[HKFella]

Originally Posted by vanvarn

SZ is about as safe as Detroit. HK is a better living environment. Do like a lot of us who work in China. Live in China week days, then come back to HK on the weekends.

Just curious - whose income tax applies when you live and work like that?

[cerberus]

HK all the way, especially if your lifestyle has to make room for being around open minded as opposed to rather ignorant people.

[Bigrice1017]

Hey Canadian,

I'm also from Toronto, but I'm a Chinese. I live in Willowdale and Mississaugua before. Welcome to HK. I think HK is a better place for you, at least to start with (not unless you can speak Mandarin). The house in HK is small, but safe and convenient. I guess you have to be careful while you are in Shenzhen, especially a month or two before Chinese New Year.

The pubs closed at 2:00 a.m. in Shenzhen, whereas, in HK some of them are still open by 4:00 a.m. After drinks, you can simply take a taxi home in HK. Taxi in Shenzhen may not be safe.

Anyway, welcome to HK!

[Roger]

I've never had any problem with Shenzhen taxis. Just be sensible: you find the taxi yourself rather than go with the touts who hang around the customs building

[JohanSWE]

geez, where do you guys go in SZ? i mean i been to SZ a good 40-50times and i never been mugged, beaten, robbed or what ever. i had one friend whos wallet was stolen ONCE! (he forgott it on the counter in a shop)
To say SZ is like detriot is an overstatement.. but yeah if you go there in a pair of white loafers, a hawaii shirt and golf shorts with your wallet sticking out of your pocket, .. well buddy then your asking for it so blame yourself.
I think alot of people came here and heard from locals how bad and horrible SZ is and just keep spreading the word.
Sure some caution is always good.. but its not like someone is gonna pull out a gun and mugg you on the street in the open.

[muimui]

I personally don't prefer SZ.
Once, I was walking on a main street in SZ with my friend (female), I suddenly felt something strange on my back, then I realised there was one man(acutallly teenage) was trying to open my backpack....I was so scared...he left immediately. I was lucky--acutally I could do nothing if he just took my bag as no one there cared about us !!

[Roger]

Thieving happens on both sides of the border! I've had passport nicked in both SZ and HK, and I still go to SZ regularly. The vast majority of trips are trouble free. Just take the normal precautions you would anywhere.

[imcanadian]

I guess it depends on what part of the city you are just like any other place. The reality is that people who live and work there tell me it's not a good idea for a foreigner to go around if he doesn't know where he is going. Thanks for all the advice. Look forward to catching up with you guys once I get back.

[HKFella]

Originally Posted by imcanadian

I guess it depends on what part of the city you are just like any other place. The reality is that people who live and work there tell me it's not a good idea for a foreigner to go around if he doesn't know where he is going. Thanks for all the advice. Look forward to catching up with you guys once I get back.

Strictly speaking, they don't count as foreigners, but even a number of local HK people who visit SZ regularly have mentioned to me on separate occasions that they don't dare go around off the narrow beaten track in SZ, unless they are in sufficiently large numbers or with a local acquaintance.

[Mat]

My 2 cents.
Generally speaking, and I insist on the generally, chinese ppl (from HK or Macao) will describe you China and any other Asian country (except Japan, Korean and Thailand) as an unsafe and scary place. Well it has been almost 4 years now that I live in Asia and I never felt so much safe in my life (compare to Europe let say). Of course you can get rob or else, but I spent quite some time in China (remote area and big cities) in Vietnam, Malysia, Philippines.... and I never really felt insecure. I am not saying that you can't get robbed or else. I am just saying that GENERALLY speaking, ppl from HK or Macao do not really realize that their country is EXTRA safe compare to 95% of the other places in the world. I have been to shenzhen and Zhuhai a couple of times and never had personally any problem. Some of my friend got robbed or mugged...but it is far from a generality.