Hong Kong vs Shenzhen: a day of food, drinks, sightseeing and leisure compared – how much cheaper can the mainland Chinese city be?
- The recent jump in people heading from Hong Kong to Shenzhen at the weekend suggests you can enjoy a lot more for much less in the mainland Chinese city
- On a recent Saturday, two writers packed in as much as they could in each city to get an idea of how much cheaper Shenzhen could be
Both Hong Kong and Shenzhen are full of places to eat scrumptious food, grab great bargains and have an all-round good time.
But the jump in people heading from Hong Kong to Shenzhen to enjoy their weekends in recent months – which is expected to peak over the Lunar New Year in about a week – suggests you can get much more for a lot less in the mainland Chinese city.
But by how much? On a recent Saturday, we each packed in as much as we could in each city to find out.
Shenzhen
by Young Wang
I make the most of my day in Shenzhen by fitting in three meals, shopping at both a mall in the central business district (CBD) and a bustling retail warehouse, sightseeing, a relaxing massage, and a movie. Here is how my Saturday unfolds.
Is there a better way to start the day than with dim sum? I decide to eat it at Laurel Restaurant (OCT branch), also known as Dangui Xuan, a beloved local spot in the tranquil high-end residential area of OCT Portofino.
Arriving at 10am, I wait in line for 25 minutes (I recommend making a reservation at least one day in advance to avoid queuing). I am fortunate to get an outdoor seat with a view of the lake. The disadvantage of alfresco dining here, though, is the somewhat inattentive staff, and it requires several gestures to catch their attention.
