ChinaMuslimKit
Kit
Shenzhen skyline
Guangdong, South

Shenzhen

China's tech megacity

Modern, organized, and English-friendly — though halal options are thinner than in Guangzhou. A great add-on for tech lovers and Hong Kong day-trippers.

Halal ease

6/10

First-timer

Easy

Prayer

5/10

Family

7/10

Airport

SZX

~32 km northwest of city center · metro line 11 (30 min) or DiDi (¥100)

Best time

October–April

Subtropical; hot humid summers (32°C+), mild dry winters (15-22°C).

Language

Mandarin (Cantonese widely spoken)

Population 17.7 million

Currency

CNY (¥)

Time zone UTC+8

Flights from Southeast Asia

Direct and 1-stop options into SZX from the main Southeast Asian gateways. Schedules change seasonally — verify on the airline's site before booking.

Singapore

from SIN

  • Scoot Nonstop

    Nonstop SIN–SZX

  • China Southern 1-stop

    1-stop via Guangzhou

Malaysia

from KUL

  • AirAsia Nonstop

    Nonstop KUL–SZX, multiple daily

  • Batik Air Malaysia Nonstop

    Nonstop KUL–SZX

Indonesia

from CGK

  • Lion Air 1-stop

    1-stop via Kuala Lumpur

  • China Southern 1-stop

    1-stop via Guangzhou

2 days in Shenzhen

Day 1

Futuristic Shenzhen

Morning

  • • Ping An Finance Center (¥150) — 599m observation deck
  • • Walk the new Central Park (Central Park of Shenzhen)
  • • Brunch at a Shenzhen cafe (many serve international fare)

Afternoon

  • • Window of the World (¥220) — replicas of world landmarks, kitschy but fun
  • • Or: Splendid China & Folk Culture Villages (¥220) — same area
  • • Late lunch at a halal Uyghur place in Futian

Evening

  • • Coastal City / Shekou for dinner — seafront dining
  • • Or: OCT-LOFT Creative Culture Park for indie dining
  • • Night views of the Hong Kong skyline from the Shekou waterfront
Day 2

Day trip to Hong Kong OR local culture

Morning

  • • Option A: Train to Hong Kong (Futian Checkpoint → West Kowloon, 15 min) — full day in HK
  • • Option B: Lok Ma Chau or Shenzhen Bay park for HK views
  • • Option B continued: Dafen Oil Painting Village — art studios and galleries

Afternoon

  • • Continue with Hong Kong (option A) or return for Chinese Folk Culture Village (option B)
  • • Late lunch near Shenzhen Bay or in Futian
  • • Coffee at a tech-themed cafe

Evening

  • • Huaqiangbei electronics market — phone parts, drones, gadgets (skip if not interested)
  • • Dinner at a halal spot near the market or in Futian
  • • Train back to your hotel — metro is empty after 21:00

Where to stay

Futian district

Central business district, near Hong Kong border, dense in cafes and restaurants. Best for first-timers.

¥400–900/night

Luohu / Lo Wu border area

Old town, near the Hong Kong border crossing, cheaper. Good for Hong Kong day trips.

¥300–600/night

Shekou (Nanshan)

Expat area, seafront, near the new Shenzhen Bay Park. Good for families.

¥500–1000/night

🚿

Insist on a smart-toilet room

The single biggest quality-of-life upgrade is booking a hotel with an electric smart toilet seat (智能马桶). The Japan-style washlets — heated seat, warm-water spray, dryer — are far more common in modern Chinese hotels than you'd think. When booking, search "smart toilet" in the property description or reviews. The international chains and modern local brands in this city almost always have them.

Full hotel guide & search strategy →

Getting there & around

From the airport

Metro line 11 to Futian (¥8, 30 min). DiDi is ¥100-130. Fast and easy.

Metro

16 lines. English signage, clean, efficient. Single ride ¥2-14.

Taxi

Metered, ¥10 flag fall. DiDi is the better option for non-Chinese speakers.

We recommend using DiDi instead of taxis. We've had mixed experiences with taxis — DiDi offers a safer, worry-free, and scam-free experience.

DiDi

Works well. Alipay/WeChat integration. Cheapest for non-Chinese speakers.

Tips

  • • Shenzhen is hyper-modern — almost everyone pays by phone
  • • Train to Hong Kong: Futian Checkpoint → West Kowloon (15 min, ¥80-100)
  • • Taxi drivers in Shenzhen are more tech-savvy — DiDi is the norm

Halal restaurants

Xinjiang Islamic Restaurant (新疆伊斯兰餐厅)

¥60–100 per person

Futian

dapanjisamsalagman

Reliable Uyghur halal, English menu, central location.

