Shenzhen Visa on Arrival at Lo Wu

[Mal]

Anyone done this recently?

I think Australian passports are still able to get a visa on arrival for $HK150 for a 5 day visa for the Shenzhen Economic Zone.

I did it in 2005 and spent a day in Shenzhen, and hoping to do it again this weekend. Can't find any recent information on the net that applies to Australians.

Basically just looking for confirmation Australian Passports are ok, and what time the Visa office opens in the morning (on Sat or Sun). I'd apply for a proper Visa in Australia, but a rushed visa application would cost quite a bit in Australia, require a photo etc and lots of paperwork. The Visa on Arrival (when I did it) was quick and painless, except waiting around for the office to open as I arrived pretty early in the morning. Was an interesting feeling being stuck in no-mans land though waiting to get a visa

DFAT (and other sources) warn of increased crime (esp. pickpockets and similar minor crime) in Shenzhen. I know a few people from here head to Shenzhen often (normally via the APEC card) so curious what you think the latest conditions are like. Also, any recommendations on 'must do's' are welcome

 

[HardieBoys]

I've always done the pre-organised visa, but there's still a queue.

What to do? Go shopping in the Lo Wu shopping mall just near the Immigration post. The yum cha restaurants there are excellent, and cheaper than in HK. Many Hongkongers travel there to go to the dentist, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it.

Buying pirated DVDs is a real trip. You sit in a small stall, then the staff drop metal sliding doors down around the stall. Whilst you sit on a small plastic stool sifting through DVD covers, someone shouts up to a guy walking around in the ceiling void, who drops down your choices from a hole in the ceiling. It's a bit disconcerting at first.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I did it last year and yeah you can still get a visa at immigration, just head up the escalator and join the queue. But be warned - particularly on sundays that the queue can be quite long. I arrived at about 10am on a sunday and waited almost two hours in the queue.

If you have more than three days in advance in HK, then get the visa before hand. And of course if you plan on going several times in the next few months get yourself a multiple entry visa.

 

[dot]

I have never done the visa at the border thing (sorry), I know some French colleagues who have though - and they told me it can take a long time at the Visa office at LoWu if you strike it at a bad time.

As for what to do in Shenzhen, if you are into Militaria, the ex USSR Aircraft carrier Minsk (the 4th largest Aircraft Carrier in the world before it was decommissioned) forms the main attraction of Minsk World in Shenzhen (wikipedia). It has been there for 7 years or so and looks like it hasn't had any maintainance since then (unfortunately) but there is still a look of interesting things to see (there are a range of Soviet block fighters, ground attack and helicopters on static display.

(edit - added some photos)

There is a 'village' (Dafen) (wikipedia) within the Shenzhen Economic Zone that specialises in the mass production of Oil Paintings and other 'Artworks' - I have not visited the village, but I am told you can get a custom oil painting from a photo very cheaply - in a few days. There are thousands of Oil canvases that you can buy (discounts for bulk) should you want to redecorate.

Another thing I have meaning to do is to visit the Window of the World theme park (wikipedia) - it has reproduced famous locations around the world in miniature and laid them out in a big park. I haven't been there, but the photos I have seen have peeked my interest enough to visit next time I have a weekend in Shenzhen.

Anyway - my 2c worth...

 

[SeatBackForward]

The other option out of Hong Kong for a day trip is to go to Macau - former Portuguese colony. I lived there last year so can give some hints if you'd like.

 

[Mal]

Thanks for the info & tips. Would have applied for a visa, but would have to do a rush job in Australia, or a super rush job in Hong Kong (and pay the big fee differences).

I leave for HKG tomms, and planning to visit Shenzhen on Friday or Saturday for the day. Sat or Sun will prob be Macau (been there before, but any tips are welcome) and the rest of the time will be spent in Hkg relaxing, shopping and various other things including the cable car.

Think in Shenzhen I'll be visiting Window on the World (remember seeing it recommended last time I went and didn't go unfortunately) as well as the Lo Wu shopping mall. There was another market I went to last time that I'll hopefully track down again.

 

[HardieBoys]

Macau tips:

The ruins of St Paul's cathedral, with it's fantastic facade
The fort at the top of the hill above St Paul's
Lunch at A Lorcha, a Portugese restaurant
Portugese wines are great value in Macau: the vina verdhe (green wine) is a white wine, and there's some great Portugese sparkling wines

Taxis can be very hard to find at times in Macau...

 

[blankman]

Hi guys- my 2c worth..

I also last applied for a visa at the Lo Wu checkpoint about 3 months ago and it was all very easy. From memory it is open on weekends.

