Tap Water is safe to drink in the Meilin district and several nearby districts, but probably not in the area where you are staying. Use the free bottled water or distilled water provided by your hotel or buy some. It's easily available in all convenience stores. However, if you are buying water for 5 RMB a bottle, you are getting majorly ripped off. Hepatitis is common in China and is most usually spread by using chopsticks to eat from a common dish. It is becoming increasingly common to use a separate set of chopsticks to serve from the bowl. Ask for "gong kuai" (goong kwie) if they aren't provided. Otherwise minor travellers' stomach upsets are the worst things which you have to fear healthwise.
If you want to drink beer, Tsing Tao is a popular Chinese beer, or try Shenzhen's own Kingway Beer (金威啤酒), brewed in two locations in Shenzhen and available in any convenience store, bar, or restaurant. In stores such as a.best, Carrefour or Wal-Mart it will cost ¥3.50 per can, or ¥3.80 for a large bottle (you will need a bottle opener). 7-eleven sells Kingway for ¥9, and local restaurants about ¥12-35. Bars typically charge slightly more that restaurants, it will cost you somewhere in the ¥55-80 range, though many have specials such as 2 for 1.
C:UNION, (Metro to Qiao Cheng Dong, exit A, walk right and then take a right at Enping Street, between Sinopec and the Konka building. Continue straight ahead and you will arrive at a courtyard.). A great place to discover Shenzhen's surprisingly vibrant alternative community. A variety of live bands from around China and sometimes abroad perform here every Saturday night, followed by a dj playing electronic music. Shows start around 8PM. You can also check out the surrounding neighborhood whose restaurants and small art outlets create a hip vibe along the brick pedestrian roads.Drinks start at ¥30. �
XPats Bar, FL1016 Street Lvl Eastern Sidewalk Central Walk Mall 福田取中心城大中华大厦对面. (Exit B Hui Zhan Zhong Xin Metro). This is where we go when we want a drink. It's in Central Walk, top floor on the right hand walkway (outside the building) directly opposite the Great China Building. Good beer and wine and food from the NYPD Pizza next door. Big screen sporting coverage. �
Base Bar, 1019 Shangbu South Road, Futian District (福田区上步南路1019号; Fútián Qū Shàngbù Nán Lù) (Accessible from Ke Xue Guan Metro Station, not far from Party City), . A live rock music venue. Great vibe and great interior deco. There are nice three-sided booths along the walls for larger groups. A variety of acts play into the early morning. Friendly waitstaff with Communist Star armbands.Door cover can sometimes run up to ¥100, cocktails from ¥30 (the Gin-Tonic is a must), bottles of Jim Bean ¥380. �
The Terrace, Seaworld Square, Shekou, ☎ +86 755 26829105 (fax: +86 755 26828157), . Live music and Thai food. �
The Beatles, (SeaWorld, Shekou). Pool table, DJ & Live band everynight & KTV Room. �
X-Ta-Sea Sports Bar & Restaurant, Shekou, Sea World (Inside the Minghua ship at Sea World in Shekou, next to the Cruise Inn Hotel lobby.), ☎ (86) 755 2686 7649, . Features live rock music Tuesday through Saturdays by house band Kaktooz. Amenities include multiple TV screens, Foosball, darts, pool tables a full restaurant menu of mostly Western-style food, and free Wi-Fi. �
Soho, Jiabin Road, Luohu. �
Beer Paradise, (Shekou). Serves lots and lots and lots of beer. �
Mary's Bar, (Shekou). �
Vbar, (Windows of the World, (on the 3rd floor of the Crowne Plaza Hotel). �
Ibiza, (Hua Qiang Bei). An European style two-story pub. It is quite popular among foreigners.¥30 per bottle of beer. �
Kingway, (LuoHu). Beer factory and beer garden. �
Yes Bar, (LuoHu). �
Suzy's Lounge Bar, 120 Coastal City East Block, Wexin 6th Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen (near the Kempinski Hotel), ☎ 0755-86290169, . 5PM-3AM. A late night lounge bar serving local and imported drinks, light snacks, and also offers customers a pool table and plenty of TV sets to watch from. The female staff are very friendly and all speak English. �
Ren Jian Du Hui In Club (人间都汇国际俱乐部), 深圳市春风路桂都大夏2F-5F (Upstairs CASH club), ☎ 0755-82391111, . This is a KTV that has a lounge with performances on the 2nd floor, and private rooms on the rest of the floors. You can pay to have male or female hosts sit with you - for a tip. 200+ for the girls and 500+ for the gigilos. You can have them line up for you and you can pick the one you like.900+ small room. �
3D Bar, Block B, Bar Street, Citic Plaza, 1093 Shennan Road (Futian). Guinness is available on tap. There are also many other international beers available (bottled mainly). The outside tables along the walkway are good for a relaxing pint, the inside tables and the outside tables closest to the front door are, if you're looking for a livelier atmosphere, better �
Coco Park - the bar street of Futian, with all kinds of bars packed into the middle of the block.
Le Nest, 深圳是福田区民田路购物公园北园C区144号 (Coco Park), ☎ 755-83388909, . biggest club in shenzhen �
McCawley's Irish Bar & Restaurant, (Shekou, Futian (CocoPark)). Good Irish bar, with nice bar menu �
Viva, (Coco Park). Just north of Coco Park shopping mall. It's in the middle of the block, though, so you might need to cut through the bus station or ask someone standing around where it is. It's usually packed. Lots of foreigners. �
Plush, (Coco Park). Smaller bar on the bar street just north of Coco Park shopping mall. Sometimes quiet, sometimes has a nice mix of Chinese and foreigners. One thing that's nice about plush is that it's nice without being over the top, and you can always find a seat. �
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Shenzhen
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Shenzhen - updated May 2024
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Shenzhen Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
