Shekou
Encyclopedia
Shekou is an area at the tip of Nantou Peninsula in Shenzhen
, Guangdong
, southern China
, south of Nantou and facing Lau Fau Shan
of Hong Kong
across Deep Bay
.
It was formerly a customs
station in Bao'an County and now belongs to Nanshan District
of Shenzhen. On 31 January 1979, it became Shekou Industrial Zone developed solely by China Merchants of Hong Kong, earlier than the formation of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone
.
Since the 1980s, after foreign oil majors such as Agip
, Chevron
, Texaco
, Statoil
and Shell
obtained concessions for oil exploration in the South China Sea
, Shekou started serving as a base for a small contingent of foreign oil platform
workers, since qualified personnel were not available locally. As a result of this first mover advantage in catering for mainly western tastes in housing, food and drink, entertainment and schooling, at a time when no alternatives were available in the area, Shekou gradually became home to the majority of the expatriate population working in and around Shenzhen
and part of its hinterland in the Pearl River Delta
. This trend has however abated after 2003, as the country's continued economic reform, development of the Nanshan and Futian areas, and substantial increases in English levels of university graduates have made life in the city proper more acceptable to many foreigners without school-age children.
In 2003, the local government, seeking to capitalize on the foreign flavor of the town, invested in a complete make-over of Sea World, turning it into a western-style entertainment area centered around the grounded Minghua (明华) ship, a 14,000 ton, 168 m long vessel built in 1962 as French president Charles De Gaulle
's private yacht, and purchased by China in 1973.
Line 2 of the city's subway
ends in Shekou and therefore is also called the Shekou line. It has stations at Sea World and the Shekou port, amongst others.
and get a ferry direct to Shekou. The customs and immigration process is completed upon disembarking the ferry. Buses go directly from the ferry
port to Shenzhen airport
.
Info as well as boarding / ticket procedures under: http://www.cksp.com.hk/eng/skypier/introduction/main.html
More Detailed Step-By-Step information is here: http://living-in-shenzhen-shekou.wikispaces.com/FlyIntoHongKong
Shekou is also the mainland
entry point for the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor
that opened on 1 July 2007. It links Shekou with Yuen Long
of Hong Kong
.
Shenzhen
Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...
, Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
, southern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, south of Nantou and facing Lau Fau Shan
Lau Fau Shan
Lau Fau Shan is an area in the New Territories of Hong Kong. It is at the shore of Deep Bay, near Tin Shui Wai and facing Shekou in Shenzhen, China. It is traditionally famous for fresh oysters. About 100 tons were harvested every year, some for consumption in Hong Kong restaurants and some for...
of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
across Deep Bay
Deep Bay, Hong Kong
Deep Bay is a bay off the northwest coast of Lau Fau Shan, Hong Kong. It is surrounded to the north by Shenzhen proper and west by the peninsula of Nantau, China. It is also known as Hau Hoi Wan in Hong Kong, and Shenzhen Bay in China.-Name:...
.
It was formerly a customs
Customs
Customs is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting and safeguarding customs duties and for controlling the flow of goods including animals, transports, personal effects and hazardous items in and out of a country...
station in Bao'an County and now belongs to Nanshan District
Nanshan District, Shenzhen
Nanshan District is one of the seven districts comprising Shenzhen. It encompasses the southwest area of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, with a population of 0.9 million...
of Shenzhen. On 31 January 1979, it became Shekou Industrial Zone developed solely by China Merchants of Hong Kong, earlier than the formation of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone
Shenzhen Special Economic Zone
Shenzhen Special Economic Zone , established in May 1980, is the first special economic zone in the People's Republic of China...
.
Since the 1980s, after foreign oil majors such as Agip
Agip
Agip is an Italian automotive gasoline and diesel retailer established in 1926. It is a subsidiary of the multinational petroleum company Eni.In 2003, Eni S.p.A...
