Holiday @ Shenzhen, China

On the 20th of March, I went Shenzhen, China to spend my holiday. There were about 40 of us...a large group for sure and also the largest group I ever with. Well, there is no direct flight to Shenzhen. We went there via Hong Kong International Airport and then travelled on a double decker (bus A43) which costs HK$28 to Sheung Shui, Hong Kong, to get on to a train (costs HK$10??). Sheung Shui is just near Shenzhen-HK border. We stayed at the Railway Station Hotel which is just near the border, Luo Hu.

Shenzhen is a modern city. Not many people can understand english. They only know a few words. The tallest building in Shenzhen is Shun Hing Square (69 floors). We went to the 69th floor and paid RMB60 for the ticket.

We went to places like SEG Plaza, Luo Hu Commerce City and Dongmen Street for shopping. These places are in SEZ (Special Economic Zone).

When you are at Luo Hu Commerce City, never buy the electrical components (e.g. pen drive, memore cards and ipod) they sell or you'll regret. But its a good place to buy bracelets, bags and watches or even make curtains. But you won't have a peace of mind coz they keep bothering you to come to their shops and if you're unlucky, they will pull you into their shops. Once you ask for the price, they will try to make you buy the items. So be careful. One more place we went to is the "Windows of The World". This place has replicas like the Pyramids, Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, Niagara Falls and some famous naked statues. We couldn't finish it in 2 and a half hours coz we had limited time but it was a good experience. One more thing, never forget to bring your camera. RMB120 to enter the place. To go to "Windows of The World" from Luo Hu, you can ride a taxi (more than RMB30??), a bus (bus 101, RMB2) or MTR (RMB5).

Anyway, for muslims, there are indian restaurants available which serve halal food and can deliver right to your hotel room without any extra charge (but you can give them tips). From what i read, there are two mosques in Shenzhen. Overall, Shenzhen is a good place for shopping and sightseeing. Just be careful of pickpockets especially in places like buses and trains.