Take a ride in the Robotaxi, receive a cup of coffee delivered by drone, interact with robots at a 6S store, shop at the premier electronics street - Huaqiangbei, and visit the headquarters of tech giants like Huawei and Tencent... Shenzhen, transcending traditional historical and natural sightseeing, has emerged as the top destination for experiencing cutting-edge technology and futuristic urban life in China.
Thanks to its rapid technological advancement, Shenzhen boasts well-developed urban tourism facilities and offers high-quality services. Everything from entry, sightseeing, accommodation, to payment is highly friendly for international visitors.
Flying Drone for Delivery
Order a Cup of Coffee Made by Robot
It’s hard to imagine that Shenzhen was just a small fishing village 40 years ago. Entrepreneurs from all over China and even around the world have been building this modernized city, making towering skyscrapers synonymous with Shenzhen. With a diverse and inclusive culture, this city enables every comer to find a sense of familiarity and belonging.
This does not mean that Shenzhen only has high-rise buildings. Various urban parks work as a retreat away from the hustle and bustle, while cliffside trails, clean beaches, and 600-year-old ancient towns allow people to relax physically and mentally while experiencing rapid development.
Unlike traditional tourist cities, Shenzhen allocates its attractions in commercial areas. A shopping mall or a store can be a scenic spot: Huaqiangbei Electronic Market often serves as the starting point of a Shenzhen high-tech tour, which gathers all kinds of futuristic gadgets and gizmos. Shenzhen Bay area, with concentrated digital product stores, is also a must-go. There is the largest Dajiang Innovation (DJI) flagship store where you can fly the latest drones; at Tuozhu 3D printing flagship store, you can see various products being “printed” rapidly from 0 to 1. Coming to Shenzhen Bay Park, you might as well experience drone food delivery.
Take a Picture with Smart Robot
Cool Drone in DJI Flagship Store
The 599-meter-high (1,965-foot) Ping’an International Financial Center is the fifth tallest building in the world. Standing on its top, you can overlook entire Shenzhen. To see the most stunning cyberpunk scene in the night lights, Gangxia North Metro Station is your best choice.
Most visitors plan two days for Shenzhen to cover both high-tech experience and cultural sightseeing; for people with a tight schedule, such as transit travelers, or those who conduct a short side trip around Hong Kong, one-day high-tech sightseeing is feasible. Family visitors with seniors or children can also spend an extra ocean-themed day.
Where to Stay in Shenzhen?
The surroundings of Civic Square in the city center in Futian District is recommended for first-time visitors. There is a large commercial area offering multiple choices for accommodation and catering, and densely packed metro lines are available, making it much more convenient to travel around. Besides, it is within walking distance from Futian Railway Station, which operates direct bullet trains to/ from Hong Kong.
If you pursue high cost-performance, choose the vicinity of Dongmen Pedestrian Street, Luohu metro station, or International Foreign Trade Center in Luohu District, the previous central area of Shenzhen, where hotel prices are relatively low. Just note that it takes more than 40 minutes by metro to get to the core attractions.
Developed internal and external transportation networks make Shenzhen easily accessible from numerous international cities, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cities, and other major cities in China, and facilitate visitors shuttling between major business and tourism destinations within the city.
How to Get to Shenzhen?
Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport is the primary gateway for international tourists to come to Shenzhen, connected to more than 40 countries and regions around the world by air, such as the United States, Canada, Italy, France, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, etc.
Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport
If you transfer from Hong Kong, which borders Shenzhen, give priority to the high speed train, which only takes 14 minutes to run from West Kowloon to Futian. Ferries to major ports of Shenzhen also serve from Hong Kong and Macau.
In Chinese Mainland, passengers travel between Shenzhen and major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an and Chongqing by frequent flights or bullet trains. Other nearby cities, such as Guangzhou and Zhuhai, also have frequent bus trips to Shenzhen downtown directly.
How to Get around in Shenzhen?
Shenzhen metro is the first choice, which covers most popular destinations, including business districts, tourist attractions, transportation hubs, and ports, with a minimum interval of only 2 minutes.
It is suggested to experience a Robotaxi during your Shenzhen trip. You can hail online through Alipay or WeChat mini programs PonyPilot+ or Apollo Go, or find it on the roadside at popular destinations such as Shenzhen Bay Park. At first, you may feel excited and nervous about not having a driver, but as it travels smoothly, you will relax and enjoy a comfortable journey. The fare is not high, roughly equivalent to normal online-hailing cars.
Shenzhen has a subtropical monsoon climate, with long summer and short spring and autumn. The daytime temperature remains above 30℃ (86℉) from May to September; high humidity exacerbates the stuffiness and stickiness. The weather in winter from December to February is not very cold, with an average low temperature of around 12℃ (54℉) and rarely below 5℃ (41℉); meanwhile, rainy days are rare.
Visit Shenzhen in Golden November
In addition, averagely 4 - 5 typhoons affect Shenzhen every year, mainly from July to September, during which strong winds and continuous rainstorms restrict outdoor sightseeing.
Dominated sunny days with stable and comfortable temperatures of 17 - 27℃ (63 - 81℉) make October and November the golden times to visit Shenzhen. December to March, with slightly lower temperatures but equally clear weather, can be an alternative.
Shenzhen’s shops feature numerous novel electronic products, particularly drones, smartphones, smartwatches, AI glasses, and small household robots, which are wondrously popular among international visitors. These products are not only diverse in variety, but also favorable in price; sometimes, you can even get one at one-third of the price in your country. In addition to the must-see Huaqiangbei, SEG Electronics Marketplace and Huaqiang Electronic Plaza are worth going. Besides, Shenzhen has numerous comprehensive shopping malls and large jewelry and clothing wholesale markets.
Meanwhile, tourists enjoy convenient payment in Shenzhen. You don’t even need to download local payment software like Wechat; just scan the code to pay with your commonly used wallets such as PayPal, Hana Pay, Liquid Pay, etc. Many shops are also equipped with POS devices, offering more choices for tourists who prefer bank card payment. Besides, about 2,500 stores provide “Instant Tax Refund upon Purchase” service, through which you can receive a tax refund immediately when purchasing their products without application until departure.
As an important inbound city in Chinese Mainland, Shenzhen provides simple and quick immigration services. There are about 10 ports of entry and exit, facilitating all tourists entering under the visa-free policy and 240-hour visa-free transit as well as those holding regular visas.
Travelers from many countries can also apply for a 5-day Shenzhen travel visa upon arrival at the land port, with a simple on-site application that can be completed in as little as 30 minutes. It allows holders to travel freely in Shenzhen within 5 days for tourism and business activities, especially suitable for those who visit Hong Kong and want to go to Shenzhen temporarily.
Light Cantonese food makes up the majority of Shenzhen’s dining. Morning tea, seafood congee, coconut chicken, and beef hotpot serve as the representative delicacies.
In fact, as an immigrant city, Shenzhen gathers food from all over the country, including spicy Sichuan and Hunan cuisine and cold dishes of northeast China. There are also many authentic Mexican, Turkish, and other countries’ restaurants. The night markets, usually open until the early morning, provide various street snacks like spicy skewers, steamed vermicelli roll, etc. What’s more, Shenzhen is the birthplace of many beverage brands, so coffee shops and tea shops can be seen everywhere.
