Shenzhen City Guide for your next business trip
practical tips from a local in tech and lifestyle
Background
Shenzhen is the hardware capital of China and home to well known Internet giants such as Tencent, Huawei and DJI. Increasing amount of business travels are heading to Shenzhen, its electronic markets and hardware facilities.
Shenzhen is a city made up of immigrants and self-made new riches. It was built into a special Economic Zone in 1979 from a small fishing town. Due to its business and immigrant DNA, Shenzhen is one of the most welcoming cities to start new businesses. It is the only city in Canton province where you can live comfortably speaking Mandarin instead of Cantonese.
I worked in Shenzhen from July 2014 to Sept 2015, during which I experienced both the startup life and frequent collaboration and visits to Tencent HQ.
This is a guide for those who want to get the most out of their Shenzhen business trip, add some local exploration, and leave feeling more connected to its culture and offerings.
Stay
If you are in Shenzhen for business, get a hotel for the peace of mind. The quality and offering of Airbnb in China fluctuates and the language barrier could make your trip difficult.
Hotel > Airbnb, because hotels have
- bilingual staff to help you get from A to B
- convenient metro / subway access
- community: meet other tech workers on business trip in Shenzhen
Shenzhen has very developed public transportation and many hotels are located in big malls on top of a metro station. With limited access to Uber and its China alternative Didi, non-Chinese residents may find it hard to use car hailing service. Having bilingual staff at hotel could reduce stressors in a trip.
Westin Shenzhen:
- next to the Apple Store, close to Shenzhen High Tech Park, where Tencent, DJI and many other tech companies are headquartered
- walking distance to OCT Creative Park, Shenzhen’s equivalent to an Arts District (lots of trees, cafes, designer and boutique shops)
- multiple subways to get to both Luohu, Huaqiang North Electronic Markets, Shekou (ferry to HK, Macau and to airport)
- located in a mall with convenient access to Ole organic market (like a Whole Foods) , Jade Garden dim sum, Shanghainess dimsum, Thai food, movie theater etc
St. Regis:
- best rated hotel experience with amazing rooftop view and one of the tallest buildings in Shenzhen
However, it would be a 40min subway ride to High Tech Park if you have meetings at Tencent or DJI. - conveniently located close to Luohu Subway and Train Station
Intercontinental Shenzhen (OCT):
- located in the OCT Creative District
- frequently visited by Western businessmen
Ritz Carlton Shenzhen
FourSeasons Shenzhen
- both located in the “Soho” area of Shenzhen, where wealthier locals live
- many bars in CocoPark area
Get Around
- Intl Arrival: from HK Intl Airport to Shenzhen:
- Private SUV $100 / ride (faster to get through the immigration line)
- ferry from HK Intl Airport to Shekou Ferry (run every hour, buy ticket at the airport) In China, we book tickets via WeChat. - Local: Subway is a convenient way to get around the city
- get a Shenzhen Subway car at the airport (Shenzhen Bao’an Intl Airport)
- Uber / Didi needs a Chinese cellphone number to operate
- Hotel concierge can arrange taxi pick-ups or hire private drivers
Eat
Shenzhen is known for “heads down to get things done”. Its practicality also means less focus on food and lifestyle. For food lovers, the neighbor city Guangzhou, home to WeChat, is known for its culinary culture and worth a weekend trip and is only 30min high speed railway.
Tips: you go any big mall above a metro stop, such as Yitian Holiday Square (where Westin is located), Sea World, Futian CocoPark,
Western options:
Besides the standard Starbucks, McDonald, KFC, Burger King, which are easy to spot under every major mall, you could find Costa Coffee, Cafe Bene (Korean chain) and as well as convenient stores like 711, FamilyMart at every street corner with familiar food offerings. Don’t worry, you will not starve even if you don’t like to try Chinese street food.
1.Wagas Shenzhen:
Address: Bao An Nan Lu, CaiWuWei, Luohu Qu, Shenzhen Shi, Guangdong Sheng, China, 51800
- California style healthy cafe chain originated from Shanghai, similar to Dig Inn of New York or Lemonade of Los Angeles.
