Luohu Commercial City – 罗湖商业城

Luohu Commercial City (罗湖商业城) is one of Shenzhen’s most well-known shopping locations due to its location, size and it’s diverse range of goods on offer. It’s located at the Luohu Border, directly across from the Shenzhen Railway Station, and features 5 floors packed with independent retailers selling a diverse mix of goods.

Here you can find men’s, women’s and children’s fashion, electronics, toys, curios, watches, jewelry, craft and much more.

The place has a reputation for replica goods, or copy goods if you like, and there have been many crackdowns to stamp out copy goods which included brand name bags, watches, shirts and fashion accessories.

This is a market though, and Chinese entrepreneurs are incredibly persistent! And like all markets you need to double check the quality and haggle the price, if you’re a foreigner the first price they offer will usually be extremely over-inflated, so don’t be afraid to haggle, and don’t be afraid to walk away if you don’t like the price, or suspect the quality, regardless of the sales persons persistence.

Another thing you’re sure to strike when you get there is the touts, often lurking around the doorways or out the front of the market, they’re not shy in getting your attention offering to guide you to where certain products are and most likely to their store inside. Most don’t have any bad intentions, they’re just pro-active about getting people to their shop but for a first-time visitor, they can be really pushy, often intimidating, persistent and mostly annoying. Best to smile, and clearly and firmly state ‘no need’ and move on.

People from Hong Kong love to shop here too, although they’ll probably refer to it as Lo Wu Market, as they can get many items here and at Dongmen much cheaper than in HK.

The 6-floor building is jam-packed with sellers squeezed into small cubicle style shops selling a diverse variety of goods, ranging from electronics to fabrics by the meter. The staff at the stores are hungry to sell and won’t let anybody past, especially foreigners, without trying to get your attention and notice what they have to offer.

Many of the staff speak English, or at least enough to be able to sell their wares. If you don’t speak Chinese, you shouldn’t be worried, although, knowing a little lingo can probably help haggle a better deal.

On the 5th floor, you can also find tailors, for both men and women, beauty parlors and foot masseuses.

Hungry? There’s the Taste Cafe located on the 3rd floor which offers up a mix of Chinese and western food, in a comfortable setting, with prices ranging from 25 to 100+RMB, and with English speaking staff. On the 5th floor, there are two Dim Sum restaurants. Opposite the Luohu Commercial City building, in the railway station building at level 2, there’s Ajisen Ramen, Fairwood, Kung Fu and McDonald’s.

 

What can you buy here: Far too numerous to mention but include men’s and women’s casual clothes, suits, dresses, children’s clothes, toys, mobile phones, electronic gadgets, memorabilia, curios, art, traditional Chinese artifacts, linen, cloth and fabric, and even fishing tackle.

Price: haggling is a must, know your prices, and haggle your way to a great deal. It’s common for some traders here to quote ridiculous prices to foreigners, don’t be afraid to wander around and ask for prices from various stalls, don’t be afraid to walk away, smiling and haggling all the way.

Quality: varies, double check and re-check all items PRIOR to handing over cash.

Getting there: If you’re in Shenzhen, get off the subway at Luohu Station and wander out the A exit then walk up two levels. If you coming from Hong Kong, once you get outside the Luohu Port building go up one level.

Address: Luo Hu Commercial City, Luo Hu Railway Station, Shenzhen (people from HK may refer to it as Lo Wu)

Chinese Name: 罗湖商业城

Luohu Commercial City Map with my picks for nearby hotels

Note: Google maps is a little whacky in the around the HK/Mainland China border. The station map below will help make more sense.

Shenzhen Panglin Hotel,Guomao Shopping Center

Shenzhen Panglin Hotel,Guomao Shopping Center

 
Panglin Hotel located in the central area of Shenzhen, a 5-minute walk from Guomao Subway Station (Luobao Line). The 5-star property boasts a fitness centre, an indoor pool and 7 dining options.

Shenzhen Luohu Railway Station Hotel - Commercial Building

Shenzhen Luohu Railway Station Hotel - Commercial Building 

Located only steps away from Shenzhen Railway Station, Railway Station Hotel (Commercial Building) is 100 metres from Luohu Border and 1 km from Dongmen Business Street.
Crowne Plaza Hotel & Suites Landmark Shenzhen

Crowne Plaza Hotel & Suites Landmark Shenzhen 

Greeting guests with a grand marble lobby, the luxurious Crowne Plaza Hotel & Suites Landmark Shenzhen is just 3 minutes' walk from Guomao Metro Station (Line 1, Exit B).
Shenzhen Best Western Felicity Hotel, Luohu Railway Station

Shenzhen Best Western Felicity Hotel, Luohu Railway Station

Directly opposite Luohu Port and Luohu Railway Station, Best Western Felicity Hotel features an outdoor pool, a fitness centre and a variety of Chinese, Japanese and international cuisines.
Shangri-La Hotel Shenzhen

Shangri-La Hotel Shenzhen

 
5 Star - Shangri-La Hotel Shenzhen is located in Luohu District, a 5-minute walk from the Hong Kong border, Shenzhen Railway Station and Luohu subway station.

