Ping An Finance Centre
Shenzhen, China
1 h 15 min≈ ¥200 at the counter, from ¥180 onlineviewssunsetsevening
Things to do in Shenzhen: top sights and where to go
Shenzhen is a skyscraper city on the Hong Kong border: in the Futian business district the Ping An Finance Centre with its observation deck, Lianhuashan Park with the Deng Xiaoping statue and the Huaqiangbei electronics market are close together, while the Window of the World and Splendid China miniature parks, Talent Park on Shenzhen Bay and the walled Nantou old town lie 20–30 minutes west by metro. Spend the first day in Futian with an evening on Dongmen pedestrian street; keep the theme parks, the bay and the Bay Glory ferris wheel for the second.
Popular destinations
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Fairy Lake Botanical Garden
Shenzhen, China
2 h 30 min≈ ¥15; free early morning and eveningchurchesparksnature
Shenzhen itineraries
Shenzhen travel guide
Before you go: Ping An tower and the parks, Huaqiangbei market, Window of the World, crossing from Hong Kong, the airport, weather.
Shenzhen on your own: the essentials
- How many days
- 2–3 days: city, parks, market
- When to go
- October–December: warm and dry
- Visa
- Depends on your passport — many get 30 days visa-free
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Paying
- Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card
- Airport
- Bao’an (SZX) ≈ 30 km from Futian — metro
- Hong Kong
- Border crossings in the city: Luohu, Futian, Shenzhen Bay
- To Guangzhou
- ≈ 30–40 min by high-speed train
- Metro
- Cheap and fast; tap Alipay QR or a card
- Internet
- Google, WhatsApp, YouTube blocked — roaming eSIM
- Time zone
- UTC+8 all year
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
599 mheight of the Ping An Finance Centre, among the world’s tallest buildings
Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Ping An Finance Centre”1980Shenzhen became China’s first Special Economic Zone
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Wikipedia, “Shenzhen”Huaqiangbeione of the world’s largest electronics markets
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Wikipedia, “Huaqiangbei”≈ 130replicas of world landmarks at Window of the World
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Wikipedia, “Window of the World (Shenzhen)”Things to do in Shenzhen
The top things to do in Shenzhen are the Ping An Finance Centre observation deck, the city views from Lianhuashan and Talent parks, the Huaqiangbei electronics market, Dongmen Street and Nantou Ancient City. Families head to Window of the World and Splendid China; nature lovers to Fairy Lake Botanical Garden. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above.
| Futian | Ping An, Lianhuashan | ½ day |
|---|---|---|
| Huaqiangbei | Electronics market | 1.5 h |
| Luohu | Dongmen, Fairy Lake | ½ day |
| Nanshan | Talent Park, Bay Glory | evening |
| Nantou | Ancient city | 1.5 h |
| Theme parks | Window of the World, Splendid China | 1 day |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries for 1–2 days, with places in a sensible order.
Hong Kong to Shenzhen and the airport
From Hong Kong to Shenzhen you can walk across the border at Luohu or Futian, take the high-speed train from West Kowloon, or a ferry to Shekou. Flights land at Bao’an (SZX), ≈ 30 km from Futian, with Metro Line 11 into the centre.
| Metro Line 11 | Airport — Futian | ≈ 40–50 min |
|---|---|---|
| DiDi taxi | Airport — centre | ≈ 40 min |
| Walk across the border | Hong Kong — Luohu | ≈ 1 h from central HK |
| High-speed train | Hong Kong — Futian | ≈ 15–20 min |
| High-speed train | Guangzhou | ≈ 30–40 min |
Hong Kong is a separate border zone: re-entering mainland China needs a valid visa-free basis or a multiple-entry visa.
Shenzhen weather by month
Shenzhen is subtropical: the best time to visit is October to December, ≈ 22–29 °C by day and dry. May to September is hot and humid with downpours and typhoons. Winter days are ≈ 20 °C — too cool to swim at Dameisha, but pleasant for walking.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 20° | 21° | 23° | 27° | 30° | 32° | 33° | 33° | 32° | 29° | 26° | 22° |
| Night | 13° | 15° | 18° | 22° | 25° | 27° | 27° | 27° | 26° | 23° | 19° | 15° |
| Rain | 6 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: October–December
January in ShenzhenSun and clouds
- day ≈ 20°
- night ≈ 13°
- rain 6 days
About 20°, dry.
February in ShenzhenSun and clouds
- day ≈ 21°
- night ≈ 15°
- rain 9 days
About 21°, Spring Festival.
March in ShenzhenSun and clouds
- day ≈ 23°
- night ≈ 18°
- rain 11 days
About 23°, damp.
April in ShenzhenSun and clouds
- day ≈ 27°
- night ≈ 22°
- rain 11 days
About 27°, rain.
