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Moving to Shenzhen is not one task. It is a sequence.
You need a place to stay, a phone number, working payments, internet, transport, delivery apps, apartment setup, and a basic understanding of the districts. If you are coming for hardware, you also need to understand where markets, suppliers, factories, and prototyping resources fit into the city.
This page gives you the default path.
The default sequence
1. Decide what Shenzhen is for
Your setup depends on your purpose.
| Purpose | Default priority |
|---|---|
| Hardware founder | supplier access, market access, flexible housing, translator support |
| Operator relocating | district choice, apartment, phone, payments, internet, commute |
| Investor visiting | itinerary, driver, interpreter, briefing notes, meetings |
| Family move | schools, healthcare, apartment quality, compound, commute |
| Short-term stay | serviced apartment, payment setup, transport, local apps |
2. Choose your area based on weekly movement
Do not start with a pretty apartment. Start with a map of where you will go each week.
Ask:
- Where will I work most days?
- How often will I visit Huaqiangbei?
- How often will I visit Bao’an, Longhua, Longgang, or other supplier areas?
- Do I need fast access to Hong Kong?
- Do I need family-friendly amenities?
- How much English-friendly infrastructure do I need?
3. Arrive with a 72-hour setup plan
In your first 72 hours, your goal is not to solve everything. Your goal is to get functional.
You need:
- a working phone plan or travel eSIM backup;
- a local number plan if staying longer;
- Alipay and WeChat Pay tested with backup payment methods;
- transport access;
- food and delivery apps working;
- a registration plan for your accommodation;
- a shortlist of apartments or serviced apartments;
- a home internet plan if moving into a lease;
- a backup way to contact someone local.
4. Do not solve regulated questions from blogs
Visa, tax, company setup, medical, banking, and legal questions can change and depend on your passport, visa, employer, family situation, business structure, and local provider. Use guides to prepare questions, then verify with official sources or qualified providers.
5. Get help where time matters
A capable local assistant can save days on apartment viewings, internet appointments, furniture coordination, deliveries, landlord conversations, and app troubleshooting. For hardware trips, the difference between a good and bad itinerary can be the difference between learning the ecosystem and spending a week in traffic.
Recommended starting pages
- Where to live in Shenzhen
- First 72 hours in Shenzhen
- How to get a Chinese phone number
- How WeChat Pay and Alipay work
- How to rent an apartment in Shenzhen
- How to set up home internet
- Hardware founder’s guide to Shenzhen
- Cost of living in Shenzhen
Want help building your plan?
Tell us when you are coming, how long you are staying, what you need to accomplish, and whether you need housing or hardware support.
Next step: Book a Shenzhen setup call