✈️ TLV to Shenzhen Baoan Int. (SZX)
China
Shenzhen
CitySZX
IATA7713.0 km
Distance9h 40m
Flight TimeCoordinates: 22.6393, 113.811
Airlines:
About Shenzhen
Weather in Shenzhen
Understand
In 1980, Shenzhen was a market town on the Hong Kong border with 30,000 people. (Contrary to the quite widespread myth, Shenzhen was not a fishing community.) Then Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping designated the city the first of China's Special Economic Zones (SEZs). This was part of the "Reform and Opening Up" policy to revitalize China's economy after its stagnation in the previous decades. The plan was to create a sealed off enclave to experiment with market reforms and performance incentives without posing a threat or risk to the established political and economic system elsewhere in China. Shenzhen won the honor because of its proximity to the abundant capital resources and management expertise across the border in Hong Kong . Since then, it has been a real boom town and today is a bustling city of around 20 million. It's full of skyscrapers and factories, but also surprisingly green with lots of trees, parks, and mountains. Residents will tell you Shenzhen is a young city , and it's true in two senses: the city itself is new, and it's also full of young people, drawn to Shenzhen from other parts of China by the city's job opportunities. Shenzhen is now the main hub of China's booming tech industry, and saw its GDP surpass that of neighboring Hong Kong in 2018. Shenzhen has one of the highest population densities in the world, and one of the highest per capita GDPs in China. Somewhat ignored by international travellers, Shenzhen is a popular destination for Chinese domestic tourists who have been attracted by its famous theme parks, but as the city has developed and become richer they are increasingly drawn by Shenzhen's famous architecture, shopping, bars, restaurants and active art scene. Shenzhen's beaches have become famous throughout China, and the city's scenic mountains are popular for hiking. Visitors are also starting to recognize some fascinating historical sites, particularly those related to Hakka culture and Hong Kong's annexation after the Opium Wars, which are scattered throughout the suburban area.
Climate
The best time to visit Shenzhen is October to December when the weather is pleasantly cool. Shenzhen has a sub-tropical climate with incredibly high humidity combined with soaring temperatures in the summer. For many, this is a season to avoid. The long intense summer also coincides with the typhoon season from June to October. Spring is cooler but is often afflicted by fog and heavy thunderstorms. Rain tends to come in bursts in Shenzhen—it can go from cloudy to pouring or from pouring to drizzling in just a few minutes. So if it looks like rain is coming, hurry up and get wherever you're going, and if you find that it's raining hard when you're about to go somewhere, it's often worth waiting a few minutes for it to clear.
Talk
As part of the Pearl River Delta of Guangdong province, Cantonese used to be the primary language in Shenzhen. However, since the designation of Shenzhen as a Special Economic Zone, many people have migrated here from other parts of China to take advantage of its proximity to Hong Kong, and today, the migrant population far outnumbers the native Cantonese population in Shenzhen. As a result, Mandarin has replaced Cantonese as the primary language, and the city is a linguistic melting pot. In addition to various accents in Mandarin or Cantonese, the other languages of Guangdong – Teochew and Hakka – are fairly common, and you may hear languages from other parts of China. Taxi drivers are much more likely to speak Mandarin than Cantonese. Nevertheless, due to the city's proximity to Hong Kong, most people working in the service industry will be able to speak Cantonese. Additionally, many second-generation descendants of migrants are able to converse in Cantonese due to assimilation into local culture. As with elsewhere in China, English is not widely spoken, though English speakers can be found working at the major tourist attractions and hotels. It's a good idea to get a card from your hotel with the name and address in Chinese characters (in case you get lost and no one understands your Chinese). Get your hotel staff to write down the destination names for you on paper. You may also learn some phrases from the Chinese phrasebook . Though English is more widely understood than in most other places in China, outside of establishments that specifically cater to foreigners, few people know more than a few simple phrases. The metro system has good English signage and station announcements, and most tourist attractions and the bus system have some amount of English signage. Chinese signage is almost always in simplified characters, despite the proximity to Hong Kong. All metro announcements are made in Mandarin, Cantonese and English. Other European languages (such as French and German) are rarely found in Shenzhen, or anywhere in China for that matter.
