Curious About Shenzhen's Women's Club? We Have Answers.

Social Skills is a monthly column featuring community groups where you can meet new people through exercise or other enjoyable activities.

Women’s clubs have a storied history: in the US, early organizations helped champion female suffrage and civil rights as well as health and environmental issues.

At their roots, the groups fulfill a basic need – to connect like-minded women, forging a community out of them.

In that sense, the Shenzhen Women’s International Club (SWIC) follows in the footsteps of its predecessors. The group was created early in Shenzhen’s history – 1986 – when five women began gathering for coffee and planning events.

Thirty-one years later, ‘Coffee Mornings’ remain a staple meetup for the group, held at hotels in Shekou and Futian District. Subgroups cater to various hobbies including reading, hiking, archery and mahjong, while regular outings expose members to different cuisines and cultural sites around Shenzhen.

A SWIC-organized hike

SWIC is open to foreign passport holders as well as the spouses of non-Chinese citizens. As a result, the membership of around 200 is diverse, spanning several continents.

This past September, the group welcomed new members with Buck’s Fizz cocktails, a breakfast buffet and games in the ballroom of the Marco Polo Shenzhen. In exchange for a yearly fee, ladies get reduced prices on SWIC activities, free access to a quarterly magazine, discounts from local vendors… and perhaps most importantly, a sense of belonging.

Yearly membership dues are RMB350. To join SWIC, email communications@swiconline.com or attend a Tuesday Coffee Morning, 9.30-11.30am, at the Hilton Shekou or Marco Polo Shenzhen (every third week of the month).

Click here for more Social Skills.