Mandalay Uyghur (玛迪拉新疆餐厅)

¥80–130 per person

Luohu

lamb kebabsdapanjinaan

Halal-certified Uyghur chain. English menu.

Hui Wei Jie Muslim Snacks (回味街)

¥30–60 per person

Futian

beef noodlesliangpiroujiamo

Quick halal street food, no-frills.

Tianshan Uyghur (天山新疆)

¥100–200 per person

Nanshan

whole roast lambrice polodapanji

Upscale Uyghur, good for groups. Whole lamb for special occasions.

Mosques & prayer spaces

Shenzhen Mosque (深圳清真寺)

Mezhilin Road, Luohu District

Daily ~09:00–17:00

Small but active mosque. Modest dress required.

Top things to do

Ping An Finance Center (平安金融中心)

Futian·2 hours

Tickets: ¥150 (observation deck on 116F)

599m skyscraper, one of the world's tallest. Book sunset slot.

Window of the World (世界之窗)

Nanshan·Half day

Tickets: ¥220

Replicas of world landmarks (Eiffel Tower, Pyramids, Taj Mahal) at 1:3 scale. Heavily touristed but fun for kids.

OCT-LOFT Creative Culture Park

Nanshan·2-3 hours

Tickets: Free

Converted industrial zone with galleries, indie cafes, design shops. A different vibe from the rest of Shenzhen.

Dafen Oil Painting Village (大芬油画村)

Longgang·2-3 hours

Tickets: Free

Hundreds of artists producing oil paintings — originals and replicas. Buy or just browse.

Hong Kong day trip (via Futian Checkpoint)

Border·Full day

Tickets: ¥80-100 metro/fast train

From Futian Checkpoint to West Kowloon in 15 minutes. Spend the day in HK and return.

Food to try

Dapanji (大盤雞)

dà pán jī

Halal — order carefully

Uyghur big plate chicken with hand-pulled noodles. The default Uyghur order.

Find: Mandalay, Xin Jiang, Tianshan — all halal-certified.

Shenzhen seafood (粤式海鲜)

yuè shì hǎi xiān

Hard to find halal

Fresh seafood, Cantonese style. Some halal options near Shekou.

Find: Halal Uyghur-run seafood restaurants, ask for 清真.

Cantonese dim sum (點心)

diǎn xīn

Hard to find halal

Steamed small dishes. Halal versions exist at Hui restaurants.

Find: Hui-run dim sum places; ask for halal set.

Cantonese beef noodles (牛肉麵)

niú ròu miàn

Widely halal

Beef noodle soup, a southern Chinese comfort food.

Find: Hui noodle shops; cash-only common.

Apps to set up before you go

  • Alipay

    Default payment in Shenzhen, where phone-based pay is universal.

  • DiDi

    The most reliable way to get around, English UI.

  • AMap (高德)

    English-Chinese mapping, metro routing.

  • Pleco

    Camera translation for menus and signs.

Common scams to avoid

Huaqiangbei 'rare phone' touts

Sellers offering 'limited edition' iPhones or 'imported' electronics at deep discounts — all fakes.

How to avoid: Buy electronics at official Apple/Huawei stores or authorized resellers.

Fake Hong Kong guides at the border

Guides at Futian Checkpoint offering 'fast-track' HK tours.

How to avoid: Use the standard checkpoint. Get a HK visa in advance.

Currency exchange touts

Touts at metro exits offering 'better than bank' rates — usually worse.

How to avoid: Use bank ATMs or official exchange counters.

Phrases in context

清真

qīng zhēn

halal

Print it on a card. In Shenzhen, fewer vendors understand, so visual aid is key.

有没有清真

yǒu méi yǒu qīng zhēn

do you have halal?

Full question for restaurants.

微信

wēi xìn

WeChat

Shops may ask if you can WeChat pay. Show your payment code.

洗手间在哪

xǐ shǒu jiān zài nǎ

where is the bathroom

Standard Mandarin.

The verdict

Shenzhen is the most modern city in China and the easiest to navigate. But for Muslim travelers, the halal options are thinner than in Guangzhou or Xi'an. Best paired with a Guangzhou stop or used as a Hong Kong gateway.

Best for

  • ✓ Tech lovers
  • ✓ Day trips to Hong Kong
  • ✓ Travelers who love modern skylines

Not for

  • ✕ Travelers seeking deep Muslim heritage (Guangzhou or Xi'an is better)
  • ✕ Those who want old-town character