Learn Chinese, Travel or Work in China
This guide is a collection of resources and practical advice for living in Shenzhen.
Temporary visas for Shenzhen are issued for tourism purposes only. In the article below, we go into further details and update the information offered in our previous article on business visas, as well as give answers to the following questions.
Just across the border from Hong Kong on the Chinese mainland, lies the first tier city of Shenzhen, where around 15 million people live, work and entertain themselves.
Whether visiting or living in Shenzhen, this article will introduce some of the better scenic spots, historic sites and themed attractions. Shenzhen is a sprawling city covering ten districts, so you’ll need to plan carefully to make the most of your time – places to see are listed by district to make this easier.
Depending on your expectations, you may find some attractions quite touristy and possibly even tacky – but that’s the nature of Chinese entertainment. Take time to look beyond this, and you are likely to have some great experiences and get to sample the unique and wonderful culture that China offers.
Guangdong is the region that best represents Chinese history in recent centuries: it took on the role of a protagonist during the arrival of Europeans in China, it was the base in 1911 where the revolutionary party of Sun Yatsen saw the disintegration of the longest empire in history, was the headquarters of both the nationalist and communist parties; and it was actually the economic powerhouse of the region that launched the conditions for the Chinese economic miracle and for the exponential growth of the country.
Among the first five special economic zones (FTZ) it was founded along the coast of Guangdong, and the trip to the region from then president Deng Xiaoping held in 1992 definitively ushered in the beginning of a new epoch for the People’s Republic of China.
The region’s tropical climate makes almost every time of year a good time to visit, and going to Guangdong will allow you to taste the slow rhythms of the inhabitants’ life, always with a cup of tea and a deck of cards at their side, tasting everywhere the exquisite dim sum (a vast gamut of Chinese dishes such as won tons served with tea), losing themselves in the colonial neighborhoods of the capital Guangzhou and its food and antique markets. [Read more…]
This article is intended for people that live in Shenzhen or are thinking about moving there and want to study Chinese. We will analyze the best public and private schools for studying Chinese in the city. Plus, we will go over the pros and cons of studying Chinese in Shenzhen.
If you want a more general overview of studying Chinese in China, I recommend that you read this article first.
I don’t mean the stuff that was invented because it was safer to drink than water, I mean really good beer! Maybe, you’ve never experienced a beer with such complexity and balance that it should be savored like a fine wine. A beer that needs to “open up” a bit as it settles into the glass, and as you take your first sip you breathe in the aroma of hops and malt.
A beer that, like wine, to fully enjoy it you have to educate yourself a little (or rely on a knowledgeable server) if you are going to find the flavors that tingle your unique palate. If you haven’t yet, then you should, and know that you’re not alone. You can join hundreds of millions of Chinese who have yet to discover craft beer.
Like many places in the world, China has been brewing beer since the beginning of time. Well, at least far enough back to cause a debate. And like other places in the world, it served its purpose then fell out of favor for some other alcoholic beverage. But now China is back on beer, and is the largest beer consuming country on the planet.
Yes, it’s true, when you have a billion plus people you are the largest consumer of many things. But that also means it’s an exciting time for the craft brewers of China. However, only time will tell whether they can follow the same trend as other beer drinking countries like the US, Japan, and the numerous other countries. [Read more…]
Shenzhen is one of the biggest cities in China and choosing where to stay can be extremely difficult. This guide is a selection of some of best hotels in Shenzhen, whatever your budget may be.
If your looking for general recommendations on booking hotels in China you can click here to read our guide.
The Sheraton Shenzhen Futian Hotel is an imposing building and the staff aims to keep its guests impressed once inside. There is easy access to the metro and English and Korean speaking staff will happily arrange tours and transfers to the airport 30 minutes away. There is plenty of variety; restaurants, bars and lounges with free Wi-Fi in public areas. A golf course is within 3kms but internally there are indoor and outdoor pools, a games room, tennis, billiards, karaoke, a fitness center and spa. Kids are well catered for with their own pool. Businessmen have meeting room services and a business center. However it fairly expensive and some of the details need more attention.
A distinctive Shenzhen Taxi
In 2014 Shenzhen was ranked as the most crowded city in China and there are now more than 15 million people living here across seven districts. Somewhat surprisingly the transportation systems manage to cope well with the growing population as the government continues to expand the travel networks across the city. With a little patience and a little knowledge you can expect to move fairly effortlessly from one destination to another.
P.s. If you need an hotel in Shenzhen, here you find our recommendations.
The Shenzhen Metro is probably one of the most convenient and easy to understand methods of travel. Fast and efficient subway trains run every 3 to 5 minutes and currently five lines can transfer you to most popular destinations in the city. The subway and trains offer a very high standard of clean, safe and easy travel and stations are announced in both Mandarin and English. Metro tickets are priced according to the distance traveled, and fares vary from 2 Yuan to 11 Yuan. Children under six get to travel free if accompanied by an adult. [Read more…]
Shekou Ferry Terminal, Shenzhen, China
At first glance, it’s hard to believe that the Chinese city of Shenzhen, situated directly north of Hong Kong on mainland China, was nothing more than a sleepy fishing village back in 1979. This area became China’s first, and one of its most successful, Special Economic Zones and is a thriving metropolis. In fact Shenzhen is now considered one of the fastest growing cities in the world.
The Brits may have handed Hong Kong back to China, but it still retains its status as a “Special Administrative Region of China”. So don’t expect to pop over to Shenzhen without a valid Chinese visa – all visitors to Shenzhen from Hong Kong have to pass through customs and immigration at any of the border crossings, regardless of their nationality! [Read more…]
In today’s interview I’ll discuss with Ted Rule, one of the authors of “Shenzhen: The Book“, a comprehensive guide for traveling and living in Shenzhen.
I read the book last week and I must say that Ted and Karen, who first arrived in Shenzhen in 1971, did a great job on both describing what you can do and see in Shenzhen and conveying the atmosphere of this metropolis that, only 40 years ago, was just a village.
Ted, first of all, thank you for accepting this interview. Your book starts with a couple of Chinese sayings. The one I liked the most is this: “If you love him, send him to Shenzhen. Heaven’s there. If you hate him, send him to Shenzhen. Hell’s there,” which remember me the saying “Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford” of Samuel Johnson. What is, in your opinion, that makes Shenzhen so different from the other Chinese cities?
In some ways Shenzhen is very different to other Chinese cities but it shares many of the characteristics that are changing every Chinese city. The main difference – essentially Shenzhen was built from scratch. Before 1979 there was nothing here. That’s true of most Chinese cities in a sense. Look at Beijing and Shanghai. Most of what you see there was built in the past 20 years. The difference is that in Shenzhen there’s no equivalent of the Bund or of the hutong. The “indigenous” population is tiny and its traditions are barely known. Everybody in Shenzhen is a recent immigrant and that colors everything that happens here. There’s nobody to tell you that “we tried that and it didn’t work”. [Read more…]