I got to the office around midday and waited about 30 minutes. I've heard that the office is at its busiest early in the morning. I don't remember the exact cost of the visa- I do remember it was well under $50.

It is true that there is a known crime problem in shenzhen- especially around the border area. Even in the Lo Wu commercial complex I've seen two attempts to pickpocket from tourists however the culprits were quickly nabbed by police.

When visiting the shopping mall never keep your wallet in your back pocket and always watch the sellers and your goods like a hawk. They are notorious for showing people high quality goods and then switching them with inferior versions once the transaction is complete. Demonstrations of high tech goods are usually falsified and more often than not the items do not work when you take them home.

During my first visit I found myself in a position where some guys were about to mug me and two police officers intervened and offered to escort me back to the border in their little buggy so I could make the last train to HKG. I offered them money for the ride but they didn't accept.

Since that experience I've been back 3 times and it has been pretty uneventful aside from watching the pickpockets in action. I do however find the city quite gritty and seedy especially when compared to Hong Kong.

Quite a bit to see and do in Shenzhen and it is enjoyable to visit. However, best to be alert and on the lookout for people trying to do a shifty on you.

 

[Alanslegal]

I leave for HKG tomms, and planning to visit Shenzhen on Friday or Saturday for the day. Sat or Sun will prob be Macau (been there before, but any tips are welcome) and the rest of the time will be spent in Hkg relaxing, shopping and various other things including the cable car.

Postpone your travels by 48hrs and you can join my upcoming bucks week

I leave for HKG this Sun, (if we're sober enough) will be in Shenzhen on Tues, and Macau on Wed.........

 

[SeatBackForward]

Macau tips:

The ruins of St Paul's cathedral, with it's fantastic facade
The fort at the top of the hill above St Paul's
Lunch at A Lorcha, a Portugese restaurant
Portugese wines are great value in Macau: the vina verdhe (green wine) is a white wine, and there's some great Portugese sparkling wines

Taxis can be very hard to find at times in Macau...

Well Macau now has all the glitz casinos to go visit, but if you can only choose one then make it out to the Venetian - the largest casino in the world now with its canals and shopping arcades.

If you want to to get away from the hustle and bustle of Macau city, go to the southern Island Coloane and to a restaurant called Fernandos for some of the best Portuguese style food. The taxi fare there from Macau city will be about $100 HKD.

Another tip for visiting Macau - don't even bother changing your currency, Hong Kong dollars are accepted everywhere, but Pattacas are useless outside Macau.

Another tip for shopping in Shenzhen - Always ask what currency the price you negotiate is in. Depending on which currency is doing better they may be quoting you in Hong Kong Dollars or in Chinese Yuan, usually about 5-10% difference in between the two, depending on which is doing better. When i was last there, the preference was for Yuan.

 

[Mal]

Visa on arrival @ Shenzhen was pretty painless. Waited 5 mins in the queue, another 15 for the actual issue of the visa and the line through immigration was less than 5 minutes. HK$150 as expected, opening hours are 9am-5pm I believe.

While in Shenzhen I visited the "Window of the World". It is an interesting place indeed. Definately designed for the holidaying Chinese who may not actually visit any of the places they've made models of. I think I was the only 'foreigner' in the whole place!
Most of the models seem to have been made about 10-15 years ago (not sure when it opened) and are wearing heavily. Got a good laugh out of seeing the Sydney Opera House, Sydney harbour bridge and Ayers Rock all side by side of each other.

As for Shenzhen shopping, wandered around for a while and looked. Didn't buy anything though - it's the same stuff I see everywhere in Asia and there really wasn't anything I was particularly interested in. The fabrics section looked quite interesting, as was some of the jewelery, but didn't buy anything. Every ~5th stallholder grabbed me and tried to drag me into their store. Store holders 1-4 just suggested what I should be buying. I also had a guy follow me up 3 sets of escalators suggesting everything under the sun was available and even after my repeated insistance that I didn't need his help (followed by ignoring) he didn't give up. No issues with seeing or feeling crime.

The immigration at Macau was an absolute zoo. Took about 80 mins from ferry arrival to getting through the queue. There were about 4 lines per customs point that merged together at various points to make one queue. Absolute madhouse. Went and checked out the Venetian (caught their free shuttle bus from the ferry terminal), won a few hundred $A, then checked out the shops, canal etc. Amazing what they've done. The shops are the standard designer goods stores and similar. Caught the shuttle back to the Sands casino, and from there walked around Macau and eventually caught the ferry back to Hong Kong.

