The Mainland Chinese metropolis of Shenzhen is popular among Hong Kong residents as a holiday spot, whether for day trips to shop at Costco or long weekend getaways to sample the food, visit sprawling nature parks, or indulge in extended spa sessions. And it’s becoming increasingly easy to head to this buzzing city from the SAR, with new visa and permit options and expanding road and train networks connecting the two cities. Read on to find out how you can visit our closest Mainland neighbour and what entry documents you can apply for.
How to get to Shenzhen from Hong Kong
Of the nine border crossings between Hong Kong and Mainland China, six of them are entry points for passenger travel from the SAR to Shenzhen that don’t require a Closed Area Permit: Shenzhen Bay Port, Lok Ma Chau Spur Line, Lok Ma Chau, Lo Wu, West Kowloon Station, and Heung Yuen Wai. Cross-border travellers can get to Shenzhen in the following ways:
High Speed Rail
This is the quickest way to travel from Hong Kong to Shenzhen. There are a little over 130 daily High Speed Rail departures from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to Shenzhen — 52 to Futian, and 80 to Shenzhen North Railway Station (32 of which stop at Futian). Tickets across four categories — Business Class, Premium Class, First Class, and Second Class — are available for trains departing within 15 days and are sold in RMB.
Fare: HK$82-HK$248 (Hong Kong-Shenzhen North), HK$74-HK$223 (Hong Kong-Futian)
Travel time: 15-20 minutes
Departure times: 7am-11pm
Immigration clearance: At West Kowloon Station
MTR
Travellers can take the East Rail Line — which starts at Admiralty and ends at Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau — to get to Shenzhen. The station at Lok Ma Chau connects directly to the Futian Control Point, while the one at Lo Wu takes passengers to Luohu Port. Trains run throughout the day, and operating hours are extended for occasions like New Year’s Eve or Chinese New Year.
Fare (Octopus): HK$52.2 (Admiralty-Lok Ma Chau/Lo Wu)
Travel time: 44-50 minutes
Departure times: 5:30am-11:07pm
Immigration clearance: Futian Port/Louhu Port
Bus
Since there are several land crossings into the Mainland from Hong Kong, it’s hardly surprising that SAR travellers have a wide variety of options when it comes to getting to Shenzhen by bus. These buses will take passengers only up to the border crossings, where they will have to clear immigration, and take other means of transport to get to their destination in Shenzhen.
Hong Kong to Shenzhen Bay
| ROUTE | ORIGIN IN HONG KONG | FARE |
| B2 | Yuen Long Station Public Transport Interchange | HK$14.4 |
| B2P | Tin Tsz Estate Bus Terminus | HK$10.3 |
| B2X | Tin Yiu Estate Bus Terminus | HK$10.3 |
| B3 | Tuen Mun Pier Head | HK$14.7 |
| B3A | Shan King Estate | HK$14.7 |
| B3X | Tuen Mun Town Centre | HK$14.7 |
Hong Kong to Lok Ma Chau Spur Line (Futian Checkpoint)
| ROUTE | ORIGIN IN HONG KONG | FARE |
| B1 | Tin Tsz Estate | HK$14.5 |
| B1 | Ma Wang Road | HK$13.2 |
Hong Kong to Heung Yuen Wai (Liantang Port)
| ROUTE | ORIGIN IN HONG KONG | FARE |
| B7 | Sheung Shui | HK$10 |
| B8 | Tai Wai Station Public Transport Interchange | HK$16.1 |
| B9 | Tuen Mun Station | HK$20.2 |
Hong Kong-Shenzhen (long-haul)
If you’re looking to alight at popular spots in Shenzhen beyond the boundary crossings, you can board long-haul buses that will take you from the heart of Hong Kong to across-the-border attractions like Costco and Yifang World. Here are details of the China Travel Service (CTS) buses from Hong Kong to Shenzhen:
| DEPARTURE POINTS | ARRIVAL POINTS |
| Hong Kong Airport | Shenrong Building |
| Prince Edward | Shenzhen Bay Port |
| Metropark Hotel | Shenzhen Airport |
| Wan Chai CTS | Costco |
| Sheung Wan | Yifan World |
| Tak Wah Park Tseun Wan | Yifan World E Arena |
| Tai Wai MTR Station | Mango Building |
| Diamond Hill | |
| Kwun Tong | |
| Tuen Mun MTR Station | |
| AsiaWorld Expo | |
| Hong Kong Disneyland | |
| Harbour City, China HK City |
Fare: HK$60-HK$200
Travel time: 30 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes
Departure times: 6am-11:30pm
Immigration clearance: At border control points
Ferry
Ferries are a quicker option than the MTR or buses, though you may have to travel a bit to get to the pier, depending on where you are in Hong Kong. You can hop on the ferry to Shenzhen from either the Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan or the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) Sky Pier, which is only available to transfer passengers. You can choose between arriving at either Shekou Port or the Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport.
