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Tourist
Guides for China |
ShenZhen
Tourist Guide (October 2008) |
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General Comments:
Shen Zhen lies to the South of the Pearl River Estuary
bordering Hong Kong. It has most excellent transportation
both within the city, and for either Mainland and Hong
Kong destinations
20 years ago Shenzhen was a small fishing village. Today
is is a bustling city of 4 million people, and growing
exponentially. It is the showcase City of the policy
of 'Openness' as bequeathed to the Nation by their most
esteemed leader Deng Xiao Ping.
Deng is perhaps the most important of all the Chinese
leaders of the modern era; although most of you will
immediately think of Mao Ze Dong in this context. The
Chinese revere 3 figures actually, Deng, Mao and Sun
Yat Sen - the democrat from Guangdong, and founder of
modern Taiwan; for you see they all fought together
for a new China and battled the Japanese invaders as
Brothers
Shenzhen is built as the Chinese computer city, and
specialises in PC hardware manufacture and software
integration. It also specialises in Import/Export, having
a container port that makes Felixstowe look like a backwater
project. It also attracts other industry, and very successfully,
as Shenzhen business has a way of being compatible with
foreign thinking, unlike other nearby cities; and this
is obviously related to the nearness of Hong Kong, which
lies just a short walk away across the border
The main transportation hub is called Lo Wu, which has
excellent integration. The mainline railway station
exits to an open air Plaza opposite the main Intercity
coach station. At the North end is the Customs entrance
for Hong Kong travellers. Note: Once across this border
you can only catch the Hong Kong light railway (KCR).
The hub also has a dedicated underground taxi ramp,
and over ground by a major local bus terminal. And were
not done yet! To complete matters, the city Underground
railway system (Subway, Tube, Metro) also has a station
here! Very impressive, and all pedestrianised
This Plaza has a Shangri-La Hotel at one end, or you
can stay in the cheap Railway hotel above the train
station for Y178 per double room per night. Their third
floor restaurant is huge and excellent. Face the Shangri-La
Hotel and go left of it via subway (Underground pedestrian
walkway), and follow this road for about 500 yards,
Opposite is JolliBee, the Filipino fast food chain that
is challenging MacDonald's on quality and price all
over Asia, complete with waitress and dedicated service.
The food is good, but check out all the pictures on
the walls before ordering if you can't read Chinese
and want more than a burger?
However, this Plaza is also beset with very persistent
Hawkers who want to show you around the Mall above the
Coach station. They are paid a miserly commission by
certain store owners if you buy something. Don't use
them, and be as offensive as necessary to get rid of
them!
Neither is this Mall my favourite shopping experience,
and some stall holders can be over zealous in trying
to make a sale. It is worth putting up with if you want
some reasonable and handy Western food. The BBC (British
Born Chinese) restaurant on about the third floor, and
obscure in a Western corner - does serve some very good
food if you make the right choices from the menu. Experiment
and see for yourself. The door staff only allow suitable
patrons inside, so you will not be bothered here and
can relax for a while
The highlight of my many visits to Shen Zhen was a trip
to the Artists Village. I am not sure where it is, but
it takes around 20 minutes by local bus from Lo Wu.
Avoid the glossy and expensive main street shops, and
head into the special village crammed full of small
outlets selling their own products. Many are noted local
artists, or Art college students trying to make some
extra money. There are some individual works of art,
but mainly the place makes copies of famous Masters
- and very good too! The medium is usually oils or water
colour, but there are interesting exceptions and novelties.
I found one place that just did remarkable silk embroidery,
featuring tapestry's, scrolls, and cards. Check the
opening hours, as I think they only open during office
hours
Somewhere nearby is the Mobile Phone Street. This offers
the latest reverse-engineered Western phones and other
personal devices. Prices are stupid, and virtually everything
is fake. Quality is usually excellent however, and even
after years of service you will have a hard task to
tell it apart from the real thing. I'm not sure you
wanted to know this?
I recommend you visit Shenzhen if you are into computers
or International trade, but although I know this city
quite well, it would not top my list for tourist attraction
- yet. I think this will change within 5 years, as Beijing
has decided Shenzhen will also become a 'Beach-paradise',
and I am confident it will be so. Meanwhile the main
tourist attraction seems to be the Artists Village and
the Aircraft Carrier Minsk - which is worth a look round,
and Shenzhen Zoo which is definitely worth a few hours
to see Panda's and endangered Chinese Tiger's amongst
other attractions
Border Crossings
There are now 7 Border Crossings into Hong Kong, plus
one into Shenzhen itself. The latter is only to verify
migrant Chinese workers credentials, and of no concern
to you unless you bring Chinese staff with you?
The main crossing point for Chinese is a nightmare!
The Chinese side is ok, but then you have to wait for
a coach to take you several miles to the 'British' side.
Once there queue's can take more than 1-hour,and once
through you have to hang around waiting for the rest
of your party headed for the same Hong Kong destination.
As usual, they have many express channels for the very
few Hong Kong residents making the crossing, whilst
the Chinese and other Foreigners wait ... and wait .....
and wait. Atrocious actually!
If you have business or pleasure in Shen Zhen, then
go to Lo Wu, it is friendly and fast. Otherwise for
through traffic I highly recommend the new border crossing.
However, this is way out in the sticks, and if you are
only crossing for visa reasons, you may have to wait
many hours for a coach back - go to Lo Wu. Of the others
I have only done one, which was a backwater somewhere,
and totally excellent! I have no idea where it is, but
it was so fast I kept everyone waiting whilst I filled
in my details for Customs
Summary:
Shen Zhen is an industrialised and commercial city which
is spreading exponentially to envelope smaller villages
and towns nearby. It is the Gateway to Hong Kong, and
for most travellers, this is the only reason they come
here. Do take time out to visit The Artist's Village
- wherever it is?
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This information is as supplied by the Chinese Embassy
in UK, as dated 20th June 2008, and/or other reliable
sources. Please check this information yourself as it
may alter without notice, and whilst we try our best
to ensure it is correct, please do not hold us responsible
for any errors - this is intended as a simple guide
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