Shaanxi Native in Shenzhen: Just NOT Wired for This Place! (Totally a 'Me' Thing)
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Hello, everyone! I've only been in Shenzhen for a short time and there are some things that I can't help but share. This serves as a friendly reminder to those planning on visiting!
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Mosquitoes! Mosquitoes! Mosquitoes!
- Oh my god, these mosquitoes are incredible! In just half a day, I already had ten huge welts on my legs! Itching so bad!
- Important reminder: When coming to Shenzhen, bring plenty of mosquito repellent! Especially those green little bottles called "huā lù shuǐ" (a common Chinese liquid used to repel mosquitoes and soothe itches).
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Sticky days
- Whether walking outside or staying indoors, I always feel sticky with sweat.
- Be prepared: You must take a shower every day, otherwise, you wouldn’t survive the heat!
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Watch where you walk or cycle!
- In this city, many places have shared pathways for pedestrians, bicycles, e-bikes, and they’re often very narrow.
️ Safety alert: When walking or cycling, you must look right, left, front and back. Be cautious of sudden vehicles and people popping up out of nowhere!
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Street food“starch sausage”
- That is, the pink, rice starch-based sausages which are quite popular in Northern China.
- But, oh my god, the ones I’ve eaten here were really terrible! It’s hard to describe the taste.
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Roadside dining is pretty…
- Many of the nearby roadside restaurants don’t appear tempting. It feels a bit dirty, and the taste is mediocre.
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City rhythm driven by ‘workers’
- The feeling left me here is that everyone works really hard.
- Even late at night, the metro stations are still bustling with people who seem rather exhausted.
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The metro ride is long！
- Here it seems that stations are far apart; one station takes a long time to ride.
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No desire to go out？
- After arriving, I didn’t really feel like going out for amusement anymore.
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Driving style is somewhat “free”
- There are quite a few changes of lanes while driving on the road, so new drivers or people crossing the street need to be more careful.
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Restaurant hygiene issues
- This needs mentioning. Once in a restaurant, I saw a living roach (cockroach 🪳)!
- Another time, I found a hair in my dishes...
- How to stay clear of trouble: Dine in places that look clean or have high ratings on review websites. As is, you may encounter unpleasant surprises.
(Complaints will be updated...)
Speaking of, could Shenzhen's weather please not be so hot? Being a northerner working here hasn’t been easy. I miss the famed “triple Qinxi meal” from home (referring to the combination of Shaanxi noodles, jiaoma (“meat-stuffed bun” from Xi'an) and small dishes). My skin hasn’t aged well, and the noise pollution has been something... However, Attack on Titan is really wonderful ha ha ha!
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Honestly, Shenzhen really drops the ball on so many fronts: traffic, education, healthcare, daily life, and entertainment.
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Even though these aspects are pretty terrible, the big tech companies still manage to attract young people.
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Your second point shows you're normal... My ex, also from Xi'an, Shaanxi, hated showering after moving to Shenzhen. In winter, they'd say it was too cold or they hadn't sweated. But even in summer, they surprisingly didn't want to shower daily... Needless to say, we broke up.
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That's because the weather in Xi'an genuinely doesn't require daily showers.
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Would Shanghai perhaps be a better fit for you all?
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I think I'm just too used to the north; the hot and humid weather in the south is what I find hardest to adapt to.
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Around this time of year, it's so rainy and humid that any sweat feels oily and sticky. Your makeup will literally melt off within half an hour of stepping outside—and Shenzhen is even worse! It's crowded, the subways are packed, and the alleys in urban villages feel suffocating. Water drips on your head from apartments above, and the stench from the sewers is overwhelming. Shenzhen is full of flashy Hunan restaurants and trendy eateries from other regions that have completely overshadowed authentic Cantonese cuisine. Even the rice noodle rolls (cheung fun) taste like they're just pure starch, hahaha. If you can't adapt, just run!
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You've hit the nail on the head. I'd leave after just a few days too.
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I'm planning to leave this year... The oppressive heat and humidity make me feel nauseous.
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The moment I step outside, I just want to go back home, even though home isn't particularly comfortable either.
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The showering thing is true; in Guangdong, people basically shower every day, sometimes twice a day.
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While there's nothing wrong with showering, having to do it every day is such a hassle for me, like having to go to work or do homework daily.
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It's really hard not to agree with your fourth point!!!!
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I also never expected that rice noodle rolls (cheung fun) could be made so poorly.
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I'm already thinking of going back to Yunnan.
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Yunnan is a place so beautiful it moved me to tears in videos. If you're really struggling, you should go back. Don't make things too hard on yourself.
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Shenzhen today isn't the Shenzhen it used to be.
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I guess I missed out on the good times.
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I hope all friends from out of town know about the midges (or no-see-ums). Their bites itch for at least three days, and in Shenzhen, you need strong insect repellent for it to be even somewhat effective.