Overview
The Shenzhen Metro (深圳地铁) is the rapid transit system serving Shenzhen in Guangdong Province, China. As a visitor, you can travel across the city using a network of 17 lines operating 642 kilometres of track with 432 stations. Despite opening as recently as 28 December 2004, it is the 5th longest metro system in the world. To ride the metro end to end, you purchase a ticket or card at a station, pass through security screening, tap or insert your ticket at the entry gate, board your train, and tap or insert your ticket again at the exit gate at your destination. Announcements are made in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English.
The network
The Shenzhen Metro operates 17 lines connecting neighbourhoods across the city and reaching key border crossings. Several lines provide access to Hong Kong via MTR connections.
- Line 1 (Luobao Line) – Runs westward from Luohu to Airport East. Trains operate every 2 minutes during peak hours and every 4 minutes at other times. Luohu station connects to Hong Kong's MTR East Rail Line.
- Line 2 (Shekou Line) – Runs from Chiwan to Liantang, with connections to Line 8 at Liantang station.
- Line 3 (Longgang Line) – Runs from Futian Bonded Area to Pingdi Liulian in the north-east part of the city.
- Line 4 (Longhua Line) – Runs northward from Futian Checkpoint to Niuhu. Trains operate every 2.5 minutes at peak hours and every 6 minutes during off-peak hours. Futian Checkpoint connects to Hong Kong's MTR East Rail Line.
- Line 5 (Huanzhong Line) – Runs from Chiwan in the west to Grand Theater in the east.
- Line 6 (Guangming Line) – Runs from Songgang in the north to Science Museum in the south, with a length of 49.4 km and 27 stations.
- Line 6 Branch – Runs from Guangmingcheng to SUAT in the north.
- Line 7 (Xili Line) – Runs 32.84 km in an east–west "V" shape, connecting SZU Lihu Campus at Shenzhen University to Tai'an, with 29 stations.
- Line 8 (Yantian Line) – Runs 20.377 km with 11 stations, connecting Liantang to beach resorts at Dameisha, Xiaomeisha, and Xichong. Operates as an extension of Line 2.
- Line 9 (Meilin Line / Neihuan Line) – Runs 36.18 km eastward from Qianwan to Wenjin, with 10 transfer stations, through Nanshan, Futian, and Luohu districts.
- Line 10 (Bantian Line) – Runs from Futian Checkpoint in the south to Shuangyong Street in the north, with a length of 29.3 km and 24 stations. Futian Checkpoint connects to Hong Kong's MTR East Rail Line.
- Line 11 (Airport Express) – Runs from Bitou in the northwest to Hongling South via Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, operating at 120 km/h (75 mph).
- Line 12 (Nanbao Line) – Runs from Zuopaotai East in the southwest to Songgang in the northwest.
- Line 13 (Shiyan Line) – Runs from Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint at Shenzhen Bay Port in Nanshan to Lisonglang in northeast Guangming. The first phase opened on 28 December 2024.
- Line 14 (Eastern Express) – Runs from Gangxia North in the city centre to Shatian in the northeast.
- Line 16 (Longping Line) – Runs from Yuanshan Xikeng in the south of Longgang to Tianxin in the northeast.
- Line 20 (Fuyong Line) – Runs from Airport North in the north-west to Convention & Exhibition City, operating at 120 km/h (75 mph).
Tickets & fares
The Shenzhen Metro uses a distance-based fare system. Fares start at approximately ¥2 for short journeys of up to 2.5 miles (4 km). Each additional 2.5 miles costs ¥1; for journeys of 7.5–15 miles (12–24 km), you pay approximately ¥1 per 4 miles (6 km), and beyond 15 miles, approximately ¥1 per 5 miles (8 km). Fares are approximate and subject to change.
Single-journey tickets are plastic RFID tokens (green or yellow in colour) that you purchase at vending machines located in stations. The machines accept coins of ¥0.5–¥1 and notes of ¥5–¥10, and allow you to purchase a maximum of 8 tickets per transaction. You insert the token into the gate to enter and exit.
Shenzhen Tong Pass is a reloadable smartcard, similar to Hong Kong's Octopus card. It offers a 5% discount on fares. You can purchase the card at Customer Service Centers in all stations for a ¥20 deposit plus an initial top-up (you tap the card at the reader when entering and exiting). The card is rechargeable at value machines in stations, which accept notes of ¥50–¥100 and require a minimum recharge of ¥50. Cards can be returned and refunded at Laojie, Yantian, and Longgang stations. The Shenzhen Tong card is also valid on buses and taxis across the city.
Mobile payment is accepted at many stations via Alipay or WeChat Pay QR codes, and UnionPay cards can be tapped at gates.
Discounts and free travel: Children under 1.2 m in height travel free (one child per adult; additional children pay full fare). Children between 1.2 m and 1.5 m receive a 50% discount. Seniors aged 65 and above travel free, as do people with disabilities.
From the airport
Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport is the main airport serving the city. Metro Line 11 (the Airport Express) connects the airport directly to downtown Shenzhen in approximately 30 minutes, with trains running from 06:17 to 00:18. The standard fare is approximately ¥10, though a "business class" car is available at three times the price.
Alternative transport options from the airport include buses to various points within Shenzhen (running 06:15–24:00), taxis to central Futian (approximately ¥100) or Luohu (approximately ¥150, including tolls, running 24 hours), and e-hailing services like Didi Chuxing from a designated pickup area. Airport shuttle buses (¥20) operate on set schedules to downtown Shenzhen. Coaches serve destinations including Dongguan, Guangzhou, Zhuhai, and Hong Kong and Macau. A ferry service operates from Fuyong Ferry Terminal to Hong Kong, Macau, Zhongshan, and Zhuhai, with a free shuttle bus connecting the terminal to the airport. Conventional rail service also connects to towns in Dongguan and Guangzhou.
Etiquette & customs
- Queuing and boarding: Queue in an orderly fashion at platform doors. Allow passengers to exit before boarding.
- Escalators: Local customs on which side to stand vary; observe and follow the behaviour of locals on the escalator.
- Priority and special seating: Each train has one female-only carriage. Priority seating is designated for elderly passengers, people with disabilities, pregnant women, and those with young children; offer your seat if you occupy a priority area.
- Eating and drinking: Food and drink are generally not permitted on the metro. Avoid eating or drinking during your journey.
- Noise and quiet behaviour: Keep noise to a minimum. Speak quietly and avoid loud phone conversations or music.
- Rush hours: The metro is busiest during morning rush hours (approximately 07:30–09:30) and evening rush hours (approximately 17:30–19:30). If possible, travel outside these windows to avoid crowding.
- Security screening: All passengers pass through security screening when entering the station. Allow time for this process.
Official links
Survival terms
- 地铁 (dìtiě) – Subway / Metro
- 车票 (chēpiào) – Ticket
- 线路 (xiànlù) – Line
- 入口 (rùkǒu) – Entrance
- 出口 (chūkǒu) – Exit
- 换乘 (huàn chéng) – Transfer
- 单程票 (dānchéng piào) – Single fare ticket
- 日票 (rì piào) – Day pass
Download a navigation app such as Amap or Baidu Maps before you travel, as these provide real-time metro route planning and service information within Shenzhen.