Shenzhen News Blog | Expat Info and Commentary

Futian Checkpoint is Cool – Shenzhen / Hong Kong Border Crossing Made Easy

Posted by TheSZWeb Shenzhen Blog Info on Tuesday November 27 @ 1:29 am

What is the easiest way to get from Shenzhen to Hong Kong, and vice versa? The answer as of now is undisputably: Futian Checkpoint.

You can get to Futian Checkpoint by taking the Shenzhen Metro to Huanggang Metro Stop at the bottom of Line 4. It’s easy to cross the China / HK border inside the checkpoint building, and once on the other side you are in Lok Ma Chau KCR station.

Lok Ma Chau is the rail connection to the rest of Hong Kong. Journey time between the SZ side of the border crossing and downtown Hong Kong is about 1 hour.

That is a lot faster and less stressful than crossing at Luohu, and miles easier for tourists than negotiating the extremely hectic Huanggang coach station.

futian-checkpoint-footbridge-inside.jpg
You cross the Shenzhen river on a moving walkway; the China side conveyors are usually broken or switched off, of course.

downtown-sz-from-futian-checkpoint.jpg
You can get good views of downtown Shenzhen from the other side of the river after crossing the checkpoint.

futian-free-trade-zone.jpg
From the checkpoint bridge you can see the Futian Free Trade Zone and the 4 Points Sheraton Hotel.

futian-checkpoint-is-shiny.jpg
The Hong Kong / Lok Ma Chau side of the checkpoint is being marketed as an instant cross border shopping center. At the moment it is shiny and empty with only a few shops open.

Futian Checkpoint is quiet, clean, and easy to get through. Totally the opposite of Luohu and Huanggang basically.

futian-checkpoint-footbridge.jpg

The Futian Checkpoint footbridge seen from the Hong Kong side.


over-the-border-futian-checkpoint.jpg

The Hong Kong side of the Shenzhen River is just ponds and farms. An abrupt and amazing contrast to the sprawling urban development of Shenzhen.

just-over-the-border-at-futian-checkpoint.jpg

This is where Hong Kong produces all those mosquitoes that bite us in Shenzhen.

futain-checkpoint-not-busy.jpg

futian-checkpoint-capacity.jpg

The Futian Checkpoint seems to have been designed for a greater flow of travelers than Luohu. There are at least 50 gates, mainly for Hong Kong residents to pass through the passport control. This is particularly dumb design because most regular HK border crossers use the hand scanners and thus move quickly through. The slow ones are the “foreigners”, who need manual examination of passports and stern gazes from the police. At Futian Checkpoint, as with Luohu, there are only a handful of gates given over for foreigners, but currently it’s all good because no one seems to have found out about the checkpoint yet, and it’s so empty even at weekends you can just stroll through without queueing.

Conclusion: if travelling between HK and SZ, and you are not close to the Shekou Ferry Port, this is the no.1 best way to do it. Don’t try to get to the checkpoint by car, however, because it is crappily designed to have zero taxi access, and the whole area around is mobbed by illegal taxis, fake goods sellers, hotel room naggers (you will know them when you feel them pulling your clothes), and the local Huanggang fishnet stocking brigade. At least the HK backpackers have something they need the moment they’re across the border.

Car Parking In Downtown Shenzhen

Posted by TheSZWeb Shenzhen Blog Info on Sunday June 3 @ 3:49 pm

Car Parking in the center of Shenzhen is getting ridiculously expensive… more expensive per square foot than office space:

  • Annual parking place at Diwang: 10,860 RMB (up 40% from 2005)

  • Average office space in Diwang = 120-130RMB/ sq m, about 20 RMB less than the monthly rent for a sq m of parking space

  • CITIC plaza – 650 RMB / month, up 62%

  • MIXc and China Resources Building = 12,000 RMB / yr

Part of the reason for the high fees is the “commercial land use fees” payable to the SZ Govt per sq m – about 3000 RMB per year per spot, which is exacerbated by not having all the parking spaces rented out. The reason for these new fees (starting Sep 06) was a deliberate drive to top people driving into the city center. Hm, dream on.

from the SZ Daily in May 07:
Fears raised over parking lot speculation

 WHILE many local car owners say they will buy a parking space if they can afford it, would-be-owners worry there will be no more spaces left if authorities legalize parking lot sales.

