Hong Kong to Shenzhen

[bobhsv]

Any recommendations for a tour operator re day trip from HK to Shenzhen? Is this area worth doing/seeing for the day. Tours we have come across so far visit some gardens, some of the terracotta warriors (exactly how many is not stated) and end with a 4 hr shopping at LoWu Mall.

Any feedback on this area is much appreciated, thanks. We have 5 days precruise to fill in.

Jen

[greatam]

Any recommendations for a tour operator re day trip from HK to Shenzhen? Is this area worth doing/seeing for the day. Tours we have come across so far visit some gardens, some of the terracotta warriors (exactly how many is not stated) and end with a 4 hr shopping at LoWu Mall.

Any feedback on this area is much appreciated, thanks. We have 5 days precruise to fill in.

Jen

 

1. Are you going to China on your cruise (NOT Hong Kong). You will need a Chinese visa to enter Shenzhen. Don't know what the cost is for Aussies but for a US citizen, makes for a VERY expensive shopping trip

 

2. Shenzhen is the knock off/junk market shopping capital of China. While there are some kind of cool things (Windows of the World being probably the best IMHO), it really is a town dedicated to manufacturing and shopping. It is VERY, VERY crowded in Shenzhen-more so than a lot of Chinese cities.

 

3. You can get there fastest via ferry. Then take the bus into Shenzhen proper. I don't know of any tour agencies as I have always done it on my own. I have chosen to stay in Shenzhen numerous times because hotels are Hong Kong standard but 1/2 the price. And I love the ferry ride OUT of Shenzhen DIRECT to the airport-your luggage is checked in in Shenzhen to your plane, you ride on a "sterile" bus when you arrive HKG and go directly to your gate. No messing around with security or anything else.

 

4. If you have to buy a visa just to go to Shenzhen, I would pass and go to Macau instead. The casinos make a lot of Las Vegas look like "poor second cousins". Gambling is VERY big in Asia and the super, over the top casinos in Macau reflect that.

 

5. IF you want a real experience and don't mind the crowds, you can take the train from Hong Kong. As an Aussie, you can get a visa on the spot at the Chinese mainland border crossing but it is only good for the Shenzhen Special Economic area, NOT all of China. This is how regular Chinese travel to Shenzhen for shopping and work.

 

Good luck

[bobhsv]

Thanks for your feedback. Our cruise begins in HK, but we have 5 full days before embarking. Tour I am looking at totals AU$116, includes the group visa, which btw would cost AU$60 alone. Also includes the fast train and bus, luch, entry fees etc. We are allowed to travel into China just once on this type of visa, which is why I wondered if Shenzhen would be a better day than Macau. Interesting re Macau being better than LV. Something to consider.

Again, thanks.

[greatam]

Thanks for your feedback. Our cruise begins in HK, but we have 5 full days before embarking. Tour I am looking at totals AU$116, includes the group visa, which btw would cost AU$60 alone. Also includes the fast train and bus, luch, entry fees etc. We are allowed to travel into China just once on this type of visa, which is why I wondered if Shenzhen would be a better day than Macau. Interesting re Macau being better than LV. Something to consider.

Again, thanks.

 

You can do both. You don't need a visa to go to Macau. Almost all first world countries are allowed into Macau with only a passport, just like Hong Kong. Hong Kong, Macau and the other islands are called SAR (Special Autonomous Region) while Shenzhen, on Mainland China, is called SEA (Special Economic Area). The SAR's were NOT part of China until 1999 and the original rules for visiting have stayed in place.

 

The casinos in Macau are truly spectacular but best seen at night. The dancing lights on some of the casinos make the standard lights in Las Vegas look very old school. Steve Wynn has stated he is moving his headquarters to Macau if he learns to speak Chinese and Sheldon Adelson (Venetian and Sands) built the Venetian Macau identical to the Las Vegas one except twice as big. Almost every major casino company in the world has a presence in Macau now. The revenues surpass Vegas by quite a bit. And the hotel rooms-WOW. There are two or three hotels that ONLY have VIP suites, so that tells you just how big gambling is in Macau and how many high rollers go there a lot.

 

The Nan Hai Hotel (next to the Sheikou Ferry terminal) looks out over the harbor in Shenzhen. You can see some of the casinos from the hotel and most of the port area of Hong Kong from the high floors of the hotel. The Bird's Nest restaurant on the top floor offers some really great views but it ain't cheap.

 

Whatever you decide to do, enjoy!!

[Philob]

Cheapskate tip: Walking from casino to casino in Macao is not practical, I don't even recall seeing sidewalks, and the distances are quite far in between. LV is compact compared to Macao.

 

Do what the locals do. Rather than taking a taxi to casino hop, take the free casino shuttles that go to the ferry terminal or border crossing bldg, and take the casino shuttle from there to the casino you want to go to.