, Chevron
Chevron Corporation
Chevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation headquartered in San Ramon, California, United States and active in more than 180 countries. It is engaged in every aspect of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries, including exploration and production; refining,...
, Texaco
Texaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
, Statoil
Statoil
Statoil ASA is a Norwegian petroleum company established in 1972. It merged with Norsk Hydro in 2007 and was known as StatoilHydro until 2009, when the name was changed back to Statoil ASA. The brand Statoil was retained as a chain of fuel stations owned by StatoilHydro...
and Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
obtained concessions for oil exploration in the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
, Shekou started serving as a base for a small contingent of foreign oil platform
Oil platform
An oil platform, also referred to as an offshore platform or, somewhat incorrectly, oil rig, is a lаrge structure with facilities to drill wells, to extract and process oil and natural gas, and to temporarily store product until it can be brought to shore for refining and marketing...
workers, since qualified personnel were not available locally. As a result of this first mover advantage in catering for mainly western tastes in housing, food and drink, entertainment and schooling, at a time when no alternatives were available in the area, Shekou gradually became home to the majority of the expatriate population working in and around Shenzhen
Shenzhen
Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...
and part of its hinterland in the Pearl River Delta
Pearl River Delta
The Pearl River Delta , Zhujiang Delta or Zhusanjiao in Guangdong province, People's Republic of China is the low-lying area surrounding the Pearl River estuary where the Pearl River flows into the South China Sea...
. This trend has however abated after 2003, as the country's continued economic reform, development of the Nanshan and Futian areas, and substantial increases in English levels of university graduates have made life in the city proper more acceptable to many foreigners without school-age children.
In 2003, the local government, seeking to capitalize on the foreign flavor of the town, invested in a complete make-over of Sea World, turning it into a western-style entertainment area centered around the grounded Minghua (明华) ship, a 14,000 ton, 168 m long vessel built in 1962 as French president Charles De Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
's private yacht, and purchased by China in 1973.
Line 2 of the city's subway
Shenzhen Metro
The Shenzhen Metro is the subway or underground system for the city of Shenzhen in Guangdong province, China. The system opened on 28 December 2004, making Shenzhen the seventh city in mainland China to have a subway after Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Dalian, and Wuhan. The Shenzhen...
ends in Shekou and therefore is also called the Shekou line. It has stations at Sea World and the Shekou port, amongst others.
Transportation
It is possible to fly into Hong Kong airportHong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport , being built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, and also to distinguish it from its predecessor, the closed Kai Tak Airport.The airport opened for commercial...
and get a ferry direct to Shekou. The customs and immigration process is completed upon disembarking the ferry. Buses go directly from the ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
port to Shenzhen airport
Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport
Shenzhen International Airport is located near Huangtian and Fuyong villages in Bao'an District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, the People's Republic of China. It is 32 km northwest of the city center. It is the hub for Shenzhen Airlines, and a focus city for China Southern Airlines. The airport also...
.
Info as well as boarding / ticket procedures under: http://www.cksp.com.hk/eng/skypier/introduction/main.html
More Detailed Step-By-Step information is here: http://living-in-shenzhen-shekou.wikispaces.com/FlyIntoHongKong
Shekou is also the mainland
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
entry point for the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor
Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor
The Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor is a 5.5-kilometre , dual three-lane carriageway in Hong Kong, connecting Ngau Hom Shek, Hong Kong to an area leased by Hong Kong at Dongjiaotou, which is geographically located in southwestern Shenzhen, a city of mainland China...
that opened on 1 July 2007. It links Shekou with Yuen Long
Yuen Long
Yuen Long , formerly Un Long, is an area and town located in the northwest of Hong Kong, on the Yuen Long Plain. To its west lie Hung Shui Kiu and Ha Tsuen, to the south Shap Pat Heung and Tai Tong, to the east Au Tau and Kam Tin, and to the north Nam Sang Wai.-Name:The Cantonese name Yuen Long 元朗...
of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.