Public transport in Shenzhen

Overview

The Shenzhen Metro (深圳地铁, Shēnzhèn Dìtiě) is the rapid transit system of Shenzhen in Guangdong Province, China. It opened on 28 December 2004 and has grown remarkably quickly: the newest lines and extensions opened on 28 June 2026 brought the network to 642 kilometres (399 miles) of trackage, operating on 17 lines with 421 stations, making it the fifth longest metro system in the world. By 2035 the network is planned to comprise 8 express and 24 non-express lines totalling 1,142 kilometres (710 miles).

Riding it end to end as a visitor is straightforward. Look for the green-and-white station signs, then pass your bags through the X-ray security check before entering the paid area. Plan your route in advance with a map app such as Amap or Baidu Maps, which give real-time updates (English support is limited); Google Maps works with a VPN but is less reliable. Buy a ticket or tap a card or phone at the gate, stand behind the yellow line, and let passengers exit before you board. Check which numbered exit you need before you surface, since stations have many. Train and station announcements are broadcast in Mandarin, Cantonese and English.

Most lines run from roughly 6:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., with some extending to midnight. Line 1 runs 6:20 a.m.–11:40 p.m., Lines 2 and 8 run 5:50 a.m.–11:00 p.m., Line 3 runs 6:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m., Line 11 runs 6:03 a.m.–12:10 a.m. and Line 7 runs 6:12 a.m.–11:40 p.m. If you miss the last train, night buses and taxis are available, and some halfway trains on Line 1 (to Qianhaiwan) and Line 11 (to Songgang) run after 11 p.m.

The network

The Shenzhen Metro is the backbone of the city's public transport, and several lines connect directly to Hong Kong. Line 1, Line 4 and Line 10 run to the border crossings between the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region at Luohu/Lo Wu and Futian Checkpoint/Lok Ma Chau, where you can transfer to Hong Kong's MTR East Rail line for travel onwards to Hong Kong. The system also extends to Dongguan and Huizhou.

The numbered metro lines, with their former or alternative local names, are:

