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Overview
Your week in Shenzhen will be spent on the exhibition floor and in conference rooms. Yet the city that actually makes the products on display is only a twenty-minute drive away. This itinerary begins with that quiet hour after the closing ceremony, offering a three-part view of the supply chain behind your sourcing: a market hall where parts are sold by the pallet, the shipping addresses of finished machines, and street traffic already shared with autonomous vehicles. Woven into this landscape is a walled-village district some 1,700 years old, sitting inside a city itself barely forty years old. Day one and Day three end early, leaving your evenings free. By the time you reach Level 2, you will see your purchase orders in an entirely new light.
— LyrikTrip Travel Designer
Every LyrikTrip journey begins with a conversation. Share your preferred dates and return flight, and we’ll build these three days backwards from there. Expect a first response within four hours and a clear quote within one business day. If your end-of-trip plans shift, day one will adjust to match—this is the very point of the itinerary.
Why you'll love this trip
- The working city, up close. Nantou Old Town, the planning exhibition, an evening skyline and a creative park, with an English-speaking guide throughout.
- 3 days from a tray of components to the finished machine. See the whole chain.
- Spend the morning hitting the component floors of Huaqiangbei; after lunch, head to the address where the finished units ship out: in a single working day, one line on your sourcing list becomes a street you can actually walk down. Not a factory floor.
- On day two, pass through a gate and step into a walled ancient town with a history of around 1,700 years, while the city it belongs to is only about 40 years old — a powerful counterpoint to what its skyline suggests.
- On your final morning, step into an art, design, and coffee space reborn from a factory: the same city, once again, repurposing a building no longer in use in a new way.
- From the moment the closing session ends: one city, one hotel, two consecutive nights, no flights, no repacking.
Things to do
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ElectronicsInnovation
Self-driving
City
City
Night
City
RouteElectronicsInnovationSelf-drivingCityCityNightCityRouteElectronicsInnovationSelf-drivingCityCityNightCityRouteItinerary
Arrivals
Shenzhen · Day 1 - Day 3
· From the Exhibition to the Market
The moment your final show wraps up, your itinerary begins. Finally meet the supply chain you’ve been sourcing from via email all along.
· The Old City Beneath the New District
A city gate, a museum, and then an hour of open sky. The city claims to be forty years old, but it still carries proof of a much older past.
· A Third Way to Use the Same Building
Visit a creative park, then head to the airport. Plan your final morning around your flight, not the other way around.
Departures
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Hotels
These are sample stays typically included in the itinerary. Final pricing depends on the hotel level selected.
Guangzhou
Guangzhou Marriott Hotel Tianhe
Situated in Tianhe Xin'an Central Business District with a prime location adjacent to Zhujiang New Town, this area is home to numerous multinational corporations.
Foshan
Foshan Marriott Hotel
Foshan
InterContinental Foshan
Guangzhou
Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou
Nestled in the heart of Taikoo Hui, the hotel offers exceptional transportation convenience with easy access to Shipaiqiao Station on Metro Line 3.
Guangzhou
Guangzhou Marriott Hotel Tianhe
Situated in Tianhe Xin'an Central Business District with a prime location adjacent to Zhujiang New Town, this area is home to numerous multinational corporations.
Foshan
Foshan Marriott Hotel
Foshan
InterContinental Foshan
Guangzhou
Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou
Nestled in the heart of Taikoo Hui, the hotel offers exceptional transportation convenience with easy access to Shipaiqiao Station on Metro Line 3.
Guangzhou
Guangzhou Marriott Hotel Tianhe
Situated in Tianhe Xin'an Central Business District with a prime location adjacent to Zhujiang New Town, this area is home to numerous multinational corporations.
Foshan
Foshan Marriott Hotel
Foshan
InterContinental Foshan
Guangzhou
Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou
Nestled in the heart of Taikoo Hui, the hotel offers exceptional transportation convenience with easy access to Shipaiqiao Station on Metro Line 3.
Included / Excluded
What's Included
- Private vehicleAir-conditioned private vehicle for all listed touring on all three days including fuel, tolls, parking and driver service allowance
- TransfersDay one pickup at your fair venue or hotel; day three drop-off at the airport or the departure point named in your confirmation
- Inter-city transportNone on this plan: it is a single city from start to finish, with no rail and no air segment between cities, so no cabin class applies
- Hotel2 nights in Shenzhen at four-star, five-star or quality boutique level, breakfast included, named in your confirmation
- GuideLicensed English-speaking guide on all three days, briefed to answer industry and supply chain questions
- Meals2 hotel breakfasts, on the mornings of day two and day three
- Day oneHuaqiangbei Electronics Market (guide-accompanied purchase floor), DJI Sky City, and an autonomous taxi (which also serves as transport between the two same-day locations). The DJI stop is at the company's office address, not a factory tour; the areas accessible on the day will be based on the written confirmation document.
