Getting Your Bearings
Huizhou is a prefecture-level city in east-central Guangdong, sitting in the Pearl River Delta with Guangzhou to the west and Shenzhen and Dongguan to the southwest. It's a large, spread-out place — the urban core lies within Huicheng and Huiyang Districts, while the prefecture also takes in Huidong District and the counties of Boluo and Longmen, plus the Daya Bay coast. For a visitor, that geography matters: the sights you'll want to see (West Lake, Mount Luofu, Xunliao Bay, Nankun Mountain, Daya Bay) are scattered across a wide area, so you'll be mixing city buses, taxis, ride-hailing and intercity rail rather than relying on any single network.
The single most important thing to know is that Huizhou has no metro and no tram system. Long-term metro plans exist on paper, but nothing has been built. In practice, the city moves on buses, taxis and ride-hailing apps.
City Buses: The Backbone of Local Transport
Municipal buses are the main way people get around Huizhou. The network is extensive, covering all the major districts and tourist attractions, and the fleet is generally modern and air-conditioned. Buses are operated by the Huizhou Public Transport Group, and the system is widely described as well-organized and cost-effective.
Fares are simple. Standard city buses charge a flat rate, with express "K-line" routes costing a little more and the double-decker tourist bus on the West Lake line a little more again. Children under 1.2 metres ride free, and seniors aged 60 and over pay half price (bring your passport to a customer service desk to arrange this).
Paying is straightforward even without a Chinese bank account:
- WeChat Pay — activate the transport QR code in the app and scan it on boarding.
- Alipay — search for the Huizhou bus service and use the generated transport code.
- Lingnan Pass (岭南通) — a physical reloadable card you can buy and top up at transport group customer service centres, such as those at the main bus stations. The Huizhou Tong card is a similar local option, offering slight discounts and sold at bus terminals and designated outlets.
- Cash — accepted, but you need exact change. Drivers do not give change, and they certainly won't break a large note for you.
Buses generally run from around early morning until roughly 9:30–10:30 PM, though hours and frequency vary by route and time of day. Route information posted at stops is mainly in Chinese, so the most reliable way to plan a trip is with a Chinese mapping app such as Baidu Maps or Gaode (Amap), which show routes, schedules and real-time bus locations.
Several routes are especially useful for sightseeing. Express K-lines link the railway stations with Huiyang and beyond, with stops convenient for West Lake's east gate and Sizhou Tower, and others heading out toward Boluo and Mount Luofu, Daya Bay, Huidong and Longmen. A dedicated West Lake loop route runs frequently, and there is even a direct bus from the railway station to Xunliao Bay — though it's slow, and taking high-speed rail to Huidong Station and then a short taxi or Didi is usually faster.
Accessibility on the buses is inconsistent. Newer vehicles may have low floors and wheelchair ramps, but older buses have steps, and stops themselves often lack accessible features. Travellers with mobility challenges should plan ahead and may find independent bus travel difficult.
Rail: High-Speed and Conventional
Huizhou's rail network is oriented toward intercity travel rather than getting around town. The urban centre is served by the Jingjiu Railway (known in Guangdong as the Guangmeishan Railway), with two stations, Huizhou West and Huizhou. Compared with its bay-area neighbours, the city's rail coverage is sparse relative to its size.
For visitors, the high-speed stations are the ones that matter, because each is the natural gateway to a different part of the prefecture:
- Huizhou North — the main high-speed station, with services toward Guangzhou North, Shenzhen North and Hong Kong West Kowloon.
- Huizhou South — on the Xiamen–Shenzhen line.
- Huidong — the best station for Xunliao Bay, about a half-hour taxi ride away.
- Boluo — the best station for Mount Luofu, roughly a fifteen-minute taxi ride.
- Longmen — the best station for the Nankun Mountain area.
This makes high-speed rail a genuinely practical tool for a visitor: you can base yourself in the city and reach the coast or the mountains by train plus a short taxi, often faster than a long bus ride. Tickets can be booked through apps such as Ctrip, Fliggy or Amap, and foreign cards are generally accepted. At stations, arrive early — especially at peak times — and carry your passport and ticket, as both are needed for security checks and boarding. Platforms typically open only shortly before departure. Large stations can be confusing, so look for English signage or keep a translation app handy.