May in ShenzhenOften rainy
- day ≈ 30°
- night ≈ 25°
- rain 14 days
About 30°, downpours.
June in ShenzhenOften rainy
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 27°
- rain 18 days
Hot and rainy.
July in ShenzhenOften rainy
- day ≈ 33°
- night ≈ 27°
- rain 16 days
Heat ≈ 33°, beach season.
August in ShenzhenOften rainy
- day ≈ 33°
- night ≈ 27°
- rain 17 days
Hot; typhoons.
September in ShenzhenOften rainy
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 26°
- rain 13 days
About 32°.
October in ShenzhenSun and clouds · best time
- day ≈ 29°
- night ≈ 23°
- rain 6 days
About 29° — the best month.
November in ShenzhenSunny · best time
- day ≈ 26°
- night ≈ 19°
- rain 4 days
About 26°, dry.
December in ShenzhenSunny · best time
- day ≈ 22°
- night ≈ 15°
- rain 4 days
About 22°, clear.
Where to stay in Shenzhen
Where to stay in Shenzhen: Futian for the CBD, parks and the high-speed station; Luohu near the Hong Kong border and Dongmen; Nanshan and Shekou for the bay, restaurants and the ferry to Hong Kong.
| Futian | CBD, parks, trains | Business-like |
|---|---|---|
| Luohu | Border, Dongmen, budget | Older area |
| Nanshan, Shekou | Bay, dining, ferries | ≈ 30 min to Futian |
What to eat in Shenzhen
Shenzhen eats Cantonese food plus dishes from every province — it is a young city of migrants. Try dim sum, seafood in Shekou, Chaoshan beef hotpot and fiery Sichuan cooking.
- Dim sum — for morning tea, as in Guangzhou.
- Chaoshan beef hotpot — fresh-cut beef in clear broth.
- Seafood — in Shekou and by Dameisha beach.
- Milk tea — many big chains started here.
Shenzhen ticket prices
Lianhuashan and Talent parks, Dongmen, Huaqiangbei and Nantou Ancient City are free. You pay for the Ping An deck, the Bay Glory wheel, Window of the World, Splendid China and the botanical garden.
| Ping An Finance Centre | 45 | 1 h 15 min | ¥200 at the counter, from ¥180 online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Window of the World | 27 | 4 h | ¥220, evening ¥120 |
| Bay Glory Ferris Wheel | 24 | 1 h | ¥140–150, more on holidays |
| Splendid China Folk Village | 24 | 4 h | ¥220, evening ¥120 |
| Fairy Lake Botanical Garden | 21 | 2 h 30 min | ¥15; free early morning and evening |
Free — 5 places: Lianhuashan Park, Huaqiangbei, Dongmen Pedestrian Street, Shenzhen Talent Park, Nantou Ancient City.
Tips
- Visit Huaqiangbei on a weekday morning — by midday the malls are crowded.
- Watch sunset from Talent Park for the whole Futian and Nanshan skyline over the water.
- Window of the World is cheaper in the evening, when the replicas are lit.
FAQ
Is Shenzhen worth visiting?
Yes, for a glimpse of China’s fastest-growing city — skyscrapers, huge parks, the electronics market — and it pairs easily with Hong Kong.
Do I need a visa for Shenzhen?
It depends on your passport: many nationalities can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days, and Bao’an Airport accepts 240-hour transit. Crossing to Hong Kong and back means leaving and re-entering. Check the rules for your passport.
How do I get from Hong Kong to Shenzhen?
By MTR to Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau and walk across the border, or by high-speed train from West Kowloon to Futian in 15–20 minutes.
What to do in Shenzhen in one day?
The Ping An deck and Lianhuashan Park in the morning, Huaqiangbei and Dongmen at midday, Talent Park and Bay Glory in the evening.
What can you buy at Huaqiangbei?
Electronics, accessories, parts and gadgets — from cables to drones. Compare prices and test items on the spot.
How do I get from Shenzhen airport to the city?
By Metro Line 11 to Futian in 40–50 minutes, or a DiDi taxi in about 40.
What is the weather like in Shenzhen in December?
About 22 °C by day and 15 °C at night, dry and sunny.
Are there beaches in Shenzhen?
Yes, Dameisha and Xiaomeisha in the east, about an hour from the centre; swimming season is May to October.
What to do in Shenzhen with kids?
Window of the World, Splendid China Folk Village, the Bay Glory wheel and Fairy Lake Botanical Garden.
How far is Shenzhen from Guangzhou?
30–40 minutes by high-speed train from Futian or Shenzhen North.
Sources and fact-check
- Wikipedia, “Shenzhen”; “Ping An Finance Centre”; “Huaqiangbei”; Shenzhen climate (1991–2020 normals)
- Shenzhen Metro — official website
- Hong Kong Government — immigration control points