Just Arrived · 初到深圳
Start with
the essentials.
Open a section for a simple first-week checklist—only the details that make settling in easier.
01Must-Have Apps
Set up the apps that handle most daily life in Shenzhen before you start exploring.
Good to knowStart with WeChat and Alipay. Together they cover payments, transport, messaging, and many services inside mini programs.
Set up first
- WeChat — messaging, contacts, mini programs, restaurant bookings, and WeChat Pay.
- Alipay — mobile payments, metro and bus codes, ride-hailing, and useful city services.
- Amap (Gaode) or Baidu Maps — search with the Chinese name or a shared location pin for the best results.
Add next
- DiDi — cars and taxis; confirm the pickup pin and message the driver inside the app.
- Meituan — food, groceries, pharmacy delivery, restaurants, and local services.
- 12306 or Trip.com — trains and travel. 12306 is the official railway service; Trip.com has an easier English interface.
Make setup easier
- Use the same passport name and mobile number across payment and travel apps.
- Save your home and workplace in Chinese, plus the nearest gate or building number.
- International cards can be linked to WeChat Pay and Alipay, although availability and fees depend on the card and transaction.
02Bank Account
A local debit card makes rent, transfers, salary payments, and everyday mobile payments much simpler.
Good to knowRequirements vary by bank and branch. Choose a large branch near your home or workplace and bring more documents than you expect to need.
Bring with you
- Your original passport and a valid visa or residence permit.
- A mainland China mobile number and your local residential address.
- Temporary residence registration, plus a work permit, employment letter, or school document if applicable.
- Your foreign tax identification number and proof of address in case the bank requests them.
At the branch
- Ask for a personal RMB debit card, mobile banking, SMS alerts, and an English interface if available.
- Make sure your name is entered exactly as it appears in your passport; spacing and name order matter.
- Ask the staff to activate mobile banking and explain transfer limits before you leave.
Before you leave
- Log in to the banking app, test the card PIN, and make one small transfer or payment.
- Link the new card to both WeChat Pay and Alipay.
- Keep the bank’s service number and the branch address saved in your phone.
03Housing
Choose the commute first, inspect the apartment carefully, and put every cost and promise in writing.
Good to knowIf you stay outside a hotel, complete temporary residence registration within 24 hours of arrival or moving. Ask the landlord or agent to help immediately.
Before signing
- Test the commute at the time you will actually travel and check the nearest metro entrance.
- Visit the unit in person, preferably in daylight and again in the evening.
- Confirm that the landlord and property can support a foreign tenant’s residence registration.
- Verify the landlord, agent, apartment, and payment recipient before transferring money.
Contract checklist
- Rent, deposit, payment schedule, lease dates, agency fee, and refund conditions.
- Property-management fees, utilities, internet, parking, and who pays for repairs.
- A complete furniture and appliance inventory, with responsibility for existing damage.
- Early-termination rules and every promise from the landlord written into the contract.
Move-in day
- Photograph every room, appliance, meter reading, key, and access card.
- Confirm how to pay electricity, water, gas, internet, and property-management fees.
- Complete temporary residence registration and keep the confirmation for banking, visas, and other services.
04Transportation
The metro covers most daily trips; use ride-hailing for the final stretch and rail for travel beyond Shenzhen.
Good to knowAs of June 2026, Shenzhen Metro is trialing Tap-to-Ride with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and JCB at marked fare gates across the network.
Around Shenzhen
- Metro — tap an accepted international card at a marked gate, use an Alipay transport QR code, or buy a Shenzhen Tong card.
- DiDi — enter a precise pickup pin and destination; hotel and mall entrances often have several pickup zones.
- Shared bikes — useful for short trips from the metro. Park only inside the marked return areas.
Trains and airports
- Use 12306 with the exact name and passport number shown on your travel document.
- Complete passport verification before the day you want to travel and carry the original passport.
- Check the station carefully: Shenzhen, Shenzhen North, Shenzhen East, and Futian are different terminals.
- For the airport, Metro Line 11 is usually the simplest option; allow extra time at peak hours.
Small habits that help
- Screenshot the destination in Chinese and keep the phone number of the place you are visiting.
- Avoid the metro rush when possible, especially around 8–9 a.m. and 5:30–7:30 p.m.
- Keep a small amount of RMB and a second payment method for backup.