’s two theme parks — miniature landmarks of the world, and some of the best roller coasters in Asia. A full day each.
Dapeng Fortress
A Ming-dynasty sea fortress on a peninsula, with the beaches of Dameisha and Xiaomeisha at the tip. History and swimming in one trip.
Huaqiangbei
The electronics market that built the city. Repair anything, buy everything, watch the world’s most efficient tinkerers at work.
Gankeng Hakka Town
A four-hundred-year-old Hakka village turned cultural district — the old city preserved inside the new one.
Shenzhen Museum
Free, and the best one-stop story of how a fishing village became a megacity in forty years. Start here.
Eat & drink
Dim sum
Morning tea is a religion here. Go early, order by the basket, and stay as long as you like — yum cha is the city’s default breakfast.
Cantonese classics
Roast goose, siu mei, char siu, congee. Shenzhen’s Cantonese kitchens are serious — this is the heartland of the cuisine.
Seafood
Dapeng and Shekou for the freshest catch on the peninsula. Harbor-side restaurants, no frills, excellent fish.
Tong sui & night markets
Sweet soups and sugar-water desserts are a Shenzhen institution, and the old districts’ night markets run late.
Good to know
- Currency
- Chinese yuan (¥). Alipay and WeChat Pay are everywhere — set one up before you land.
- Language
- Mandarin, with Cantonese widely spoken. English is limited outside tourist areas.
- Best time
- November–March: dry, mild, and comfortable for walking the bay.
- Steer clear
- July–September is hot, humid, and typhoon season. The city doesn’t stop, but you’ll sweat.
- Power
- 220 V, type A/C/I plugs. A universal adapter covers it.
- Getting around
- The metro is huge, clean, and cheap; DiDi taxis are everywhere. High-speed rail links Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
- Visa
- 144-hour visa-free transit applies for many nationalities — check the current rules before booking.