Shenzhen

Forty years ago Shenzhen was a fishing town; today it's one of the world's great tech cities. As China's first Special Economic Zone it grew into the hardware and electronics hub of the planet, with a remarkably young population and a build-fast culture. It's modern, green, and exceptionally convenient — and it sits right next to Hong Kong.

Shenzhen Bao'an International (SZX) is a major hub in the west of the city, well connected domestically and across Asia. Metro Line 11 runs straight from the airport into the city. Many travelers also fly into Hong Kong International (HKG) and cross the border by train or ferry.

Shenzhen North is the main high-speed hub — Guangzhou is about 30 minutes away, and trains reach Hong Kong West Kowloon in roughly 20 minutes. Multiple land border crossings (Futian, Luohu, Shenzhen Bay) connect directly to Hong Kong's MTR and bus network.

Shenzhen's metro is one of the newest and largest systems in the world — fast, spotless, and constantly expanding. It covers nearly everywhere you'd need to go and connects the airport, border crossings, and rail stations. Pay with Alipay, WeChat, or a transit QR code.

Didi is the default for door-to-door travel and works seamlessly. Shenzhen has a large fleet of electric taxis, and shared bikes are everywhere for short hops. Traffic can be heavy at peak times, so the metro is often the fastest option.

The central business district — government offices, the convention center, major malls, and the Futian border crossing to Hong Kong. Central, well connected, and a common base for professionals.

The tech heartland in the west — home to Tencent, many startups, top universities, and the OCT cultural area. Leafy, modern, and popular with the tech crowd. Window of the World and Happy Valley are here too.

The older downtown by the Luohu border crossing — busy, commercial, and home to the famous Dongmen shopping streets. A convenient gateway for day trips into Hong Kong.

Huaqiangbei is the largest electronics market on earth — floors upon floors of components, gadgets, drones, and prototyping parts. It's a pilgrimage for makers and hardware founders, and a fascinating visit even if you're just browsing.