China, explained honestly.
National how-to guides first, then Shenzhen in depth. Every article opens with a direct answer, shows when we last checked the facts, and lists its sources. No invented reviews or prices.
Honest takes
- EditorialWhat nobody tells you
The first-afternoon surprises that are not disasters.
- EditorialWhat we wish first-timers knew
Editorial guidance, not a fake personal diary.
- MythsMyths vs reality
Visa rumours, cash myths, and the Shenzhen factory cliché.
- 2026Pros and cons of visiting in 2026
Who will have a good trip, and who should wait or go elsewhere.
Ten chapters, the same in every city.
Visa and packing, then money, then the train. The chapters are the same nationally and in Shenzhen — and will be the same when Beijing, Shanghai and the others come online.
Before you go
Visa-free rules, hotel registration, packing, and the weather — what to settle before you fly.
02Money & payments
Alipay, WeChat Pay, cash, fees, tipping and bargaining — how money actually moves.
03Connectivity & apps
eSIM, roaming, maps and translation — which apps work, and which usually do not.
04Getting around
Metro, DiDi, high-speed rail, airports and neighbourhoods — how to move, and where to base yourself.
05Eat
Cuisines, how to order, and eating with restrictions — dishes with their Chinese names, no paid rankings.
06See & do
Parks, museums, day trips and nightlife — honest looks, not brochure photography.
07Itineraries
First days, three-day plans, and side trips to Guangzhou, Macau or the coast.
08Budget
Approximate daily costs, in 2026 bands, to be tightened after we pay them ourselves.
09Honest tips & scams
Etiquette, the scams that actually happen, travelling solo or with children, and accessibility.
10Safety & emergencies
110, 119, 120, 122, hospitals, and what to do if a passport goes missing.
Every guide, filterable.
Type a word, or pick a chapter and a place. This filter runs in your browser; with JavaScript off, every guide is still on the page.
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 · PaymentsHow to Set Up Alipay and WeChat Pay in China With a Foreign Card
You do not need a Chinese bank account for everyday QR payments. Set both apps up at home, link a Visa or Mastercard, and know the 3% fee on single payments over ¥200. Step-by-step, from official visitor guidance.
China essentials · ToolsThe Night-Before Payment and App Checklist for China
A tick-as-you-go list: Alipay, WeChat Pay, your bank, Amap, a data plan, a Chinese address card, and a tiny test payment. Do this at home, while SMS still works.
China essentials · InternetStaying Connected in China: eSIM, Roaming, and Which Apps Actually Work
On mainland networks and hotel Wi-Fi, many familiar Google and social apps are restricted. An international roaming eSIM often reaches them on cellular data — hotel Wi-Fi usually does not. How to plan, without a product pitch.
China essentials · Between citiesHow to Ride China’s High-Speed Rail With a Passport
Foreign passport holders can book on the official 12306 English site: register, complete identity verification, and board with the same passport. How to do it, what happens at the station, and the West Kowloon catch for Shenzhen.
China essentials · Between citiesHow Foreign Visitors Use DiDi and Taxis in China
Official visitor guidance names three ways into DiDi: the Didi-Greater China app, Alipay’s Transport → Taxi, and WeChat’s Mobility section. A foreign phone number can be used. How a ride works, and how to handle a street taxi that will not meter.
China essentials · InternetMaps and Translation in China: Why Amap Beats Google Maps
Google Maps is a poor primary map inside China, even when it opens. Install Amap (高德地图), save Chinese addresses, and pack an offline translation pack. How to set it up, and how to show a driver the characters.
China essentials · EtiquetteWhat Nobody Tells You Before Your First Trip to China
The unobvious first-day surprises that are not disasters: hotel Wi-Fi and your apps, the wrong map, QR payments, WeChat as infrastructure, and the two different ‘visa-free’ rules. Plus toilets, queues and pharmacies.
China essentials · EtiquetteHonest Etiquette and the Scams That Actually Happen in China
The quiet problems: a seafood price you did not agree, a taxi that will not meter, a sudden ‘teahouse’ invitation. And the manners that prevent most friction — chopsticks, yum cha tea charges, and how to order when you cannot read the menu.
