3 – 14 July 2026 · Shenzhen, China

Kothuis Family
Shenzhen Trip

Visiting Luka during his robotics internship — 12 days of family time, local exploration, and a bit of serious tech shopping.

Live planning document · updates as we go
🗺 Interactive Map 📋 Full Itinerary 🧭 David's Briefing 📷 Album 🌐 中文
12
Days
4
Travellers
3
David days
1
Jason day
4
HK friends joining

About this trip

We are a family from Amsterdam — Thomas (TK), Janine, Samuel and Luka. Luka has been living and working in Shenzhen since early 2026 on a robotics internship in Bao'an District, and this is our chance to visit him on his turf, see what he has been up to, and explore a city we have never spent real time in together.

We arrive Friday 3 July on KL887 via Hong Kong and depart Tuesday 14 July — Janine direct from Shenzhen airport to Singapore, TK and Samuel via Hong Kong back to Amsterdam. Luka stays on until 22 July when his internship wraps up.

We are staying at the Four Points by Sheraton Bao'an, close to Luka's apartment and office. We have a local tour guide, David, joining us for 3 days, and our good friend in Shenzhen Jason Dong is hosting us for a day as well.

A note on food: Janine does not eat meat but does eat fish and shellfish. Samuel enjoys spicy food. The rest of us eat everything.

Day overview

Fri 3 Jul
Arrival
Land · transfer with David · decompress
Luka at workDavid
Sat 4 Jul
Bao'an Local Day
Morning massages by Jane · Luka's neighbourhood · hotel dinner
Luka free
Sun 5 Jul
Nanshan Museum + Dongmen
Nanshan Museum · rest midday · Dongmen Old Street late afternoon
Luka free
Mon 6 Jul
Nantou + OCT Loft — David Day 1
Culture · creative district · Spiral Bookshop · Haus Nowhere
Luka at workDavid
Tue 7 Jul
Futian + Ping An · Luka joins dinner
Lianhuashan Park · Ping An 116F · Ping An area afternoon · dinner MIXC Nanshan
Luka at work
Wed 8 Jul
Dapeng Ancient City — David Day 2
Full day east · fortress · beach · seafood · Luka joins
Luka freeDavid
Thu 9 Jul
Huaqiangbei Electronics
Tech shopping · robot dogs · gadgets · Luka leads
Luka free
Fri 10 Jul
Tea + Talent Park · David Day 3
Tea ceremony · Inno Robot · Huo Xi hot pot · Nanshan · Luka joins
Luka freeDavid
Sat 11 Jul
Sea World · Shekou Area · Jason
Free morning · Jason ~14:00 · Nanyou Garment Market · Sea World · water shows
Luka freeJason
Sun 12 Jul
H&V Lunch · Cooking Experience
Hans & Victoria lunch ✅ · cooking experience · whole family
Luka free
Mon 13 Jul
Tech Day II
TK + Luka deep dive · Janine & Samuel free
Luka free
Tue 14 Jul
Departure
Janine → SZX 15:30 · TK & Samuel → HKG · Ming Court lunch ✅ · KL888 22:20
Luka at work

Who's involved

👨
Thomas (TK)
Father · age 56 · Amsterdam
+31-611884464 · WeChat: kaaskop
👩
Janine
Age 55 · Amsterdam
Pescetarian — no meat, fish & shellfish fine
🧑
Samuel
Son · age 22 · Amsterdam
Loves spicy food · WeChat: wxid_9ng1orof8mg222
🧑
Luka
Son · age 23 · lives in Bao'an
Robotics internship · WeChat: HalfVoltage
🧭
David 迪
Local guide · 14 years experience
Shenzhen Splendid Journey · 3 guide days
🤝
Jason Dong & Emma
Local Shenzhen friends · hosting Sea World day · 11 Jul · Emma is a Nanyou Garment Market expert · great shopping companion for Janine
👨‍👩‍
Hans & Victoria
Family · confirmed lunch 14 Jul HK Island ✅
TK + Samuel only · Sun 12 Jul Shenzhen lunch ✅ whole family
🏦
Ricky & Carol
Hong Kong accountant, company administrator and trusted advisor · lunch confirmed ✅ Ming Court, Cordis Mongkok · 14 Jul 12:30pm · Ricky verified David directly via phone

⚠ Open items · still to resolve

12David
Cooking experience — Sun 12 JulDavid to propose options for a private cooking lesson — Cantonese / dim sum, small group only, home kitchen or personal chef. No large group classes. A trip highlight.