Shenzhen is a sub-provincial city of Guangdong province in southern China. Shenzhen is a centre of foreign investment, one of the fastest growing cities in the world and the busiest port in China after Shanghai. International visitors have easy access from Hong Kong and the provincial capital Guangzhou.

In the past two decades, outsiders have invested more than USD 30 billion in Shenzhen for manufacturing plants and forming joint ventures. The greater Shenzhen region is recognised as the centre of China's optoelectronic production and consumer industry and hence the perfect location for CIOE.

Shenzhen at a Glance

Location
Situated in the southern coastal area of Guangdong province; between north latitude 22 27' - 22 52', east longitude, 113 46' - 114 37', 160 kilometers away from Guangzhou, 35 kilometers from Hongkong and Kowlong; Dapeng Gulf to the east, the influx of the Pearl River west, Hongkong south, Dongguan and Huizhou cities north

Neighboring Areas
Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian, and Hainan provinces; Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Hong Kong and Macao

Physical Features
Facing the sea and surrounded by mountains; higher in southeast, lower in northwest; mainly covered by hills with plains in its western area

History
A history of 6,000 years; used to be a stationed place when Baiyue Tribe going to sea in ancient times; an important hub of water and land trade in Southern China; also a salt origin and famous for its perfume

Climatic Features
Subtropical maritime climate; annual average sunshine of 21-20 hours
Average Temperature: annual average temperature of 22.4 C; with the highest temperature of 36.6 C and the lowest of 1.4 C

Rainfall
Annual average of 1948.6mm

Time Zone
Shenzhen China Time is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+8), 16 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time, and 13 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the United States.

Telephone
Country dialing code: 86
City (Shenzhen) dialing code: 755

Electricity
220 volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. Devices that do not accept 220 volts at 50 hertz will need a voltage converter. Outlets in China generally accept two types of plug: flat blade plugs and v-shaped flat prongs. Appliance plugs with a different shape may need a plug adapter.

Language
Mandarin Chinese (official), Cantonese