General Information of Shenzhen

Located on the middle-south cast of Guangdong Province, Shenzhen neighbors Daya Bay in the east, the mouth of the Zhujiang (Pearl) River in the west, and Hong Kong in the south. It is one of the earliest special economic zones in China. It is also a newly rising tourist city with the most up-to-date tourist facilities and simple arrival procedures for visitors from abroad.

Shenzhen is one of the most flourishing cities in China during the past 20 years. There is a widespread saying: "You think you're brave until you go to Manchuria, you think you're well read until you reach Beijing and you think you'er rich until you set foot in Shenzhen", and another saying like this: "When a leave falls from the tree, it passes three politicians in Beijing while it passes three Doctors and three general managers."

  • Area
    788 square miles (2,020 square kilometers)
  • Geographical Information
    Shenzhen, located at about 114o east longitude and 22o north latitude, is a newly-built seaside city under the jurisdiction of Guangdong Province of China.

    Separated from Hong Kong by a river in the south, the city starts from Lingding sea of Pearl River Estuary and extends east to Daya Bay, meeting the cities of Dongguan and Hurizhou in the north. The long and narrow area of the city covers 788 square miles (2,020 square kilometers) yet boasts a coastline stretching 142.6 miles (229.96 kilometers) long.
  • Language
    Cantonese and Mandarin
    English is the language of international business.
  • Population
    3.8 million
  • Time Difference
    GMT/UTC +8 hours

VISA
Visas are required by all foreigners entering mainland China. Standard tourist visas are valid for 30-day visits and are generally easy to acquire. Visas valid for more than 30 days are usually difficult to obtain.

Visitors are advised to consult their travel agent, China International Travel Service, China Travel Service, any PRC Embassy or Consulate for detail.

Visa office of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China

CURRENCY
The unit of money in China is called renminbi. Credit cards are accepted in major hotels as well as the Friendship stores.

Use the Currency Converter to check the exchange rate that corresponds to your local currency.

SHOPPING
The consumer industry once monopolized by the Friendship Stores has since expanded into the following areas:-

Lo Wu Commercial Center
Right outside the Lo Wu Customs area, this busy commercial complex offers tailor shops, massage centers and a range of outlets selling handicrafts, garments and most daily necessities.

Shenzhen Seibu Department Store
Located on Dongmen Nan Road, this department store features an extensive range of the imported brand-name cosmetics, fashions and accessories.

MOI Department Store
Also located on Dongmen Road, the busiest commercial district of Shenzhen, the MOI Department Store sells a wide range of affordable jewelry, garments and cosmetics.

The Friendship Store
Five floors of shopping pleasure, including a wide range of brand-name and affordable clothing.

Shenzhen Pok Art Shop
This is one of the few stores in Shenzhen where you can purchase traditional and cultural Chinese objects, ranging from arts and crafts to Chinese literature.

Book City
The five-story Book City is the newest tourist attraction in Shenzhen, selling many different categories of books including literature, art, law, electronics and architecture.

TIPPING
Officially, tipping is inappropriate and disapproved of.

BUSINESS HOURS

  • Banks and Government offices:
    Mon to Fri 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat to Sun 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Offices:
    Mon to Fri 8/9 a.m. to 11:30/12 noon, 2 p.m. to 5/5:30 p.m.
  • Shops (Hours vary):
    Open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

DRESS
Dress is generally informal in China except on social diplomatic occasions; a suit and tie for formal occasion is widely accepted.

HEALTH
Visitors to China are required to fill in a health declaration form when entering the country. It is advisable not to drink tap water. Bottled drinking water is available in the hotel room, compliments of Shangri-La.

MEASURES
The system is metric although traditional measurements are still popular.

ELECTRICITY
220 volts, 50 cycles. Plugs are normally two-pin flat (5 amp)

MOBILE PHONE NETWORK
GSM