Banks: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Saturday
Business Offices: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Post Offices: 08:00 to 18:00, Monday to Saturday
Department Stores and Shops: 10:00 to 22:00, daily, some close later
Museums: times vary, check with each individual museum.

Shenzhen, much like the whole of China, experiences a very low violent crime rate. This is largely due to severe penalties for anyone caught breaking the law. This is good news for visitors as it ensures that most visits are trouble-free. That being said, there is still a risk of petty crime as there is in any large city frequented by tourists.

Make sure you keep all of your valuables in your hotel safe and try to avoid carrying more cash than is required for a day’s sightseeing. Never flash expensive jewellery or cash in public as this may make you an easy target.

As well as petty crime, roads accidents are also a risk. It is vital to be alert when driving or crossing roads as the streets are often packed with cars and driving is somewhat erratic.

Electricity: 220 volts; 50Hz. Two-pin plugs are the most common.

China is not susceptible to many epidemic diseases and there are few health risks associated with travelling to the country. However, visitors may experience stomach upsets caused by the change in diet and uncooked food. It is essential to ensure that all food is cooked properly and avoid drinking tap water which may be contaminated.

It is adviseable to ensure that all standard vaccinations are up to date such as tetanus, polio and hepatitis A, while vaccination against hepatitis B and rabies should be considered.

If you require any healthcare while you are in Shenzhen, you will find excellent facilities and English speaking doctors in all hospitals. You should make sure that you have comprehensive medical cover as the cost of any treatment could work out to be hugely expensive.

Emergency Services: 120
Shenzhen Red-Cross Hospital: +8655 833 6388.

The official language of China is Mandarin Chinese, but due to the number of different ethnicities, there are hundreds of other dialects spoken.

The official currency of China is the renminbi (RMB), of which the standard unit is the yuan. Notes come in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 yuan; 5, 2 and 1 jiao and 5, 2 and 1 fen. Coins come in denominations of 1 yuan; 5, 2 and 1 jiao and 5, 2 and 1 fen.

Currency can only be exchanged to and from yuan within China’s borders, so it is important to ensure that you change all money back before you leave the country. Traveller’s cheques and foreign cash can be exchanged at the Bank of China and at larger hotels as well as at exchange bureaux.

ATMs can be found throughout Shenzhen and accept all major credit and debit cards. While not all establishments accept credit cards, most hotels and large restaurants and retail outlets do.

You will be asked to fill out a customs declaration form on arrival into China. If you are arriving with over US$10,000, you must declare it. The import of live animals, fresh produce or printed matter that is considered pornographic is banned along with anything which is seen to criticise the Chinese government.
On your departure, ensure that you have no items which are over 150 years old. People over the age of 18 can bring in up to 400 cigarettes, two bottles of liquor (each not exceeding 0.75 litres), perfume for personal use only and one electrical item.

Chinese etiquette can be incredibly complex to an average outsider and it would take many moths to be able to grasp all of its intricacies. This being said, there are some basic rules which are easy to remember and should always be observed.

When meeting locals for the first time, you should greet them with a firm handshake and address them using their surname along with the appropriate title. Never openly criticise anybody, especially in public as this will cause a loss of face for all concerned. Saving face is a very important aspect of Chinese culture. Shoes should always be removed before you enter a religious building or somebody’s home.

There are strict rules for dining in China, regardless of whether you are a guest in somebody’s home or are eating out at a restaurant. You should never start eating until all guests are seated and the host has begun their meal. Always lay chopsticks down in between mouthfuls and when talking to dining partners, and never stand chopsticks up in a rice bowl as this signifies death.

Make sure you try a little bit of everything offered so as not to offend anyone and remember that it is considered impolite to take the last piece of food from the serving plate.

Passports and visas are required by everyone entering the country. Visa applications should be made at least one month prior to departure and passports must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry. Onward tickets and the proof of sufficient funds to cover your intended period of stay may be required.

You can contact the Shenzhen tourist board by visiting: Government, 8 Mid Shangbulu, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518028, China, or by calling: +86 755 224 0972.