Get around
Shenzhen is big and spread out, so places can be further apart than they look on a map. When estimating travel time within the city, don't just eyeball it—check a map app to see how long it'll take to get somewhere.
See
People, even long time Shenzhen residents, will confidently tell you that "Shenzhen has no history". However, there is a surprising number of historic sites , some of great national significance, dating back to the twelfth century. Shenzhen, it seems, was critically involved in a number of historical events, especially the collapse and final stand of the Southern Song Dynasty (13th century), the last stand of the Ming Dynasty (17th century) and the Opium Wars (19th century). Historic sites are concentrated in Nanshan and the eastern parts of the city . Eastern Shenzhen also has several well-preserved traditional Hakka villages. History museums downtown and in Bao'an tell the story of modern Shenzhen's rapid development from farmland and fishing villages to a global hub for technology and commerce. As a center of design and manufacturing, Shenzhen has a variety of museums of design and industry . Some are downtown, but most seem to be scattered through the city's industrial suburbs. There's also a surprisingly rich array of art galleries , mostly downtown and in Nanshan but also some in the suburbs. Many museums are closed on Mondays .
Parks, mountains, and outdoor activities
Huge and spread-out city that it is, Shenzhen contains large areas of parks. Some are carefully arranged and tended; others are nature reserves with big, forested mountains. Some have Buddhist temples, pagodas, or wildlife. When the weather is nice, they're lovely for hiking, relaxing, or people-watching. Hiking trails are generally paved with hundreds and hundreds of steps. Given the huge population of Shenzhen, don't expect a walk of quiet solitude, and on weekends and holidays be ready for crowded trails. You can avoid the crowds to some extent by arriving early in the morning and choosing more out-of-the-way parks. Hikes range from "so crowded you might as well be in a queue" (lower parts of Wutong Mountain on a holiday) to "nobody in sight" (back trails of Tanglang Mountain on a workday). Unless it's winter, you'll want to set off early to avoid Shenzhen's oppressive heat and humidity. In the summer, start before dawn when it's still relatively cool. Some parks are great places for birdwatching in the winter when migrating birds fly south to Shenzhen. In particular, try Shenzhen Bay Park in Nanshan and the nearby mangrove forest in Futian . Shenzhen is one of China's and indeed one of the world's great golfing Meccas. It boasts some of the earliest golf courses in China and, in Mission Hills ( Longhua ), the world's largest golf course which is the scene of leading international tournaments. The best beaches are in eastern Shenzhen . The popular Dameisha and Xiaomeisha beaches are crowded and dirty, so go past them to the more peaceful beaches further east.
Buy
Shenzhen is internationally best known as the epicentre of electronics. The city and surrounding urbanization are home to countless circuit board manufacturers, assembly houses, retailers, and supporting businesses. Many of them will happily give you a tour on request! You can't say you have visited Shenzhen without having strolled through its electronics markets, and filled your backpack with LED strips! Most of the shopping is downtown : cheap markets for day-trippers from across the border, luxurious malls for the city's nouveau-riche, and the famous electronics markets. As befitting China's main tech hub, mobile payment apps WeChat Pay and Alipay are the most popular forms of payment. It is increasingly inconvenient to pay in cash, and some shops may not have change should you decide to do so. Credit cards are not popular among the Chinese and are quickly fading into obscurity, though as of 2024, both WeChat Pay and Alipay can be linked to foreign credit and debit cards, albeit with transaction limits. Contact your bank before travel to ensure that your card will work in China. At places in Luohu, cash or AliPay/WeChat are highly recommended. Some places charge an extra 10% for credit card purchases. The shop assistants will bring you to shops that have credit card processing machines. At shopping centers, remember to check with the cashiers to see if they accept credit cards before making purchases. There are few shopping centers that accept credit card with passport verification, though you may lose your discount on the purchase. Be careful when getting change from large notes as people may try to give you Hong Kong dollars instead of Yuan as the coins can look the same. The Hong Kong dollar is worth less than Yuan. Currency exchanges are available near some border crossings and in Futian metro station. For currency information, see the China page.
