Shenzhen’s APEC meeting week is scheduled for November 13 to 19, with the leaders’ informal meeting on November 18 and 19. A temporary restriction on non-local vehicles will operate from November 17 to 20, between 6am and 10pm each day, across six districts, including Futian, Luohu and Nanshan.
Hong Kong-plated private cars, including vehicles using the Hong Kong-mainland driving scheme and dual-plate cars, are exempt from this temporary restriction. HK01 reports that the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government explicitly confirmed the exemption. It applies to this APEC measure; drivers must still follow other mainland road-safety rules.
Taxis and ride-hailing cars are also exempt if they hold road-transport credentials. Rented self-drive cars without Shenzhen plates are not: they must comply with the restricted hours and areas.
Public transport is set to cost less during meeting week, with Shenzhen Metro and bus fares halved. On some busy Metro routes, services are planned as frequently as every two minutes, with spare trains added according to passenger numbers. The city also plans 50 extra Metro feeder routes and a 20 per cent increase in overall bus service capacity.
Visitors bringing drones should also note a separate low-altitude flight restriction. The first phase barred flights in Futian and Nanshan from November 7 to 10. Since November 11, flights by drones, general aviation aircraft and airborne objects have been prohibited across Shenzhen, except in the Shenzhen-Shanwei Special Cooperation Zone. The restriction runs until November 21.