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Pat and Giulia visit Shenzhen to see whether one of China's richest cities can be affordable. They find a gold-clad apartment in Luohu for £22 a night, with an electric bathroom mirror and clothes-drying rack, and discuss long-stay rates that can fall to around £10. A meal for two costs about £6, coffee starts at 9 yuan (about £1), and spicy bread costs 7 yuan (70p). They also compare cheap noodles, pizza, desserts, tea, and shopping with the city's luxury malls and designer stores.
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Budget accommodation and meals in Shenzhen
Pat and Giulia explore Shenzhen, China's Silicon Valley, to compare the cost of living in one of the country's richest cities. In Luohu, they find a gold-clad apartment for £22 a night. The room has an electric bathroom mirror and a clothes-drying rack that are unfamiliar to them. They note that longer stays may lower the nightly rate from £22 to around £10, and suggest looking outside central areas where prices are higher and lifts can be crowded.
They try a complete meal for two at a local chain restaurant for about £6, including dumplings, greens, a large beer, and water. Coffee is inexpensive too: Luckin and local chains have coffee starting at 9 yuan, about £1. They compare these prices with other options in the city, including a bowl of noodles for £2 and a pizza for £20. The couple note that budget eateries and independent shops can offer lower-cost alternatives even in wealthier neighborhoods.
Street food, tea, and city life
For a street snack, Pat and Giulia try freshly made spicy bread that costs 7 yuan, or 70p. They also shop for lavish desserts priced under £2. A traditional tea shop serves a bitter herbal brew, adding another local taste to the visit. Their observations include clean streets and many bicycles, along with a payment culture they describe as based on trust.
The couple contrast inexpensive food and accommodation with luxury malls and designer stores frequented by wealthy locals. Their examples range from a £2 bowl of noodles and a £1 coffee to a £20 pizza and expensive shopping. They conclude that Shenzhen has different price levels and that visitors can choose between lower-cost local experiences and high-end options. The video considers whether the city is affordable and answers through the specific rooms, meals, drinks, snacks, and shopping they encounter.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: Can you stay in Shenzhen on a budget?
- A: The hosts find a studio apartment in Luohu for £22 a night and say long stays can bring the rate down to around £10. They also have a meal for two for £6 and a street snack for 70p, showing that lower-cost options exist alongside luxury choices.
- Q: What surprised them about Shenzhen's cost of living?
- A: They are surprised that a wealthy city can still have inexpensive food and lodging, such as a £2 bowl of noodles or a £1 coffee. They also compare those costs with more expensive options like a £20 pizza.
- Q: What is Shenzhen's street food like?
- A: The hosts try a spicy bread snack for 70p and visit local vendors for freshly made food. They also taste a bitter herbal tea at a traditional tea shop and note the range of inexpensive choices.
