Shenzhen 深圳
Shenzhen is a fast, modern megacity with Cantonese roots and a young immigrant food scene, best explored around metro hubs in Futian, Nanshan and Luohu. First-timers should base near a metro line, use digital payments, and allow for the city’s long distances.
Sights in Shenzhen
Window of the World 世界之窗
Splendid China Folk Village 锦绣中华民俗村
Lianhuashan Park 莲花山公园
Shenzhen Museum 深圳博物馆
Museum of Contemporary Art and Planning Exhibition (MOCAUP) 深圳市当代艺术与城市规划馆
OCT Loft 华侨城创意文化园
Shenzhen Bay Park 深圳湾公园
Xianhu Botanical Garden 仙湖植物园
Hongfa Temple 弘法寺
Wutong Mountain 梧桐山
Dameisha Beach Park 大梅沙海滨公园
Dafen Oil Painting Village 大芬油画村
Nantou Ancient City 南头古城
Sea World 海上世界
Dapeng Fortress 大鹏所城
Guanlan Printmaking Village 观澜版画村
Crane Lake New Residence (Hakka Museum) 鹤湖新居
Dongmen Pedestrian Street 东门老街
Huaqiangbei 华强北
OCT Harbour 欢乐海岸
Chen Clan Ancestral Hall 陈家祠
Huizhou West Lake 惠州西湖
Opium War Museum 鸦片战争博物馆
Prices are approximate and hours change. Sights without a page haven't been checked yet.
Where to stay
Futian 福田
Central CBD with the most metro connections, shopping, and easy access to Hong Kong via the Futian checkpoint.
Good for: First-timers, business travelers, short stays
Nanshan 南山
Tech hub with theme parks, Shenzhen Bay parks, and a wide range of hotels and restaurants.
Good for: Families, tech visitors, longer stays
Luohu 罗湖
Old downtown beside the Luohu border crossing, with dense food, shopping, and transit links.
Good for: Budget travelers, Hong Kong day-trippers, transit
Getting there
Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport 深圳宝安国际机场
Metro Line 11 to Futian takes about 35-45 min (approx ¥8-10); taxi to Futian about 45-60 min (approx ¥120-160).
Shenzhen North Railway Station 深圳北站
Main high-speed hub; Metro Lines 4, 5 and 6; trains to Guangzhou South, Hong Kong West Kowloon and Xiamen.
Futian Railway Station 福田站
Underground high-speed station; Metro Lines 2, 3 and 11; some trains to Hong Kong West Kowloon and Guangzhou South—check your departure station.
Shenzhen Railway Station 深圳站
At Luohu border; conventional and intercity trains; Metro Line 1; connected to Luohu checkpoint.
Getting around
Metro
Most city trips and airport transfers
Use Alipay/WeChat metro QR or a Shenzhen Tong card; avoid 8:00-9:30 and 17:30-19:00 rush hours.
Taxi / Didi
Late nights, luggage, places off metro
Use Didi in English and have your destination written in Chinese; avoid unmarked taxis.
Shared bike
Short neighborhood and park connections
Use designated parking zones; cycling is restricted on some major roads and in crowded pedestrian areas.
Bus
Areas beyond metro, coastal spots
Pay by transit QR or exact change; buses can be slow in traffic.
Good to know
- Overseas Visa and Mastercard cards can be tapped at metro gates marked Visa/Mastercard/International Cards; Shenzhen Tong cards and single-journey tokens (cash) also work. Source
- Alipay accepts Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover and Diners cards. Payments under ¥200 carry no Alipay service fee; payments of ¥200 or more carry a 3% fee. Verify your passport in the app to raise limits. Source
- A travel eSIM or home SIM on roaming reaches Google, WhatsApp and Instagram without a VPN; a Chinese SIM or hotel Wi-Fi does not. Keep your home SIM active for SMS codes. Source
- Link Alipay or WeChat Pay to a foreign card before arrival; many small shops rarely handle cash smoothly, but keep ¥100-200 cash as backup.
- Shenzhen is long and spread out—check the metro line before booking a hotel; a 'central' address can still be 45 minutes from your sights.
- For Hong Kong day trips, use Luohu or Futian checkpoint and carry your passport plus any required HK visa/entry document; queues peak on weekends.
- Typhoon season is Jun-Sep: keep an eye on warnings, as ferries, flights and some metro/bus services can be suspended at short notice.
- English is limited outside hotels; save destinations in Chinese and use a translation app for taxi drivers and small restaurants.
What to eat in Shenzhen
烧鹅
shāo é
Roast goose · Cantonese roast goose with crisp skin; order at siu mei shops.
白切鸡
bái qiē jī
Poached chicken · Cantonese poached chicken served with ginger-scallion dip.
潮汕牛肉火锅
cháoshàn niúròu huǒguō
Chaoshan beef hot pot · Fresh beef cuts cooked in clear broth; best with a group.
客家酿豆腐
kèjiā niàng dòufu
Hakka stuffed tofu · Tofu stuffed with minced pork and simmered; a Hakka staple.
云吞面
yún tūn miàn
Wonton noodles · Springy noodles with pork wontons in a light broth.
蚝烙
háo lào
Oyster omelette · Chaoshan-style crisp omelette with small oysters.
蒜蓉炒芥兰
suàn róng chǎo jièlán
Garlic stir-fried gai lan · Chinese broccoli quickly stir-fried with garlic; common vegetable side.
清炒菜心
qīng chǎo càixīn
Stir-fried choy sum · Simple Cantonese vegetable dish, usually just greens and oil.
Weather by season
| Months | Day | Night | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar-May | 26 °C | 20 °C | Warm, humid, occasional rain |
| Jun-Aug | 32 °C | 27 °C | Hot, sticky, typhoon season |
| Sep-Nov | 29 °C | 23 °C | Warm, pleasant, some typhoons |
| Dec-Feb | 20 °C | 13 °C | Mild, dry, occasional cool spell |
Typical averages, not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Shenzhen?
Oct-Dec and Mar-Apr; avoid the Jun-Aug heat and typhoon peak.
Which sights in Shenzhen should I book in advance?
Window of the World, Splendid China Folk Village, Xianhu Botanical Garden, Dameisha Beach Park, Huaqiangbei, Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Huizhou West Lake.
How do I pay for the metro in Shenzhen?
Overseas Visa and Mastercard cards can be tapped at metro gates marked Visa/Mastercard/International Cards; Shenzhen Tong cards and single-journey tokens (cash) also work.
Which airports serve Shenzhen?
Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX).
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