Apps and Tools
for China & Shenzhen Travel

QR code failed at the counter? Pick the error and get the first fix before the line behind you gets weird.

Select your nationality, get instant eligibility for 240-hour transit and 30-day bilateral visa-free entry. Covers 48 countries.

Real-time wait times at all 6 HK–Shenzhen crossings, pulled from Hong Kong Immigration data. Updates every 15 minutes.

Tell us where you're coming from and where you're going — we recommend which crossing to use and why.

The payment app. Nothing works without it — metro, taxis, street food, convenience stores. Set up with a foreign card before arrival.

Messaging, payments, mini-programs. Your hotel concierge, taxi driver, and restaurant will all communicate via WeChat.

The only map app that works properly in China. Google Maps is blocked and Apple Maps is unreliable for transit. Amap handles buses, metro, walking, and taxi routing.

China's Uber. English interface available. Requires Alipay or WeChat Pay linked.

QR code metro entry. Saves you from buying single-journey tickets — scan your phone at the turnstile.

The best Chinese dictionary app. OCR camera mode translates signs and menus in real time. Free version is plenty.

Default recommendation. Accurate Chinese addresses, real-time bus/metro tracking, walking directions that don't hallucinate.

Alternative to Amap. Better indoor maps for malls and airports. Chinese-only interface but excellent data.

Works behind the firewall but transit data is inconsistent in Shenzhen. Fine for walking, less reliable for buses.

Which VPNs actually work in China in 2026, with honest reliability ratings and setup instructions for each.

Best eSIM options for data in Shenzhen — pricing, coverage, and which ones include VPN bypass.

Official visa policies, transit visa rules, and entry requirements. The definitive source for China entry rules.

The raw queue time data our Live Border Status tool pulls from. Updated every 15 minutes.

Official municipal government site. Cross-border services guide, policy announcements, and foreigner service info.

Government-backed multilingual portal covering news, events, and practical guides for foreigners in Shenzhen.

Reddit community for Shenzhen residents and visitors. Good for specific, up-to-date local questions.

Broader China travel community. Useful for visa questions, itinerary advice, and first-timer prep.

The longest-running English Shenzhen community (since 2001). Events, jobs, apartments, and local Q&A.

Practical relocation guides and an active Discord for expats settling in Shenzhen.

Best all-in-one booking for China. Trains, flights, hotels — English interface, accepts foreign cards, and shows China-domestic inventory that Booking.com misses.

Official China railway booking. Now has an English interface and accepts foreign passports. Book high-speed trains to Guangzhou, Hong Kong, or anywhere in China.

Works for international-chain hotels in Shenzhen. Limited inventory for local hotels — use Trip.com for those.