Shenzhen Shopper

Your essential guide to visiting and living in Shenzhen, China

Transport

Shenzhen is a modern city featuring modern well-managed transport infrastructure and services. These transport services include the popular metro system (aka subway), intercity train services, public buses, taxis, ferry, and an international airport.

Getting around Shenzhen

Metro

The Shenzhen Metro (aka subway) is modern, efficient, cheap and covers most of the city. You can simply purchase tickets via touchscreen ticket machines (Chinese and English) at the station, fares range from 2 to 7 RMB. Most of the stations open at 6.30 am, and close at 11 pm.

You can also purchase a ‘Shenzhen Tong’ Card, which you preload with cash and simply swipe as you enter and exit the metro, it can also be used on buses.

Read more guide to Shenzhen Metro and Metro Map.

 

Public Bus

Public buses are available everywhere utilizing a fully electric fleet of new buses. Some buses are fixed fare and others charge by the distance and you can pay with cash or Shenzhen Tong Card. You can use Google Maps (VPN) or Baidu Maps to help find the correct bus route and stations. The city also has a number of very useful Sightseeing Bus lines for tourists.

Read more about Shenzhen Public Buses and Sightseeing Bus lines.

 

Taxi

The fare starts at 10RMB which includes 3km, and then it is 2.4 RMB for every km after, there is also a 3RMB fuel surcharge which isn’t shown on the meter. Green taxis that service the outer suburbs are lightly cheaper and eTaxis don’t charge the fuel fee. Soon, all taxis in Shenzhen will be electric and be unrestricted in what districts they can service.

The Taxi Hotline is 96880.

More info about Taxis and ride hailing APPS in Shenzhen

 

Getting to/From Shenzhen

Getting to and from Shenzhen is easy and, with a little forward planning, usually stress-free. There are numerous ways to reach the city including plane, train, and bus.

Flying to Shenzhen

You can fly directly into Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport which is located in Bao’an District. The airport is modern and easy to navigate with bi-lingual signage (CN & EN).  The airport is approx. 1hr 30 mins by bus/car from Futian, the central district of Shenzhen and 30 mins via Metro line 11.

For airport transfers from Shenzhen Airport T3, there are taxis, buses and the metro (subway). Bus costs around 25RMB, a taxi around 100RMB and the metro comes in cheapest with the price varying depending on destination.

There are also intercity buses, connecting to Hong Kong via Shenzhen Bay port, and also mainland cities including  Guangzhou, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhuhai, and Zhongshan.

There is also a ferry service at the nearby Fuyong Pier which can connect you to Sky Pier (Hong Kong Airport ) and New Macau Maritime Ferry Terminal. Shuttle buses run between the airport and the Fuyong ferry terminal. More here

A new T4 adjacent to T3 is set to open in 2020 with the two terminals to be connected by Automated People Movers (APM). There is also a planned expansion of express bus and high-speed rail services connecting Shenzhen with Huizhou Airport.

More about Shenzhen Bao’an Airport – including transfers, hotels, and more.

Alternative Airports for Shenzhen

Hong Kong International Airport – you can take a ferry (30 mins) or bus (80 mins) directly from HKIA to Shenzhen.

Macau International Airport – you can take a ferry (60 mins) from Macau to Shenzhen.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport – you can take the train (80 mins) from Guangzhou East Railway Station to Shenzhen Station (Luohu) or direct buses (180 mins) to SZ from the airport.

Huizhou Pingtan Airport – you can take bus (110 min) or train (35 min) from Huizhou South Station to Shenzhen North Station.

 

Train to Shenzhen

For train travelers going to/from other mainland cities, the three main stations are

All offer High-Speed Rail connections to Guangzhou (and beyond), and Xiamen (and beyond). From Shenzhen North Station and Futian Station, you can take the XRL line to West Kowloon Station in Hong Kong (Sep 23).

East Railway Station (at Buji) and Pingshan Station at Pingshan New District) also offer High-Speed Rail connections.

 

Ferry to Shenzhen

Shenzhen has two passenger ferry terminals, one near the airport being Fuyong Port, and the other being Shekou Port.

Via ferry, you can reach Hong Kong, Hong Kong airport, Macau, Zhuhai, and Zhongshan. Please see the Ferry page for schedules.

 

From Other Cities to Shenzhen

Guangzhou to Shenzhen – Many people wishing to visit Shenzhen also fly into the nearby Guangzhou Airport. If you’re coming to Shenzhen via Guangzhou Airport, there are four train stations but the Guangzhou East Railway Station (Tianhe Railway Station) has the most frequent services running to Shenzhen which all terminate at the Louhu station. You can also take a train from Guangzhou South Station. More details on going from Guangzhou to Shenzhen

Hong Kong to Shenzhen –  Coming from Hong Kong there are several ways to reach Shenzhen, you can come via train, ferry or bus. Via train to Lo Wo and then crossing the border at Luohu is probably the most popular route via the East Rail Line. You can also take the East Rail Line to Lo Ma Chau and cross into Futian. Soon there will be High Speed Rail (XRL) from Kowloon in HK to Futian in SZ. More detailed information on traveling from Hong Kong to Shenzhen.

Beijing to Shenzhen – You can fly from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN) to Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport (SZX). Alternatively, you can take the high speed rail from Beijing West Station to Futian Station which takes around 8.5 to 10.5 hours depending which train. There are two services daily.

Shanghai to Shenzhen – You can fly from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) or Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to  Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport (SZX). Alternatively, you can take a high speed train from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station to Shenzhen North Station taking around 11 hrs and 30 mins. There are six services daily.

 

Useful Resources

Where to stay in Shenzhen?

See my lists of handpicked hotels for

The Top Hotels near Shenzhen Airport (T3) – the only International airport in Shenzhen.
The Top 10 Five-Star hotels – the best of the best in luxury accommodation in SZ.
The Top 15 Hotels at Huaqiangbei Shenzhen – The wholesale electronics capital of China, and a shopping mecca.
The Top Hotels at Dongmen (Loajie), Luohu Shenzhen – Luohu is the main border crossing between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, it’s also home to Luohu Commercial City, many luxury shopping malls, and leisure centers.
The Top 13 Hotels in Futian CBD, Shenzhen – Futian is the center of the city, home to government, modern shopping malls, Convention and Exhibition Center and the city’s top luxury hotels.
The Top 10 Hotels in Nanshan, Shenzhen – Nanshan is home to three big theme parks, several major malls, and many of the world’s top tech companies are based here.
The Top Hotels in Bao’an District Shenzhen – A very large district that is developing fast.
List: The Top Hotels in Dapeng, Shenzhen – Dapeng is your nature escape, here you can find beaches and hiking trails.
List: The Top Hotels in Buji, Shenzhen – a rapidly redeveloping district.
The Top Hotels in Longgang Shenzhen – another rapidly redeveloping district.