- Feature sandwiches, avocado toast, granola, green smoothy, salads, baked goods and coffee.
2. Element Fresh: 新元素餐厅
Address: 1st Floor, Zone B, Sea World, Nanshan District | B130/210, Shenzhen, China
- salads, pasta, burger, juice, coffee, acai bowl, vegan friendly
3. Le Cesar Pizza 乐凯撒披萨
Address: 33 Wenxin 5th Rd, HouHai, Nanshan Qu, Shenzhen Shi, Guangdong Sheng, China, 518054
4. Ippudo Ramen:
Address: Luohu District, South Bo’an Road №1881, China Resources, MixC Floor B1, No.B88
5. Fun Noodle Bar: from a Michelin star chef, designed by an well-known architecture with rooftop view of Shenzhen
Address: 316b, Shenzhen1979 BlockB, Qiaoxiang Rd., Futian District, Shenzhen. 深圳市福田区侨香路深圳1979B区316b（四楼西侧）
6. OCT-Loft Creative Park, OCT Harbor and Futian CoCo Park are another 2 clustered filled with food familiar to Western travelers.
6–1 OCT-Loft Creative Park :
- Restaurant options: http://www.octloft.cn/company_type/commercial-and-catering/ also feature Saturday monthly arts and crafts market
- by Subway: Line 1 — Qiao Cheng Dong Exit A; Line 2 — Qiao Cheng Bei Exit B
6–2 OCT Harbor upscale restaurants and western cafes / bars
6–3 Futian Coco Park:
- By Subway: Shopping Park Station (Gou Wu Gong Yuan) on Luobao Line and Longgang Line
Local Eats:
Where do I even start? If you have been to Japan, you know food is the last thing you’d be worried about as they are in your face, literally, at every street, side street, corners, convenient store.
China is similar that there are more than plenty options as long as you are willing to be flexible and a little adventurous :)
Tips: to find food that is suitable for “Western stomach”, I recommend find large malls on top of or near subways.
There, you can find 3–5 floors packed with restaurants of all kind of Chinese and Western cuisines, from Szechuan hotpot, Cantonese to Shanghainese food.
- Yitian Holiday Plaza
- Futian CocoPark (Food and Bar Street)
- Sea World (海上世界）
- HouHai (后海)
- OCT-LOFT Creative Park (华侨城创意园）
- OCT Harbor (欢乐海岸）
One special Shenzhen dish that complete your trip is called Coconut Chicken Hotpot: a Shenzhen style hotpot (less spicy) with chicken soup. Note: You can make half of the pot vegetarian with tofu and veggie (I am pescatarian) You often have it with a fresh coconut as the drink.
See foursquare review here.
润园四季椰子鸡 Season Coconut Chicken is the most famous and authentic restaurant to enjoy this Shenzhen specialty.
Coffee Shops
Who doesn’t want a good cup of coffee on a business trip?
Besides Starbucks alike and your hotel lobby / bar coffee offering, Shenzhen has a few coffee spots that I like.
- 我们的每日咖啡 · Our Daily Coffee
your blue bottle alternative of Shenzhen, close to Westin Shenzhen, in OCT-Loft. Can combine a trip to Walmart with coffee fix or a morning run in the OCT Park.
Address: Xinglong W St, HuaQiaoCheng, Nanshan Qu, Shenzhen Shi, Guangdong Sheng, China, 518053
2. Old Heaven Books (inside OCT-LOFT)
If you like second hand books and vinyls, welcome home away from home.
Address:Wenchang S St, HuaQiaoCheng, Nanshan Qu,Shenzhen
3. ONE Cafe:
a city getaway with vintage memory in a residential building
Address: 深圳华侨城芳华苑春桃阁101号（近佛山街）easier to show this to a local and see my map below, 5 min from Westin.
Hope this guide gives you a few practical tips to be more efficient and feel more grounded in a city that can easily feel overwhelmed. I’d also use Foursquare to check tips from other expats.
You can reach me at apple5812@gmail.com or WeChat: @ apple_chenyuz
