Shenzhen Side Trip - All tips appreciated

[Noodle]

Hi all,

Long time reader, but finally signed up to post

I will be going to Hong Kong in April with my partner and another couple and whilst I am quietly confident about getting around in etc, we want to go on a side trip to Shenzhen and visit the theme parks etc.

A few questions for the experts;

• Is Shenzhen tourist friendly?
• Is there sufficient English signage and directions to the touristy areas?
• Will one day be enough if all we want to do is Happy Valley, Window to the World and shopping?
• Finally, age old question (search conducted prior, no recent information available), has anybody been there recently to get the Shenzhen visa at LoWu? We are four Aussies with passports.

Any help or information about Shenzhen would be appreciated

PS: Another member of our group would like to get some suits made, is it still worth it to do in Shenzhen or Hong Kong?

 

[david870mdg]

IME re Shenzen:

Hi all,

Long time reader, but finally signed up to post

I will be going to Hong Kong in April with my partner and another couple and whilst I am quietly confident about getting around in etc, we want to go on a side trip to Shenzhen and visit the theme parks etc.

A few questions for the experts;

• Is Shenzhen tourist friendly?

Not really.

• Is there sufficient English signage and directions to the touristy areas?

No. The hecklers will speak to you in English though.

• Will one day be enough if all we want to do is Happy Valley, Window to the World and shopping?

• Finally, age old question (search conducted prior, no recent information available), has anybody been there recently to get the Shenzhen visa at LoWu? We are four Aussies with passports.

It always helps to have passports


Any help or information about Shenzhen would be appreciated

PS: Another member of our group would like to get some suits made, is it still worth it to do in Shenzhen or Hong Kong?

 

[Deleted User]

Re: Shenzhen...

I have been there a few times for business, its a really big city / provence so tourist experience will depend on your exact location. The closer to HK the better the English will be...!

Take special care of your personal security in this area, I would not suggest travelling on your own, I visit by myself but do have a driver that I trust. I would also suggest that if you stay the night on the mainland then stay somewhere nice & safe, dont mess around with cheap hotels in that area.

Last time I stayed a few nights here Mission Hills Golf Club China and while more expensive than Chinese hotels, it was 100% safe & English Speaking everywhere... Also great if you love Golf 12 Full Courses to Play... http://www.missionhillschina.com/shenzhen/information-level/golf/golf-courses.aspx

 

[winfred]

Hi all,

Long time reader, but finally signed up to post

I will be going to Hong Kong in April with my partner and another couple and whilst I am quietly confident about getting around in etc, we want to go on a side trip to Shenzhen and visit the theme parks etc.

A few questions for the experts;

• Is Shenzhen tourist friendly?
• Is there sufficient English signage and directions to the touristy areas?
• Will one day be enough if all we want to do is Happy Valley, Window to the World and shopping?
• Finally, age old question (search conducted prior, no recent information available), has anybody been there recently to get the Shenzhen visa at LoWu? We are four Aussies with passports.

Any help or information about Shenzhen would be appreciated

PS: Another member of our group would like to get some suits made, is it still worth it to do in Shenzhen or Hong Kong?

Yes Shenzhen is reasonably tourist friendly if you stick to the large shopping complex called Luohu Commercial City right next to the train station. Outside of the complex is not so friendly and I would rate it one of the most dangerous city in China.

English would be fine in all hotels as well as Luohu Commercial City.

There are other large shopping centres in Shenzhen but they are no better than the ones in Hong kong and prices are higher.

For visa it is better to obtain them before you go. Just go to Chinese Visa Application Service Center to download the form.

Yes get suits made at one of the tailors inside Luohu Commercial City. You can buy fabrics from one of the fabric retailers or byo. The fabrics there are of low to average quality so you may want to byo. Allow at least 2 trips. 3 if possible for fitting. Bargain hard as the would normally quote a very high price to foreigners. My wife got a formal dress made in Dec for A$120 including fabric. The labour cost of a men's suit should cost no more than A$150.

 

[p20]

Hi

Haven't been for a few years, but be aware border visas can take time to process and then you have to go through immigration anyway, so this will cut into your time especially on weekends when it gets busier. As you aren't going until April why not reduce the risk of delays, and apply for Chinese visas before you go?

This website (plus the accompanying book, available in HK bookstores) is a useful guide to getting to Shenzhen from HK, shopping plus getting around ..
www<dot>shopinshenzhen<dot>com

Also take the heed of others and be careful. Leave anything you don't absolutely need back in your HK hotel safe if you're just going for the day. In the markets (including LCC unless things have radically changed) credit cards aren't much use, so take enough cash.

 

[winfred]

Hi

In the markets (including LCC unless things have radically changed) credit cards aren't much use, so take enough cash.

Yes take cash (change them in Hong Kong at one of the banks) and never use credit card in China.

