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Business in China

Online Map Services

Google has a great service in English from any English Google site. Map Bar http://www.mapbar.com or the Android app great local site in Chinese with bus and subway details. At the moment only Baidu online maps in Chinese at the moment show the new Shenzhen subway service and stations including exits see link.

Baidu Online Travel Map of Shenzhen

Passport and Visa

A valid passport and visa is required for China. Multi entry business visas are the best choice giving you 30 days for each trip, and unlimited visits to China. A tourist visa normally for two visits is possible for trade shows, or company visits. We recommend that you check your requirements at your countries Chinese Consulate well before your visit to Shenzhen. Sites advising that you can buy visa at Shenzhen border on arrival are wrong. You cannot buy a visa at the border.

Safety in Shenzhen

Shenzhen is much safer for the business traveler compared with most European and Australian cities, in my option despite what you hear. My only exception to this rule is the Taxi’s not from anything sinister but the need for the driver to drive from A to B at the greatest speed while going the longest way for an extra $2. Adding to this concern is the lack of seatbelts in taxis this is why I recommend the subway and buses.

How to travel to Shenzhen, via Hong Kong International Airport.

Shenzhen is around than one hour from Hong Kong Airport served by most of the worlds major airlines. There is an express train from Hong Kong airport to Hong Kong Central train station the distance is 35 Kms and the journey between the Airport and the city takes around 24 minutes. You can then transfer to the trains for Lo Wu or Lok Mu Cha. The trains to Lo Wu run only from 6.30 to 21.58 so be sure to check the timetable on the link. On Arrival you walk over a bridge to China fill in the form pass immigration and you exit to LoWu train station and Metro. China is famous for touts and the next 5 minutes dodging them are probably the worse china has to offer. Just walk straight pass they will not understand a word you say anyway and never real trouble just a nuisance. The subway is straight on down an escalator. There is a money exchange desk on the customs exit and downstairs in the Metro to grab some cash $200 is ok. Everything is cash and cheap outside major hotels. See our travel by Metro section for more information. Shenzhen city Taxis are red and use meters you will need your hotel name and address written in Chinese as almost all drivers do not read or speak English.

Traveling by ferry to Shenzhen from Hong Kong Airport

If you are heading to Shekou there is a ferry that leaves directly from Hong Kong Airport, journey time is 60 minutes. This service saves having to go though Hong Kong immigration and Customs. Note however that Customs and Immigration in Hong Kong are normally pleasant and very efficient, and I have never found, Hong Kong a problem. Also if you have checked baggage you should check in an hour before the ferry so I would recommend this only for travel to Shekou area. Improving this travel option the metro has also been extended to Shekou.

Sky Limo Car Service

I personally use the Sky Limos service to Shenzhen Huanggang (customs and imigration) which is in the south of Shenzhen 07.00 to 24.00. Pass Hong Kong immigration then collect your bags and exit customs. Turn left and pass the fast food restaurants you will see the Sky limo desk. You buy your tickets and they will guide you down the lift to the waiting cars normally a MPV as soon as they have 7 people the car leaves, which is about 15 minutes after you leave customs 30 minutes later you exit Hong Kong staying in the car and are delivered to the Chinese immigration hall. Fill in the entry form available on the desk and join the queue for foreigners. Sky limo and others also offer a hotel service but the times are limited, Chinese customs service is not too slow in Huanggang as you exit the hall you have to cross a bridge and turn left downstairs to the taxis around 200m total distance, or right toward the buses. Avoid unlicensed taxis and touts, Taxis in Shenzhen are red and use meters you will need your hotel name and address in Chinese they do not speak English. You will also have to pay in RMB (CNY) I don’t remember seeing any exchange at Huanggang so bring some cash with you.

Huanggang is also convenient and a short distance from the Shenzhen Exhibition Centre But unfortunately not connected to the Metro.

Hong Kong Airport Guide

Hong Kong Metro Guide

Shenzhen Metro Subway Travel Guide

Shenzhen would have to have one of the newest and cleanest Subway/ Metro systems in the world and to cover more of the city another 172km opened in June 2011. With new lines to Shekou Shenzhen Airport, Longhua and Longgang in the North. Line 4 the Longhua line has however experienced some overcrowding at peak travel times however more trains are being added to fix the problem. Tickets are fully automatic so you have to buy a token at the desk or from the vending machines. To save time I would recommend you buy a metro card called a Shenzhen tong from the subway service desk which you can then charge, for 150 rmb you should be able to travel all week on the Metro and also on the buses. I travel by subway whenever I can as it's the fastest and safest way to get round the CBD of Shenzhen. Only Baidu online maps in Chinese at the moment show the new Shenzhen subway service and stations including exits see link.

Baidu Online Travel Map of Shenzhen

Taxis

Taxis are red in the inner Shenzhen economic zone area, and Green outside the inner zone. Green taxis cannot come into the inner Shenzhen zone. If you like being scared Shenzhen Taxis is the cheapest way, although I have only crashed in a Guangzhou taxi. Flag fall is 10 rmb and fares vary on traffic jams and the route taken. The good news is they are still cheap compared to your home city, Most drivers do not read or speak English or know any 5 star hotels by their English names, so you must have the Chinese name and address written in Chinese. Your hotel can help you with this and again they only take cash.

Hotels

This is China service levels in hotels are very high. We recommend that you try to choose a Chinese owned and managed Hotel. Look at Ctrip.com for the best deals in China and Hong Kong.

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