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Shenzhen

Shenzhen is a tech-heavy city on the Hong Kong border, where a day of electronics shopping can sit beside Hakka walled villages and coastal parks.

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Shenzhen is a city in Guangdong province in southern China, on the east bank of the Pearl River estuary. It borders Hong Kong to the south and lies about 100 km southeast of Guangzhou. The city became one of China's first special economic zones in 1980 and grew from a border town into a major city. It is known as a technology hub and often called China's Silicon Valley, with Huawei, Tencent, DJI and BYD among the companies based there or with major operations.

Visitors come for the electronics markets at Huaqiangbei, the coastal parks and beaches, and the Hakka walled villages and Dapeng Fortress on the outskirts. Cantonese cooking forms the base of local meals, with dim sum and Teochew and Hakka seafood. Luohu, Futian, Huanggang and Shenzhen Bay are the main crossings into Hong Kong, so the border often shapes the schedule. Late autumn and winter bring less rain than summer and suit sightseeing best.

Shenzhen in five

Cross at a checkpoint that is still openHong Kong's Immigration Department lists Lo Wu 6:30 am to midnight, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line 6:30 am to 10:30 pm and Shenzhen Bay 6:30 am to midnight. For a late return to Hong Kong, choose a crossing that stays open.Control point hours
Know that Shenzhen is a mainland entryThe UK government says visa rules for Hong Kong and Macao differ from the mainland's. Crossing to Shenzhen is a mainland entry, so your passport's mainland rules apply, and a mainland visa needs a second entry if you go out and back.China visa-free entry
Use Futian for the express rail linkThe Shenzhen government says Futian Railway Station is the first mainland stop on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and connects to Metro Lines 2, 3 and 11. Shenzhen North is the city's largest rail hub.Shenzhen stations
Land at Bao'an and take Metro Line 11The airport's ground transportation center has a Line 11 entrance, buses to Hong Kong and a free shuttle to the airport ferry terminal, per the Shenzhen government. The airport also links to the Guangzhou-Shenzhen intercity railway.Airport transport
Plan for storm and mosquito monthsMay to November brings typhoons and flooding on the Guangdong coast, and the UK government notes dengue risk in the same rains. Pack repellent and check storm warnings before a border day.

Things to do in Shenzhen

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Need to know

Airport: Shenzhen Bao'an (SZX); Metro Line 11 from the terminal
Getting there: Border crossings and rail from Hong Kong; rail from Guangzhou and Xiamen
Getting around: Metro between the main rail stations, plus buses and taxis
Best base: Near Futian or Luohu for border and rail links
Time needed: 1 day as a stopover; 2 days for the city

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Dry, cool
FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°Cool, damp
MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh24°Low18°Warm, humid
AprilRain14 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Hot, humid
MayRain20 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Storm season
JuneRain25 rainy daysHigh31°Low27°Typhoon risk
JulyRain24 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low27°Typhoon risk
AugustRain26 rainy daysHigh31°Low27°Typhoon risk
SeptemberRain22 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Typhoon risk
OctoberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Dry, warm
NovemberPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Dry, mild
DecemberPartly cloudy3 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Dry, mild

Average daily high and low in Shenzhen, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Shenzhen

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 29°
Humidity: 90%
Wind: 8 km/h
Chance of rain: 31%

Shenzhen

04:40 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+8

Today29°23°31%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 31%.
Wed28°24°47%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 47%.
Thu30°24°94%Thursday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 94%.
Fri29°23°86%Friday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 86%.
Sat28°23°9%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 28°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 9%.
Sun29°22°6%Sunday: Clear. High 29°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 6%.

Updated 01:08 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 6.661 CNY

Amount

Converted to

CNY · Chinese Yuan

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Before you go to Shenzhen

Greater Bay day toursCross-border days with transfersCompare tours

Hotels near Futian and LuohuBases by border and rail stationCheck availability

eSIM for ShenzhenMaps and apps after the borderRead the guide

Insurance for ShenzhenHealthcare is not free in ChinaRead the guide

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Rules for Shenzhen, checked

Hong Kong lists Lo Wu open 6:30 am to midnight, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line 6:30 am to 10:30 pm and Shenzhen Bay 6:30 am to midnight.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Visa requirements for Hong Kong and Macao are different from the mainland's; Shenzhen is a mainland entry for your passport.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source

Plan around Shenzhen

All of China

Visa-free entry, payments, trains and cities

Read the guide Hong Kong

The border neighbor with its own entry rules

Read the guide Guangzhou

Dim sum capital, 1 intercity ride away

Read the guide Macau

Old center and Cotai, via Hong Kong

Read the guide Xiamen

The coastal line to Fujian

Read the guide Sanya

Hainan beaches, a flight south

Read the guide Guilin and Yangshuo

Karst country, by rail from the Delta

Read the guide

Shenzhen FAQ

Is Shenzhen worth a stop between Hong Kong and Guangzhou?

Yes as a rail stop, less so as a destination: the city is modern and spread out, and the cross-border links make it an easy break in a Hong Kong to Guangzhou journey. Give it a night only if you want a slower pace than either neighbor.

Which border crossing from Hong Kong to Shenzhen is best?

Lo Wu and Shenzhen Bay stay open until midnight, per Hong Kong's Immigration Department; the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line closes at 10:30 pm. Pick the one nearest your hotel and keep a margin, because queues are longer at peak hours.

Do I need a Chinese visa to enter Shenzhen from Hong Kong?

Crossing is a mainland China entry, so the mainland rules for your passport apply, not Hong Kong's. The visa checker shows them, and the Guangzhou guide explains the Hong Kong group-tour exception.

Can I fly into Shenzhen and go straight to Hong Kong?

Yes. The airport ground transport center has buses to Hong Kong, and a free shuttle runs to the airport ferry terminal, per the Shenzhen government. Allow time for immigration on both sides and buy tickets at the center.

When is the best time to visit Shenzhen?

October to December, when the typhoon season is ending and humidity drops. May to September is hot and storm-prone, and the UK government notes dengue risk in the rains. January is cool and dry.