Start your 16 hours in Shenzhen with a visit to the Window of the World. The balmy southern city may be one of the youngest in the country, but it has made up for its dearth of ancient culture by reconstructing famous buildings from all over the world!

Marvel at scale models of famous sites from across the globe, including the Mahamuni Pagoda of Rangoon, the Angkor Wat of Cambodia, the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the tower of London. Then visit the nearby Splendid China and the China Folk Culture Village. They offer visitors a close-up look at the wonders of China and its ethnic nationalities.

When the morning's cultural extravaganza concludes, enjoy a seafood lunch in this former fishing village. Fenghuang Road has a large variety of eateries to choose from, including Wangjiao Seafood Restaurant, Tiantianyugang Restaurant, and Phoenix Court Restaurant.

Then its time to hit the shopping malls - and this is where Shenzhen comes into its prime. Simply decide what it is you'd like to buy, and head for the relevant district. For antiques and art, go to Dongmen Commercial Pedestrian Street. For electronic accessories and electrical appliances, visit Huaqiang Bei Commercial Area. And for high-end shopping, head for Shennan Zhong Commercial Area.

Established as an economic powerhouse of the south, Shenzhen has drawn Chinese fortune-seekers from the length and breadth of the country. With them they have brought their distinctive cuisines. Gangxia is the place that you'll find restaurants serving different styles of Chinese food from Chaozhou to Hunan to Dongbei (northeastern style). After a strength-sapping afternoon of shopping, simply choose your cuisine and recharge the batteries with a filling dinner.

This boomtown has also drawn into its population many thousands of ex-pats. It thus has a wealth of Western-inclined establishments of nighttime entertainment. Have a few pints at McCawley's Irish Bar or the Snake Pit in Shekou, before moving on to the nearby Soho Nightclub.