The city’s land resources and housing management bureau announced Tuesday that parking spaces in housing estates might be allowed to be sold, rent and mortgaged after being registered with the authorities and awarded a property ownership certificate.

As most housing estates do not build enough parking spaces to go with each apartment, many worry developers will speculate and sell them at sky-high prices.

Parking spaces can be sold to those living elsewhere and areas also need to be reserved for temporary parking, according to a draft regulation under consideration.

International common practice is to build parking lots in proportion to the number of vehicles. While a reasonable proportion is a parking space for every 1.2 cars, the proportion in Shenzhen is 1:3.3.

A Futian resident who only gave his surname as Wang keeps an office in Diwang Mansion. He had been looking forward to the new regulation for a long time. “The monthly parking fee in the car park underground Diwang rose from 780 yuan (US$101.29) to 1,050 yuan since the new charging criteria came into effect last September. For 10 years of the parking fee, you can buy a space, which may appreciate with time,” he said.

Another resident said he would buy more than one parking space in the housing estate where he lives if possible. “It’s new stuff. While housing prices and the stocks have risen quite a lot, parking lots could be a good thing to invest in. Whether it’s rent or bought, the returns will be good,” he said.

More than 1 million vehicles have so far been registered in Shenzhen, and the number will soon reach 2 million, given the fact that some 200 new cars are being sold daily.

Tags: , , ,

Xibei Youmian Village brings Northwest to SZ

Posted by TheSZWeb Shenzhen Blog Info on Sunday June 3 @ 3:25 pm

STEPPING into Xibei Youmian Village, you can be forgiven for thinking you have just wandered into a village courtyard. With corn, red peppers and yellow pumpkins piled high between tables, the restaurant reminds diners of harvest time in a northwestern Chinese village.

As its name suggests, Xibei Youmian Village offers dishes based on youmian, a flour made from oats. Credited with improving both nutrition and beauty (oats are rich in vitamin E which is good for the skin), the northwest food is now available in dozens of Shenzhen restaurants serving northwestern-style dishes, and Xibei Youmian Village is one of the most popular.

With its headquarters in Beijing, Xibei Youmian Village came to Shenzhen in 2004 and opened its second restaurant at Xiangmihu (Honey Lake Resort) in Futian District two months ago.

Xibei Youmian Village serves a variety of youmian dishes, many served with different dipping sauces such as stir-fried tomato and spicy jam. The restaurant also serves an array of traditional northwestern dishes including barbecued mutton, mixed vegetables and mixed vermicelli served with different sauces.

The noodles and mutton dishes including youmian yuyu, a soup made of small-fish-shaped youmian and mutton, are recommended. The vegetable salad includes shacong (沙葱), a kind of wild shallot that grows in northwest sand.

Qi Liqiang, general manager of the Xiangmihu restaurant, says “simplicity” is the main principle of the food in Xibei Youmian Village. The chefs usually boil or stew the ingredients to keep their natural flavor, like they did back in their Northwest China hometowns.

On their first encounter, people used to the delicate food of South China may find the northwest dishes coarse. It takes some time to get used to a new style.

While the restaurant serves typical northwest food in its spacious main room, its VIP rooms offer some off-menu courses cooked by their private chefs in private kitchens.

Xibei Youmian Village offers both northwest food and the culture of northwest life. On one side of the entrance, an elderly woman demonstrates the traditional craft of kneading dough into animal shapes. On the other side of the entrance, chefs are busy making the dough as big pots of mutton, fish and all kinds of spices boil away.

Every evening from 6:40 to 7:10 p.m., Northwest Chinese singers perform on a stage resembling the cover of a well. Singers will also sing requests, which cost 25 yuan (US$3.16) for each song.

Xiangmihu store

Add: Inside Xiangmihu Resort (香蜜湖渡假村内)

Tel: 8345-9999

Hours: 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

5:30-9 p.m.