 

It's 15-20 minutes each way, but you get in some local sightseeing at the same time. :)

[mking8288]

Bobhsv - There's plenty to do, see, experience and enjoy in HKG alone for 5 days, and if you've read about Macau, that's good for at least an extended day trip, if not overnight at one of the casino-connected hotels, their rooms are huge in comparision for what you get in HKG - for the same price & you get more. You do NOT need visa for short stay as visitors to HKG or Macau whereas going across the border, a 30 minutes ride on the express train ("fast train" is meaningless, really - you can get there on the slow, regular train that stops at every stations from the main Kowloon Terminal in Hunghom to Lo Wu crossing - into mainland China at Shenzhen.

 

Shenzhen is popularly known for its less expensive hotels, shopping for cheap & fake goods, for eating the popular & forbidden dishes at bargain prices (cough! cough! - if you know what you are doing) and for some sightseeing opps - and, for getting massages & spa treatments as well. If you plan on going, just be mindful of young (children) & old beggers alike in front of train & bus stations, near hotels & by shopping area along with pickpockets, beware of your surroundings & stay close to your valuable belongings (if you are on a group tour, it's usually fine - just don't venture too far away or risk getting lost)

 

In contrast, Macau is, IMO, much more visitor friendly and both English & Portugese (former colony) are spoken as well as Chinese - and you can do a walking tour on your own with a pocket map-guide and/or smartphone with maps (there are numerous free WiFi hotspots all over the small city) - just wear comfortable walking shoes. From the ferry terminal, all the casinos offer free non-stop shuttles to their gaming properties, and plenty of taxi to ride in air-conditioned comfort, and you get to sample both good/excellent Chinese as well as classic Portugese food, and you gotta try those freshly baked egg (custard) tarts along with assorted bakery items in town.

 

Ferries to Macau leave from both H.K. island and on the Kowloon side, depending on your hotel's location from early morning and you can return at your leisure if not staying overnight - it runs around the clock back to Central side on HK.

 

http://gohongkong.about.com/od/daytrips/a/macauferries.htm

 

The link to FT's Hong Kong forum is an excellent resources, with experienced traveler's insider guide & tips on how to get the most out of it - for 6 hours, 12 hours, 1 day or 3 days, etc. The city is highly urbanized with excellent public transport as you know, but there is also a lot to explore on its nearby "remote" islands with a countryside feeling, favorite home to many "foreigners" and/or "expats" living & working in HKG, and where you can enjoy the freshest seafood & shellfishes coming off the fishing fleets - prices are usually quoted in ounces in local HKD and they can be very expensive ...

 

Chances are good that for whatever shopping that you have in mind, you will find it somewhere in Hong Kong, maybe a little bit more with bargaining - or, perhaps, spend an afternoon at the island's Stanley Market (products & sized geared toward visitors) - in US dollars, China visas for 2 people will run us $280, either single entry or multiple entries - it is very expensive for a day trip, it's enough for buying lots of "cheap" goods in HKG and for nice meals at an upscale restaurant for lunch and dinner. Lantau Island, where the new HKG airport was built (on reclaimed landfills) remained largely unchanged except for a few dozens of 50 story high-rise public housing on the water's edge on it's north shore, otherwise, the old farming & fishing town presence can still be found & felt as your public bus wind its way across - if you are lucky, you might run into the few small herds of cows roaming free on the roadside - on your way to the golf course or driving range, or perhaps a deep sea fishing trip.

 

The winter months are the best to visit - climate is still cool & comfortable, low humidity and few to no rainfalls - unlike its hot & humid summer days.

 

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hong-kong-macau-436/

 

Enjoy your cruise - and if you will be going out of the new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, do post pics & share your experiences sailing from there afterward - we are looking to do one from there in 2014 but most likely 2015.

[bobhsv]

Thankyou so much. Wow, fabulous info. Seems we have to do some more 'homework' before deciding. Yes, going from the new terminal, but not until March '14. Will post pics.

[mking8288]

A few more resources for you to explore in the months ahead -

 

Kai Tak Cruise Terminal - news about its official inaugurial sailing this summer -

 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294217-i1496-k5977090-Kai_Tak_Cruise_Port_Transportation_and_Sightseeing-Hong_Kong.html

 

Promo video on Shenzhen -

 

Review about one of the popular Dim Sum places in Kowloon, a good friend of ours for 30+ years who's traveled around the world wrote one of the TA reviews here - http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294217-d1745792-Reviews-Tim_Ho_Wan-Hong_Kong.html

 

On arrival flying from Aussie to HKG, take the Airport Express train w. free hotel transfer into town & use the Octopus Card to get around town - you can get some HKD exchanged just outside the Arrival Hall - rates aren't as good but enough to get around, pay for incidents until you get into town & checked in, plenty of official places & banks to get more for the rest of the days there. (You will find FAQ 101 on Flyertalk)

 

Enjoy the cruise next Spring - March is a good month to sail out of there :D