Eat
Because Shenzhen is a migrant city, all of China's regional cuisines are represented here, with Guangdong, Hunan, and Sichuan food particularly common. Restaurants range from hole-in-the-wall establishments for homesick working class arrivals to opulent food palaces for businessmen and politicians entertaining clients. Spending ¥100 on a fantastic meal is no problem (though, you can spend ¥40 or less on a fantastic meal in Shenzhen). Treat yourself, and enjoy the wonderful food and variety of Shenzhen! Some outer neighborhoods in Shenzhen are known for a local specialty. Probably the most famous are oysters ( 生蚝 shēngháo) in Shajing in the far northwest of the city ( Bao'an district )—they're said to be the "milk of the ocean floor", and the local ones are delicious and high in protein. International chains such as McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Starbucks are easy to find, especially in malls and Eat Streets (see below), and expensive foreign restaurants catering to expats are scattered throughout the city too. The biggest concentration by far is in Shekou . As well as casual restaurants and fine dining, Shenzhen is famous for its "Eat Streets" . These are agglomerations of cheap and cheerful restaurants serving food from all over China. Despite the name, they're not limited to a single street; they may be spread over a small area of streets and alleys. They are not elaborate but they are friendly and fun and some of the food is to die for. Different Eat Streets often specialise in food from different parts of China. See district articles for individual listings.
Drink
If you want to drink beer , Tsing Tao is a popular Chinese beer, or try Shenzhen's own Kingway Beer ( 金威啤酒 ), brewed in two locations in Shenzhen and available in any convenience store, bar, or restaurant. In stores such as a.best, Carrefour or Wal-Mart it will cost ¥3.50 per can, or ¥3.80 for a large bottle (you will need a bottle opener). 7-Eleven sells Kingway for ¥9, and local restaurants about ¥12-35. Bars typically charge slightly more than restaurants. Most of the nightlife is in Futian, Luohu , and Nanshan . 22.5415 113.9854 1 The Scripted Garden , Upper floors of a mixed-use building in Nanshan . 19:00-02:00 . A speakeasy-style cocktail bar accessed through a disguised door. Known for its literary theme and inventive drinks that incorporate Chinese herbs and teas. A favorite for a sophisticated night out. ¥¥¥ . ( updated Oct 2025 )
Sleep
Most tourists visit Shenzhen on a day trip from Hong Kong , but there are also plenty of options should you wish to spend the night here. Attractions in Shenzhen are spread out, so if you want to be able to see different parts of the city, look for lodging near a centrally located metro station (ideally in Futian or Luohu ). If you're taking a longer trip and want to get out and explore the far-flung corners of the city, you may want to move around and find lodging in different districts—fortunately, there are plenty of hotels all over Shenzhen, so whatever you're interested in, you can surely find a place to sleep nearby. Since 2024, all licensed hotels in China outside restricted areas by law must accept foreigners. However, some budget hotels may turn you away because their staff are not familiar with the registration process, or simply do not want to go through the trouble. You can try your luck by showing front desk staff the official notice in Chinese [dead link] . More expensive hotels shouldn't be a problem, and they're present in both central locations and out-of-the-way districts to serve business travellers. At Chinese New Year (usually February), prices usually double or substantially increase. Unlike other cities, however, the explosive development of hotels in Shenzhen means rooms, while more expensive, will generally still be available even at the busiest times.
