Shenzhen – The City where China’s Transformation Began

Shenzhen, in southeastern China, is a modern metropolis that links Hong Kong to the mainland of China. It’s famous for its shopping destinations, including Luohu Commercial City, a massive mall with a myriad of wares, from tailor made customised clothing to faux designer bags. The city also has contemporary buildings, such as the 384m skyscraper Sung Hing Square, and some amusement parks.

1. History of Shenzhen

Human have lived in this city since ancient times. From the Han Dynasty onwards, the area around it was a center of the salt monopoly. It has been a major commercial centre since ancient times.When China was opened to capitalism and foreign investment in 1979 by Deng Xiaoping, then the Communist Party leader, chose to start with Shenzhen, a poor village in the Pearl River Delta near Hong Kong. Since then, Shenzhen, which roughly translated means “deep drainage,” has transformed from a fishing community of 30,000 to a sprawling industrial and financial megacity, with a population that by some estimates exceeds 12 million.

2. Night Life of Shenzhen

It has a sparkling nightlife with an array of bars, clubs and fancy restaurants to visit and spend time in. Some of these include Mccawley, Pepper Club, Lili Marleen, The Snake Pit, Club Viva, Aloha Beach Club, Brown Sugar Jar, Suzy’s Late Night Lounge Bar, Miami Bar and so on.

3. Safety in Shenzhen

There is no special problem with crime in the city except in the Bao’an area near the airport. There might be some pickpocket gangs at the pedestrian footbridges close to the train station. Foreigners are often victims of scams and crime only if they are not vigilant. If you stay in the main city you should have no problem if you just observe the normal precautions of staying in any major city anywhere in the world.

4. Living Expenses in Shenzhen

The living expenses of the city tend to be a little expensive given its immense population density.

Renting a 3 bedroom apartment in city centre costs around 14,953.67 ¥ (USD 2295) and around 7,124.50 ¥ (USD 1094) outside the city centre.

Hotel tariff can vary from roughly 277 CNY (USD 43) per night in budget hotels to as extravagant as a King’s Suite for 4066 CNY (USD 624).

5. Cuisines of Shenzhen

Along with the huge flow of migrant workers in the city and the large number of business travelers, comes a myriad selection of cuisines. Delicacies from all over the country are available here and the upmarket dining scene is particularly good. Particularly popular here is Guangdong style cuisine which is beautifully presented and delicately flavored and Hunan cooking which is less hot and spicy in this city than in its home province!

The best restaurants to sample Guangdong style cooking are the Jinchuan Restaurant and the Xiangjiang Restaurant. The Xiangcai Restaurant serve great Hunan style food. The Dongmen area of the city is one of the best districts to check out local cuisine. Seafood is also hugely popular and generally very fresh and full of flavor here. The Japanese restaurant in The Grand View Hotel is particularly good.

6. Statistics of Shenzhen

The population of the city is 10,628,900. It ranks 5th in the world in terms of population. Approximately 37% of Shenzhen residents were practitioners of Chinese Folk Religions, 26% are Buddhists, 18% Taoists, 2% Christians and 2% Muslims; 15% were unaffiliated to any religion.

Languages spoken include Mandarin Chinese, Teochew, Cantonese and Hakka.

7. Public Transport in Shenzhen

It has extensive airway, roadway, railway and metro facilities. Shenzhen Airlines and Jade Cargo International are located at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport. Its Railway Station is located at the junction of Jianshe Road, Heping Road and Renmin Nan Road and provides links to different parts of China. Taxis are metered.

Pollution in Shenzhen: Regardless of the air condition esp. in the center of the city area, the streets in Shenzhen are very filthy. Because the culture to barbecue the lamb meats on the street make the heavy smokes. There is an acute problem of water pollution in some lakes across the city too. The air pollution index is 152 ppm which is downright unhealthy.

8. Weather in Shenzhen

With an average temperature of 22 C (72 F) on average, Shenzhen has a long mild summer and short relatively warm winter, which makes the city a year-round travel destination. Additionally, the China Hi-Tech Fair is held there from the 12th to the 17th of October every year. It is always advisable to make reservations well in advance of your visit to the city as the area is particularly busy during this time.

9. Culture of Shenzhen

The China Folk Culture Village is a part of Splendid China Folk Village in Shenzhen, China. Located close to the Splendid China Theme Park, it features displays of the daily life and architecture of China’s 56 ethnic groups. It was opened to the public in October 1991.The China Folk Culture Village has featured several cultural festivals, including the Water Splashing Festival of the Dai, the Shawm Festival of the Miao, the Torch Festival of the Yi, the Huaxia Great Cultural Temple Fair, the Xinjiang Cultural Festival, and the Inner Mongolia Grassland Cultural Festival.

10. Places to Visit in Shenzhen

Author’s Conclusion: A trip to Shenzhen is undoubtedly, worth it. Located in the southern portion of the Guangdong Province, Shenzhen is China’s richest city. The city lives, breathes and grows everyday. One is bound to remain dumbstruck by its beauty and wonder.

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