How many nurseries and preschools in Shenzhen
Shenzhen has around 38 international or substantively bilingual nurseries and preschools in 2026 serving children from 18 months to 6 years of age. The figure includes both standalone early years providers and the kindergarten and reception stages embedded inside the city's full K-12 international schools. Around 22 of the 38 settings sit inside a K-12 school where the early years stage is the feeder route into the primary phase. The remaining 16 are standalone nurseries that feed children at age 6 into a wider choice of primary schools.
The supply has grown steadily since 2015, roughly doubling in capacity across that decade. Growth has been driven by the continued expansion of the Shenzhen technology and finance sectors and the strength of demand from mainland Chinese returnee families who have spent time abroad. Around 60 per cent of nursery and preschool places in Shenzhen now go to mainland Chinese passport holders, with the remainder split between Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korean, Western expatriate and other Asian passport families. The strongest concentration of settings is in the Shekou peninsula and the Nanshan inner core, with newer high-quality providers opening in Houhai, Futian and Longgang.
English-medium, bilingual and Montessori tiers
Shenzhen early years settings group into three tiers by language model. English-medium nurseries deliver instruction primarily in English with Mandarin Chinese as a layered second language. Most operate inside foreign-passport-only international schools, with examples including Shekou International School Early Years and ISA International School of Shekou Kindergarten. Around 10 of the 38 settings sit in this tier. Bilingual nurseries deliver substantive instruction in both Mandarin Chinese and English, with examples including ISF Academy of Nanshan and Yew Chung International School of Shenzhen Early Years. Around 16 of the 38 settings sit in the bilingual tier.
Montessori and Reggio Emilia inspired settings form the third tier, with around 12 of the 38 settings. Etonkids International Kindergarten Shenzhen runs Montessori inspired classrooms across multiple Shenzhen campuses. Maple Leaf International Kindergarten in Houhai runs a Reggio Emilia inspired environment. Montessori School of Shenzhen and Montessori Children's House Shekou offer AMI accredited Montessori classrooms. The language model in this tier varies by provider, with some delivering mostly English instruction and others operating substantively bilingual classrooms within the Montessori prepared environment.
Choosing the right nursery in Shenzhen?
Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three Shenzhen nurseries or preschools based on your child's age, the language model you want, your home area, and whether you need wraparound care.
Illustrative example settings
The five settings below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each runs an established early years programme with experienced lead teachers.
Shekou International School Early Years in Shekou is the early years feeder for the K-12 Shekou International School, with kindergarten and reception streams in English with layered Mandarin Chinese. Strong continuity into the IB Primary Years primary phase on the same campus.
ISA International School of Shekou Kindergarten in Shekou is an IB Primary Years authorised early years setting with substantive Mandarin Chinese instruction layered through the daily routine. Feeder route into the ISA primary phase on the same campus.
ISF Academy of Nanshan Early Years in Nanshan delivers a substantively bilingual Chinese-English programme through the kindergarten and reception stages. Particularly strong on Mandarin Chinese immersion for non-native Chinese-speaking children.
Etonkids International Kindergarten Shenzhen in Futian runs Montessori inspired classrooms across two campuses in Futian with substantive Mandarin Chinese and English instruction. Strong continuity into the city's primary international schools at age 6.
Maple Leaf International Kindergarten Houhai in Houhai is a Reggio Emilia inspired boutique setting with three classrooms across the toddler and pre-kindergarten stages. Particularly strong music and art programme.
Fees, hours and the feeder question
Shenzhen nursery and preschool fees range widely depending on language model, accreditation and whether the setting is part of a K-12 international school. K-12 attached early years settings (Shekou International, ISA Shekou, ISF Academy, Yew Chung International) charge CNY 180,000 to CNY 260,000 a year for the kindergarten and reception stages, comparable to the upper primary fees in the same schools. Standalone English-medium nurseries charge CNY 130,000 to CNY 200,000 a year. Bilingual standalone nurseries charge CNY 90,000 to CNY 160,000 a year. Montessori and Reggio Emilia inspired settings charge CNY 120,000 to CNY 220,000 a year depending on accreditation.
