Things to do before in China: Before and After You Arrive Are you planning to come to China? Do you have fears of what it might be like when you get here? For most people like myself it’s natural to have mix emotions about relocating to a new country. Yes,…...

Shenzhen Hot Spot: Window of the World by Ashley Dubois
Upon walking into Window of the World (WoW) in Shenzhen, I was worried I’d been ripped off to the tune of 180RMB and a very long subway ride. The entrances to different attractions aren’t well marked and when you first enter the Global Arena, all you can see is a…...

Weekend Day Tripping to Avatar Land in Hunan Province by Jessica Addington
A week before I came to China, my best friend gave me a Lonely Planet: Discover China book with handwritten tips about China. Stuck in the front of the book was a note that said “Unmentioned…Zhangjiajie- best place in China.” After I did more research, I found out it was…...

Weekend Wanderlust: Urban Footprints in the Rural Jungle of Lantau Island by Molly Oberstein-Allen
Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to go visit my friend on an eco-farm on Lantau Island, an outer island of Hong Kong. The trip to Lantau isn’t bad from Shenzhen – you can take Hong Kong’s metro, the MTR, to Mui Wo Port from Futian Checkpoint, and from…...

Get Your Culture on at Dafen Oil Painting Village by Leanne Overby
After realizing that my dreams of traveling around mainland China on weekends could not become a reality, I decided to switch gears and start searching for write-home worthy hidden gems in this crazy, massive city I call home. I live in the outer Longgang District of Shenzhen, and I’ll be…...

On the Outskirts of Shenzhen: Dapeng, a New District by Alistair Heald
Shenzhen is a major city in Guangdong Province, China. It is also one of the wealthiest cities in China. Shenzhen’s temperate climate, relatively low pollution levels, and close proximity to Hong Kong, Macau, and several other interesting destinations make Shenzhen one of the China’s most desirable cities to live…...