China essentials · PlanningA Realistic First-Trip Budget for China (Approximate Costs)
Approximate 2026 ranges, clearly labelled: a careful day, a comfortable day, noodles, hotpot, metro, DiDi, trains and hotels. Not a fake average with one decimal place — a band you can plan from, then verify.
China essentials · SafetyEmergency Numbers in China, and What to Do If Something Goes Wrong
110 police, 119 fire, 120 ambulance, 122 traffic — nationwide numbers published on official English municipal pages. How to get help, what to do with a lost passport, and why a Chinese address on your lock screen matters.
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 · EatVegetarian, Halal and Food Allergies in China: Possible, but You Have to Be Specific
How to eat with a vegetarian, vegan, halal or allergy constraint in China. Useful Chinese phrases, what ‘vegetarian’ often still includes, and why you should not rely on a waiter’s English.
China · Honest tipsSolo Female Travel in China: Honest Tips, Not a Fear Briefing
What it is actually like to travel in China as a woman on your own: street safety, transport, hotels, attention, and the few habits that are worth keeping. No invented crime statistics.
China · Honest tipsTravelling in China with Children: What Is Easy, and What You Should Plan
An honest family-travel briefing for China: passports and entry, hotels, trains, food, pushchairs, and the pace of a day. No unsourced ‘best kids’ attractions.’
China · Getting aroundAccessibility in China: Better in New Metros, Uneven Everywhere Else
What a visitor with reduced mobility, a wheelchair, or a pushchair can reasonably expect in Chinese cities: metros, high-speed rail, hotels, and attractions. Honest and incomplete.
China · MoneyTipping and Bargaining in China: You Usually Do Not Tip, and You Only Bargain Where It Is Expected
Tipping is not a standard part of dining or taxis in mainland China. Bargaining belongs in markets, not in supermarkets or metro stations. A clear, no-nonsense guide.
China · SafetyHospital Visits for Foreigners in China: What Actually Happens, and What to Bring
How a hospital visit works for a foreign visitor in China: 120 for emergencies, what to take, payment, and a cautious note on well-known Shenzhen hospitals. Not medical advice.
China · Getting aroundBooking China Train Tickets on 12306 with a Passport: The Official English Path
How a foreign passport holder books a China Railway ticket on the official 12306 English site: registration, identity, payment, and collecting or boarding with the original passport. Complementary to our high-speed rail guide.
China essentials · ConnectivityA Chinese SIM, or an eSIM? An Honest Comparison for Visitors
A practical comparison of buying a Chinese SIM after you land versus installing an eSIM before you fly. Passport registration, what actually works, and no product ranking.
China essentials · ConnectivityWeChat Mini-Programs Foreigners Can Actually Use — and the Many That Will Say No
After WeChat and WeChat Pay are set up, some mini-programs work for a foreign passport holder. Many still demand a Chinese national ID and fail. Honest limits, not a ranked app store.
China essentials · SafetyWhat Happens If You Overstay in China: The Law, the Discretion, and Why You Should Not
Overstaying a visa, a 30-day visa-free stay, or a 240-hour transit is illegal residence under China's Exit and Entry Administration Law. Article 78, official discretion benchmarks, possible bans — general information, not legal advice.
China essentials · Honest tipsPhotography and Drone Rules in China: Tourist Photos Are Fine; Drones Are Constrained
Ordinary tourist photography is fine, with courtesy, and not at military or classified sites. Drones require real-name registration under CAAC rules; foreign operators must not conduct surveying. For a short visit, leaving the drone at home is often the simpler choice.
China essentials · MoneyCash versus Cards in China: What Leftover Cash Is Still For
Alipay and WeChat Pay with a foreign card will cover most of a tourist day. You still want a little cash and a backup ATM card. Approximate only; we do not invent an ATM-fee table.
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 · SafetyIs China Safe for Tourists in 2026? Ordinary Cities, Ordinary Precautions
Is China safe for tourists in 2026? In large cities such as Shenzhen, most visitors move around with ordinary precautions. We cite official travel advice, and we will not invent a crime rate.
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 · ConnectivityCan You Use Google, WhatsApp and Instagram in China? Usually Not — Here Is the Practical Picture
On a mainland China connection, Google, WhatsApp and Instagram often do not work as usual. An eSIM is a data plan, not a loophole. What to use instead, and what this site will not recommend.
