Shenzhen is located in Guangdong Province, in the Pearl River Delta bordering Hong Kong. I can get back and forth from the Hong Kong International Airport by shuttle, subway (Metro), or ferry. However, when I fly down from Shanghai, it's easiest to fly into the Shenzhen Airport and take the Metro into town. Just as in Shanghai, the 1-1/2 hour Metro ride from the airport to my hotel costs 7 RMB ($1.10).
Shenzhen has a tropical climate and is often hot and humid, around 90ºF (32ºC) with 90% humidity. There's a reason that bougainvillea, hibiscus, and colocasia (elephant ear) grow so well here.
And, the sidewalks have natural shade.
Colocasia growing along the sidewalk
And, the sidewalks have natural shade.
Tree-shaded sidewalks and bike paths
The view from the top of the hill in Lianhuashan Park is incredible, looking over at the City Hall and the new Ping An Financial Center, the second highest building in China (after the Shanghai Tower).
View of City Hall and the Ping An Financial Center
As a relatively new metropolitan area, Shenzhen is very modern. Sometimes I think that I could be in any modern city in the world and it would look like this. However, Shenzhen also, as a new city, is taking the opportunity to set aside land as green space and has over 800 parks scattered throughout the city.
Shenzhen also has a number of interesting theme parks: Minsk World, an amusement park in a former Soviet Union Aircraft Carrier; OCT (Overseas Chinese Town) East, three theme parks with small towns based on various western and Asian themes; Splendid China Folk Village, with miniature versions of China's cultural treasures (Great Wall, Forbidden City, Imperial Palace); and Window of the World, 130 reproductions of some of the most famous tourist attractions in the world (Eiffel Tower, Acropolis, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Matterhorn, Buckingham Palace, ...).
All of these parks, except for Minsk World (which prefers to stay in the water) are located along Shennan Boulevard, near the Window of the World and Qiaochang Metro Stations.
Later, I walk through one of the many parks as the rain returns. Smart people are hiding under trees and in the park buildings as I walk and take pictures in the rain.
When it rains in Shenzhen, it pours. I get soaked and switch from my small folding umbrella to the large one the hotel provides, giving me a little more coverage and a little less drenching
All of these parks, except for Minsk World (which prefers to stay in the water) are located along Shennan Boulevard, near the Window of the World and Qiaochang Metro Stations.
Theme parks along Shennan Boulevard
Later, I walk through one of the many parks as the rain returns. Smart people are hiding under trees and in the park buildings as I walk and take pictures in the rain.
Park in the rain
View of downtown from the park in the rain
When it rains in Shenzhen, it pours. I get soaked and switch from my small folding umbrella to the large one the hotel provides, giving me a little more coverage and a little less drenching
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