Hongkong - Shenzhen - Hangzhou - Shanghai ..Whirlwind tour?

Replies: 12 - Last Post: 27-Jun-2007 19:22 Last Post By: woolf135

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Lolabrowne

25-Jun-2007 16:35
Posts: 10

Hongkong - Shenzhen - Hangzhou - Shanghai ..Whirlwind tour?

Hi all,

Could anyone tell me how long it would take to get from Hong Kong to Shenzhen by ferry and how to get from the ferry port in shenzhen to the airport. Im trying to evaluate if it would be more worthwhile to take an expensive flight direct from Hong Kong to Hangzhou/shanghai.

Also If I do go to Shenzhen, would you recommend trying to stop and spend some time in Shenzhen, (Im interested mainly in Architecture and the arts and like the idea of trying to relax and go to markets for this stage of the trip.)
Im travelling on my own so I think this indirect route could be alittle ambitious and a little stressful.

And while I have your attention...Is 3 days in Hangzhou enough time, it looks incredible. ( I have only 7 days in China and will be spending some time in Shanghai too.

In short my draft itinery is;
28th July Arrive in Hong kong early
30th July Hong Kong to Hangzhou
02nd Aug Hangzhou to Shanghai
04th Aug Back to Ireland

Thanks a mil

woolf135

25-Jun-2007 18:39
Posts: 1,610

I've taken the ferry to Shenzhen from Hong Kong. Make sure you pay the extra HK10 or whatever to sit upstairs. They got us chairs to sit out on the deck too.

At the ferry port, there may be some bus to shenzhen airport. I was on my way to the train station though and just got a cab. He tried to not use the meter but I said use the meter and he did. I think the prices were about the same though, but that doesn't mean there aren't cheats.

In other words, just get a taxi from the ferry to the air.

I did not like Shenzhen but did not spend much time there.

3 days in Hangzhou is great, most people only give it 2 days and miss all the cool stuff outside the West Lake. Let me know if you have any Hangzhou questions.

Dexplorer

25-Jun-2007 21:54
Posts: 162

Hi,

I made exactly the same trip over the weekend before last.

Had taken a flight from Shenzhen to Shanghai and then bus to Hangzhou and flight from Hangzhou back to Shenzhen.

For travelling from Shenzhen to Hong Kong I had used bus through the border crossing at Lo Wu (Luo Hu on the China side). Fares are quite a bit cheaper from Shenzhen.

My itinerary
Saturday Morning :
HK -> Shenzhen Airport --> Shanghai
I keep going to Shenzhen every now and then and wasnt interested in seeing much there. Dont think there is much to see except for the Windows of the World. Just wanted to take the cheaper flight.

Spent the day in Shanghai .. and saw the yuyuan gardens and bund and nanjing Lu,

next day I had left for Xitang - this is a water village almost midway between Shanghai and Hangzhou. check this out, as its worth doing in case you are making the shanghai - hangzhou trip. Had stayed the night in Xitang.

Next morning had left for Hangzhou and spent a day there. Number #1 is right, Hangzhou needs more than that (also some people do it as a day trip from Shanghai). But 2 days and 1 night should be pretty good as well.

~bon voyage

Lolabrowne

26-Jun-2007 02:26
Posts: 10

Thanks for all that information dexplorer and woolf. I think Shenzhen is a good route to travel through for a cheap airfare. How long would you allow to get from Hong kong ferry terminal to shenzhen airport. Also did you stay at a nice hostel in Hangzhou that you would recommend, I would like to stay somewhere sociable. It would be great to stay in a hostel that organises tours/nights out

Thanks for your help!

ellyse

26-Jun-2007 02:39
Posts: 8,932

If you're not absolutely set on going to Shenzhen, I would advise you to replace it with Guangzhou instead. It's equally easy to get there from Hong Kong, and you could fly Spring Airlines Guangzhou -- Shanghai.
Cheers!

Lolabrowne

26-Jun-2007 03:37
Posts: 10

thanks ellyse,

I was hoping the ferry to shenzhen would be quite scenic and worthwhile, would it be a shame to miss?

Lola

ellyse

26-Jun-2007 04:04
Posts: 8,932

Not sure, sorry.
Cheers!

Dexplorer

26-Jun-2007 22:40
Posts: 162

hi lolabrowne,
I had stayed in a hotel called SouthLine recommended by ellyse.
It was a great place costing 318 Yuan per night (including chinese breakfast buffet, which I hated), the location was especially awesome. Just across the road from the lake on the side where it is lined by a lot of pubs.

It wasnt very sociable. I dont remember seeing even one other guest. But the reception had an english speaking guy.

ellyse

26-Jun-2007 22:56
Posts: 8,932

If you want a lively hostel, try the main Hangzhou IYH on Nanshan Lu, opposite the Art Academy. The Southline Hotel mentioned in #7 is kinda opposite it, perhaps about 3-5 mins walk away.
Cheers!

woolf135

26-Jun-2007 23:16
Posts: 1,610

Lolabrowne - I thought the ferry was just so-so when I took it, but looking back on it, it is a great memory. I got some excellent views and photos of the HK skyline, some amazing bridges to boat under, and an inside look at the container ships heading out from the Pearl River delta. If the weather is nice, so is the ferry.

Johnny

27-Jun-2007 00:10
Posts: 6,875

Ok. Ferry HK-Shenzhen (Shekou) 1 hour. Bus 355 to the airport allow 1 hour (it should be less, but it depends on the traffic). A cab will do it in maybe half an hour or 45 minutes, but will cost about Y80 (can't remember how much the bus is I'm afraid, but it will be less than Y10).

If you like modern architecture then Shenzhen is actually well worth a look, being arguably one of the most modern cities in the world. It also is home to arguably the greatest Rock and Roll band in the world, although some dispute this.

Everything in moderation, even moderation.

Lolabrowne

27-Jun-2007 13:11
Posts: 10

Ferry it is then...thanks guys, it seems relatively easy and its always good to add in a different mode of transport to the mix! with my massive saving on my flights out of shenzhen Ill splash out on a taxi too! My treat. Thanks for all the information. The IYH sounds like the spot for me too. Hangzhou...here I come!!
lola

woolf135

27-Jun-2007 19:22
Posts: 1,610

The IYH hostel further down Nanshan Road across from Leifeng Pagoda/next to Jingci is getting good reviews now too. The rooms look really nice, they have typical YHI entertainment and are a bit closer to the main sites without getting too far from city conveniences. Plus it's brand new. And the review I read is correct- while Leifeng Pagoda/Jingci/Sudi area is a tour group nightmare during the day, if your hotel is there, you can access it at those key early evening and early morning times after the tourists leave or before the tourists come.

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