China essentials · AppsCan Foreigners Use DiDi, Meituan, Dianping and Taobao? DiDi Often; the Others, Don’t Count On It
DiDi often works once WeChat Pay or Alipay is set up. Meituan, Dianping and Taobao typically want a Chinese number and often a mainland ID. We will not invent a tourist workaround.
China essentials · BudgetChina Travel Costs per Day in 2026: Three Planning Bands, Not a Fake Average
Approximate daily costs for a visitor in 2026: a careful day about ¥250–450 excluding the hotel, mid-range about ¥500–900, generous ¥1,000 and up. Planning bands, dated and honest.
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.
China · Honest takesChina Travel Myths vs Reality in 2026: The Rumours That Will Not Die
Visa rumours, cash myths, WhatsApp assumptions, and the Shenzhen “factory city” cliché — checked against official 2026 pages, without invented statistics or fake personal stories.
China · Honest takesWhat We Wish First-Timers Knew Before a Trip to China
Editorial guidance for a first trip to China in 2026: the unglamorous list that, if skipped, reliably spoils the first afternoon. Written as editors, not as a fake personal diary.
China · Honest takesHonest Pros and Cons of Visiting China in 2026
A clear-eyed 2026 take: visa-free access for many passports, excellent rail and food, and payments that work once set up — against blocked apps, homework before you fly, and a US passport that usually still needs a visa.
Shenzhen · Entry & borderHong 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 · Getting aroundShenzhen Metro: Just Tap Your Foreign Card
Since 10 September 2026, every gate on all 17 Shenzhen Metro lines (432 stations) accepts contactless Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, American Express and JCB. How to ride, what to enable on the card, and when a taxi is still better.
Shenzhen · NeighbourhoodsShenzhen Neighbourhoods: Futian, Nanshan, Luohu, Shekou — Where to Base Yourself
A truthful sketch of the districts visitors actually ask about. Futian for a first-time metro base, Shekou for the water and the ferry, Luohu for the old crossing — and why the airport district is not a holiday base.
Shenzhen · EatWhat to Eat in Shenzhen (and How to Order It)
A Cantonese city with a migrant kitchen: yum cha, Chaoshan beef hotpot, Shajing oysters, Gongming roast goose, Hakka tea cakes and market seafood. Dishes with their Chinese names, by district — no paid rankings, no invented reviews.
Shenzhen · EatDim Sum in Shenzhen: How a Morning Tea Session Actually Works
Yum cha is a Cantonese morning of steamers and a pot of tea. How to sit, what the tea charge is (it is not a scam), what to order first, and an approximate range for two people — without invented restaurant reviews.
Shenzhen · EatChaoshan Beef Hotpot: How to Order Every Cut
Shenzhen’s everyday hotpot: hand-cut beef in a clear broth, seconds in the pot, a dipping sauce you mix yourself. What the cuts mean, an approximate spend, and a historical note — not a restaurant review.
Shenzhen · ItinerariesAn Honest 3-Day Shenzhen Itinerary
Day 1 in Futian (Lianhuashan, yum cha, beef hotpot). Day 2 in Shekou and Houhai. Day 3: choose the border, Dapeng, or the markets — not all three. A first-visit plan that does not invent restaurant reviews or theme-park verdicts.
Shenzhen · Day tripsHong Kong to Shenzhen as a Day Trip: Is It Worth It, and Which Crossing
Yes, if you treat it as a neighbouring city and if your visa rule matches the crossing. Land ports are not 240-hour transit entries. A simple one-neighbourhood day, and when to start back.
Shenzhen · Day tripsA Day Trip to Dapeng and Nan’ao from Shenzhen
A full day on Shenzhen’s eastern peninsula: a Ming walled town, seafood streets, and the sea — with the same price-tag rule as anywhere, and an honest travel-time band. Confirm today’s bus on Amap; we do not invent route numbers.
Shenzhen · ShoppingHuaqiangbei for Visitors: How to Shop the Electronics Markets Without Getting Burned
Shenzhen’s famous electronics district is a working wholesale market, not a mall. How to walk it, how to bargain, why a too-cheap phone is information, and why we will not invent a ‘trusted stall.’