- Day twoShekou and Nantou Old Town, the Shenzhen urban planning exhibition with admission, and the evening drone show
- Day threeOCT LOFT creative park
- Drinking waterBottled water on all three touring days
- InsuranceTravel accident insurance for the length of the plan
Not Included
- FlightsYour own round-trip flights and everything before Day 1, including accommodation during the trade fair
- MealsBeyond the 2 breakfasts above, all lunches and dinners: your guide recommends and books them on request, on your account
- Shenzhen Science and Technology MuseumOptional add-on tickets and reservation fees for morning of Day 3, quoted separately at time of booking and not included in the base price
- Optional add-onsQuoted separately when you choose them; nothing optional is added by default
- A fourth dayNo fourth day is sold with this plan, in Foshan, in Hong Kong or anywhere else
- PersonalVisas, gratuities, single supplement, personal spending
- Disruption costsExtra costs from severe weather, traffic restrictions, venue closures and flight delays
Special Notes
A few things on this route follow your schedule, an operator's schedule or the weather. Here they are, told straight.
- Start time — Day 1 has no fixed start time: it begins as soon as the closing ceremony ends. This time will be confirmed with you for each booking, including whether the morning of the closing day is occupied by teardown activities; we do not assume a schedule based on the event calendar.
- Robotaxi — Included in the base price and booked by date, with final confirmation made before arrival. Availability is subject to the operator's schedule. If service is suspended on the day, this item will not be carried out, no substitute activity will be provided, and the first day will be shortened by approximately one hour. Pricing for this scenario is specified in writing in the quote.
- Drone show — Included in the base fare, but this is a conditional item. It is only held when there is an available slot and suitable weather; the October–December 2026 slots have not yet been confirmed with the operator and must not be described as locked in. On dates without the show, the itinerary switches to an evening tour around the Civic Center, with no change to the quoted price.
- Shenzhen Science Museum — sold as an add-on only, quoted separately, never bundled and never counted as one of this plan's reasons to come. It takes about two of the four hours the departure morning holds, so we check it against your flight before you choose. Without it, day three is the creative park alone, which suits an early flight.
- Two guests, two names — the number of guests your quote covers is stated in writing on that quote, and no order is taken without it in writing.
- Hotels & venues — named in your confirmation; "or similar" always means the same class and comparable location, never a quiet downgrade.
Is Three Days Your Length?
Only two days instead of three?
Only two days instead of three?
Each day stands on its own, so we cut days, not corners: tell us your flight and we shape backward from it.
Good to Know
- Group Type
- Private tour, not shared with other guests. One person is enough to form a group. The number of guests in this booking is specified in writing within the quote.
- Start
- Day one starts at your fair venue or hotel, the hour your closing session ends
- Ports
- Starts and ends in Shenzhen; no second city and no overnight anywhere else
- Visas
- You are already in China when this plan starts. Before you pay, we check your entry date, your fair days and these three days against your 30-day visa-free window; if they do not fit, we say so instead of selling
- Language
- English-speaking licensed guide throughout, briefed on industry and supply chain questions
- Payment
- From 1 guest. A 10% deposit (minimum $399) locks your dates. The balance is due 14 days before departure. "Or similar" never means a quiet downgrade
- Changes
- The change and refund conditions for your dates are listed in writing with your quote, before you pay
- Season
- Selling season is October to December 2026. The one item that depends on a calendar and the weather is the drone show; see Special Notes
Your Private Concierge
Jenessa
Private China Route Concierge
“A bilingual planning desk for tailor-made China journeys.”
Our China team tunes pacing, hotels and local hosts around each route style.
20+
Years
300+
Trips Designed
24/7
On-Trip Care
Step 01
Tell us what excites you
Not your dates and budget — your curiosity. Where have you always wanted to go? What do you want to feel? We start there.
24h
First concept delivered
Step 02
We design it around you
Your specialist builds the itinerary from scratch — routes, hosts, hotels, and experiences you won't find anywhere else.
100%
Private, never off-the-shelf
Step 03
Lock it in with 30%
When the plan feels right, a 30% deposit holds your trip. Balance due 30 days before departure.
30%
Deposit to confirm
Step 04
Travel. We handle the rest.
Your Trip Pack arrives before you fly. On the road, your concierge is one message away — for the expected and everything you didn't plan for.
24/7
Support throughout your journey
Cancellation terms agreed in writing
English-speaking concierge
Secure payment via Stripe
Guest Reviews
4.9 / 5 · from 523 verified reviews
E
Emily Carter
🇺🇸 Seattle, USA
Perfect for couples
“My partner and I had an amazing time in China. Everything was arranged for us — transfers, hotels, guides. No stress at all.”
May 2026
C
Claire Brooks
🇬🇧 London, UK
Great for families
“Traveled with my two kids and had zero issues. The team made sure the pace wasn't too rushed and included things the kids would enjoy. Communication was easy throughout. Will definitely use them again for our next Asia trip.”