Average price: about 50 yuan per person

Chinese language website of the restaurant chain

Metro: Xiang Mi Hu Station (Honey Lake Station 香蜜湖站), Exit B

Bagualing store:

Add: 1/F, No. 7 Building, Bagua Yilu Road, Futian District (八卦一路七栋首层1号)

Tel: 8243-9282, 8243-8875

Buses: 212, 302, 333, 320, 322, 357, 360, 361, 365, 375, 379

Tags: , , ,

Vice in Shenzhen

Posted by TheSZWeb Shenzhen Blog Info on Tuesday January 2 @ 1:31 am

“So, are there prostitutes in Shenzhen?”
This newcomer’s question is bound to provoke laughter from long term residents. Sex is a major Shenzhen growth industry alongside building skyscrapers and making fake ipods.

You can learn a lot about the Shenzhen sex industry from reading between the lines of news reports.

For example, in the news organs, Futian District is the best at spewing out anti-vice statements of action:
- in November 2006 apparently over 3000 police were involved in anti- porno / brothel activities.
- 679 prostitutes were detained this year. (Most of them probably released with a slap on the arse.) Yes, that is pretty lame for 3000 police vs a city of hookers.
- in October the focus was to “crack down on prostitution in hair salons, foot massage parlors, and rented houses”. Tip if you are not sure whether the hair salon is real: look for scissors. If the only thing you can see are large moisuriser dispensers, you have been warned.
- the hundreds of “illegal entertainment places” reported as shut down probably means non-approved karaokes, if you needed another idea of where to get some SZxy action.

The details of the anti-prostitution raids confirm the following venues as top “evening action” hotspots:
- Shazui (of course)
- Shangsha
- Xiasha
- Shatou

Watch out for our next anti vice blog post, giving you the bus route numbers to the above locations, so you, er, know to avoid them.

Next Page »





Copyright © 2006 ShenzhenWeb, All Rights Reserved ~ ~
Powered by WordPress
Shenzhen Blog | Shenzhen, China Commentary | China Business Articles