 

[bat21]

Hi all,

Long time reader, but finally signed up to post

I will be going to Hong Kong in April with my partner and another couple and whilst I am quietly confident about getting around in etc, we want to go on a side trip to Shenzhen and visit the theme parks etc.

A few questions for the experts;

• Is Shenzhen tourist friendly?
• Is there sufficient English signage and directions to the touristy areas?
• Will one day be enough if all we want to do is Happy Valley, Window to the World and shopping?
• Finally, age old question (search conducted prior, no recent information available), has anybody been there recently to get the Shenzhen visa at LoWu? We are four Aussies with passports.

Any help or information about Shenzhen would be appreciated

PS: Another member of our group would like to get some suits made, is it still worth it to do in Shenzhen or Hong Kong?

Hi Noodle and welcome to FF. I was in Shenzhen 4 weeks ago which was my third visit all for non business so I hope this will help

1. I wouldnt call SZ tourist friendly but at the same time it is not tourist rude either. The locals will simply ignore you once you get away from the LCC.
2. Very little English signage and most locals dont speak fluent english however they will try to converse. The totes that will attack you at LCC all speak pretty good english
3. I would give Happy Valley a big miss. It is nothing for Westerners and Window of the World is very camp and we found it very boring. Sure you can take a photo next to the Eiffel Tower but it is not the same as the real thing. A great theme park to visit is the Minsk Military park but it is a long way out. They have a decommissioned Russian Aircraft Carrier that you can explore as well as a ton of other military paraphenalia. Of course, your taste is probably entirely different than ours.
4. Get your visas here in Australia before you leave. Print the forms off the China website, get a passport photo of all travellers and take all this in with your passports and they will be back within 4 days. You can do this at LoWu but it is very hit and miss and it may take only 30 minutes or 3 hours. I know of an Aussie couple who were there for 3 hours all because their passports expired in exactly 6 months.
5. Get a suit made in Hong Kong preferably from one of the tailors in Mody Rd. Cheaper in SZ but very low quality material and after 2 or 3 wears will look like a garbage bag.
6. If you a tech head like me and my sons, you must go to the SEG Electronics Market. Over 12 floors of any electrical thing you can think of. For me, this was nirvana

Please PM me off list if you want any more info such as hiring a driver, shopping, getting to SZ, safety etc or if others are interested, I can keep posting

Cheers
Tom

 

[farawaymum]

I was there 2 weeks ago- I did a quick trip from Hong Kong-visa obtained in Australia but instead of a day trip I stayed at the Shangrila Hotel at Lo Wu .5 minutes walk from Lo Wu border crosssing and absolute luxury hotel for bargain rates by Oz standards. It means you can escape from the chaos and crowds on the street- touts will follow you and try to get you to visit certain shops at Lo Wu- this can be a real pain but eventually they will give up with a polite no thankyou.

In the hotel everyone has good English.Cabs are cheap but dangerous due to the lack of road rules and seat belts plus drivers are notorious for passing fake change to you- they don't speak English.I travelled in taxis with a local and even they were wary of the drivers.

Travelled light- cabin bag -no handbag and use caution with cash,passport, leave your flashy jewellery etc at home. However with sensible precautions and a degree of confidence it is an enjoyable shopping adventure.

 

[Mal]

IMO skip Window on the World. I have been there, and had the distinction of being the only "westerner" there that day (that I saw!)

As indicated before, it mainly contains models of various world landmarks. These have not been kept well, and have weathered extensively.

Overall I found the place poor, but could see how Mainland Chinese would enjoy it. Didn't trust the safety of any of the rides there.

Shenzhen itself is ok. Have been there twice and didn't feel unsafe either time (although keep your wits with you and don't go prancing around showing off wealth. ) Border visa is relatively easy, but as commented does get busy on weekends. Perhaps getting a Chinese visa before you go might be better... (A bit more expensive, but less mucking around at the border).

 

[stryker]

Or, alternatively, just don't go.

That's what I decided for myself. Try flying over it. Will be much nicer.

 

[one9]

Or, alternatively, just don't go.

That's what I decided for myself. Try flying over it. Will be much nicer.

Shenzhen is always one place I will remember. I think it is a must see place. Maybe you wouldn't want more than 1 day there, but the atmosphere is amazing. Sure there are many touts & many rude people, but there is an amazing feeling of progress in the air. The place has developed so fast and this can be felt in everything you see & the way people interact with each other.

 

[craven morehead]

PS: Another member of our group would like to get some suits made, is it still worth it to do in Shenzhen or Hong Kong?[/QUOTE]

Definitely HK :mrgreen:

 

[craven morehead]

Last time I stayed a few nights here Mission Hills Golf Club China and while more expensive than Chinese hotels, it was 100% safe & English Speaking everywhere... Also great if you love Golf 12 Full Courses to Play... Mission Hills Golf Club China

I also would highly recommend this very affordable 5 star resort :mrgreen:

 

[bat21]

Or, alternatively, just don't go.

