11 days vancouver to hk, shenzen and maybe goungzhou

Question

i got only 11 days approx and i live in vancouver, canada and i want travel to hk/macau and the surrounding cities. hk for 4 days and train to check out the other 2 cities(shen zhen and Guanhzhou).

How many days would you say it is worth to see Hong Kong?

day 1 Victoria Peak and the Avenue of Stars

day 2 see the buddha and disneyland

day 3 macau trip

day 4. shopping around hk and looking around

day 4 visit shen zhen (havent researched it yet but its a tech place just doing whatever free tourist stuff they got)

day 5 shen zhen

day 6 7 8 shen zhen

day 9 10 11 GZ

you think its enough time and has anyone done it before for such a short time frame

some ppl tell me dont bother going to asia if you dont have at least 2 weeks as im coming from vancouver , canada

suggestions

im a single 40 year old man and going in early nov. im going solo

any suggestions before i go and is it easy to navigate if you cant speak chinese well and cant read chinese at all

Answer

With 11 days from Vancouver, your plan to visit Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou is ambitious but doable, though you will be moving quickly and won’t have much time to linger. Early November is a good time weather-wise, as it is generally mild and less humid.

For Hong Kong, 4 full days is reasonable for a first visit, allowing you to see major highlights. Your outlined itinerary seems well-balanced:

Day 1: Victoria Peak, Central, and Avenue of Stars – great introduction to the city and skyline views.
Day 2: Tian Tan Buddha (Ngong Ping 360) and Disneyland – ambitious but feasible if you start early. You may need to skip some Disneyland rides if you want to see the Buddha the same day.
Day 3: Macau – a day trip works, though ferry timings and border crossing may take a few hours each way. Plan to focus on the main attractions like Senado Square, Ruins of St. Paul, and Cotai Strip.
Day 4: Shopping, exploring neighborhoods (Mong Kok, Central, Sheung Wan) – good buffer day before moving to mainland China.

For Shenzhen, spending 3–4 days is sufficient if your goal is mainly to explore tourist-friendly areas. Shenzhen is very modern, safe, and has plenty of English signage in central areas:

Day 5–7: Explore areas like OCT Loft, Dafen Oil Painting Village, Window of the World, and shopping districts like Luohu and Huaqiangbei (electronics).
Day 8: Optional extra day for local parks, cultural museums, or tech exploration.

Guangzhou is interesting for history and food. 3 days gives you time to:

See Canton Tower, Shamian Island, and Chen Clan Ancestral Hall.
Sample Cantonese cuisine and local markets.
Explore Pearl River cruises or museums.

Travel logistics:

Trains between HK, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou are fast and easy. Hong Kong to Shenzhen can be done in under an hour via MTR or border trains. Shenzhen to Guangzhou is 1–1.5 hours by high-speed train.
English is widely spoken in Hong Kong, less so in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, but major transport hubs, metro systems, and tourist areas have English signage. Having translation apps and offline maps will help.
For a solo traveler, public transport is safe, efficient, and easy to navigate. Taxis are also affordable, but make sure the driver knows the destination in Chinese or use an app.

Suggestions:

Be realistic about what you can see; don’t try to cram too much, especially in Shenzhen if your interest is casual sightseeing.
Pack comfortable shoes for walking and plan for some rest periods.
Use Octopus cards in HK and transport cards in Shenzhen/Guangzhou for convenience.
Keep copies of your accommodation addresses in Chinese for taxis or border crossings.

Overall, while some advise at least 2 weeks for China, your 11-day plan is manageable for these specific cities. Focus on major sights, and you’ll have a fulfilling trip without feeling too rushed.

11 days vancouver to hk, shenzen and maybe goungzhou

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