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A week here, and a list of things to buy.

Shenzhen is where a great deal of the world's manufacturing is arranged. If you are here for a few days on business, there are four things to get right before anything else.

Immigration

How do I register with the police in Shenzhen? Every foreigner in China must register their address with the local police station within 24 hours of arriving. A hotel does it for you at check-in. If you are in a flat or a dormitory that has not registered you, go to the station covering that address with your passport and your lease.
I am visiting Shenzhen for a week on business. What do I need? Register your address within 24 hours, which the hotel does for you at check-in. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you fly, because your card will not work in most places. Carry your passport, and get a Chinese SIM if you can, since anything that sends a verification code will want one.

Money

How do I pay for things in Shenzhen? Almost everything is paid by QR code through WeChat Pay or Alipay. Both now accept foreign Visa and Mastercard, so you can be paying within an hour of landing. Cash remains legal tender and still works, though many small shops will struggle to give you change for it.

Getting around

How do I get around Shenzhen? The metro reaches nearly everywhere you need and costs a few yuan a trip. Open the metro ride code inside WeChat or Alipay and scan at the gate, so you never need a physical card. For anything the metro misses, use Didi rather than hailing on the street.

Language

What Mandarin do I actually need to get around? You can manage on about twenty phrases and a translation app. Learn the numbers first, then how to ask what something costs, how to say what you do not eat, and how to ask for help.

Living here

Which apps do I need on my phone in China? WeChat, Alipay, Amap, Meituan, Didi and Pleco cover almost everything, and that is a sensible order to install them in. Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook do not work on ordinary Chinese networks, so send your family your WeChat ID before you fly.