How to get to Shenzhen from Hong Kong

Separated from Hong Kong by the 37km-long Sham Chun River, Shenzhen is an easy train, bus or car ride away. There are six major cross-boundary checkpoints to enter Shenzhen, and you can reach them all by public transport from almost anywhere in Hong Kong.     

Be sure to pay attention to the English translations and romanisations of checkpoint names as they vary according to whether they’re phonetically romanised from Putonghua or Cantonese. For example, Lo Wu (Cantonese) and Luo Hu (Putonghua), Shenzhenbei (Putonghua) and Shenzhen North. The best way to avoid making mistakes is to simply check a map – though remember, Google Maps won’t work once you cross the border (more tips for travelling to China here).

Planning a weekend in Shenzhen? We know there are many reasons for heading across the border – and we’ve got you covered with our guides. Discover the city’s best spas and greatest places to go shopping. Foodies, check out the best eateries for every budget – or our list of the city’s best fine dining establishments.  

Whatever your reason for heading to the city, set off smoothly with our top tips for travelling to Shenzhen. 

How to get to Shenzhen from Hong Hong International Airport

There are no direct flights from Hong Kong to Shenzhen since the two cities are so close in proximity. Instead, take advantage of our Direct Air+Sea connection.

You can book a combined flight and ferry ticket with us, as you would any other Cathay Pacific ticket – simply enter "Shenzhen Shekou Cruise Home Port (ZYK)" or "Shenzhen Airport Ferry Terminal (FYG)" as your destination.* Both your flight and ferry will be under one booking, and your luggage will be checked through to your destination.  

Upon arrival at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), go directly to Transfer Area E2 to collect your ferry ticket and board your ferry at the SkyPier. The service to Shekou runs roughly every 1-2 hours and takes only 30 minutes, while there are three ferries to Shenzhen Airport each day, getting you there in around 50 minutes.  

Don’t have strong sea legs? You can instead hop onto a cross-boundary coach service at the Mainland Transport Centre at Terminal 1. These coaches can take you to ports like Huanggang, Sha Tau Kok, Shenzhen Bay and Heung Yuen Wai as well as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Zhuhai Port.

Want more information? Check out our video guide to travelling from HKIA to the ferry port next to Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport.

Hong Kong to Shenzhen by highspeed railway  

If you want both speed and affordability, your best bet is to travel to Shenzhen by high-speed train. Trains run as frequently as every five minutes  from the Hong Kong West Kowloon Railway Station to either Futian – which takes 14 minutes – Shenzhenbei – an 18-minute ride – or both. Tickets can be purchased in-person at the station, or in advance on the Railway12306 website or app, available on iOS and Android . Tickets bought on Railway12306 require identity verification with a Mainland Chinese phone number or in-person at the station, and the English booking site and app are only applicable for valid foreign passports. Learn more about purchasing a ticket here .  

The first train departs at 7.01am and the last at 11pm. Fares are set in RMB, so the price in Hong Kong dollars may fluctuate according to conversion rates. However, a second-class adult ticket generally ranges from HK$75-85 while a first-class ticket costs HK$119-131. Those additional dollars pay for your own reading light and audio output that connects to in-train music and TV channels.

Hong Kong to Shenzhen by MTR or bus

The northernmost stations on Hong Kong’s MTR East Rail Line – Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau – will take you straight to a Shenzhen cross-boundary checkpoint. Lo Wu checkpoint closes at midnight and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line checkpoint closes at 10.30pm.  

Passengers may also opt to use the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge clearance point, reachable via “A” route airport buses operated by Citybus, New Lantau Bus and Long Win bus services.   

Night owls, meanwhile, can catch shuttle buses and coaches that connect to Shenzhen’s Huanggang from Lok Ma Chau (both 24-hour ports) or from convenient urban locations like Mong Kok, Kwun Tong, Wan Chai, Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun, Tin Shui Wai and Kam Sheung Road. Fares and timetables differ depending on location.   

Hong Kong to Shenzhen by private bus or car  

If you’re looking for a more convenient option, it’s worth looking into private companies offering ride services. Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings can get you to Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, Lo Wu, Shenzhen Bay or Huanggang from various pick-up points in the city, including Hong Kong Disneyland and K11 Musea. Shopping malls like Elements and Citigate Outlets also have their own cross-border coaches that run to various ports in Shenzhen.   

Private car hires are also available: SkyLimo ’s door-to-door deluxe service comes complete with your own English-speaking chauffeur. Hong Kong car owners can apply to drive across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge if their vehicle has eight or fewer seats and is shorter than six metres in length. The vehicle must have all licences and permits relevant to both Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland; it can only stay for 30 consecutive days upon entry and no more than 180 days within a year.

*Direct Air+Sea is available for selected routes on our website. For regions where this service is unavailable, please book via a travel agent. If you're departing from Taiwan China, please purchase your ferry tickets separately. We’ll arrange your bags to be checked through when you check in at your departing airport.

This story was originally published in September 2023 and updated in March 2025.