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I Entered China for the First Time… (I'M SHOCKED) 🇨🇳
Entering China: First Time in Shenzhen's Futuristic City
Today I leave Hong Kong and enter Mainland China for the very first time on this trip. What starts as a simple 14 minute high speed train ride quickly turns into a completely different experience. From crossing the border and arriving in Shenzhen to exploring futuristic metro stations, skyscrapers,...
Today I leave Hong Kong and enter Mainland China for the very first time on this trip. What starts as a simple 14 minute high speed train ride quickly turns into a completely different experience. From crossing the border and arriving in Shenzhen to exploring futuristic metro stations, skyscrapers, and modern city life, this was not what I expected. Is China really living in the future? Let’s find out.
Join Stef as he takes his first step into Mainland China via a 14-minute high-speed train from Hong Kong to Shenzhen. What he finds is a futuristic wonderland of gleaming skyscrapers, mind-bending metro stations, and a city that seems to have leaped ahead in time. From the border crossing to the urban jungle, this eye-opening journey challenges every preconception about China. Is it really living in the future? Watch and be amazed.
Today I leave Hong Kong and enter Mainland China for the very first time on this trip. What starts as a simple 14 minute high speed train ride quickly turns into a completely different experience. From crossing the border and arriving in Shenzhen to exploring futuristic metro stations, skyscrapers, and modern city life, this was not what I expected. Is China really living in the future? Let’s find out.
Stef's first entry into mainland China was anything but a routine train ride. The 14-minute high-speed journey from Hong Kong to Shenzhen kicked off a chaotic adventure filled with multiple passport scans, bag checks, and a steep learning curve for digital tools. <br><br>From the moment he stepped into the futuristic Shenzhen station, Stef was struck by its museum-like silence despite 18 million residents. The metro system blew him away—clean, modern, with temperature-controlled cars and even a cat café inside Gangxia North station, where passengers can pet real cats for free. <br><br>Stef made a classic rookie mistake: copying the wrong hotel address, leading to a 42-minute taxi ride across the city. But that mistake turned into a highlight—a premium electric car ride cost just $7.50. He also discovered that Chinese cars are cheaper and better than Western ones, and that the streets are eerily quiet because of electric vehicles. <br><br>Navigating Shenzhen required a digital arsenal: Stef stressed the importance of downloading Alipay, WeChat, Didi, and a VPN (he recommends Malva) before arrival. He showed how to use Alipay's transport card for metro entry, and warned that Google Maps doesn't work—use Apple Maps or A Map instead. <br><br>Lunch at a Hunan-style restaurant was a sensory overload. Stef used ChatGPT to translate the menu and ordered a non-spicy beef with tomato and potatoes. The rice cooker at the table and free tea added to the authentic experience. <br><br>Stef's emotional rollercoaster went from exhausted frustration to childlike wonder, especially when he found cats in a metro station. His genuine surprise at the efficiency, cleanliness, and affordability of Shenzhen makes this a compelling introduction to modern China. The video ends with a teaser for drone delivery and a Chinese Amazon visit—proof that Stef's Shenzhen adventure is just beginning.
Stef's first journey from Hong Kong into Shenzhen was a whirlwind of futuristic metro stations, silent electric streets, and a surprise cat café inside a train station. From cheap premium taxis to spicy Hunan beef, every moment shattered his expectations. China truly lives in the future.
Stef crosses from Hong Kong into Shenzhen, encountering futuristic stations, silent electric streets, cat cafés, and cheap luxuries. A shocking first taste of a
First Time in Shenzhen China: Shocked by Futuristic City & Cat Station
2:48 When entering mainland China, expect multiple passport checks and camera surveillance. Arrive early for immigration lines, especially at busy stations.
7:11 Before arriving, download Alipay, WeChat, Didi, and A Map. Activate Alipay's transport card with your passport for seamless metro travel.
8:11 Metro stations check bags and even water bottles. Be prepared for security checks at every entrance.
10:50 If using a metro token, ensure sufficient balance. Alternatively, use Alipay QR code directly to scan in and out of the metro.
16:43 Use trip.com for hotel directions and open them in Didi app for taxi booking. Premium taxis in China are incredibly cheap.
19:35 When booking a hotel in China, always look for non-smoking rooms to avoid smoke smell. Check Wi-Fi speed if you need to upload videos.
21:42 To use Alipay for metro, select transport, then traffic card, and activate with your passport. Scan QR code at gates to enter and exit.
29:29 Use a reliable VPN like Malva to access Google, YouTube, and WhatsApp while in China. Test it before you need it.
2:48 When entering mainland China, expect multiple passport checks and camera surveillance. Arrive early for immigration lines, especially at busy stations.
7:11 Before arriving, download Alipay, WeChat, Didi, and A Map. Activate Alipay's transport card with your passport for seamless metro travel.
8:11 Metro stations check bags and even water bottles. Be prepared for security checks at every entrance.
10:50 If using a metro token, ensure sufficient balance. Alternatively, use Alipay QR code directly to scan in and out of the metro.
16:43 Use trip.com for hotel directions and open them in Didi app for taxi booking. Premium taxis in China are incredibly cheap.
19:35 When booking a hotel in China, always look for non-smoking rooms to avoid smoke smell. Check Wi-Fi speed if you need to upload videos.
21:42 To use Alipay for metro, select transport, then traffic card, and activate with your passport. Scan QR code at gates to enter and exit.
29:29 Use a reliable VPN like Malva to access Google, YouTube, and WhatsApp while in China. Test it before you need it.
0:00 Chaotic border crossing begins
1:44 Passport checks and immigration
6:31 First impressions of Shenzhen station
7:11 Essential apps for China
15:16 Wrong hotel adventure
17:46 Cheap premium taxi ride
22:48 Massive Gangxia North metro station
26:21 Cats in the train station
29:50 Most popular street in Shenzhen
31:27 Hunan style lunch
0:00 Chaotic border crossing begins
1:44 Passport checks and immigration
6:31 First impressions of Shenzhen station
7:11 Essential apps for China
15:16 Wrong hotel adventure
17:46 Cheap premium taxi ride
22:48 Massive Gangxia North metro station
26:21 Cats in the train station
29:50 Most popular street in Shenzhen
31:27 Hunan style lunch
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You need Alipay, WeChat, Didi, and A Map. Also get a reliable VPN like Malva to access Google and YouTube.
How do I pay for the metro in Shenzhen?
Use Alipay's transport card by selecting the traffic card option, activate with your passport, then scan the QR code at metro gates.
Are taxis in China really that cheap?
Yes, a 42-minute premium taxi ride cost only $7.50, incredibly cheap compared to Western prices.
Are there really cats in the train station?
Yes, at Gangxia North station there are real cats you can pet for free, right inside the metro station.
