Your first time in Shenzhen.Everything you need.
Visa, flights, payments, connection, and what to see while you're here.
What you need to know
Visa. Most passports: none needed.
China offers 30-day visa-free entry for passports from 54+ countries.
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Canada
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
You likely qualify under China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy - legal as long as you transit through Shenzhen to a third country.
e.g. home โ Shenzhen โ another country โ home
We issue business invitation letters for visa applications that require one. 3 business days turnaround.
Request LetterTwo airports. Pick the cheaper.
Shenzhen Bao'an International (SZX) - primary airport. Direct flights from most Asian hubs (Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, Bangkok, Dubai) and several international cities. 40 minutes by metro from downtown.
Shenzhen Bao'an International (SZX)
Primary airport. Direct flights from most Asian hubs (Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, Bangkok, Dubai) and several international cities. 40 minutes by metro from downtown.
40 min by taxi ยท 50 min by Metro Line 11 (direct).
Hong Kong International (HKG)
Often cheaper from Europe and North America. 30 km away. The HK โ SZ high-speed rail takes under 30 minutes, runs every 10 minutes, and crosses the border without switching trains.
1.5 hours total (rail + taxi).
China is cashlessSet up before you fly
The local currency is the Chinese Yuan (CNY / RMB). Cash is rarely used. Two apps handle almost every transaction:
The more foreigner-friendly of the two. Links to most international cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex). Set up before you arrive.
Download Alipay
Pairs with WeChat, which you'll use for messaging anyway. Also accepts international cards now.
Download WeChat PayCredit Cards
International cards work at major hotels, The St. Regis, and upscale malls. Not at most restaurants, taxis, or convenience stores. Assume cashless-app is the default.
ATMs
At the airport and major bank branches. Your home bank card usually works. Carry ~ยฅ500 in cash as backup.
Connect beforeyou land
Some Western platforms have limited access inside China. The working fix is a paid connection service - 10 minutes to set up, runs in the background. Free options are unreliable during peak hours.
Before you fly
Set up WeChat before you arrive โ it's how you'll communicate with everyone you meet here. International numbers work for registration.
Download WeChatOn arrival
International roaming works but is expensive. A local eSIM (Airalo or similar) for ~$20 covers 5 days with enough data.
Download AiraloAt the venue
The St. Regis provides Wi-Fi for all attendees. Conference Wi-Fi is configured with consistent international access on the conference SSID โ you don't need to bring your own setup for on-site sessions.
English inside the venueMinimal outside
All conference sessions and networking events run in English. Days 3 and 4 include live EN โโ CN interpretation on stage.
Service staff at most hotels speak English. Taxi drivers and smaller restaurants usually don't โ screens and translation apps carry the day.
Outside the venue, English is limited. Two fixes that actually work:
Four main districts. Each a different city.
Nanshan
Shenzhen's tech centre. Tencent HQ, Huawei's Bantian campus 30 min east, DJI's flagship store. Sky bars, co-working cafรฉs, the bay. If you leave the conference after work, go here.
Futian
The financial district. Where the St. Regis is. Central, well-connected, walkable. Dinner options every 50 metres.
Luohu
The original Shenzhen. Older, denser, more textured. Dongmen shopping street, the 1970s-built Luohu market, and the border crossing to Hong Kong.
Yantian
The coastal district. White-sand beaches at Dapeng, hiking trails, cleaner air. Where the MGM (VIP networking hotel) is. 40 min from Futian.
Four meals that are Shenzhen
Beyond the city
Dapeng Peninsula
White-sand beaches, crystal-clear water, rugged cliffs at the Cape of Good Hope. 45 min from Futian.
Wutong Mountain
The tallest mountain in Shenzhen. Two-hour hike, panoramic bay views at the summit.
Nantou Ancient City
1,700-year-old Ming gates, traditional alleys. 20 min from Futian.
Hong Kong
Cross the border on the high-speed rail in under 30 minutes. Different currency, different SIM, same day trip.
Mid-September in Shenzhen
Late summer. 28-33ยฐC daytime. 24-28ยฐC evening. 70-85% humidity. Typhoon season is tapering off, with occasional short rain. Rarely a full day washout.
Pack
- Light layers; A/C indoors is strong
- Compact umbrella
- Comfortable walking shoes (you'll average 15k steps/day)
- Power adapter (Type A/C/I, 220V)
Skip
- Heavy jackets
- Dress shoes beyond one pair (tech casual works everywhere, even at VIP night)
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