Having made the border crossing from Hong Kong into Shenzhen, the aim was to spend the next few days here so it was nice to have a base for a while. This also gave me the opportunity to squeeze in some morning exploration. On big trips like these the itinerary is always park after park after park leaving little time to do other stuff. So I try to squeeze stuff in, usually in the morning as I'm often shattered at the end of the each day.
So today I fancied heading out to Honey Lake park, one that had been closed for a while. So I wasn't going for the ride, but for the journey. As any good traveller will tell you it's not the destination that matters but the journey there.
Our hotel was across the road from the Window on the World, one park we were going to visit later. It has its own metro station and it was that I was going to figure out how to use.
Inside the station there's at least one map showing the station exits on a street map. With so many exits at the stations its useful to know which one you want so look for this poster on the way out.
These are the ticket machines. Make sure you get the right ones, I spent a few minutes trying to get a vending machine to sell me tickets. Also make sure you have change. The machine will indicate which bank notes it accepts, not all will take higher denominations so be aware.
In Shenzhen the metro has an English button, I also saw the same in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing so that's one less thing to worry about. Press that, then press the area of the screen with your destination in it. The map will then zoom in where you can press the station.
You'll then be offered the quantity screen. Press the right button and then enter the money, which will be displayed.
In the Shenzhen station your ticket comes in the form of a token. In other cities it might be a card. Either way collect those and make your way to the gates. The barriers have a "touch on the way in" and "collect on the way out" system. So here for example you'd touch the token on the wifi pad on the barrier to open it, and when you leave at your destination you'll insert the token into a slot.
The train is very clear showing you stations already visited in red and stations to visit in green. We also got English announcements being played into the train. So don't expect this to be difficult. Do expect it to be busy especially during rush hour. Don't expect locals to let you off the train. Despite attempts to educate people to do it they'll pour in and I did see some people fail to get out of the train being carried by the crowd back in. There's always a rush for empty seats but people do still give their seats up for kids and old people.
My introduction to the Shenzhen metro was only 3 stops (starting off gently) so was fairly easy. I made it to Chegongmiao station and from there it was a mile walk to the park.
I'm not too sure of the history of the park knowing that the park has been closed for about 8-10 years. Previous visitors have managed to ride one of the two coasters here. It's just odd that they hadn't been removed. On my visit it looks like a business has set up between the two rides and I wasn't sure if I could walk in. As the rides weren't open I wasn't pushed to try.
This was the reason for the visit. This ride looks great with a really cool layout and amazing location over the lake. Other people have gotten closer to the ride and its a rusty mess and unlikely to ever re-open, which is a shame.
There are a small number of other rides in the area, also not running.
OK, so I'd made it to the coaster and and it was time to head back, which is why I didn't go closer to the rides. It was time to take the metro back (much easier a second time) before heading to the next park.
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