buy viagra next day delivery
download bingo
cheapest viagra in uk cheap
viagra by the pill
buy clomid
buy lasix
buy viagra australian
buy viagra online discount
buy online uk viagra
buy cheap viagra online now
buy pharmaceutical viagra
buy line viagra
cheap prescription viagra
buy cialis canada
buy viagra woman
buy online order viagra
cheap viagra discount
cheapest viagra on the net
buy cialis now
cheap viagra cialis india
buy online drug viagra pharmacy
cheapest viagra overnight
buy viagra online canadapurchase cialis
cipro 20
buy viagra without a prescription
buy cialis online viagra
viagra buy it online now
purchase cialis online
discount viagra
buy viagra online cheapest
buy viagra contact us page
fast ways to lose weight
buy cheap deal viagra viagra viagra
buy viagra cialis levitra
buy from pharmacy us viagra
order viagra now money
buy viagra and overseas
viagra canada generic
viagra by mail order
buy viagra
buy viagra cheaply
cheapest generic viagra and canada
buy real viagra online
buy viagra in uk
order viagra air travel
buy levitra viagra
online bingo
buy levitra online
order viagra viagra
cheap india viagra
cheep viagra
buy free online sale viagra viagra
cheap viagra generic
cheapest online viagra
dice games
cheap soft tab viagra
jbbs livedoor jp sports 12449
buy deal herbal viagra viagra
buy lipitor
cheapest cialis
buy cozaar
buy discount viagra online
cheap discount viagra viagra
buy generic viagra viagra
cheap viagra cialis
buy deal deal price viagra
cialis 10
buy viagra overnight
viagra canada online
buy pharmacy pill viagra
buy evista
buy diovan
cheapest price for generic viagra
online slots
cheap viagra ambien generic cananda
buy nexium
buy norvasc
order viagra here
viagra buy do nu
buy neurontin
cheapest site viagra
cheap man viagra
cheapest generic silagra viagra
buy buy sale viagra viagra
buy viagra now online
buy cheap uk viagra
cheap viagra nz
cheap online purchase viagra
buy keyword online viagra
order viagra online in wisconsin
buy viagra no prescription
viagra buy in uk online
viagra and cialis cheap
viagra buy uk
buy internet viagra
viagra brazil
free printable baby shower games
cheap order site viagra
viagra canada online pharmacy
motorbike games
order cheap viagra fas
buy glucophage
cheapest generic viagra and cialis pills
discount viagra sale
buy viagra on line
dating buzz sa
buy pill viagra
order viagra without a prescription
buy viagra online online pharmacy
buy later now pay viagra
buy locally viagra
oberon games
tamiflu
cheap online sales viagra
order mexican viagra
cheap generic india viagra
cheap generic viagra overnight delivery
buy cheapest viagra
buy viagra in malaysia
cheapest prices on generic viagra
order viagra online a href
viagra buying online
cheapest viagra on the internet
cheap prescription viagra without
order viagra visit your doctor online
buy deal viagra
cheap levitra online
buy viagra online order
cheap generic viagra worcester imc
buy diet viagra online
buy cheap generic viagra
cheap molde ticket viagra
order viagra usa
buy viagra online cheap
buy levitra canada
cheapest viagra in uk
eastenders games
cheapest viagra online plus zenegra
buy fosamax
cheap meltabs viagra
buy imitrex
buy cheap viagra cheap viagra online
order cialis
slumber party games
cheap viagra st
buy viagra online at cheap price
buy viagra cheapest
viagra brands
cialis 24
cheap pill viagra
buy now levitra
cheap online viagra
buy kamagra
cheep generic viagra
cheap viagra in uk
buy pfizer viagra
buy viagra online a href
buy free viagra viagra
cheap levitra
buy viagra pharmacy online
buy viagra ebay
discount viagra viagra
cheap websites for viagra
discount viagra prescription drug
buy generic no online prescription viagra
cheapest prescription viagra
buy claritin
sports athority
viagra buy it
buy viagra by pill
cheap viagra discount viagra buy viagra
buy overseas viagra
buy depakote
purchase levitra online
buy cheap online viagra viagra
buy softtabs viagra
sandlot games
buy viagra over the counter us
womens retreat icebreaker games
buy viagra where
order prescription viagra without
buy viagra pill online
discount viagra perscription drug
buy cheap discount cialis
buy sale viagra
buy cheapest online place viagra
cheap viagra credit
aarp games
buy viagra soft tabs
order viagra uk
buy cheap viagra online u
buy cymbalta
cialis no prescription
cheap levitra online
cheapest viagra price
funny tagalog qoutes
buy viagra on the internet
cialis 2005
cheap cialis viagra
buy keyword viagra
buy levitra
cheapest regalis viagra
cheapest generic viagra and cialis
cheap viagra buy pharmacy online now
buy cheap p viagra
buy deal online online viagra viagra
buy viagra onli
cialis 10mg
buy viagra cheap online
cheap discount levitra
buy viagra order viagra
cheap viagra bi
cheapest viagra online pharmacy
buy cheap viagra online
cheap no prescription viagra