That's what I decided for myself. Try flying over it. Will be much nicer.

Why is that stryker? Had a bad experience? Sure, it is not the most prettiest place in the world but the shopping can be fun and it is very cheap. The city absolutely amazes me. I took a photo in 1988 standing on the HK side of the border when the city had a population of <100k with hardly any hi rise buildings. Here we are some 23 years later and the city has a population of some 7.5M although some say that it is closer to 10M. Five star hotels are dirt cheap as is fine dining. Sure, not as safe as say HK but if you are smart and be a little aware, it is a great place to visit. Heck, I feel safer walking around SZ than I do in Northbridge.

 

[Noodle]

Thank you for everyone's tips!

I am counting down the days until the holiday!

Anyone else cashing in on the 5 day Easter weekend to take leave??

 

[Mal]

Anyone else cashing in on the 5 day Easter weekend to take leave??

Yes. For me (in QLD)
Fri 22 Apr - Easter Friday holiday.
Sat 23 Apr - weekend
Sun 24 Apr - weekend.
Mon 25 Apr - Anzac Day holiday.
Tue 26 Apr - Easter Monday (substituted holiday)
Wed/Thu/Fri - leave from work.
Sat 30 Apr - Weekend.
Sun 1 May - Weekend.
Mon 2 May - Labour Day.

So I'm taking 3 days leave, yet getting an 11 day holiday. Was hoping to head to the US over that time, but airfares aren't that great and will probably instead bounce around various places in Asia.

 

[samh004]

I’m a bit late to this as I’ve been busy studying… yes

Didn’t read all the posts, but you should be able to get visas at the border, just make sure you don’t go on a Chinese holiday or it’ll be so packed it’ll be a miracle if you get your visas that day!

In terms or suits, yes it’s still a good place to go, they’ll generally ship them back to your hotel in Hong Kong, not sure about overseas though, so make sure you’re in HK long enough after Shenzhen.

Make sure you visit the Shenzhen artist village: Dafen. Take a photo of a painting you like but can’t afford with you and they’ll replicate it. The more you pay, the better the copy. It’s wonderful!

 

[futurism]

I went to shenzhen for a day trip last year
got the visa on entry in the frontier zone, it was a great experience, they only take RMB and they have a money changer guy with a briefcase sitting at a card table

there were a few Americans trying to get day visas who couldnt, they were angry
and then at the entry into china, a group of indians were wanting to go for a day before crossing back to hong kong to fly to shanghai later that night
it seems they had a single entry china visa, and 1 guy had crossed into the mainland and the others hadnt once they realised

shenzhen itself was awesome, I had no plan and wandered a long way, took the subway to random places and generally just walked and walked

Yes, tailors, prostitutes (5 at a time followed me promising all sorts of exotic action!), guides etc follow you from the train station, but I find thats part of the fun
there are police everywhere, on bicycles with flashing lights

theres some huge fancy shopping centres nearby the station, not just the big one joint onto the station, much nicer ones about a km up the road

and if you continue up that road and make a right you will get to the outdoor shopping mall area, where huge piles of goods are piled up in the middle of the road

I rate Shenzhen as one of my best ever travel experiences, but (despite being a business man) I look like a criminal/rock star, so maybe people leave me alone.
If you turn up in a group in suits, look lost and carry a map and a bum bag, it might be a different story

 

[Danger]

Is it possible to purchase genuine clothing and accessories in Shenzhen, such as at the Louhu mall?

Does anyone have any recommendations or contacts for a shopping guide?

 

[yohy?!]

Here's how I prepare for a soujorn into Shenzhen when the family wants to go (this is all deadly serious and on advice from friends and relatives to ensure my safety:

1. Take your own food and drink - food safety problems are rife and counterfeit brands are common, avoid eating in restaurants (in the past we have stuck to high-end western hotel chain restaurants but even they can be iffy) we have had mild to severe food poisoning or gastric upset pretty much every time.
2. Get a money belt and wear under your clothing, do not wear watches or jewellery or carry expensive phones - pick pockets are brazen and common, they openly carry pen knives at hip level to slash your pockets
3. Avoid public restrooms at any point - you'll notice at LoWu MTR on the Hong Kong side a huge queue for the restrooms, this is because people know that public restrooms in Shenzhen are extremely dangerous and users will often be the target of violent crime.
4. Plan ahead on where you want to go and what you want to buy, touts are irritating and relentless particularly if you look uncertain. Expect to be offered drugs, prostitutes and counterfeit goods wherever you go.

If you're after shopping and theme parks stick to Hong Kong, the experience will be better and the cost likely cheaper (there's a reason why mainland chinese come to HK to shop by the bucketload, no tax!)