Shenzhen · PlanningShenzhen on a Budget: What a Day Actually Costs (Approximate)
Approximate 2026 ranges for metro, noodles, yum cha, hotpot, DiDi and rooms in Shenzhen, plus the moves that actually keep a day inexpensive. All figures are bands, to be verified at the till.
Shenzhen · OutdoorsDameisha and Shenzhen’s Beaches: An Honest Look
Dameisha is a real city beach, not a tropical postcard. When to go (a weekday, if you can), how to get there (check Amap — lines change), and why Dapeng is a different day, not the same afternoon.
Shenzhen · EssentialsYour First Day in Shenzhen: A Practical Checklist
Before you land, the first three hours, and a tick list: the stamp in your passport, a test payment, the metro card in your wallet, Amap, and a plan that is one neighbourhood, not four.
Shenzhen · ItinerariesShenzhen to Guangzhou: A High-Speed Hop, If You Pick the Right Station
How to go from Shenzhen to Guangzhou by high-speed rail: which Shenzhen station, which Guangzhou station, approximate times and second-class fares, and why Guangzhou South is not the old city.
Shenzhen · ItinerariesShenzhen to Macau and Zhuhai: A Ferry, a Border, and a Rule You Must Not Mix Up
How to go from Shenzhen to Macau or Zhuhai by ferry or by land, with approximate times and fares, port hours, and a clear warning: Macau is a separate immigration territory. Re-entry to the mainland is a new entry.
Shenzhen · Getting aroundShenzhen Airport Transport: Line 11 Is Under the Terminal — Not Airport East
How to leave Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport: Metro Line 11 at the Airport station under Terminal 3, approximate fares and first and last trains, taxis at the GTC, and the trap of Airport East on Line 1.
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 · See & doWindow of the World and the OCT Area: A Theme Park of Miniatures, with Honest Ticket Bands
What Window of the World in Shenzhen actually is, how to get there on Metro Lines 1 and 2, approximate 2026 ticket prices and hours, and what else sits in the OCT cluster. Verify prices at the official gate.
Shenzhen · See & doDafen Oil Painting Village: A Real Neighbourhood of Workshops, Not a Hidden Gem
How to visit Dafen in Shenzhen’s Longgang district: Metro Line 3, what the oil-painting village actually is, bargaining, and what we will not romanticise.
Shenzhen · See & doShekou Sea World: A Promenade, a Landmark Ship, and the Ferry Next Door
What Shekou’s Sea World is actually like: a waterfront dining and walking area around the Minghua ship, Metro Line 2, and how it sits next to the ferry port for Macau and Zhuhai. No invented restaurant reviews.
Shenzhen · See & doLianhuashan Park: The Hill in the Middle of Futian, and the Statue at the Top
A walking guide to Lianhuashan Park in central Shenzhen: the Deng Xiaoping statue, kites, city views, which metro stations to use, and why it is one of the best free hours in Futian.
Shenzhen · See & doShenzhen Bay Park: The Waterfront Walk, and a Sunset That Does Not Need a Ticket
A guide to Shenzhen Bay Park: the coastal promenade between Futian and Nanshan, Metro Line 9, cycling and sunset, and how it differs from a beach day at Dameisha.
Shenzhen · See & doWutong Mountain: A Real Hike, on Shenzhen’s Highest Peak
How to hike Wutong Mountain in eastern Shenzhen: the city’s highest peak, Metro Line 8, what to take, summer heat, and why this is not a casual city-park stroll.
Shenzhen · See & doShenzhen Nightlife and Craft Beer: Where to Look, Without a Made-Up Bar List
Where to start an evening in Shenzhen, and why we will not invent a list of bars we have not dated a visit to.
Shenzhen · EatCantonese Food in Shenzhen: The Cuisine, the Characters, and How to Order
A clear explainer of Cantonese (Yue) cuisine as you will meet it in Shenzhen: dim sum, roast meats, soups, seafood and claypot rice, with Chinese names, and no restaurant ranking.