Shenzhen, Guangdong, China

 

 Lo Wu/Luohu MTR Station Map HK/Mainland Crossing

 

Lo Wu (HK) and Luo Hu (SZ) Stations and border

You may also like...

8 Responses

  1. Wendy Chan says:

    If you are at ground level, it’s the building directly opposite the railway station. Luohu is a great market and if people have the time they should also check out Dongmen market for clothes and Huaiqiangbei for electronics.

  2. Susan says:

    Can anyone tell me if Betty Yan still has shops there?

  3. jas says:

    This is the copy market in shenzhen? Are the copies any good or is guangzhou better for that stuff or how about the markets in hong kong?

  4. nick says:

    I returned to this weird and amazing place of rip offs, to take my wife and 3 adult children (to allow them to experience it).
    I visited this shopping centre a couple of years ago and was reluctant to expose my daughters to the gross haggling that is required.
    The place is full of aggressive and annoying salespeople trying everything to make you purchase their goods.
    There are (I think) about 1,200 little shops within this 5 story mini-Westfield. They all sell the same, same products (all rip off items).

    Here is how it works: The shops sell their own products, BUT have access to all the brand name rip offs. They will show you catalogue after catalogue of different products (such as ladies bags, wallets, shoes, etc) and then, if interested they will immediately source the product from the warehouses. The warehouses are located within the centre or across the road. But these warehouses are hidden from the authorities (somehow) and they, via runners (or delivery boys) immediately bring the product (which are always fakes) to the shop.

    All the shops pay the same price to the warehouses … so obviously it is the job of the individual shops to re-sell it to you the customer, at the highest price. They will start at the most ridiculous price, in the hope that you the buyer has no clue to what the “fair” price is.

    So, the ONE REASON why we had a great day is that we spent the day with one of the shop owners. His name is LU and his shop number is 3313. LU does the same as all the other shop owners. ie. he sells standard Chinese products in his shop and he also has the many catalogues to browse through. And when you decide on a (fake) product, then he calls for it to be delivered to his shop. If you like it you buy it, if not he sends it back to the warehouse. Simple.
    But you don’t need to barter with him (what a relief) as he simply adds a small margin to the prices that he pays to the warehouse. You need to trust him (I know that it can be tough to trust a stranger) but I did and I am pretty sure that I got some good prices.
    LU doesn’t sell all types of goods, so he will take you to the store (I guess they are his buddies too) but he tells you the warehouse prices before you enter the stores (to obviously help you with your bargaining).

    LU has his own website. com I suggest you contact him and he will collect you at the border and take you to his shop. His mobile: (0086) 15989366504.
    .
    E-mail: luriming2005@163.com
    -MSN: dragonlu_sz@live.cn
    -Skype ID: dragonstore1
    Mobile Phone: 0086 15989366504

    Here is a list of prices, that I paid for goods in Jan ’13 (in Chinese RMB and Australian $):
    Baseball Hat: 30 RMB: A$4.50.
    Mens (genuine leather, but fake): 180 R: A$27.
    Mens Polo Shirt: R50: A$7.70.
    Converse or Vans shoes: R80 to 100: A$12 to $15.
    Nike Air Force One Mens shoes: R180: A$27.
    Surf T-shirts: R35: A$5.50.
    Long Champ bags: R50: A$7.70.
    Mens short sleeve business shirts: R60: A$9.
    Brooks sandshoes: R250: A$38.
    Jeans: R140: A$22.
    Prescription (Elvis glasses): R275: A$42 (a must for the Elvis Festival in Parkes, NSW).

    One other thing. The fake, rip-off goods have different levels of rip-off quality. Some real top end fakes, some pretty good fakes and then some crappy fakes.
    The hard task is to pick the differences the fakeness (is that a word?) so this is where LU earns his keep!
    Give him a go and you won’t be disappointed. I will NEVER go there again without my wingman and I would recommend LU (big time) to my friends.

    [ We spent 8 hours there, bought so much fake stuff and had a terrific yum cha meal … which was located on the same level as LU’s shop. Ask him about the place. The 5 of us made pigs of ourselves, including a full duck and many, many other dishes. It cost <AUD$25 (no grog). Was good quality food and it was the only thing that I bought on the day that wasn't fake.
    And 8 hours for a bloke doesn't happen too often 🙂 ]

  5. SomeChineseGuy says:

    okay so i am going to this “mall” tommrrow. I hope to spend the whole night and also get my hands on some good beats by dre studios and some sol republic headbands. Ill put a full update and “actual review” as also with some prices 😀

  6. Maynanda says:

    I’ll come to shenzhen on 30th of January 2014, one day before Chinese New Year, would LUOHU COMMERCIAL CITY open on that date? because i want buy some clothes. thanks

  7. Zie says:

    is there any shop sells ocarina in this Luohu Commercial City?