Line 1 (formerly Luobao line) – runs westward from Luohu to Airport East, passing Grand Theater, Huaqiang Rd., Convention and Exhibition Center, Window of the World, Shenzhen University, Bao'an Center and Airport East. Trains run every 2 minutes at peak hours and every 4 minutes at other times.
Line 2 (formerly Shekou line) – runs from Chiwan to Liantang, passing Shekou Port, Sea World, Window of the World, Futian, Civic Center and Grand Theater. It connects with Line 8 at Liantang station.
Line 3 (formerly Longgang line) – runs from Futian Bonded Area to Pingdi Liulian in Longgang in the north-east, passing Shopping Park, Futian, Children's Palace, Laojie, Dafen, Universiade and Longcheng Park.
Line 4 (formerly Longhua line) – runs northward from Futian Checkpoint to Niuhu, passing Convention & Exhibition Center, Civic Center, Children's Palace, North Railway Station and Mission Hills. Trains run every 2.5 minutes at peak hours and every 6 minutes off-peak. It is operated by MTR Corporation (Shenzhen).
Line 5 (formerly Huanzhong line) – runs from Chiwan in the west to Grand Theater in the east in an arch shape, passing Railway Park, Qianhaiwan, Bao'an Center, North Railway Station and Buji.
Line 6 (formerly Guangming line) – runs from Songgang in the north to Science Museum in the south, passing Gongming Square, Guangming, North Railway Station and Tongxinling.
Line 6 Branch (also known as Branch Line 6) – runs from Guangmingcheng to SUAT in the north.
Line 7 (formerly Xili line) – connects SZU Lihu Campus at Shenzhen University to Tai'an in a "V" shape across the city, passing Chegongmiao, Huanggang Checkpoint, Huaqiang North and Bagualing.
Line 8 (formerly Yantian line) – connects the eastern suburbs of Liantang to Yantian Road, then towards the beach resorts at Dameisha and Xiaomeisha before entering Dapeng at the beach resort at Xichong. In actual operation it serves as the extension of Line 2.
Line 9 (formerly Meilin line or Neihuan line) – runs eastward from Qianwan to Wenjin through Nanshan, Futian and Luohu, passing Shenzhen Bay Park, Chegongmiao, Jingtian, Yinhu and Hongling, with 10 transfer stations.
Line 10 (formerly Bantian line) – runs from Futian Checkpoint in the south to Shuangyong Street in the north, passing Gangxia North, Huawei and Pinghu.
Line 11 (also known as the Airport Express) – runs from Bitou in the northwest to Hongling South in the city centre via Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, passing Bao'an, Qianhaiwan, Houhai, Chegongmiao, Futian and Gangxia North. It runs at a higher speed of 120 km/h (75 mph).
Line 12 (also known as Nanbao Line) – runs from Zuopaotai East in the southwest to Songgang in the northwest, passing Sea World, Nantou Ancient City, Zhongshan Park, Bao'an Passenger Transport Terminal, Airport East, Shenzhen World, Waterlands Resort and Shajing Ancient Market.
Line 13 (also known as Shiyan Line) – runs from Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint at the Shenzhen Bay Port in Nanshan to Lisonglang in northeast Guangming. Like Line 4, it is operated by MTR Corporation (Shenzhen).
Line 14 (also known as the Eastern Express) – runs from Gangxia North in the city centre to Shatian in the northeast, passing Luohu North, Buji, Universiade and Pingshan Center.
Line 16 (also known as Longping Line) – runs from Yuanshan Xikeng in the south of Longgang to Tianxin in the northeast, passing Universiade Center, Longcheng Park, Pingshan and Dongjiang Column Memorial Hall.
Line 20 (formerly Fuyong line) – runs from Airport North in the north-west to Convention & Exhibition City near Shenzhen World, at the same top speed as Line 11 (120 km/h).

Beyond the metro, buses serve points across the city, including Yantian, Luohu and several border crossings, and ferries link the coast: Fuyong Ferry Terminal near the airport connects to Hong Kong, Macau, Zhongshan and Zhuhai, while Shekou Ferry Terminal is served by ferries from Hong Kong International Airport. The city's rail network also reaches several towns in Dongguan and Guangzhou East station, with connections onward across China's national rail system.

Tickets & fares

Fares are distance-based and approximate prices change, so check the current fare in a map app before you travel. The starting fare is ¥2 for the first 4 km; you then pay ¥1 for the next 4 km, ¥1 per additional 6 km after 12 km, and ¥1 per additional 8 km after 24 km. In practice short trips start at ¥2, a 10 km journey costs around ¥5, and long trips can reach around ¥14.

Single-journey ticket – a green or yellow RFID plastic token bought from vending machines, with no deposit and no discount, one ticket per journey. The token records your entry station; deposit it in the slot at the exit gate. Machines accept only ¥0.5 and ¥1 coins and ¥5 and ¥10 notes (bills must be smooth and clean – exchange coins with staff if rejected), with up to 8 tickets per person per transaction.
Shenzhen Tong card – the local rechargeable transport card, similar to Hong Kong's Octopus. It gives a 5% discount, is also valid on buses and taxis, and is available at Customer Service Centers of all stations. Expect a ¥20 deposit plus an initial top-up (typically ¥80). Reload at value-add machines, which accept only ¥50 and ¥100 notes with a minimum reload of ¥50. Card return service is available only at Laojie, Yantian and Longgang stations.
Alipay QR code – bind a Chinese or international card, select the city, and use the metro QR code in the "Travel" section. Your name must match your passport exactly (SURNAME FIRST NAME MIDDLE NAME, all caps) or a 15-day wait applies to update it.
WeChat Pay QR – possible but requires a Chinese phone number and extra ID verification, so it is less convenient for foreigners.
Contactless bank cards – UnionPay "Quick Pay" contactless cards, Apple Pay and T-Union smartcards are accepted at the gates.

