Business-oriented Shenzhen tends to be expensive. But if you must spend a night, the best place to stay is the five-starShangri-La (Xianggelila Dajiudian)at Jianshe Lu 1002 (tel.0755/8233-0888;fax 0755/8233-9878; www.shangri-la.com), visible straight ahead as you leave the border crossing, and 2 minutes from the railway station. This is a luxurious and fully outfitted business hotel with excellent service, four restaurants, and cozy, recently refurbished rooms fitted with everything that you could possibly want in order to shut out the bedlam of Shenzhen, including broadband Internet access, satellite TV channels, and in-house movies. Rack rates are from ¥1,865 to ¥4,420 ($233-$553), but special offers and on-the-spot bargaining can produce rates under US$100 (all plus 15%).
Of the budget hotels up Renmin Nan Lu, the best is probably theGuangxin Jiudian,on the west side, north of Chunfeng Lu (tel.0755/8223-8945). The lobby is modern and stylish, which makes the grubby corridors beyond a bit of a shock, but refurbishment may have reached that far by the time you visit. Battered guest rooms and bathrooms are clean enough and larger than average, although they have few amenities. Standard rooms are ¥308 ($38), usually reduced to ¥228 ($28); triple rooms are ¥400 ($50), usually reduced to ¥350 ($44).