Hey, I was just back from Shenzhen last 4 days, it was a breakaway travel with my cousins. This is my first time went to Shenzhen, China. I remembered i bought Shenzhen package through Airasia somewhere in the beginning of year 2008. The package included return air ticket and 4 nights accomodation in Guang Xin hotel in Shenzhen. It cost me about RM800 per person. It was a free and easy package!

We departed on the 29th of November from Malaysia, and took us around 3 1/2 hours to arrive at the Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport. The season in Shenzhen now is Winter, temperature ranging from 14 - 19 degree celcius. It is still ok for us as a malaysian, a cooling feel and good for walking around without sweat! After checked out from the Shenzhen Airport, we took an airport taxi to our hotel, Guang Xin Hotel in Ren Min South Road. The journey from Shenzhen Airport to our hotel was about 45 minutes. It costs me about RMB120 for the ride.

Guang Xin hotel is a 2-star hotel located in the city of Shenzhen. It is quite an old hotel but cleanliness is still consider good. The hotel located in the city of the Shenzhen, i can give it’s location a 5-star rating! As right opposite the Guang Xin hotel is a big shopping mall, and a subway station is just underneath the shopping mall. The subway train can take you to almost all famous tourists attractions of Shenzhen at a very competitive price. From the first station (Luo Hu) to the last station (Window of the World) only cost you RMB 5 - 6 per person.

If you are someone who loves shopping and bargaining for the best price, you must visit DongMen Night Market. DongMen Shopping District is a famous shopping heaven for everyone, it is happening and lively especially at night. DongMen Shopping District’s concept is something like our Petaling Street and Kota Raya, but it is far more bigger and more varieties if compared to ours! The prices offered for the stuff are also far more competitive than in Malaysia. Just imagine, i bought 2 handbags for about RMB60, meaning it is only cost me about RM15 for a handbag, which can be bought in Malaysia at about RM30 - 40 for the similar handbag! In other words, you can only buy 1 handbag in Malaysia, but you can buy 2 in Shenzhen! Isn’t it worthwhile!

DongMen Shopping District is only 10 - 15 minutes walk from our Guang Xin hotel, but if you are lazy to walk, you can take a subway train from Guomao to Laojie, just from a station to another only. It only costs you RMB2 for the ticket!

DongMen Shopping District has a lot of Two Dollar Shops, meaning that the shops are selling their products from RMB2, ranging from beauty accessories, toys, handphone accessories, men and women clothing, etc.. these shops usually crowded with people who buy it as a souvenir for their friends. A kind reminder for all of you, China practise using own recycle bag for carrying stuff purchase, so do bring along your own recycle bag when go for shopping! If not, you have to buy their recycle bag at the cost of RMB2 - 5 per bag!

DongMen Shopping District is a place for people who love to bargain, always ask immediately for 50% - 70% off from its original price offered. But once the shopkeeper accept with your counter offer, you must purchase it. Don’t simply ask for discount if you are not sure of purchase the item.

Shenzhen people speak Mandarin and most of them can speak Cantonese well. Do not speak English with them, as they are not good at it and they are only proud of their own mother tongue. Generally speaking, Shenzhen people are not so friendly to visitors like us, especially when you are asking for explanation or guidance, they may not be passionate in helping you.

On the second day, we planned a day trip to Guangzhou. From our hotel at Ren Min Nan Road, we walked to the Luohu Train station, which is about 10 - 15 minutes walk from our hotel. We bought a train ticket to Guangzhou East at about RMB75 (single trip for Economy seat) per person. The journey from Shenzhen to Guangzhou East by train took about 1 hour to reach. It is very convenient by taking a train, you can also go to other places like Hong Kong, Hung Hom, DongGuan, Foshan, Penyu…etc. Each place has its own tourist attractions. The interval time for each train is about 1 hour.

Guangzhou is also one of the famous “Shoppers’ Paradise” The people in Guangzhou mostly speak Cantonese and they are more friendly as compared to Shenzhen people. Once reached Guangzhou East Railway Station, we took a metro train from the same Guangzhou East Railway station to Changshou Lu Metro Station in Line 1 (Guangzhou Metro Line have 4 lines to different places) to Shangxia Jiu Lu Pedestrian Street, a place where you must not afford to miss who first come to Guangzhou!

Shangxia Jiu Lu Pedestrian Street is the first commercial pedestrian street in Guangzhou. On this street lie more than 200 stores, especially those brand name restaurants and teahouses open here. From 13:00 to 21:00 on weekends and holidays and on every night, Shangxia Jiu Lu is restricted to pedestrians only. Here, you can find nice men and women clothing priced from RMB35 per piece, shoes, jewellery, varieties of chinese tea, children wear, home furnishing, famous chinese food, etc..at an unbelievable low prices!!!

Even if you don’t buy anything, just walking along this street you will feel the cultural atmosphere in the street.

We have spent about 6 hours on the Shangxia Jiu Lu Pedestrian Street, experiencing their cultural and food in Guangzhou, testing their tea at one of the leading tea seller (Tien Fu) in China. We finally bought 15 pieces of women clothing at average RMB35 per piece, toys and chinese tea! Shenzhen and Guangzhou start getting dark at 6pm, so we have to rush back to Shenzhen after a whole day trip in Guangzhou!