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Major city

Shenzhen深圳

Use Shenzhen as a day trip or one night from Hong Kong for electronics markets, parks and modern architecture.

Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Rules in force · 5
  • China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
  • China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
  • China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
  • China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
  • China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.

Shenzhen is a large technology and manufacturing city across the border from Hong Kong. It grew rapidly after 1980 and has electronics markets, art districts and a new-generation skyline. Border crossings and metro links to Hong Kong are direct.

At a glance

Known for
Huaqiangbei electronics markets · OCT Loft · Window of the World · Shekou
Best months
Oct–Dec
Avoid
Jun–Sep (hot, typhoons)
Nights
0–1
Airports
SZX Shenzhen Bao'an (Metro line 11 links to the centre)

Where to sleep

Futian

Central business district and metro hub.

Nanshan / Shekou

Waterfront and cafes.

Getting around

Metro is extensive. Set up mobile payment in advance. Border crossings need passports.

Watch out

  • Have your passport and valid visa or exemption ready at the crossing.
  • Foreign SIM and VPN behaviour differs from Hong Kong; check ahead.

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Shenzhen. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

Back to China

Sources

Sources