Culture and Attractions
- Historic Buildings
- Dapeng Fortress (Ming Dynasty coastal defense village)
- Local Heritage
- Hakka Culture (Gankeng Hakka Town preserves traditional architecture)
- Must-See Landmarks
- Ping An Finance Center (118th floor observatory), Shenzhen Bay Park
- Museums & Art Venues
- Design Society (Sea World Culture and Arts Center), Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCAUP)
- Historical Sites
- Nantou Ancient City (1,700-year-old walled city inside Nanshan)
- Religious Sites
- Hongfa Temple (Wutong Mountain), Chiwan Goddess Temple
- Annual Events
- Dragon Boat Festival (June), Shenzhen Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture
- Cultural Districts
- OCT-Loft Creative Culture Park (Galleries, live music, cafes)
- Theater Venues
- Shenzhen Poly Theatre (Nanshan), Shenzhen Concert Hall
- Local Markets
- Huaqiangbei Electronics Market (World's largest electronics hub)
- Music Scene
- B10 Live (Independent music/jazz), Oil Club (Electronic/Underground)
- Street Art
- Dafen Oil Painting Village (Artists reproducing world masterpieces)
- Cooking Classes
- The Kitchen (Cooking school workshops in Shekou)
- Art Galleries
- Artron Art Center, OCAT (Overseas Chinese Town Contemporary Art Terminal)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Wutong Mountain (Highest peak in SZ), Lianhuashan Park
- National Parks Nearby
- Neilingding Island-Futian Mangrove Nature Reserve
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- 15km Shenzhen Bay Coastal Promenade
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Meridien View Center (Diwang Building) for HK border views
- Birdwatching Locations
- Futian Mangrove Park (Migratory birds in winter)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Strictly prohibited in city parks; designated camping sites in Dapeng Peninsula
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- SF Express (SF Buy), Cai Niao (Station pick-ups)
- Tech Repair Services
- Huaqiangbei (SEG Plaza) for any electronics repairs
- Table Tennis Spots
- Shenzhen Bay Sports Center (Spring Cocoon)
- Language Classes
- Shenzhen University (Mandarin programs), Hanbridge Mandarin
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Shenzhen Library (Civic Center) - Stunning architecture
- Community Centers
- Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats
- Gaming Lounges
- Wangka (Professional E-sports internet cafes found city-wide)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Prohibited in mainland China; 1-hour ferry to Macau required
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 95,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 3.8M CNY)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 55,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 2.2M CNY)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 90,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 5.4M CNY)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 50,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 3M CNY)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 85,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 6.8M CNY)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 45,000 CNY per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 3.6M CNY)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% standard; 15% for qualified High-Tech Enterprises
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% (can be 5% under certain tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents staying >183 days
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% (applicable to monthly income >80,000 CNY)
- VAT
- 13% standard; 9% or 6% for specific services
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, China has robust anti-avoidance and CFC legislation
- Property Tax
- Experimental in some areas, but generally 1.2% of residual value for businesses
- Property Transaction Tax
- Deed Tax 1.5% - 3%, plus VAT and Individual Income Tax (approx. 5-10% total)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- None; high tax burden but subsidies available for 'High-End Talent' in Qianhai area
Essentials
- City
- Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
- Population
- 17.6 million
- Internet Speed
- Average 150 Mbps (Fiber optic common; VPN required for Western sites)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 7.23 CNY (Renminbi). Digital wallets (Alipay/WeChat Pay) are essential.
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; bottled water or filters required (5L bottle ≈ 10 CNY)
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type A, C, and I sockets widely used
- SIM Card
- China Mobile, China Unicom (Approx. 100 CNY for 30GB high-speed data)
- Banking for Expats
- HSBC China, Bank of China; WeChat Pay/Alipay linked to international cards
- Accommodation
- Ziroom (long-term), Wellcee (expat-friendly), serviced apartments in Futian
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, nearly 100% cashless via QR codes (WeChat/Alipay)
- Short Term Rentals
- Ctrip (Trip.com), Meituan, or Ascott Serviced Residences (Shenzhen Bay)
- Budget Accommodation
- Loft Youth Hostel (OCT-Loft) - Approx. 120-180 CNY/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Nanshan (Sea World/Coastal City) for entertainment and western amenities
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Shekou (Nanshan) for expat community or Futian for central business access
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- WeWork (UpperHills, Futian) - Monthly hot desk approx. 1,800 CNY
- Best Cafe for Work
- Gee Coffee Roasters (OCT-Loft) - Quiet with high-speed Wi-Fi and power outlets
- Networking Events
- Startup Grind Shenzhen, Shenzhen Wine & Cheese Club events
- Social Events for Expats
- Shekou Daily meetups, Internations Shenzhen events at Terrace (Sea World)
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Didi Chuxing (English version available in-app)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Meituan Bike, HelloBike (scan via Alipay) - ~1.5 CNY per 15 mins
- Best Beach Nearby
- Dameisha Beach or Xichong Beach (Dapeng Peninsula) - 1.5 hours away
- Top Regional Airline
- Shenzhen Airlines (SZX Hub)
- Top International Airline
- China Southern Airlines, Cathay Pacific (via HKG nearby)
- Highway Access
- G4 (Guangzhou-Shenzhen Express), G15 (Shenhai Highway)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Shenzhen North Station (High-speed rail to HK and Guangzhou)
- Public Transport Passes
- Shenzhen Tong (physical card or NFC via Apple Wallet/Alipay)
- Regional Travel
- High-Speed Rail (14 mins to HK West Kowloon), Ferry (60 mins to Macau)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- HKU-Shenzhen Hospital (International Medical Center), Futian
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Fine Yoga (Multiple locations including Nanshan and Futian)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Supermonkey (Pay-per-class via WeChat), Fusion Fitness
- Laundry Services
- Fornet (Wash & Fold services found in major malls)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Meituan Waimai, Ele.me (Integrated in Alipay)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Cantonese Dim Sum, Coconut Chicken Hotpot (Run Yuan Si Ji)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Green Common (The MixC), Shanyuan Vegetarian (Futian)
- Best Dessert Spots
- HeyTea (Cheese tea origin), Nayuki (Fruit teas and pastries)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Dongmen Pedestrian Street (Laojie), Sam's Club (Longhua)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Taobao, Tmall, JD.com (Often same-day delivery)
- Grocery Delivery
- Hema (Freshhippo) - 30-minute delivery from app
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Coco Park (Futian) - High concentration of bars and clubs
- Local Brewery
- Taps Brewpub (Futian), Bionic Brew (Nanshan/Baishizhou)
- Wine Bars
- Vinotheque (Futian), Wine Connection (Shekou)
- Street Food Stalls
- Baishizhou Food Street or Shuiwei Village Night Market
- Popular International Cuisine
- Baia Burger Concept (Shekou), George & Dragon (British Pub)