To & from Hong Kong

As close neighbors, Shenzhen and Hong Kong offer numerous travel options between the two cities. The fastest and most comfortable option is the high-speed train.

MTR/Metro

Shenzhen’s metro connects with Hong Kong’s MTR (Mass Transit Railway) at Luohu (Line 1) and Futian Checkpoint (Line 4). Passengers must disembark and cross the border on foot via well-signposted and straightforard immigration checkpoints.

After crossing, the MTR journey to central Hong Kong takes about an hour. Although slower than the high-speed train— especially during long queues at border control— it is less likely to be fully booked during busy times.

Ferry

Regular ferry services run between Shekou Ferry Terminal (Shekou Port metro station, Line 2) and Hong Kong, with fares around 140 yuan and a one-hour crossing, operating from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Ferries also connect Shekou directly to Hong Kong International Airport and Macao. Additionally, ferries operate from the Shenzhen airport’s Fuyong Ferry Terminal to Hong Kong and Macao. A free shuttle bus links the Shenzhen airport with Fuyong Ferry Terminal for convenient transfers.

Train

China’s high-speed rail network is the longest and busiest in the world. Most long-distance journeys to and from Shenzhen use G-category bullet trains, which travel at speeds up to 300 km/h.

Shenzhen has three major train stations for long-distance travel: Shenzhen Station (serving only regular trains, no high-speed service), Shenzhen North Station, and Futian Station. From these stations, you can catch high-speed trains or slower overnight sleeper trains to nearly any destination in China.

Buying train tickets

Train tickets can be booked up to 28 days in advance of your planned departure date.

Online bookings

The simplest way to purchase train tickets is online through Trip.com (www.trip.com), which offers multiple language options and accepts international credit and debit cards.

After booking, tickets can be collected at any station by queuing at the ticket window and presenting your booking number and passport. Note that a booking fee of 20 to 40 yuan is added on top of the ticket price.

If you can read Chinese and have a Chinese bank account— or can enlist the help of a Chinese friend— you may also book tickets on the official Chinese railway website: www.12306.cn, which does not charge a booking fee.

At Shenzhen’s major train stations, international travelers no longer need a printed ticket to board the train: simply showing your passport is sufficient. This means you can skip the ticket-office queues. However, at some smaller stations, you may still be required to pick up a printed ticket in advance.

Ticket counters

Ticket offices are usually located to the left or right of the main station entrance. Join any queue and be prepared with a few key Chinese phrases, or have a local write down your destination and travel details to show the ticket seller.

While ticket sellers at Shenzhen’s three main stations increasingly speak some English, it’s best not to rely on this. Tickets purchased at counters must be paid for in cash (international credit or debit cards are not accepted), and you will need to present your passport. You can also purchase tickets using WeChat or Alipay.

Visa restrictions on travel

Please note that if you have obtained a Shenzhen five-day visa on arrival, you are not permitted to leave the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone during your stay in China. Similarly, if you hold a 144-hour visa-free transit permit issued in Shenzhen, you must remain within Guangdong Province throughout your visit.

Busy periods

Similar to air travel, purchasing train tickets around major holidays such as the Lunar New Year, Labor Day, and National Day can be extremely difficult— often ranging from very challenging to nearly impossible. If you plan to travel during these busy periods, it is highly recommended to book your tickets online as early as possible.

High-speed trains

The most affordable and commonly used seats on China’s high-speed trains are second-class seats (二等座; èrděng zuò). These resemble economy-class airplane seating, featuring rows of five seats (a group of two and a group of three) all facing the same direction.

Second-class seats offer ample legroom, making them suitable for most journeys, although the carriages may be crowded and noisy, so bringing headphones is advisable.

First-class seats (一等座; yīděng zuò) are wider, softer, and more comfortable, arranged in pairs of two per row. They cost about 40% more than second-class seats but include complimentary drinks and snacks.

For longer trips, the extra comfort and quieter environment make the upgrade worthwhile. Business-class seats (商务座; shāngwù zuò), which convert into beds, are roughly twice the price of first-class seats, and most trains only have a limited number of business-class carriages.

Normal trains

On older trains, soft sleepers (软卧; ruǎnwò) are the most comfortable option, featuring four air-conditioned bunks within a closed compartment. Some T-class trains offer “deluxe sleeper” compartments with two berths and private toilets. Hard sleepers (硬卧; yìngwò) cost about half as much as soft sleepers and consist of six air-conditioned bunks in an open, doorless compartment. Though space is more limited compared to soft sleepers, hard sleepers remain comfortable and come with clean bedding.

Soft-seat class (软座; ruǎnzuò) seats are more comfortable but less common than hard-seat class (硬座; yìngzuò). The hard-seat carriages are the cheapest option and can be very uncomfortable on long journeys. If all seats are sold out, you may purchase a standing ticket (无座/站票; wú zuò / zhàn piào), which allows you to stand during the trip.

Shenzhen's three major trainstations

Shenzhen North Station

Located about 10 km north of Futian Station, Shenzhen North Station (深圳北站, Shēnzhèn Běi Zhàn; accessible via Metro Lines 4 and 5), which is in Longhua District, offers high-speed rail services to numerous popular tourist destinations across China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Guilin, and Kunming.

Futian Station

Situated in the heart of Shenzhen’s central business district, Futian Station (福田站, fútián zhàn; served by Metro lines 2, 3, and 11) is China’s only underground high-speed rail station. Besides ultra-fast connections to Hong Kong, it provides high-speed trains to Guangzhou and various other cities. The metro station is extensive, with 36 exits, so be sure to allow plenty of time to navigate transfers if you need to catch a train.

Shenzhen Station

Located near the Luohu border crossing with Hong Kong, Shenzhen Station (深圳站, shēnzhèn zhàn; served by Metro lines 1 and 9) is the city’s oldest railway station. From here, you can board the frequent and speedy intercity “C” categorytrains to Guangzhou, as well as older “D” category high-speed trains and slower overnight trains reaching many distant destinations.

Bus

Intercity buses offer an affordable, albeit relatively slow, way to reach neighboring cities. Regular services to Guangzhou run every 20 minutes from Luohu Bus Station, costing between 50 and 70 yuan, with a journey time of about two hours (operating hours from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.). From Luohu, you can also catch buses to other cities in Guangdong Province, including Dongguan, Zhongshan, Chaozhou, and Shantou. For longer-distance buses traveling across China, head to Shenzhen's Yinhu Bus Station.