Shenzhen, China
Here is a brief history of Shenzhen:
• Shenzhen was a small fishing village in the 1970s. It was part of Hong Kong at that time.
• In 1979, China established Shenzhen as the first special economic zone. This opened up Shenzhen to foreign trade and investment.
• In the 1980s, Shenzhen experienced rapid economic growth and industrialization. Many factories were set up in Shenzhen to manufacture electronics, toys, and other goods for export. This attracted a large number of migrant workers to Shenzhen.
• In the 1990s and 2000s, Shenzhen transitioned to a high-tech hub. Many technology companies set up research and development centers in Shenzhen. Shenzhen also became a major financial center.
• Shenzhen’s economy grew tremendously over the decades. It is now one of the most prosperous cities in China with a very high GDP per capita. It is a leader in technology, finance, and trade.
• Shenzhen’s population also boomed from just 300,000 in 1979 to over 12 million today. There is a huge influx of migrants and expats living in Shenzhen.
• Shenzhen has close ties with Hong Kong. There is frequent movement of people and goods between the two cities. Shenzhen’s culture has also been influenced by Hong Kong.
• Today, Shenzhen is a global city and a major economic powerhouse. But it still faces challenges like pollution, inequality, and overpopulation. Its future development remains to be seen.
Shenzhen has many popular tourist attractions. Some of the top places are:
• Shenzhen Bay – A scenic bay area with beaches, parks, and walking/cycling paths. It offers great views of Hong Kong’s skyline. http://www.szbyp.com
• Window of the World – A large theme park with miniature replicas of famous landmarks from around the world. It’s very popular, especially with families. http://www.szwwco.com/en/
• Shenzhen Museum – Features artifacts, paintings, and sculptures showcasing the history and culture of Shenzhen. It’s located in a striking building. http://www.shenzhenmuseum.com
• Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street – A lively pedestrian street lined with shops, restaurants, and street food vendors. Great for shopping, dining, and people watching.
• Chiwan Golf Club – One of the top golf courses in China with a scenic sea view course. Many professional tournaments are held here.
• Happy Valley Shenzhen – A large amusement and theme park with over 30 rides and attractions including rollercoasters, drop towers, haunted houses, etc. https://www.happyvalley.cn/en/shenzhen/
• Shenzhen East Railway Station – A landmark station building with a distinctive architecture. The surrounding area has become a popular shopping and dining destination. www.szdstation.com.
• Hua Qiao Market – A huge market selling clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry, electronics, and more. It’s a shopper’s paradise with very low prices. www.huaqiangbei.com
• Dafen Village – Known as the “Oil Painting Village“, Dafen is filled with art supply shops and studios. You can find many famous artists at work and shop for art supplies. http://www.dafen.net
WeChat is a widely used payment app throughout China.
The currency used in Shenzhen, China is the Chinese Yuan (CNY). Some key facts about the Chinese Yuan:
• The Yuan is the official currency of the People’s Republic of China. It is also known as Renminbi (RMB).
• The Yuan is subdivided into 10 Jiao, and 10 Jiao are subdivided into 1 Fen.
• The Yuan is not freely convertible and is controlled by the Chinese government. The exchange rate is fixed by the People‘s Bank of China.
• Coins come in denominations of 1 Jiao, 2 Jiao, 5 Jiao, 1 Yuan, 2 Yuan, 5 Yuan, and 10 Yuan.
•Banknotes come in denominations of 20 Yuan, 50 Yuan, 100 Yuan, 200 Yuan, 500 Yuan, 1000 Yuan, 2000 Yuan, and 5000 Yuan.
• Shenzhen is a major financial hub in China, so the Yuan is widely used in Shenzhen for all financial transactions like shopping, dining, transportation, etc. US Dollars and Hong Kong Dollars are also accepted in some places, but Yuan is the dominant currency.
Shenzhen has a subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. Some key facts about Shenzhen’s climate:
• Summers are hot and humid, with average high temperatures around 88 F or 31 C and high humidity. The summer rainy season is from May to September.
• Winters are mild with average high temperatures of 64 F or 18 C and lows of 50 F or 10 C. January is the coolest month.
• Shenzhen gets a lot of rainfall, especially in summer. The annual rainfall is around 77 inches or 1950 mm.
• Shenzhen’s location on the coast gives it a maritime tropical monsoon climate, moderating the temperatures. The sea breeze helps keep the city cooler in summer and warmer in winter compared to inland areas.
• Shenzhen rarely sees extreme cold spells or very hot weather. Severe weather like typhoons can occur between August to October.
• The driest months are from December to March. The most humid months are July, August and September.
• Shenzhen has over 260 sunny days a year on average, with the most sunshine hours from April to June.
• The air quality in Shenzhen has improved in recent years but can still be poor at times, especially in winter. Pollution and smog are issues, especially for ozone and particulate matter.
• Shenzhen’s climate is influenced by the South China Sea and the Pearl River, keeping the city warm and humid all year round.
The major airports in Shenzhen are:
1. Shenzhen Baoan International Airport (SZX): This is the main airport serving Shenzhen. It is located in Baoan County, about 30 km from Shenzhen city center. Website: www.szairport.com
2. Shenzhen Futian International Airport (SZX): This airport mainly handles general aviation flights and cargo flights. It is located in Futian District, Shenzhen. Website: www.futianairport.com
3. Shenzhen Huangtian Airport (SZX): This is a small airport located in Huangtian, Shenzhen. It mainly handles general aviation flights. Website: www.huangtianairport.com
Here are the major forms of transportation in Shenzhen and their website links:
• Shenzhen Metro – Shenzhen has a extensive metro system with 11 lines covering most of the city. Website: www.szmc.net
• Buses – Shenzhen has a bus network with over 300 bus routes covering the whole city. Website: www.szbus.com
• Light Rail – Shenzhen Light Rail connects Shenzhen North Railway Station and Shenzhen Baoan International Airport. Website: www.szlightrail.com
• Ferries – There are ferry services connecting Shenzhen with Hong Kong and Macau. Major ferry operators include China Ferry Group and Cotai Water Jet.
• Taxis – Taxis are readily available in Shenzhen. Major taxi companies include Shenzhen Taxi, Dai Xie Taxi and Shenzhen Airport Taxi.
• High-speed Rail – Shenzhen North Railway Station and Shenzhen South Railway Station connect Shenzhen to high-speed rail networks. Website: cr.chinacache.com
• Shenzhen Baoan International Airport – Shenzhen’s main airport located in Baoan district. Website: www.szairport.com
• Shenzhen Port – One of the busiest container ports in the world. Website: www.szport.com.cn
• Shenzhen North Railway Station – A major railway station connecting Shenzhen to Guangzhou, Hong Kong and other cities. Website: www.sznorth.com .
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• Hong Kong – Hong Kong is a very popular day trip destination from Shenzhen. You can take a high-speed train to Hong Kong in about an hour. Explore Hong Kong Island, Victoria Peak, shopping areas like Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui.
• Guangzhou – Shenzhen’s neighboring city Guangzhou is also a great day trip option. You can see Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street, Chen Clan Temple, Guangzhou Museum. It’s about a 2 hour bus ride from Shenzhen.
• Macau – For gambling and nightlife, the special administrative region of Macau is a popular day trip choice. You can take a bus to Macau in 3-4 hours.
• Futian Checkpoint – One of the busiest border crossings in the world. It‘s an interesting place to see the hustle and bustle. You can walk across the border into Hong Kong.
• Dapu Mountain – For outdoor adventures, Dapu Mountain is a great choice. It has hiking trails, cable cars and viewpoints with panoramic views of Shenzhen.
