Huaqiangbei Commercial Street

Chinese name: 华强北商业街 Huáqiángběi Shāngyèjiē

A sizeable chunk of Shenzhen's prosperity can be traced to this vast cottage industry of tech that stretches across several city blocks.

Mall after mall selling every tiny electrical component imaginable – like multicolored spices in a bazaar – has helped make Shenzhen the world's main tech manufacturing hub. For anyone into hacker culture, it’s a fascinating place to browse, but even if you don’t know your RAM from your ROM, you'll find stores selling all manner of well-designed “made in Shenzhen” gadgets and gizmos, often at a fraction of the price you’d find overseas.

A word of warning: if you’re tempted to buy Chinese Android smartphones, you should be aware that government regulations restrict the installation of the Google suite of apps (including the Play Store), effectively crippling them for nonChinese users.

Add: Huaqiangbei Road (华强北路)

Metro: Huaqiang NorthStation, Line 2 Exit Aor Line 7 Exit E2