Hardware founders
Understand Huaqiangbei, suppliers, prototyping districts, factory visits, and where to live so half your trip is not lost in taxis.
Plan a hardware tripThe operating manual for serious foreigners
Move to Shenzhen properly.
Practical guides and on-the-ground support for founders, operators, investors, and globally minded people setting up in China's most important hardware city.
Independent operators on the ground Reply within 24 hours Clear written scope before paid work
Who this is for
Built for people who came to Shenzhen to do something.
Not tourism-board copy. Not expat forum archaeology. This is for people who need the city to function quickly.
Product operators
Get the practical rails working: apartment, phone, payments, internet, transport, delivery, domestic travel, and workday logistics.
Get set upInvestors visiting Shenzhen
See the hardware ecosystem with context: founder meetings, market orientation, factory visits, private transport, and bilingual support.
Build an itineraryPeople relocating to China
Choose the right district, avoid apartment mistakes, get connected, and build your first-week plan before you land.
Start your move
How the city works
Shenzhen rewards operators.
Apartments, payments, phone numbers, home internet, transport, suppliers, factories, and basic errands run on local rails. Once those rails are set up, the city becomes dramatically easier to use.
Money and payments
Alipay, WeChat Pay, backup cards, cash, limits, and the path to a local bank account.
Housing and compounds
District, compound quality, management office, noise, lease terms, furnishing, and landlord behavior.
Phone and identity
The Chinese phone number is the key to verification codes, apps, deliveries, bookings, and local services.
Internet and home office
Building wiring, provider availability, router quality, mobile backup, and international app access.
Transport and districts
Shenzhen is large and linear. Choose based on weekly movement, not just where foreigners congregate.
Hardware and sourcing
Use Huaqiangbei for discovery, factories for depth, and clear briefs for supplier meetings.
Business practices
Meeting cadence, contract norms, payment expectations, introductions, interpretation, and follow-up discipline.
Legal and admin
Visa, tax, company, rental, and medical questions should be prepared carefully for qualified providers.
Services
Free guides when you want clarity. Paid help when you want it done.
The first commercial products are deliberately practical: landing support, apartment setup, and hardware tours.
From US$750
Shenzhen Landing Package
Area choice, arrival planning, first-week checklist, phone, payments, internet, apps, and optional in-person orientation.
From US$1,500
Apartment Search and Setup
District selection, apartment shortlist, lease checklist, move-in inspection, furnishing, cleaning, internet, and utilities.
From US$1,500/day
Hardware Founder Tour
Huaqiangbei, supplier visits, factory visits, category mapping, bilingual support, meeting prep, and daily debriefs.
From US$300
Internet and Phone Setup
Mobile plans, home internet, router choices, international app access, backup connectivity, and home office setup.
District logic
Choose where to live by commute, not vibes.
A hardware founder around Bao'an factories and Huaqiangbei needs a different answer from a family in Shekou or a software operator in Nanshan.
Nanshan
Best for: tech, founders, universities, international lifestyle
Watch out for: can be expensive and far from some factories
Shekou
Best for: easier foreigner landing, families, restaurants, waterfront
Watch out for: commute may not fit hardware-heavy trips
Futian
Best for: central business, metro access, border access, admin
Watch out for: premium central rents and less relaxed daily life
Huaqiangbei
Best for: electronics market access and short hardware trips
Watch out for: intense, not ideal for every long-term home
Bao'an
Best for: factories, airport, manufacturing access
Watch out for: less polished, English can be harder
Longhua
Best for: value, north-south access, growing communities
Watch out for: commute planning matters
Get help
Planning a move, sourcing trip, or founder visit?
Tell us what you are trying to do in Shenzhen. We will help you work out the practical path and where paid support actually makes sense.
Independent operators on the ground
Written proposals with clear scope and pricing
Replies within 24 hours, usually same day