Concessions: children under 1.2 m travel free with an accompanying adult (only one child free per adult; additional children pay full fare), children between 1.2 m and 1.5 m pay half price, and seniors over 65 and physically disabled passengers ride free. The sources do not describe a dedicated tourist pass, so a Shenzhen Tong card or tap-to-ride phone payment is the practical choice for a visitor.

From the airport

Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (深圳宝安国际机场, SZX) is the main airport serving the city. The fastest public-transport link into town is Metro Line 11, which connects the airport to downtown Shenzhen in 30 minutes, running 06:17–00:18. The fare is around ¥10, and there is also a "business class" car that costs three times as much. Note that the old airport Terminals A and B, which were served by Metro Line 1, have been closed since 2013; Line 1 instead serves Airport East station.

Metro Line 11 – direct to downtown in about 30 minutes, around ¥10, with a premium business-class car available.
Buses – to various points within Shenzhen, including Airport East metro station (on Line 1), Yantian, Luohu and a couple of border crossings, running 06:15–24:00.
Airport shuttle bus – ¥20 direct to downtown Shenzhen; note the schedule so you don't miss it, and be aware there may not be English service on board.
Coaches – to Dongguan, Guangzhou, Huizhou, Huidong and Huiyang, Jiangmen, Shunde, Zhongshan, Zhuhai and several locations in Hong Kong and Macau. A "midnight bus" operates 21:00–03:00 to Nanshan district and to Dongguan, Huizhou and Huiyang.
Ferry – from the airport ferry terminal (Fuyong Ferry Terminal) to Hong Kong, Macau, Zhongshan or Zhuhai, with a free shuttle bus connecting the terminal to the airport. A direct ferry to Hong Kong International Airport lets you skip Hong Kong immigration.
Rail – to neighbourhoods near the airport, several towns in Dongguan (including Chang'an, Humen and Houjie) and Guangzhou East station.
Taxi and e-hailing – taxis to central Futian cost approximately ¥100 and to Luohu approximately ¥150 including tolls, running 24 hours a day. For e-hailing apps like Didi Chuxing there is a well-marked pickup area divided into numbered positions (号位, hàowèi) so you can tell your driver exactly where to find you.

If you arrive after 03:00, you will need a taxi or to wait at the airport until the metro (Line 11) starts running at 06:17.

Etiquette & customs

Security first – all bags pass through X-ray security before you enter the station, so allow a little extra time.
Queuing and boarding – stand behind the yellow line on the platform and let passengers exit the train before you board.
Escalators – the sources do not specify a standing side for Shenzhen, so follow the flow of the crowd and the posted signage at each station.
Priority seating – priority seats are provided for those who need them; offer your seat to elderly, disabled or pregnant passengers.
Eating and drinking – the sources do not state a specific rule, so keep food and drink off the trains to be safe and considerate.
Rush hour – the busiest periods are 7:30–9:30 a.m. and 5:30–7:30 p.m.; expect crowded carriages and allow extra time, and keep your belongings close.
Announcements – station and train announcements are in Mandarin, Cantonese and English, so you can follow along even without reading Chinese.

Official links

Survival terms

Subway/metro – 地铁 (dìtiě)
Ticket – 票 (piào)
Line – 线 (xiàn), as in 1号线 (yī hào xiàn, Line 1)
Entrance – 入口 (rùkǒu)
Exit – 出口 (chūkǒu)
Transfer – 换乘 (huànchéng)
Single fare – 单程票 (dānchéng piào)
Day pass – 一日票 (yīrì piào)

Before you set out each day, check your route and the numbered exit you need in a map app, and keep a little spare change or a topped-up Shenzhen Tong card handy so you can move through the gates without delay.