One of the worst experience I have had this summer was traveling from main land China to Hong Kong. Even with the one country two system policy, crossing the boarders was not made any easier... at all!
The starting point of my trip is North Eastern China （东北）, and one of the more economical way to travel would be to take a plane to ShenZhen （深圳）and
cross boarders on foot (flight from mainland to Hong Kong is considered international, costing a lot more) ShenZhen is right beside Hong Kong, no more than a half hour drive, but it took us four hours to get in Hong Kong.
8 am in the morning I arrived at ShenZhen's boarder to exist main-land China. I, holding Canadian passport, took even longer than the Chinese passport holders ( 港澳通行证) because there is only one service line. If you ever plan to exist mainland on foot, be sure to ASK for a departure card while you are waiting in line. No one told me I needed one, that resulted in a much longer process time and it held up the line for ever longer.
After I departed from China, I arrived on a piece of land that belongs to no one, its neither ShenZhen nor HongKong, but it is still China. After a bus ride that took less than two minutes (loading time took longer with the everyone's luggages), Hong Kong was insight, but there were thousands of people standing between you and the destination. And these people are aggressive, they will cut line, they will push and pull, anything to get a head of you. Finally, after hours of waiting I came out the other side where two very cute dogs sat on both sides of the gateway sniffing my bags for drugs. Ever since I watched Bridge Jone's Diary two, I have become paranoid that random people will sneak drugs into my luggage, but every thing went well, and after hours of standing, hours of extreme heat ( 35+ C will all the people squishing you) , I finally arrived in Hong Kong!
Unfortunately camera was not allowed any where near the boarders... so no pictures.
Tips for boarder crossing:
1. Do it at late night or early morning to beat the rush (these are the times when there are fewest people)
2. Try to bring some snacks since you are going to spend a long time there ( water and liquid are allowed)
3. Arrive early, you never know how long it will take!!! (in case you need to catch a plane)
4. (after you have arrived in Hong Kong) MTR (subway or underground railroad) is the cheapest way to travel, but if you do not know your way around the place yet, take a taxi (expansive, costing up to 50x more)
5. (after you have arrived in Hong Kong) Ask about and get a Octopus card ASAP
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| the plane ride of ShenZhen |
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| ShenZhen from above |
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| ShenZhen international airport |
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| the city (ShenZhen) |
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| leaving ShenZhen for HongKong |
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