Dear Peter,
Although I am just across the border and only one hour from Hong Kong, I am still in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) with all that entails—like a visa.
But I got a one-year visa for just a little bit more $$ than the single entry, so I hope to return and amortize the expense.
FIVE-DAY TOWN
I have always thought guidebook writers should be honest enough to categorize a city by the number of days you can happily spend there. I give Shenzhen the highest of ratings — it’s a five-day town!
Although it became well-known to foreigners as the “fakes capital” of China, it has so much more to offer that you do a disservice to your travel genes if you only hop across the border at LoWu for a few hours in the LoWu Commercial Center, the mall filled with dealers in contraband.
Shenzhen is enormous and growing. The Chinese government is working with the intent to merge the business development of South China from Guangzhou to Hong Kong—areas one hour north and one hour south of Shenzhen. Already, Shenzhen is a sprawling city of zillions of different districts.
Since the city is only about 20 years old, they are mostly new. Some even have charm. There are theme parks (don’t laugh), glam hotels, museums, many malls, and exceptional shopping opportunities such as a district devoted entirely to electronics stores.
In the near future, a fast train will connect Guangzhou to Honkers, by way of Shenzhen, with an estimated 11-minute travel time from Shenzhen to Kowloon. Construction is underway outside our window at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Fustian, the main business district of Shenzhen. We also saw the ground-breaking for the terminal in West Kowloon, next door to where the new Ritz-Carlton will open in December. This train will be bound for glory next year!
TRENDS FROM LOWU
No one buys fakes anymore, but Lowu is still a good place to go for trends and, yup, eyeglasses. The hot styles were Harajuku Lovers anything and Tiffany & Co. keys on long chains. The new Chanel J-12 has a rubber techno strap, so don’t fall for last years’ enamel or porcelain.
Each floor in this mall has several eyeglasses shops. We chose one at random and had fabulous prescription sunglasses made for about $30-40 per pair, frame plus Rx.
There is an eyemart in downtown Shenzhen but it’s old and dark and not too glam, so it’s easier and more fun to shop at LoWu. My new specs are matte finish resin, so I look like the late Liz Claiborne.
I also use LoWu for the tailor. Although you can buy fabric there, I brought 3-meter pieces from Paris and had dresses made for $15 each.
ELECTRONICS GEMS
The best buys of the trip were at the electronics mall, Hua Giang Bai. There are several on this street (street of the same name), but one is all I can handle. I bought plastic USB flash drives in polyurethane bracelet styles, sort of like the Livestrong bracelets without Lance, $10 each and great stocking stuffers.
I am indeed already thinking about Christmas and the fact that Hanukkah is very early this year, starting December 3. Someday I will have grandchildren and then I will return to this mall for all the baby-oriented computer toys, including a plastic frog that teaches both English and Chinese.
DAFEN FOREVER
One of the suburbs of Shenzhen is Dafen, an artist village set right up against high-rise buildings, so you can see the contrast of the low-rise village and the New China. About 80 percent of the world’s art comes from this town—original and copies.
A “Van Gogh” will cost about $6 while an original painting may cost $600. It’s enormous fun to visit the assorted styles and not worry about copyright violations. You can easily spend the better part of a day here, but arrange a car and driver to wait as it will be hard to find a taxi back to the main districts.
BUS ME
While the train trip back to Hong Kong is pleasant and easy, I had so much luggage that it was difficult to cross the border and handle all the physical steps involved with the border crossing.
Sarah and I decided to test the bus service, which is regular and leaves from Shenzhen Bay. You walk across the border and then hop on your bus, which is outfitted for Wi-Fi, of course.
You must know your Hong Kong destination (of course) as some buses go to Kowloon and others go to various parts of Victoria Island. The bus fare is less than the train fare and takes a little bit longer; the border crossing at Shenzhen Bay is a breeze.
Big bus-y kisses,
SuzyKG
By Suzy Gershman for PeterGreenberg.com. Suzy Gershman’s Born to Shop California Wine Country by Suzy Gershman & Sarah Lahey is now available on Amazon.com now and in book stores in mid-October!
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