Fare: HK$60-HK$200
Travel time: 30-55 minutes
Departure times: 8:15am-9:15pm. Check departure times from Macau Ferry Terminal here and HKIA here.
Immigration clearance: At departure pier
Coach, car, and taxi
If you prefer a more door-to-door approach to your travel plans, you can book cross-boundary coaches and cars that provide passengers flexible departure options. In case you’re driving yourself there, make sure you have valid permits for your car and yourself to drive in the Mainland.
Documents needed to go from Hong Kong to Shenzhen
Over the past couple of years, Mainland China has opened up paths to visa-free and visa-on-arrival entry to the country. More recently, Mainland authorities launched a special multiple-entry permit to allow Hong Kong permanent residents of non-Chinese origin visa-free access.
Visa-free entry
Mainland China has a visa-exemption programme for citizens of specific nations on a trial basis. Visitors from 17 countries can enter any city in the Mainland for up to 15 days for holidays, business trips, to visit family and friends, and to transit, until December 31, 2025. In addition, Singapore passport holders have visa-free access to Mainland China for 30 days.
| Austria | Hungary | New Zealand |
| Australia | Ireland | Norway |
| Belgium | Italy | Poland |
| Brunei | Luxembourg | Spain |
| France | Malaysia | Switzerland |
| Germany | Netherlands |
It’s worth noting that there is also a 72/144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy by which travellers from 54 countries can stay in Shenzhen for up to 144 hours if they come via Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport. This only works if you use Shenzhen as a transit point to a third country, but may not be a viable option if you’re travelling from Hong Kong as there are no flights between the two cities.
Visa on arrival
Visitors to Shenzhen can apply for a visa on arrival, also called a Shenzhen Port (Arrival) Visa or a Shenzhen 5-Day Special Economic Zone Visa. These single-entry permits are valid for five days, and can be obtained at five entry points: Luohu, Huanggang, Shekou, Fuyong, and Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport. Only citizens of nations with diplomatic relations with Mainland China are eligible for these visas, and the fees vary depending on which country you’re from. All you need to do is take get a photograph of yourself at the border control point, fill out an application form, and make the payment using a Chinese e-payment app, a credit card, or cash. Remember that you can’t get a visa on arrival if you’re taking the High Speed Rail since immigration clearance procedures for Hong Kong and Mainland China are completed in the SAR.
Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong Permanent Residents
In July 2024, Mainland Chinese authorities launched a permit that allows non-Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents to visit the Mainland for multiple 90-day trips for up to five years. The permit, which is issued in the form of a card, costs HK$260 and it takes about 20 days for it to be processed once the application is accepted. The permit can be renewed in Hong Kong and in the Mainland. This permit is different from the HKSAR Re-entry Permit, which is by and large for Hong Kong Permanent Residents of Chinese origin.
When is the best time to visit Shenzhen?
As with Hong Kong, the best time to visit Shenzhen is between October and April — from mid-autumn to early spring — as the weather cools down during this period and the chances of encountering typhoons and heavy rain are less likely. If you can’t make it during this time, you can head to Shenzhen from March to May, which is a bit warmer.
Some of the best cultural events to attend in Shenzhen include the Longgang Dragon Dance Festival in November or December, the Shenzhen Golden Coast Tour Festival and International Beer Festival in the summer, the Shenzhen Shatoujiao Fish Lantern Festival in April, and the Dragon Boat Festival in June. You may want to give Shenzhen a miss during Chinese New Year as many restaurants and shops are closed during this time as the city’s residents go home for the holiday.
Header image credits: Homer1990 via Canva