Apr 2026
L
Laura Bennett
🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada
Alisa made the whole experience easy
“Alisa was our point of contact throughout and she was brilliant — patient, knowledgeable, and always quick to reply. The trip itself was wonderful. Beijing and Guilin were highlights.”
Mar 2026
M
Mark Henderson
🇺🇸 Denver, USA
Good service, minor hiccup but sorted quickly
“Really good service. There was a small mix-up with one of our restaurant bookings but it got sorted quickly. The rest of the trip was seamless.”
Feb 2026
R
Rebecca Miller
🇺🇸 Boston, USA
Really listened to what we wanted
“Really helpful team. They listened to what we wanted and delivered. Beijing and Xi'an were incredible.”
Jan 2026
China Ready
We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveler needs to know before arriving.
Do this before you fly
VPN & Internet Access
What's blocked
Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and most Western news sites are inaccessible in China without a VPN.
Download before you leave
It's nearly impossible to download a VPN once inside China. Install and test at home. Recommended: Astrill (most reliable), Mullvad, ExpressVPN — subscribe to at least two in case one stops working.
Hotel Wi-Fi tip
Some hotels block VPN connections on their Wi-Fi. Use your phone's mobile data as a hotspot if the VPN drops.
Good news
WhatsApp works perfectly through a VPN, so your messaging stays unchanged. Apple iMessage and Signal also work.
Your concierge sets this up on Day 1
Paying in China
China is cashless
Alipay and WeChat Pay are used for almost everything — restaurants, taxis, markets, tickets. Cash is rarely accepted in cities.
International cards now work
Foreign Visa/Mastercard can now link directly to Alipay (set up in minutes, $5,000 single transaction limit). Your concierge walks you through the setup on your first morning.
Carry some cash
We recommend ¥500–800 RMB in cash for the rare vendor that won't accept digital payment, and for small towns.
Booking this trip
Your deposit and balance are charged via Stripe — the same trusted platform used by Airbnb and Booking.com. USD billing, no surprise conversion fees.
We handle the paperwork
Visa & Entry
Do you need a visa?
Most US, UK, EU, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand passport holders need a tourist (L) visa for stays over 10 days. We provide a visa invitation letter with every booking — it significantly speeds up approval.
240-hour visa-free transit
Citizens of 55+ countries (including USA, UK, most of EU, AUS, NZ, Canada) can enter China visa-free for up to 10 days if transiting through eligible ports. This covers our 12-day itinerary only if you have a confirmed onward flight.
Processing time
Apply 4–6 weeks before departure. Standard processing: 4–7 business days. Express (3 days) and same-day options available at most Chinese consulates.
What we provide
Visa invitation letter, hotel confirmation for all nights, suggested itinerary document — everything the consulate needs, formatted correctly.
Our responsibility, always
Safety & Practical Tips
Is China safe?
China consistently ranks among the safest countries for foreign tourists. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare. Cities have extensive CCTV coverage and a visible police presence.
Emergency numbers
Police: 110. Ambulance: 120. Your concierge is your first call for any non-emergency situation — she has local contacts for every city on the itinerary.
Health & medications
Bring a full supply of any prescription medication. International pharmacies exist in major cities but may not carry your brand. Travel insurance is required — we can recommend policies that cover China specifically.
Language
English fluency outside hotels and tourist sites is limited. Your guides all speak English. We provide a printed pocket card with essential Chinese phrases and emergency contacts for every traveler.
Before You Book
Everything worth knowing before you book.
Yes: day one has no fixed start. Your driver waits, the market walk shortens first, and the two days after it do not depend on that afternoon. We set the day one start time with you when you book, not from a calendar.
Two, and both are already paid for in your price. The Robotaxi ride runs on a public operator's service, so if that service is suspended on your date the ride does not run: nothing replaces it and day one finishes about an hour earlier, with the price treatment for that case written into your quote. The drone show runs only on scheduled dates and in suitable weather, and the late-2026 schedule is not confirmed yet: on an evening without one you get the lit cityscape around Shenzhen Civic Center instead, at no change in price. Everything else on the plan is under our own arrangement.
We check before you take payment, not after. UK, European and Canadian passports currently enter China visa-free for days, and so do Australian and New Zealand passports. The window is counted from the day after entry, so your clock started when you flew in for the fair. We add your entry date, your fair days and these three days together against that window. If the total does not fit, we tell you and do not sell the plan.
Day one and day three end before dinner and nothing is scheduled after them. Day two is the exception: the drone show or the lit cityscape takes that evening, which is why it sits on day two rather than the night your inbox is fullest. If you would rather keep that evening too, tell us and we drop it.
No: day three holds one visit of about two hours plus your airport transfer, so it is built to be cut. Take the creative park and go straight to the airport, and the morning still works. The optional museum is the part that needs a later flight, which is why it is only offered once we have seen your flight time.
