Before you go
Entry rules first, then the practical bits: where you will sleep, what to pack, and how the season feels.
Entry & border
Which rule, which crossing.
Hong Kong → Shenzhen crossings
Which border to use and which visa rule applies.
Read →240-hour transit: Shenzhen ports
For entry, only Bao’an Airport, Shekou port and the West Kowloon high-speed rail count. The national rules are in China essentials.
Read →144-hour Greater Bay Area groups
HK/Macau tour groups have historically been able to stay up to 144 hours in the Greater Bay Area — confirm the current official rule.
Read →Getting around
Metro, taxis and a card for the driver.
Metro: just tap your card
Since 10 Sep 2026, all 17 lines and 432 stations accept contactless foreign cards. Contactless must be enabled.
Read →Taxis & DiDi
How to hail and pay, being written.
Read →Show-the-driver cards
Ten free printable cards in big Chinese with English names.
Read →Local tips
Small things that save money and time.
Seafood without getting ripped off
Official advice: read the price tag, watch the weighing, and agree the total before it’s cooked.
Read →Yum cha manners
Ordering, pouring tea and the tea charge, coming soon.
Read →Bargaining at Huaqiangbei
How to shop the electronics markets, coming soon.
Read →Hong Kong to Shenzhen: which border, which visa rule
Luohu, Futian and Shenzhen Bay can't be used to enter on 240-hour visa-free transit. Here's which crossing works for which visa rule.
Shenzhen · Before you goFutian Checkpoint, Step by Step: Lines 4 and 10, and a Closing Time You Should Not Cut Fine
A practical walk-through of Futian Port (Futian Checkpoint) between Shenzhen and Hong Kong: opening hours, which metro line to use, how the Hong Kong side connects, and a clear note that this is not a 240-hour transit port.
Shenzhen · Before you goLuohu Checkpoint, Step by Step: Line 1 to Lo Wu, Open Until Midnight
A practical walk-through of Luohu Port between Shenzhen and Hong Kong: official hours, Metro Line 1, the Lo Wu East Rail connection, queues, and why this is not a 240-hour transit port.
Shenzhen · Before you goShenzhen Bay Checkpoint, Step by Step: Two Inspections in One Place, Line 13, Until Midnight
A practical walk-through of Shenzhen Bay Port: official passenger hours, the co-located inspection, Metro Line 13 exits, the Hong Kong side, and a clear note that this is not a 240-hour transit port.
Shenzhen · Before you goShenzhen Weather by Month: A Climate Picture, Not a 2026 Forecast
What Shenzhen’s subtropical climate usually feels like, month by month: a mild winter, a hot wet summer, and a typhoon season. These are climate patterns, not a forecast. Check the Shenzhen Meteorological Bureau before you go.
Shenzhen · PlanningBest Time to Visit Shenzhen: Milder Months, Humid Summers, Festival Crowds
As a climate pattern, October–December and March–April are typically more comfortable. Summer is hot and humid; typhoon season is roughly May–November. Not a forecast for your week.
Shenzhen · BusinessShenzhen for Business Travelers: A Practical 2026 Briefing
A short 2026 briefing for a business trip to Shenzhen: the 30-day visa-free rule can cover business talks (not employment), hotel registration, the official arrival card, Futian and Nanshan as bases, payments, and what not to assume about Meituan or campus visits.
Shenzhen · FAQShenzhen FAQ: The Questions Visitors Actually Ask
A mega FAQ for a first visit to Shenzhen in 2026: visa and arrival card, safety, payments, Google and WhatsApp, how many days, best time, metro, Hong Kong crossings, costs, and which apps work. Short answers, with links to the full guides. Last verified November 2026.
Related China-wide guides
China’s 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Who Qualifies, Which Ports, and the Catch
Eligible passport holders from 57 countries can transit China for up to 240 hours without a visa — if they have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region and use a designated port. The honest fine print, sourced to the National Immigration Administration.
China essentials · EntryChina’s 30-Day Visa-Free Entry: The 50-Country List, the End Date, and Who Is Left Out
Ordinary-passport holders from 50 countries can enter China for up to 30 days without a visa. The United States is not on the list. For most countries the official end date we found is still 31 December 2026 — confirm before you book.
China essentials · ToolsWhich China Visa-Free Rule Can You Use? A Plain Decision Tree
US passport? UK, Canada, Australia, Japan? Coming from Hong Kong for the day? Open the situation that matches you. Then confirm it officially — this is a guide, not legal advice.
China essentials · Before you goHotel Registration for Foreigners in China: The Hotel Does It, Unless You Stay Elsewhere
When you stay in a hotel in China, the hotel must register your stay and report it to the local public security organ. If you stay anywhere else, you or your host must register within 24 hours. Sourced to the National Immigration Administration.
China essentials · Before you goWhat to Pack for China: A Short List, Because You Can Buy the Rest
What is worth packing for a China trip, and what you can buy after you arrive. Passport, payment setup, a plug adaptor, and the season — not a 40-item influencer list.
China essentials · EntryHow to Count a 240-Hour or 30-Day Stay in China: Use the Calculator, Trust the Stamp
The 240-hour transit is a simple +240 hours in China's time. The 30-day visa-free stay is counted from the day after entry, for 30 calendar days. A free calculator, and why the stamp is still what matters.
China essentials · First tripChina Travel Guide for First-Timers in 2026: Visa, Arrival Card, Payments, and What to Do First
A first-trip pillar for China in 2026: whether you need a visa, the official free arrival card, Alipay and WeChat, why Google and WhatsApp may not work as usual, and how Shenzhen fits as a first city. Sourced, dated, and honest.
China essentials · VisaDo I Need a Visa for China in 2026? A Passport-by-Passport Answer
A 2026 visa-decision page for China: the 50-country 30-day waiver, the 57-country 240-hour transit, who still needs a visa (including US ordinary passports for a simple tourist stay), how long a stay is counted, and official sources to re-check before you fly.
China essentials · VisaCan Americans Visit China Without a Visa in 2026? Transit Yes, a Simple Tourist Stay Usually No
US ordinary passports are not on China’s 30-day visa-free list in 2026. They are on the 240-hour visa-free transit list, if you have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region and use a designated port. Otherwise, apply for a visa. Official sources cited.
China essentials · ArrivalChina’s Official Online Arrival Card in 2026: Free, and Only on the Government Site
Since 20 November 2025, China’s National Immigration Administration has offered free online arrival-card filling at s.nia.gov.cn. Paper and airport devices still exist. Ignore paid lookalike sites. This page cites official NIA and embassy guidance — we do not state a mandatory 72-hour window.