Luohu

Old Shenzhen with budget shopping and authentic local life. Cheap accommodation but minimal English, sketchy after dark, and no nightlife.

This was Shenzhen's original center before everything moved north and west. Luohu Railway Station and the Hong Kong border crossing create constant crowds hauling luggage and shopping bags. Dongmen shopping district buzzes during the day with locals hunting deals at wholesale markets and tightly packed shops. Luohu Commercial City is famous for knockoff designer goods, though vendors are aggressive and the experience gets exhausting. Housing is cheaper than Nanshan or Futian, which means older, smaller apartments. It feels authentically Chinese - street vendors selling fruit, old people doing tai chi at dawn, signs entirely in Chinese. English is rare except near border hotels, and few expats live here. Eating alone works, though foreign women might get some stares. During the day it's generally safe. After dark some areas get sketchy once shops close and crowds leave - stick to main roads with good lighting, not side streets. The border traffic and wholesale shopping make it chaotic compared to the planned modern districts. Fine for budget accommodation, but most people head to Shekou or Coco Park for evenings.