2024 in Review ③ | Shenzhen's transportation

Editor’s Note: 

As we reflect on 2024, Shenzhen remains committed to advancing high-level opening up, actively integrating into the new development pattern, and attracting foreign investment. The“2024 in Review” special series highlights the city’s progress across various fields.

Surge in passenger and freight flows

Data show that passenger throughput at the Shenzhen airport exceeded 60 million trips for the first time, reaching 60.11 million by Dec. 23, 2024, a 16.8% year-on-year increase, setting a new record for yearly turnover. The achievement places the city fourth among mainland cities, following Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

An aerial view of the Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport. Photo from Shenzhen Satellite TV

Among the total, international and regional passenger turnover reached 5.04 million trips, ranking fifth in the country. With a remarkable increase of 110.8%, turnover reached 87.4% of 2019’s level.

In terms of international flight routes, the Shenzhen airport opened 12 new international routes and increased the frequency of 10 routes in 2024. The routes connect to more than 45 cities in 31 countries across five continents. The airport operates over 800 inbound and outbound passenger flights per week. 

Cargo throughput reached a historical peak of 1.88 million tons, a 17.6% increase, with 65% growth in cross-border e-commerce air transport. The Shenzhen airport opened 19 new international and regional passenger and cargo routes, bringing the total to 89. It also established three cargo terminals in Mexico City, Frankfurt, and Budapest.

Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, commented, “Through the partnership with Shenzhen SF Airlines, the company has committed to contributing to the economic growth and diversification of Abu Dhabi and Shenzhen, making both parties key players in global logistics and benefiting from broader market opportunities in the two countries.”

33.38 million TEUs 

2024 was a bustling year for the Shenzhen Port. With global economic recovery underway and deepening of the Belt and Road Initiative, the port concluded the year with a record-breaking throughput of 33.38 million TEUs, up 11.7%. This was the largest increase in the last 10 years, securing Shenzhen’s position as the world’s fourth busiest port.

The Shenzhen Port. Photos by Xinhua unless otherwise stated

“Mobility is the foundation of economic development. The significant rise in transportation data reflects the vibrancy of the entire industry supply chain, indicating successful supply-demand alignment, which is a positive economic indicator,” said Song Ding, an expert from the China Development Institute. “This growth is a good sign for Shenzhen, the GBA, and even the domestic economy,” he added.

Zhang Yiju, deputy director of the Logistics and Supply Chain Management Planning Research Institute at the China Development Institute, believes that the growth in freight throughput, both at the Shenzhen airport and the Shenzhen Port, indicates the elevation of Shenzhen’s status as an air and sea transportation hub. The turnover in passengers and freight highlights Shenzhen’s bustling economic activity and showcases its concrete efforts to become an international consumption hub.

Major updates in SZ transportation

The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link opened June 30, reducing the travel time between the two cities to 30 minutes. Since opening, the average daily traffic flow has exceeded 80,000 vehicles, with a peak of 167,000. Regular buses using the link transported over 8,000 passengers daily.

The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link is seen in this Dec. 11, 2024 photo. 

The Shenzhen airport reached a new milestone with more than 61.47 million passenger trips in 2024, up 16.6% year on year. The highest daily passenger turnover reached 208,000 trips and the monthly peak hit 5.66 million trips, breaking historical records.

Shenzhen opened 94 new drone-based logistics routes, bringing the total to 250. Low-altitude drones carried out 776,000 deliveries, a 27% increase compared to the previous year.

A drone carrying meals flies in Nanshan District. Liu Xudong

Key projects — such as the expansion of the Jihe Expressway, Phase III of the Outer Ring Expressway in Dapeng New Area, the extension of Qiaocheng East Road, the Phase I renovation of the Yanba Expressway, renovation of the Caimei Overpass, and nine Phase V Metro routes — started construction. Fixed asset investments in infrastructure exceeded 160 billion yuan, setting a record.

Five new Metro line sections were opened. The daily ridership of the city’s Metro system reached a peak of 11.88 million passengers. The Metro network handled 3.1 billion passenger trips in 2024, setting a new record.

Commuters stream through Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint Station as Shenzhen Metro Line 13 opened Dec. 28, 2024. Liu Xudong

The smart parking platform shows real-time data, including parking spot availability, total parking spaces, available parking spaces, fee payment, and operating hours, to an average of 2.7 million individuals per day. A total of 543 parking lots with 154,000 parking spaces implemented a staggered parking policy during peak hours, and 143 parking facilities with 16,000 parking slots implemented parking reservation services.

Read more “2024 in Review” stories:

2024 in Review ① | Shenzhen's opening up 回望2024·深圳开放大事

2024 in Review ② | Shenzhen's reforms 回望2024·深圳改革大事