Stay safe
Despite its sensationalized reputation among Hong Kong residents for being crime-ridden during the 2000s, Shenzhen's crime rate compares favorably with those of American and European cities of similar size. Violent crime is rare, and it is generally safe for women to walk down the street alone at night. Nevertheless, as always, a little common sense goes a long way. The main crimes tourists are likely to encounter are scams and petty thefts. Pickpocketing is not as common as it used to be because the popularity of mobile payments means that many locals do not carry cash on them, but be careful in crowded shopping centres, subway trains, buses, stations and around the theme parks - keep your wallet in your front pocket. Being scammed is not as common as in Beijing or Shanghai but be alert for people touting for business (massage, watches, shoes etc.) around the Luohu area, as they sell below-standard fakes at inflated prices. The 'touts' in Luohu bus station are not necessarily touts — there is no ticket office so they are simply there to direct you to your bus and don't require any payment — you should buy your ticket on the bus. You will encounter beggars but they are confined to a few places. Notable among these places are border crossings, underpasses, Shekou and Christian churches. Ordinary Chinese rarely give beggars money so they concentrate in places where the punters are either ignorant or have just heard a sermon. They are not aggressive and are mostly harmless; just ignore them and you will be left alone. Give money at your own risk — beggars are controlled by criminal gangs and your donation will be funding organized crime — giving food or a drink is more beneficial to them. Particularly avoid giving money to child beggars. There have been several high profile court cases against gangs who buy children from impoverished families, mutilate them, and use them in the begging racket. As an industrial megacity, Shenzhen has a smog problem. Though it's nothing compared to the notorious smog levels in some northern Chinese cities, you may notice it if you're from somewhere with clean air. Tap water is safe to drink in the Meilin district and several nearby districts, but probably not in the area where you are staying. Use the free bottled water or distilled water provided by your hotel or buy some. It's easily available in all convenience stores and supermarkets. However, if you are buying water for ¥5 a bottle, you are getting ripped off. Hepatitis is common in China and is most usually spread by eating undercooked food. Ask for "gōng kuài" if they aren't provided. Otherwise minor travellers' stomach upsets are the worst things which you have to fear health-wise. Driving in China can be dangerous, and care should be taken when crossing the street. Prostitution is common — particularly around Luohu and Shekou. Scantily-clad, available-looking women may be prostitutes. However, be aware that prostitution is illegal in China, and offenders can be sentenced to a maximum 15 days of administrative detention.
Go next
The other cities of the Pearl River Delta are easy to get to from Shenzhen. All have maintained their traditional cultures and dialects to an extent that Shenzhen has not. Dongguan , Hong Kong , and Huizhou are the closest. Guangzhou – the provincial capital, and third largest city in China. Like Shenzhen, it's a huge city of global importance, but it's not a boom town by any means; it's been a major international commerce hub for centuries. It lacks Shenzhen's frenetic energy and dynamism but has a lot more history and a more established culture and community. It's about an hour away by train or two hours by road. Hong Kong – "Asia's World City", the former British colony with a unique mix of cultures whose prosperity and international connections made Shenzhen what it is today. It's just across the border, with a travel time of less than an hour by train. If you want to claim a VAT refund after shopping in the mainland, only Wenjindu Control Point will process them. Alternatively, you can also claim the refund if you take the ferry from Shekou to Hong Kong Island. Macau – the former Portuguese colony on the other side of the Delta, famous as a gambling destination but also boasting interesting architecture and history. It can be reached by ferry from Shekou and Fuyong (Shenzhen Airport), or by helicopter from Shenzhen Airport. If you want to claim a VAT refund after visiting shopping in mainland China, only Shekou Ferry Terminal and Shenzhen Airport will process them. Dongguan – a major manufacturing center like Shenzhen, thirty minutes north by train or road. Huizhou – popular for its mountains and beaches, located forty minutes northeast by bus from the Luohu Station bus depot. Zhuhai – as Shenzhen is to Hong Kong, Zhuhai is to Macau: a border city growing like crazy due to favorable government policies and a location that's ideal for international trade. But Zhuhai is much smaller than Shenzhen and less densely populated. It can be reached by ferry from Shekou and Fuyong. Zhongshan – birthplace of Sun Yat-sen, the leader of the revolution that toppled the Qing Dynasty, and first president of China. 45 min away by ferry from Fuyong. Foshan – birthplace of famous martial artists Wong Fei-hung and Ip Man, and Bruce Lee's ancestral home, about an hour away by high-speed train. If you want to head to Hong Kong or Macau , remember that they are Special Administrative Regions and therefore require you to pass through immigration and customs as if you were crossing an international border. Also remember going to Hong Kong or Macau counts as leaving China, which would use up a single entry visa for China.