In this how to visit Senzhen guide, you will learn some basic information to travel to Senzhen. Senzhen is your gateway to enter China. It is one of the most developed cities in China and one of major tourist destinations in China. The city is modern with high sky scrappers and one of the largest building in the world, but it also an ecological garden city with many land reserved for ecological purpose.http://english.sz.gov.cn/gi/

If you come from certain countries, you might be granted visa on arrival if you come by ferry or boat, but you only can stay for up to 5 days.http://www.travelchinaguide.com/embassy/visa/service.htm Contact your travel agent before you make the trip to know if your country is eligible for this short term visa. If your country is not listed, you need to apply for the visa before you enter Cina, or Senzhen in particular. Apply your visa a month prior your trip, particularly if you come from USA to give the official enough time to process and you’re your visa.http://english.visitbeijing.com.cn/shzx/x/116235.htm.

Mandarin Chinese is widely spoken in this city although you can hear the mix of Chinese dialects from around China in this place. The second dialect that is widely spoken in Senzhen after Mandarin is Cantonese. Most business people and people who work in tourism industry understand English and the government is encouraging the citizen to speak English.

The official currency is Chinese Yuan. Many places don’t accept international credit cards, so you should have cash at hand which you can exchange at banks or money changers.

Senzhen is located on the western coast of China, only a ferry ride away from Hongkong and Macau. To come to Senzhen, you can ride buses if you come from mainland China, ferries if you come from Hongkong, Macau or other nearby islands, or planes.

Getting around Senzhen is quite efficient because Senzhen is one of the most advanced cities in transportation in China. However, the city is very crowded during rush hours, so you should plan your trip around the rush hours.

The best way to get around Senzhen is by Metro or its subway lines. You can see the map for Senzhen’s Metro from the internet. The subway has 2 lines and connect major areas in the city such as Windows of the World. Another good option is by bus. There are several types of bus in Senzhen. If you ride the bus without conductor, you will not accept change. The best way to utilize the public transportation in Senzhen is by using Shenzen Tong card or travel card which you can purchase and add credit at the Metro stations.

Some taxis also accept this travel cards. There are 3 types of taxis in Senzhen, the red, the yellow, and the green, each has their own route. The red taxi can operate inside and outside Special Economy Zone, the yellow taxis can only operate inside the Special Economy Zone, and the green ones can only operate outside Special Economy Zone.http://www.szcpost.com/2009/03/shenzhen-transportation-get-there-by-air-train-bus-ship.html To be on the safe side, ask the hotel receptionist to write down your hotel name to you in Mandarin character in case you get lost because not every driver understands English.

Accommodation is quite economical in Senzhen compared to Hong Kong. There are 140 star-rated hotels and 10 five-stars hotels to choose from and by the end of 2011, the city expects to have more than 30 five-stars hotel.http://english.sz.gov.cn/tis/200911/t20091120_1229415.htm Some of the rates include breakfast and some are not, but the additional fee for breakfast is very reasonable. One of the most famous hotel in Senzhen is the Crowne Plaza Hotel Senzhen, the first resort hotel which as water theme. For low cost accommodation, you can also stay at the Bed and Breakfast around the city.

Senzhen is a famous destination for spa and massage because it is cheaper than Hong Kong. Aside from massage, the spas in Senzhen also provide gym, sauna, showers, pool, and other related facilities. For around 100 Yuan, you can access all the facilities in the spa for 24 hours. http://www.szcpost.com/2009/05/shenzhen-spa-and-massagespas-in-shenzhenspa-and-massage-in-shenzhen.html Some spas boast luxurious interior and facility that is comparable to expensive hotel. This is a good way to enjoy great service similar to luxury hotel even when you don’t stay at the best hotel in Senzhen.

Dining in Senzhen is much cheaper than Hong Kong and Macau but equally delicious. The cuisine in Senzhen is similar to Hong Kong, because the place is mostly occupied by the Cantonese people, just like Hong Kong. At the Sea World, you can find restaurants and bars that serve Western food.

Window of the World is perhaps the most famous attraction in Senzhen. The theme park is built to showcase all the sights and wonders around the world. You can see miniature buildings from around the world such as a miniature Eiffel Tower. In Splendid China Folk culture village, you can see the Chinese culture and history in a theme park setting. You can see the miniature Great Wall and other historical and natural sights in China, and ethnic villages. You can also enjoy many shows and attractions within the park. Happy Valley Senzhen is an amusement park in Senzhen where you can ride a roller coaster and other rides.

Historical sites in Senzhen includes Dapeng Fortress, Hakka village, Song Dynasty Young Emperor's Tomb and Goddess Temple.http://english.sz.gov.cn/tis/200911/t20091120_1229412.htm The Dapeng Fortress is the fortress built during the Opium War and is well preserved until now.

You can find a lot of ecological sites in Senzhen you can enjoy. Fairy Lake Botanical Garden is located in the east of Senzhen. It is also the place for Hong Fa Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Senzhen. Try fishing at the Senzhen Waterland resorts where you can enjoy many outdoor activities.

There are thousands of outlets, international and local, where you can shop at Senzhen. However, for truly unique experience, visit Dafen Painting Village to order and buy oil paintings with very economical price.