Shenzhen · EatHakka Food in Shenzhen: The Other Guangdong Table, with Its Own Characters
A clear explainer of Hakka (Kèjiā) cuisine as you will meet it in Shenzhen: salt-baked chicken, stuffed tofu, braised pork, and lei cha, with Chinese names, and no restaurant ranking.
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 · Getting aroundArriving at Shenzhen Bao’an (SZX): Immigration, Bags, and the Metro Under Terminal 3
A walk-through of an international arrival at Shenzhen Bao’an: immigration, baggage, customs, the Ground Transport Centre, and Metro Line 11 under Terminal 3. Do not go to Airport East.
Shenzhen · ItinerariesA Same-Day Return from Shenzhen to Hong Kong: Lo Wu, Futian, and the Closing Times
Practical timing for a same-day Shenzhen–Hong Kong return at Luohu/Lo Wu and Futian/Lok Ma Chau. Futian closes at 10:30 p.m.; Luohu at midnight. Budget for queues, and do not use these ports to enter on the 240-hour transit.
Shenzhen · See and doOCT Harbour and Shenzhen MixC: An Honest Shopping Guide
Two popular Nanshan shopping areas, honestly described, without an invented store-by-store list.
Shenzhen · See and doDongmen and Luohu Commercial City: A Walking Street, a Wholesale Mall, and a Clear Head
Dongmen Pedestrian Street is Luohu's old walking street, at Laojie metro. Luohu Commercial City is the multi-floor wholesale mall at the Luohu port. Crowds, cheap fashion, snacks — and an honest warning about fakes and bargaining.
Shenzhen · See and doAn Evening in Futian CBD: Civic Center, Lianhuashan, and a Walk
A realistic evening in Futian: the civic buildings, the hill park, a meal — not a bar crawl we have not walked.
Shenzhen · ItinerariesChaozhou and Shantou from Shenzhen: A High-Speed Hop, and Why Overnight Is Kinder
Shenzhen North to Chaoshan station is typically about 1.5 to 2 hours, with second-class fares recently around 122 to 135 yuan — approximate, check 12306. Chaoshan station sits between Chaozhou and Shantou, not in either old city. A day trip is tight; an overnight is more comfortable. No invented restaurants.
Shenzhen · Honest takeIs Shenzhen Worth Visiting? Yes for a Modern City. No for Imperial History.
Shenzhen is worth visiting if you want a modern, metro-friendly Chinese city with excellent food, parks, and a close Hong Kong crossing — not if you want palaces. An honest 2026 take.
Shenzhen · CompareShenzhen vs Guangzhou vs Hong Kong: Which City for Which Trip
An honest 2026 comparison of Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong for a first visitor: immigration is different in Hong Kong, history sits more in Guangzhou, and Shenzhen is the practical modern landing. Tables, not a ranking.
Shenzhen · PlanningHow Many Days in Shenzhen? One, Three, or a Week
A realistic 2026 answer: one full day works as a Hong Kong side trip; two or three days is the comfortable first visit; four or five lets you add Dapeng or Guangzhou. There is no single correct number.
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 · See and doA Shenzhen Tech Tour: The Public Places, and the Ones That Are Not
Huaqiangbei and the DJI flagship store at OCT Harbour are public. BYD’s Pingshan programme is for organisations. We do not invent Huawei or Tencent campus visits.
Shenzhen · AirportShenzhen with a Layover: When to Leave the Airport, and When to Stay
A practical 2026 guide to a layover at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport (SZX): you still need a lawful entry rule to leave the airside area; Line 11 sits under Terminal 3; a tight four-hour connection stays in the terminal; a longer one may reach Futian. Do not risk the flight.
Shenzhen · LanguageA Shenzhen Glossary of Chinese Phrases for Travelers
A short, practical glossary of Mandarin phrases for a Shenzhen trip: everyday courtesy, food, metro, money, and getting help, with Chinese characters, pinyin, and English. This is a travel aid, not a language course.
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.
Shenzhen · ItinerariesShenzhen in 24 Hours: One Honest Daylight, Not a Trophy Hunt
A realistic 24 hours in Shenzhen: Futian’s park and civic centre, a proper meal, a bay-side hour if you have it. For a same-day Hong Kong trip, a long layover, or a single full day. Not Huaqiangbei plus Dapeng plus OCT on the same clock.