Your move · 你的路线
Start with the
next right thing.
Tell me what brings you to Shenzhen and where you are in the move. I’ll turn the guide into a focused starting lane—without hiding the full detail below.
Before booking flights or flats, use the complete guide to living in Shenzhen, compare realistic Shenzhen living costs, compare international schools in Shenzhen and choose the best Shenzhen area around the commute.
Question 01
What brings you here?
Question 02
Where are you in the move?
Your starter lane
Work move · Still planning
Start with the employer-led document chain, then price the move and choose a district from the commute backwards.
Go deeper · 详细指南
Browse by topic—not sequence. If you have just arrived, begin with a mainland SIM and any required accommodation registration, or follow the first-week order.
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.
05SIM & Internet
A mainland mobile number is the key that opens everything else—get it before the bank account, the apps, and the deliveries.
Good to knowNearly every app and service verifies against your mobile number. A local SIM on day one makes the rest of this checklist far smoother.
Getting a SIM
- Bring your passport to a China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom shop; real-name registration is required.
- Ask for the plan terms in writing—monthly fee, data allowance, and how to cancel.
- Larger flagship shops handle foreign passports more smoothly than small counters.
Home broadband
- Broadband is often cheapest bundled with your mobile plan; ask at the same shop.
- Installation is by appointment and usually happens within a few days.
- Check what your building supports first—some compounds are wired for one provider only.
Staying reachable
- Keep your home-country number alive for banking codes—cheap roaming or a keep-alive plan is enough.
- If you cross to Hong Kong often, consider a dual Hong Kong–Mainland plan.
- Test hotspot and tethering before relying on them for work.
06Groceries & Essentials
Between delivery apps and big-box stores, stocking a kitchen is one of the easiest parts of Shenzhen life.
Good to knowGroceries ordered on Meituan or Freshippo (盒马) typically arrive within the hour in central districts—many people barely carry shopping home at all.
Daily basics
- Freshippo (Hema) and supermarket apps for produce, meat, and pantry staples delivered fast.
- Local wet markets for the cheapest and freshest fruit and vegetables—pay by WeChat.
- Community convenience stores cover water refills, snacks, and late-night needs.
Western & imported
- Sam’s Club (membership) for bulk imported goods; several locations across the city.
- Olé and other premium supermarkets inside major malls stock cheese, wine, and familiar brands.
- JD and Taobao import sections fill the gaps—search the English brand name.
Setting up the home
- IKEA and Taobao cover furniture; delivery and assembly are usually cheap add-ons.
- Appliances are safest from JD self-operated listings with official warranties.
- Order a water dispenser or bottled-water subscription early—most homes do not drink tap water.
07Health & Pharmacies
Sort out where you would go before you need it—Shenzhen has excellent care, but the system rewards a little preparation.
Good to knowPharmacies are everywhere and many medicines are over the counter; Meituan delivers from pharmacies around the clock.
Everyday care
- Pharmacy chains handle minor issues; a translation app at the counter goes a long way.
- Save your compound’s nearest 24-hour pharmacy and hospital in your maps app.
- Bring a supply of any prescription medication plus the prescription itself, translated if possible.
Seeing a doctor
- Public hospitals register patients through their WeChat accounts; bring your passport.
- Major hospitals have VIP or international departments—more expensive, more English, shorter waits.
- Private international clinics in Futian, Nanshan, and Shekou offer familiar, English-first care at international prices.
Insurance & records
- Employer social insurance covers public hospitals; check what your policy adds on top.
- International departments and private clinics usually need private insurance or self-pay.
- Keep vaccination and medical records with you, ideally with certified translations.
08Weather & Packing
Subtropical, humid, and warm most of the year—pack for summer, plan for typhoons, and do not underestimate the damp.
Good to knowTyphoon season runs roughly May to October. Some typhoon warnings suspend classes, transport, offices, or deliveries—follow the current official instructions, keep essentials at home, and stay in when advised.
The seasons
- October to December is the sweet spot: dry, clear, and comfortable.
- January and February are mild but damp; buildings have no central heating.
- May to September is hot and humid, with heavy downpours and the occasional typhoon.
What to bring
- Light, breathable clothing plus one warm layer for winter evenings and over-air-conditioned interiors.
- A compact umbrella lives in your bag year-round—for sun as much as rain.
- Larger shoe and clothing sizes can be hard to find locally; bring what you depend on.
Taming the damp
- A dehumidifier is the single best purchase for the spring humid season.
- Run the air conditioner’s dry mode in March and April when walls literally sweat.
- Store cameras and leather goods with desiccant packets—mold is real here.