Wondering if its worth having a 14 hr layover in Shenzhen?

Question

I'll be travelling with my 15 yr old son for a holiday to Asia in June and I have the option of picking either a Shenzhen Air flight with a 14 hr layover from 5.10pm to 7.10am the next day, or 5.10pm to 13.35pm the next day. I know with our British passports, we don't need to apply for a visa to get out of the airport by Metro to sightsee.

However, is there anything in Shenzhen to see/do for a teen boy and his mum at these sorts of times? Do the shops there generally close at 5 or 6 pm ish like in the UK? And do the shops open at sort of like 10 am ish? Because I think if that is the case, then we would not have much time to see much, seeing as we need to be at the airport 2 hours before the flight off to the next location? If there is nothing much to do, then perhaps I wouldn't pick the flight with the stopover. I just thought it might be nice to sightsee a bit of Shenzhen, but wondering about the logistics of this.

Also would you advise booking a hotel room to sleep for the night? There seems to be some hotels around the airport when I Googled, but I'm not sure if they're really at the airport, or would it incur some travelling time. Would you recommend a specific hotel?

Edited: 1 year ago

Answer

With a 14-hour layover in Shenzhen, there is a potential to leave the airport and explore a little, but the timing will limit how much you can actually see, especially with a teen. Given your arrival at 5:10 PM and departure at 7:10 AM the next day, most shops, attractions, and public transit will be winding down in the evening.

Practical considerations for sightseeing:

Shenzhen’s main shopping areas, such as Luohu Commercial City or Huaqiangbei electronics market, typically close between 8–9 PM. Smaller shops and malls may close around 7–8 PM.
Since you arrive at 5:10 PM, by the time you clear immigration and reach the city center, you might only have 2–3 hours to explore before most stores close.
Many tourist attractions, like Window of the World or OCT Loft, also close in the early evening, around 6–7 PM, so visiting them may not be feasible with a short layover.
Public transport like the metro is operational until around midnight, so you could travel around safely if needed, but sightseeing options will be limited.

Considering these factors, the layover is better suited for resting overnight rather than active sightseeing. Booking a hotel near the airport is recommended to maximize comfort and sleep, especially with a teen. Some practical options:

Shenzhen Bao’an Airport Hotels: A few are within a 5–10 minute drive from the terminals, including transit hotels, which are convenient and save travel time.
Hotels like Hilton Garden Inn Shenzhen Bao’an or Pullman Shenzhen Airport provide airport shuttle services and are well-reviewed for layovers.
Booking in advance is recommended, especially in June, which is a busy travel season in China.

Summary advice:

If your main goal is sightseeing, a 14-hour layover is tight and not ideal; most attractions and shops will be closed for much of your available time.
Booking a nearby airport hotel for rest is a practical solution, allowing you to be fresh for your next flight.
If you select the slightly longer layover (arriving 5:10 PM and departing 1:35 PM the next day), you would have more daylight hours to explore Shenzhen, making sightseeing more feasible.

In conclusion, for a short overnight layover, it is generally better to rest in an airport hotel rather than attempt sightseeing, unless your layover allows for more daytime hours.

Wondering if its worth having a 14 hr layover in Shenzhen?

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