Amongst the many things I did in Hong Kong, I did the Ngong Ping 360, although I chose to go on a day that a rain front was moving in, and heavy wind was around. I ignored the warning sign about some swaying due to high winds, and did the trip. I didn't do the return though and caught the bus back down. The trip up was scary enough for me with rain, wind, swaying cable car and in cloud for most of the journey. While at the top the rain (and wind) worsened so didn't want the trip back.

 

[SeatBackForward]

The immigration at Macau was an absolute zoo. Took about 80 mins from ferry arrival to getting through the queue. There were about 4 lines per customs point that merged together at various points to make one queue. Absolute madhouse. Went and checked out the Venetian (caught their free shuttle bus from the ferry terminal), won a few hundred $A, then checked out the shops, canal etc. Amazing what they've done. The shops are the standard designer goods stores and similar. Caught the shuttle back to the Sands casino, and from there walked around Macau and eventually caught the ferry back to Hong Kong.

Only 80mins? a good day then..they haven't upped any of the infrastructure in Macau to handle the increased numbers of people travelling to Macau. There was meant to be an alternative ferry service from Hong Kong to the Airport (the ferries have "Cotai Strip" emblazened across them) - not sure if they are running or not yet, depends on when the cartel gives them permission I suppose.

Amongst the many things I did in Hong Kong, I did the Ngong Ping 360, although I chose to go on a day that a rain front was moving in, and heavy wind was around. I ignored the warning sign about some swaying due to high winds, and did the trip. I didn't do the return though and caught the bus back down. The trip up was scary enough for me with rain, wind, swaying cable car and in cloud for most of the journey. While at the top the rain (and wind) worsened so didn't want the trip back.

You do know the cable car was shut down for several months? - one of the cars fell off. Luckily it happaned just after closing time and nobody was hurt.

 

[dot]

car was shut down for several months? - one of the cars fell off. Luckily it happaned just after closing time and nobody was hurt.

I was on the Cable car just three days before the accident happened! :shock: Our weather was overcast but we still got some great views of HKIA and the surrounding area, not to mention the Buddha and it's surrounds.

 

[simongr]

What is the current status of the cable car? Is there an alternative to get up to see teh big buddha?

 

[dot]

What is the current status of the cable car? Is there an alternative to get up to see the big Buddha?

Given Mal did the cable car ride last weekend, I presume it is open for business. There are buses that go up there as well for those that don't like the heights (or swaying) or you can walk (but it is a big walk with some substantial mountains to traverse before you get anywhere near the Buddha).

 

[Mal]

There was meant to be an alternative ferry service from Hong Kong to the Airport (the ferries have "Cotai Strip" emblazened across them) - not sure if they are running or not yet, depends on when the cartel gives them permission I suppose.

It's running. Looks like a very nice ride out to Macau. Not sure of how the price compares to TurboJet et.al.

You do know the cable car was shut down for several months? - one of the cars fell off.

Yeah knew about that, and another incident they had before it opened (basically the system shut down when 2 cars collided with each other at one of the stations) and some people were stuck on the system. Both of these weighed heavily on my mind when my car was swaying and I could hear the wind gusting through. I don't think it was a dangerous situation as the system is designed for much more wind before they have to shut it down, and no other cable cars have fallen off

The bus back to the MTR station costs $HK25 and is about a 45 min journey. The cable car is around 30 mins I believe. I wouldn't dream of walking it!

 

[SeatBackForward]

What is the current status of the cable car? Is there an alternative to get up to see teh big buddha?

If you've got the time, an alternative to catching the MTR to Tung Chung then the cable car, is to catch a ferry from Central to Mui Wo, then to catch a bus up to the Village and the big buddha. Mind you that can take upwards of two hours doing it that way.

Lantau island is such a contrast to the rest of Hong Kong!

 

[Alanslegal]

I earlier today went though to Shenzhen @ Lo Wu. As I did not pre-organise a temporary visa I had to detour upstairs and make a visa application. Arrived @ 2pm and was in Q behind 12-14 people & with only ONE staff person checking passports I had to wait close to 20 minutes then about 5 minutes for the actual Visa to get issued and be stuck to my passport. Cost paid was HKD$150.

Upon exit @ Shenzhen, was quickly exploited by those aggresive mini-van companies forcing to use their Vans to take us to our Hotel. We agreed on $200HKD which was Ok for 6 people BUT once we all boarded the Van, the operator said "extra $100HKD for "tolls"..... like what tolls??? there was no point in arguing bla bla bla as we were seated let alone multiple bags already stacked in the back arrrrgggghh :evil: