GoTourist
The Futian District skyline, Shenzhen

No. 46 Top 100 City Destinations 2025

Shenzhen

China

China's high-tech boomtown next to Hong Kong: skyscrapers, theme parks, design and electronics markets.

Open in Maps Apple Maps

Photo: Huangdan2060, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Shenzhen is No. 46 in Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025. Just across the border from Hong Kong, it grew from a small town into one of China's largest cities after it became a Special Economic Zone in 1980.

Today it is a major technology hub with a modern skyline, parks along Shenzhen Bay, theme parks, a lively design scene and beaches on its eastern coast.

Replica landmarks at Window of the World, Shenzhen
Replica landmarks at Window of the World, Shenzhen. Photo: Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Best time to go

October to December brings warm, dry, sunny weather and is the best time to visit.

Summer is hot, humid and rainy, with occasional typhoons. Avoid national holidays, when attractions and border crossings are very busy.

Top sights

  • 1

    Window of the World

    A theme park with scaled-down replicas of famous landmarks from around the world.

  • 2

    OCT Loft

    Former factories converted into a creative quarter of galleries, cafés and design shops.

  • 3

    Dafen Oil Painting Village

    A neighbourhood of studios where artists paint and sell copies and original works.

  • 4

    Huaqiangbei

    Vast electronics markets selling everything from components to the latest gadgets.

  • 5

    Ping An Finance Centre

    One of the world's tallest buildings, with an observation deck high above Futian.

  • 6

    Shenzhen Bay Park

    A long waterfront park for walking and cycling, with views across the bay to Hong Kong.

  • 7

    Dameisha and Xiaomeisha

    Sandy beaches on the eastern coast, popular at weekends.

Getting there

Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX) is on the metro. From Hong Kong, high-speed trains run from West Kowloon to Futian in under 20 minutes, and the MTR East Rail line runs to the Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau border crossings.

Hong Kong and mainland China have separate immigration controls, so you pass through both when crossing.

Getting around

The metro is extensive, cheap and signed in English. Pay with a QR code in Alipay or WeChat Pay or with a transport card.

Taxis and ride-hailing apps such as DiDi are inexpensive; have your destination written in Chinese.

Practical tips

Currency
Chinese yuan (CNY). Most payments are made by phone with Alipay or WeChat Pay, both of which accept foreign cards; set one up before you travel and carry some cash as a back-up.
Language
Mandarin Chinese; Cantonese is also spoken. English is limited outside hotels.
Apps & internet
Many international apps and websites, including Google services, do not work in mainland China. Download offline maps and a translation app before you travel.
Safety
Shenzhen is generally safe. The police emergency number is 110.
Visa & entry
Citizens of many countries, including the UK, Canada, Australia and most EU countries, can currently visit China visa-free for up to 30 days under a policy that runs until 31 December 2026. US citizens need a visa, or can use the 240-hour visa-free transit scheme with an onward ticket to a third country. Rules change often, so check with a Chinese embassy before you travel.
Power
220 V, 50 Hz; plug types A, C and I.

Official information: Shenzhen Government Online (official city website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

Map

Open in Maps View larger map Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors