TIP 10 — FOOD COURTS AND MARKETS

Every major mall in Shenzhen has a basement or lower floor food court. These are where locals eat — not tourists. Prices are significantly cheaper than the restaurant floors above.

Best food courts:
Link CentralWalk B1 — central Futian — huge variety
Luohu MixC lower levels — good quality mid range
COCO Park — mix of fast food and sit-down options
Lo Wu Commercial City upper floors — local Chinese only

Street food markets:
Dongmen Old Street — best street food in Luohu. Evening is best.
Lo Wu Commercial City — snack vendors throughout all floors

Ordering at food courts:
Most have photo displays above each counter. Point and pay by Alipay. Some courts use a token system — buy tokens at a central desk first.

Budget ¥30 to ¥80 (£3-£9) per person for a full meal at any food court. One of the best value eating experiences in Asia.