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Madeleine Borge explores Shenzhen's technology-focused attractions, from robot coffee and a popcorn machine controlled by concentration to Shenzhen Bay Culture Park, where drones deliver food and mist cools the ground. She also deals with confusing map translations and takes a rest day after getting sick. Then she travels to Hong Kong, tries a bubble waffle and a sourdough egg tart, rides the Mid-Levels escalator and meets a follower and her father, who show her around Victoria Peak.
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Shenzhen's robot cafes and culture park
Madeleine Borge spends three days traveling solo in Shenzhen, a city that interests her because of her background in Chinese current affairs. She stays at the Muji Hotel and finds that English place names on social media do not always match map labels. To locate the right places, she compares photos rather than relying only on the names. Her technology stops include a robot coffee maker, a dancing robot and a machine that pops corn when she concentrates on it. The brain-wave popcorn demonstration is playful, and she reacts to the novelty of making the machine work by focusing on it.
Maddie gets sick during the trip and spends a day resting. She orders beef broth soup and xiao long bao while recovering, then returns to sightseeing. On her final Shenzhen day she visits Shenzhen Bay Culture Park. She points out futuristic buildings shaped like giant AirPods, drones delivering food over the outdoor paths and a ground cooling system that sprays mist. The nearby MixC mall gives her a place to have lunch, where she tries a strawberry matcha ice cream float. The park's architecture and technology are part of the public-space experience she explores.
A day in Hong Kong
Maddie takes a train to Hong Kong, a journey described as about 15 minutes. She stays in a hotel with a pool in the room for £200 a night. The following morning she tries bubble waffles, then takes a ferry to Central. She finds Hong Kong very hilly, and uses the Mid-Levels escalator system, which she describes as the world's longest outdoor escalator, to get around with less climbing. She later tries a sourdough egg tart from a famous bakery chain.
At Victoria Peak, a follower and her father recognize Maddie and show her around. She enjoys the views and says the tropical landscape reminds her of Indonesia. The encounter gives her an unexpected local introduction during the day trip. Across Shenzhen and Hong Kong, the three-day itinerary includes technology demonstrations, food, a rest day, train and ferry rides, and meeting people who follow her work.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: What was the most confusing thing about navigating Shenzhen?
- A: The English translations of places on social media don't match the maps, so I had to search by photos.
- Q: How did you make popcorn with your brain waves?
- A: I concentrated really hard and the machine used my brain waves to pop the kernels - it was so fun.
- Q: What was your favorite food in Hong Kong?
- A: The sourdough egg tart from a famous bakery chain - it was delicious.
- Q: How did you meet locals in Hong Kong?
- A: I ran into a follower and her dad who showed me around Victoria Peak - it was a great surprise.