Most Shenzhen nurseries run from 8.30 to 15.30 for the standard school day. Around 60 per cent of providers offer extended hours through to 17.30 or 18.00 with after-school care provided by the school for an additional charge of CNY 20,000 to CNY 35,000 a year. The Shekou expatriate enclave has the highest concentration of extended-hours providers, reflecting the working-parent demographic in the area. The feeder question matters because the K-12 attached early years settings typically guarantee a place into the primary phase of the same school for children who complete the kindergarten and reception stages, removing the primary admissions race that families at standalone nurseries face at age 6. Our Shenzhen fees guide models the early years through to graduation cost picture.
Where early years families live
Shenzhen early years families cluster around three residential corridors. Shekou and Nanshan host the largest concentration of expatriate families with children under 6, with the Coastal City, Shekou Garden, Mont Orchid and Houhai high-rise compounds dominating the housing stock. Most Shekou and Nanshan compounds are within 15 to 25 minutes of the main early years settings, allowing morning drop-off before parents continue to work in Nanshan or Futian. Houhai itself has emerged as a particularly strong early years cluster in the last five years with the opening of Maple Leaf International Kindergarten Houhai and multiple Etonkids Houhai campuses.
Futian and the central business district host a smaller cluster of dual-career families with young children, who tend to favour the Etonkids Futian Montessori inspired campuses for proximity to the workplace. Longgang and the eastern Shenzhen corridor host returnee Chinese families using the newer bilingual nurseries serving the BASIS Shenzhen and Vanke Meisha feeder ecosystem. Our Shenzhen neighbourhoods guide walks through residential trade-offs by school choice in more detail.
Admissions and application calendar
Most Shenzhen nurseries and preschools run rolling admissions with a stronger main intake in August at the start of the academic year. The K-12 attached early years settings (Shekou International, ISA Shekou, ISF Academy, Yew Chung International) typically open their August 2026 kindergarten lists between September and November 2025 and close them by January 2026 for the most competitive year groups. Standalone English-medium nurseries run rolling intake throughout the year where capacity exists. Outstanding bilingual and Montessori settings close their August lists by April for the main intake.
The application process is comparable across most settings. Submit an online application with previous setting reports if applicable, attend a parent meeting and a settling visit with the child, and have the child observed in the prepared environment for one or two short sessions. K-12 attached early years settings often require an additional family interview component, particularly for sibling priority candidates and external transfers from other Shenzhen settings. Plan applications six to nine months ahead of the desired start date, allowing four to six weeks of Shenzhen Education Bureau paperwork on top of the school's own admissions timeline.
Frequently asked questions
How many international nurseries and preschools are there in Shenzhen?
Shenzhen has around 38 international or substantively bilingual nurseries and preschools in 2026 serving children from 18 months to 6 years. Around 22 of the 38 settings sit inside a K-12 international school as the feeder route into primary. The remaining 16 are standalone nurseries that feed children at age 6 into a wider choice of primary schools.
How much do nurseries and preschools cost in Shenzhen?
K-12 attached early years settings charge CNY 180,000 to CNY 260,000 a year. Standalone English-medium nurseries charge CNY 130,000 to CNY 200,000 a year. Bilingual standalone nurseries charge CNY 90,000 to CNY 160,000 a year. Montessori and Reggio Emilia inspired settings charge CNY 120,000 to CNY 220,000 a year depending on accreditation.
What hours do Shenzhen nurseries operate?
Most run from 8.30 to 15.30 for the standard day. Around 60 per cent of providers offer extended hours to 17.30 or 18.00 with after-school care for an additional CNY 20,000 to CNY 35,000 a year. The Shekou expatriate enclave has the highest concentration of extended-hours providers, reflecting the working-parent demographic in the area.
Do Shenzhen nurseries guarantee a place in the primary phase?
K-12 attached early years settings such as Shekou International, ISA Shekou, ISF Academy and Yew Chung International typically guarantee a place into the primary phase of the same school for children who complete kindergarten and reception. Standalone nurseries do not guarantee primary onward placement, so families at standalone settings face the full Shenzhen primary admissions race at age 6.
When should I apply to a Shenzhen nursery?
Plan applications six to nine months ahead of the desired start date. K-12 attached early years settings typically open their August intake lists between September and November of the previous year and close them by January for the most competitive year groups. Standalone nurseries run more rolling intake throughout the year. Allow four to six weeks of paperwork on top of the school's own admissions timeline.
