Getting around

Metro

Shenzhen boasts one of China’s most advanced and rapidly expanding metro systems, making it by far the most efficient way to navigate the city. Exceptionally visitor-friendly, all signage, announcements, maps, and ticket machines are bilingual, displayed in both English and Chinese. At the time of writing, the network consisted of eight lines covering over 300 km of track, with further expansions underway.

Buying tickets 

Tickets, issued as plastic tokens resembling poker chips, can be purchased at bilingual machines or service counters located in every metro station in Shenzhen. Fares are distance-based, starting at 2 yuan and capping at 14 yuan. It’s handy to carry a few one-yuan coins or five-yuan notes for use in ticket machines.

Women-onlycarriages

All Shenzhen metro trains designate one carriage at an end of the train exclusively for female passengers. In practice, however, the gender mix in these carriages is generally similar to other carriages.

Shenzhen Tong travel card

The Shenzhen Tong (深圳通, Shěnzhèn Tōng) is a contactless travel card valid on Shenzhen’s metro, buses, and taxis. It can be purchased at service counters in most major metro stations for 20 yuan, which must be pre-loaded with credit upon purchase. Starting with a 50-yuan top-up is recommended, which should cover a weekend’s worth of metro travel— enough for the typical visitor.

Although the financial discounts are minimal, the card offers great convenience and saves time. You can return the card anytime for a refund of the 20-yuan deposit plus any remaining balance. For more information, visit www.shenzhentong.com

Taxi

Shenzhen’s distinctive blue electric taxis (出租车; chūzū chē) are abundant and easy to hail — except during rainy periods when they become scarce.

The flagfall fare is 10 yuan, with a 30% surcharge applied between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Additional costs include a fuel surcharge and 2.6 yuan per kilometer thereafter. Taxis can be hard to find around the Dapeng Peninsula. In such cases, call 8316-8316 to order one (Chinese only).

Since most drivers speak little or no English, always have your destination’s name and address written down in Chinese characters or saved on your phone. Keep your hotel’s business card on hand to ensure you can get back easily. You can also use the popular ride-hailing app DiDi Chuxing (滴滴出行; www.didiglobal.com), which features an English interface and allows you to pay fares based on the meter price. Using DiDi is a convenient way to reach sights outside the metro network, such as Dameisha Beach or Dapeng Fortress.

Bus

As home to the world’s first fully electric bus fleet, Shenzhen boasts a large number of BYD-made buses that are both plentiful and inexpensive, with fares starting at 2 yuan per journey.

These buses are relatively easy for non-Chinese speakers to use since Shenzhen Tong cards are accepted and announcements are in English. The main challenge lies in determining your route and stops, as most bus stop signs display only Chinese characters.

Sightseeing buslines

Sightseeing buses are a convenient way to reach attractions beyond the metro network. The M191 route is especially useful, linking downtown Shenzhen with the Dameisha Bus Terminal, providing access to Dameisha Beach and OCT East. Since October 2020, three sightseeing bus lines (contact: 0755-8364-6213; one-day pass: 50 yuan for adults, free for children under 1.4m) have been operating around Shenzhen.

The Heritage Hopper (红线, Red Line) and the Futuristic Hopper (蓝线, Blue Line) run during the day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., approximately every 30 minutes. The Red Line connects Lianhuashan Park with Huaqiangbei and Lizhi Park, while the Blue Line runs from Window of the World to OCT Harbor and Hi-Tech Park.

The Night Light Hopper (黄线, Yellow Line) operates from 7 to 9:30 p.m., also every 30 minutes, running from OCT Harbor with stops at Civic Square and Book City.

These BYD buses feature transparent roofs, panoramic cameras, virtual reality setups, Wi-Fi, and in-seat audio guides— all included in the ticket price. Tickets can be purchased by phone or at any bus stop. Keep an eye out for the limited edition bus themed around pianist Lang Lang.

Bicycle

Cycling is a pleasant way to explore Shenzhen’s urban villages or make short trips between metro stations and your destinations. It’s also ideal for enjoying the 13 km stretch of Shenzhen Bay Park.

Although Shenzhen is packed with shared bikes, international visitors currently face some challenges using them, though this may improve in the future. At minimum, you’ll need a smartphone with internet and SMS access (data-only SIM cards won’t work for verification). You’ll then need to download the appropriate bike-sharing app— usually in Chinese— and complete the registration process, which requires submitting photos of your passport.

Additionally, you must have WeChat or Alipay installed with some credit loaded to rent bikes. Though somewhat complicated, the ability to scan a QR code on a bike, ride, and park freely (all for a fare of just one or two yuan) saves considerable time navigating Shenzhen’s busy streets.

Sightseeing cruises

Travelers can admire the world’s longest sea bridge — the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge — on the HZMB sightseeing cruise (港珠澳大桥航线, Gǎng Zhū Ào Dàqiáo Hángxiàn). Cruises aboard the ship Greater Bay 1 (大湾区一号, Dàwānqū Yīhào) run Monday to Friday from 2:15 to 5:15 p.m., and on weekends and public holidays from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Adult tickets cost 300 yuan, with children charged 150 yuan.

For a stunning view of Shenzhen’s skyline at night, the Shenzhen Bay Cruise (深圳湾航线, Shēnzhèn Wān Hángxiàn; ②400-883-1872) is an excellent choice. Operating Monday to Friday from 6:30 to 9 p.m., and weekends/public holidays with two daily departures (3:30 to 5:10 p.m. and 6:30 to 9 p.m.), tickets cost 260 yuan for adults and 130 yuan for children.

Cruises last between 1½ and 3 hours, and you can pre-book a full meal on board (328 yuan adult, 168 yuan child). Tickets are slightly discounted for afternoon cruises and can be purchased at the Shekou Ferry Terminal Center ticket office, where boarding also takes place.