order cialis and viagra
discount viagra europe
national bingo night
buy viagra online in australia
buy viagra on-line
cheapest 4 quantity of viagra
buy online levitra cialis viagra
buy in spain viagra
buy cheap viagra on the net
buy in uk viagra
order viagra with mastercard
buy viagra and cilas usa
order viagra or levitra
baccarat strategy
buy online us viagra
buy viagra online uk
viagra canada pharmacy
order viagra online
cheap free price viagra
strip blackjack
buy viagra in canada
cheaper viagra levitra cialis
buy lexapro
buy now cialis
viagra buy viagra online
buy cheap viagra online now uk
buy viagra securely online
cheap generic viagra no script
buy viagra online and get prescription
order 50mg viagra
buy viagra online in uk
purchase levitra
buy viagra online without prescription
cheap generic viagra substitutes
cheap uk viagra
cheap deal deal pill viagra
how to play poker
buy viagra online au
buy nexium
nabisco games
order order viagra
buy say viagra
buy viagra online in
buy viagra online no prescription
cheap price viagra
buy viagra in the uk
order viagra 1
cheap viagra
buy cheap site viagra
order viagra
buy generic viagra
buy sildenafil viagra
buy levitra now
order viagra softtabs
cheapest place to buy viagra online
buy canada viagra
order viagra buying viagr
buy kamagra viagra
order viagra online consumer rx
buy viagra or cilas
buy viagra at the best price
buy generic viagra pharmacy online
buy cheap viagra in uk
cheapest generic price viagra
order viagra buying viagra uk
buy discount propecia
buy in online uk viagra
buy prescription viagra without
buy viagra without prescription pharmacy online
buy canada in viagra
buy viagra ups
buy cialis online
buy cheap online viagra
buy viagra locally
buy cheap purchase uk viagra
cheap cialis online
buy viagra in toronto
buy isoptin
cheap online order viagra
buy viagra softtabs
cheapest generic viagra
cheap free viagra
buy cheap discount levitra
buy cheapest online viagra
buy viagra online off pharmacy prices
buy generic viagra buy
buy real viagra online pharmacy
buy viagra free on internet
viagra buy now pay later
free online hidden object games
buy viagra internet
cheap viagra online pharmacy online
buy discount viagra viagra viagra
buy kamagra viagra india
viagra by phone
buy online viagra where
buy viagra in great britain
cheap online viagra viagra
order site viagra
cheap viagra online uk
buy viagra cialis
zombie assault free games
azdg dating site
buy cheap viagra
buy viagra cheapest best prices online
tamiflu
discount viagra sales
buy viagra online in the uk
cheapest uk viagra
buy viagra online now buy viagra
order prescription viagra
buy coumadin
viagra buy generic
cheapest viagra world
discount viagra mastercard
buy online prescription viagra without
buy cheap cialis generic levitra viagra
discount viagra sales online
buy viagra in amsterdam
buy viagra for women
discount viagra overseas
buy viagra here in the uk
buy online prescription viagra
buy viagra us pharmacy low prices
order viagra overnight shipping
buy price viagra
cheap drug viagra
sports bloopers
bellsouth web mail
cheap cialis
buy real viagra pharmacy online
cheapest uk supplier viagra
cheap discount levitra online
buy crestor
viagra and cialis and
buy and purchase viagra online
cheap herbal viagra viagra
buy viagra alternative
turning stone casino
buy viagra uk
cheapest viagra tablets
cheap cialis online
buy online viagra viagra
academy sports and outdoors
little creek casino
cheapest generic substitute viagra
light sport aircraft
order levitra
cheap viagra in the uk
buy viagra all information
buy celebrex
viagra buy australia
order viagra cialis levitra pharmacy
buy levitra online viagra
free slot games
cheaper viagra
viagra buy
buy viagra online alternative viagra
cheap viagra no prescription
buy viagra cheap india pharmacy
buy generic viagra online pharmacy online
buy cheap sale viagra
cheapest price viagra
cheap genaric viagra kamagra
discount viagra offers
buy viagra vaniqa prescription
buy lady uk viagra
buy in online usa viagra
cheap phizer viagra
buy buy cheap viagra
buy uk viagra
buy viagra online at lowest price
cheap generic viagra from usa
fox sports betting
buy cialis viagra
buy low price viagra
viagra buy ionline
buy cheap viagra prescription online
buy viagra viagra online
cheap cheap viagra
buy prescription viagra
cheapest brand viagra
cheapest place buy viagra online
cheapest viagra
viagra brand
buy cheap viagra uk
viagra and coupon
discount viagra cialis
pontoon boat
cheap deal pill pill viagra
discount viagra sale online
order discount viagra
buy no online prescription viagra
digimon adventure online games
cheap online pill viagra
discount viagra drug
order cheap viagra
buy viagra bradenton
cheap soft viagra
buy viagra in england
cheapest line viagra
buy viagra viagra
buy cheap online uk viagra