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Oliver Dadema takes a high-speed train from Hong Kong to Shenzhen, expecting a straightforward journey but facing several delays. He tries a self-service ticket machine, which does not recognize his passport, and then buys a ticket at the counter for 75 Hong Kong dollars. Security and customs checks take longer than he expects, and he misses his train before securing a seat on the next one in first class. After arriving in Shenzhen, he has trouble using Google Maps and cannot get cash from an ATM with his foreign card. He eventually downloads Alipay and uses it to buy a metro ticket. His experience includes a 15-day visa on arrival for European passport holders, advice to allow time for immigration, and the need to set up mobile payment before traveling.
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Ticketing and border procedures
Oliver Dadema travels from Hong Kong to Shenzhen by high-speed train. He expects the trip to be simple, but has trouble buying a ticket at a self-service machine because it does not recognize his passport. He goes to a ticket counter and buys a ticket for 75 Hong Kong dollars. At the station he passes several security and customs checks and describes the process in detail. A Chinese immigration officer speaks Dutch to him after seeing his passport, an unexpected moment during the crossing.
The immigration process takes longer than Oliver planned, and he misses his original train. He is initially frustrated, then buys a seat on the next train, which is in first class. He notes that European passport holders can receive a 15-day visa on arrival, and that it is sensible to allow time for immigration and customs. His journey demonstrates how ticket purchase, border control, and train schedules can interact when crossing into China.
Arriving in Shenzhen and using payment apps
After reaching Shenzhen, Oliver navigates the metro. Google Maps does not work well for him, and an ATM does not accept his foreign card. He looks for another way to buy a metro ticket and eventually downloads Alipay, a mobile payment app, to complete the purchase. The experience leads him to advise travelers to set up Alipay before arrival and to have another payment method available.
Oliver ends the video at his hotel, reflecting on the challenges and humorous moments of his first arrival in China. He promises to show the hotel and explore Shenzhen in a later video. His account moves from ticketing and customs to the train ride and city transport, including the missed departure and the alternative train. The trip is less smooth than planned but leaves him positive about continuing his visit.
Oliver shares more of the logistics as the day unfolds. He first tries the self-service ticket machine, then goes to the counter when it cannot read his passport. The 75 Hong Kong dollar ticket gets him to the train, but security and customs take additional time. The officer’s use of Dutch is an unexpected moment, and Oliver is initially looking forward to getting a Chinese stamp in his passport. By the time the checks finish, the train has gone, so he secures a seat in first class on a later departure. The extra waiting time lets him look at the train amenities and maintain his enthusiasm for reaching Shenzhen.
The metro ride creates another set of obstacles. Google Maps does not help him as expected, and the foreign card cannot withdraw cash from the ATM. After his credit card also fails for a metro ticket, he searches for another route and successfully installs Alipay. That app becomes the way he buys the ticket. He ends the trip at his hotel and says the unexpected problems made the arrival less smooth, but the experience remains positive. He plans to show the hotel and continue exploring in a follow-up.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: What was Oliver’s route from Hong Kong to Shenzhen like?
- A: He traveled by high-speed train, but the trip included ticketing problems, security and customs checks, and a missed departure. After buying another ticket, he arrived in Shenzhen and continued by metro to his hotel.
- Q: What happened when Oliver tried to buy a train ticket?
- A: The self-service machine did not recognize his passport, so he went to a ticket counter and bought a ticket for 75 Hong Kong dollars. The subsequent immigration delay caused him to miss that train and take the next one instead.
- Q: How did Oliver pay for the Shenzhen metro?
- A: His foreign card did not work at the ATM, and using a credit card for a metro ticket was unsuccessful. He downloaded Alipay and used the mobile payment app to buy his metro ticket.
