Compiled from enquiries received in Shenzhen and from published rules of the issuing authorities. Where a figure depends on policy, the source is named in the answer.
Can I pay with a foreign card, or do I need WeChat Pay and Alipay?
Payment
Mobile payment is the default method of payment in Shenzhen. At markets, independent shops and taxi ranks, most transactions are completed by scanning a code, so a wallet application is worth setting up before arrival. Both WeChat Pay and Alipay accept internationally issued cards: the card is registered inside the application and settled in yuan, with the converted amount displayed before authorisation. WeChat Pay also interoperates with roughly fifty overseas wallet institutions, so in many cases a visitor can pay through the wallet already used at home.
Physical card acceptance has expanded in parallel: Shenzhen has approximately 41,000 merchants able to take a foreign card, around 51,000 point-of-sale terminals, and more than 3,600 ATMs that dispense cash against an international card. I recommend registering and verifying one wallet before departure, because first-time registration occasionally triggers additional identity checks. Carry a small reserve of cash as well: some street stalls and repair counters accept scan payment only, and ¥200–300 in notes covers a day of minor purchases.
Before authorising any payment, confirm the amount aloud, read the figure on the merchant screen, and read the debit notification on your own phone. Discrepancies between the three are where disputes begin. If you would prefer to have me present at the counter, that falls within the accompaniment described on the services page.
How much should I expect to bargain, and where is bargaining expected?
Prices
Bargaining is expected only in markets and independent shops. Department stores, brand chains, supermarkets and pharmacies operate on fixed prices, and attempting to negotiate there serves no purpose. Where negotiation is normal, the opening price quoted to a foreign visitor is frequently higher than the price a local buyer pays. A phone case that sells locally for ¥30–40 may be offered to a visitor at ¥70–100. This reflects an assumption about how visitors convert currency rather than any particular hostility, and the figure is an opening position, not a final one.
The practical method is to ask the price, respond with a counter-figure, and be prepared to leave; willingness to walk away is the only leverage available. Decline the assistance of touts who approach in the street or at market entrances and offer to take you to a shop. They are paid commission by the seller, and that commission is inside the price quoted to you, so the correct response is to continue without them.
Before paying, perform three checks: confirm the amount verbally, read the figure on the merchant screen, and read the debit notification on your own phone. If you would like me to negotiate on your behalf, that is part of the accompaniment described on the services page.
Is it safe to buy electronics at Huaqiangbei — how do I avoid refurbished units?
Electronics
Huaqiangbei covers 1.45 km² in Futian district and holds roughly 115,000 electronics businesses across more than thirty-five specialised markets. The district is a legitimate trading centre and most transactions are honest, but the density of resellers means a buyer needs a method. The three recurring risks are refurbished devices presented as new, used devices presented as new, and accessories with overstated capacity.
Four checks remove most of the exposure. Request sealed, unopened packaging and have it opened in front of you rather than accepting a box that has already been opened. Record the serial or IMEI number and verify it against the manufacturer's official warranty lookup before leaving the counter. Charge and test the device on site, including battery behaviour and actual storage capacity, since overstated figures are common on memory cards and power banks. Obtain a written receipt stating the model, storage configuration, serial number and the shop name.
For a global-brand handset or laptop on which an international warranty will be needed, purchase through an official channel rather than at Huaqiangbei; the saving rarely compensates for a warranty that cannot be honoured at home. If you would like me present for inspection and language, that is covered by the accompaniment described on the services page. The district itself is covered in more depth in the Huaqiangbei guide.
How does the departure tax refund work, and where can I claim it?
Tax refund
The departure tax refund returns the value-added tax on goods taken out of China by an eligible departing traveller. Four figures govern it. The minimum is ¥200 of purchases in the same store on the same day. The refund rate is 11 percent for goods taxed at 13 percent, and 8 percent for goods taxed at a lower rate. The departure deadline is unified at 28 days; older references to a longer period are out of date. Cash refunds are capped at ¥20,000.
Since 1 July 2026, purchases below ¥10,000 are subject to random inspection rather than routine verification, and the process runs from end to end without paper forms. Since 1 September 2026, the instant in-store refund is administered nationwide, so a refund initiated in Shenzhen can be settled at any participating exit.
Shenzhen operates six refund ports: Man Kam To, Luohu, Futian, Shenzhen Bay, Bao'an International Airport and the Shekou Cruise Center. Four of these are land crossings, which means a traveller departing overland to Hong Kong to fly onward can still claim. Always request the refund form and the invoice at the point of purchase, and keep the goods available for inspection. The full procedure, including the documents required at the counter, is set out on the visa and tax refund page. If the refund stop should be planned into the itinerary, that is covered on the services page.
Do I need a visa, and does the 240-hour transit exemption apply to me?
Visa
Visa policy depends on nationality and on the routing of the journey, so it should be confirmed before tickets are purchased. The 240-hour visa-free transit exemption currently covers 57 countries, is available at 65 entry ports, and permits travel within 24 provincial-level regions. The condition that matters most is the routing: the traveller must be transiting through China to a third country or region, meaning the country of departure and the final destination must differ. A round trip that returns to the country of departure does not qualify.
The exemption is not available to all nationalities, and a separate unilateral visa-free policy covers a different list of countries for shorter stays. Transit status is granted at the port rather than in advance, so both the airline and the border officer need to be satisfied with the onward ticket.
The authoritative sources are the Chinese embassy or consulate in the country of residence and the border inspection officer on the day. I recommend checking the current list against the passport before purchasing tickets, and confirming again shortly before departure, since the lists are revised periodically. If the itinerary should be checked against the transit rules before departure, that is part of the pre-arrival planning described on the services page, and the current rules are summarised on the visa page.
Can you ship my purchases home?
Shipping
Posting purchases home is possible, but the tax treatment differs from carrying them. Goods sent by post or courier do not receive the traveller allowance that applies to accompanied baggage; they enter as commercial imports and are assessed on their declared value. The United States removed the de minimis exemption for posted parcels during 2025, so a low-value parcel that would previously have entered duty-free is now assessed. Other destinations apply their own thresholds and administrative fees, and a courier handling charge is payable whether or not duty is owed.
Two practical consequences follow. The effective cost of a bulky, low-value order can exceed the saving made by buying it, because carriers charge on volumetric rather than actual weight. The duty rate applied to a commercial parcel is also not necessarily the rate applied to the same item in a suitcase. I advise comparing the two routes before committing to a large order, and keeping the commercial invoice.
Restricted categories such as lithium batteries, aerosols, liquids and certain magnets are frequently rejected by carriers. If the shipping should be arranged and documented before departure, that is part of the after-trip support described on the services page.
Ask me anything
Last updated 30 October 2026. These answers reflect the position as published by the issuing authorities at that date. Payment rules, refund procedures and entry policy are revised from time to time, and the officer at the counter or at the border has the final word. Confirm anything that affects money or entry with the authority concerned before relying on it.