Note that a mass rapid transit link to Shenzhen has been discussed and was reported as under construction years ago, but no metro is operating today.
Taxis
Licensed taxis are uniformly coloured sedans with a rooftop "TAXI" sign and a visible meter. They're generally considered safe, but it's worth checking that the meter is running and having your destination written down in Chinese, since drivers are unlikely to speak English.
Fares are metered, with a modest flag fall for the first couple of kilometres and higher per-kilometre rates on longer journeys. There's a night surcharge in the small hours, a pickup fee at the airport and railway stations, and a waiting charge. You can hail a taxi on the street, pick one up at a hotel or station rank, or phone for one (the booking line operates in Chinese only). Payment is by cash — with limited change available — or by scanning a WeChat Pay or Alipay QR code, usually displayed on the dashboard.
For longer trips, be aware that drivers often prefer to negotiate a flat price rather than use the meter. Agree the fare before you set off, or use a ride-hailing app instead so the price is locked in advance.
Ride-Hailing
Didi Chuxing is the dominant ride-hailing app and the most convenient option for visitors. An English version works in Huizhou, and you can sign up with a foreign phone number or a WeChat login; Visa and Mastercard are accepted in the app. Note that cash is not accepted for Didi — payment goes through the app, WeChat Pay or Alipay.
Several service tiers are available, from a standard express car through a premium tier to a metered taxi booked through the app and a cheaper shared "hitch" option. For most visitors, express is the sensible default. Ride-hailing is particularly recommended for night journeys, airport runs and long-distance trips, where the locked-in pricing removes the need to negotiate. The shared hitch tier is best avoided if you don't speak Chinese, as drivers may speak only Cantonese or Hakka.
Safety features include GPS monitoring, driver information and an in-app emergency button. Before getting in, check that the driver and vehicle details match what the app shows.
Intercity Buses
Long-distance coaches fill the gaps in the rail network and are useful for reaching coastal and mountain destinations. The main terminals are Huizhou Central Bus Station, west of West Lake, for long-distance routes; Huizhou South Bus Station, serving Huidong and Huiyang; Huidong Bus Station, a short drive from Huidong's high-speed rail station and reasonably close to Xunliao Bay; and Boluo Bus Station, near Mount Luofu.
Services run to Xunliao Bay, Shuangyue Bay, Mount Luofu, Nankun Mountain and onward to Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Tickets can be booked through Ctrip, Fliggy or Amap with foreign cards, and cash is accepted at the stations. Because several terminals serve the same region, check carefully which station your departure leaves from.
Walking
Walkability in Huizhou is very much a district-by-district affair. Huicheng District, the central urban area, is the most walkable part of the city: West Lake and the surrounding shopping zones put dining and retail within comfortable strolling distance. The West Lake Scenic Area itself has well-maintained paths, bridges and gardens, and the Xinwang Pedestrian Street is a commercial area made for wandering. Along the coast at Dayawan and Xunliao Bay there are beach promenades and walkways.
Outside these central hubs, pedestrian infrastructure is limited, and you'll need transport to reach the more distant parts of the city. Organised walking tours aimed at international tourists are uncommon, but self-guided exploring works well with a mapping app or guidebook — West Lake and Pinghai Ancient City are both good candidates. Historical sites often involve stairs and uneven terrain, which is worth factoring in if anyone in your party has mobility difficulties.
Cycling and E-Bikes
Shared bikes are widely available through apps such as Meituan Bike, Hello Bike and Qingju, with e-bikes from Didi as well, all accessible via WeChat or Alipay mini-programs and inexpensive to unlock. The city centre is flat, and there are pleasant routes along West Lake, the Dongjiang River and the coastal roads.
The catch is infrastructure. Dedicated bike lanes are inconsistent, and cyclists often share the road with vehicles or end up on the pavement. Traffic is heavy and driving can be unpredictable, so a helmet is advisable. Cycling is most comfortable in Huicheng and on the West Lake loop; in Huiyang, Boluo and Longmen, heavy truck traffic makes it considerably less appealing.
Driving and Other Options
Renting a car is not realistic for most tourists, as it requires a valid Chinese driver's licence. Scooter rental is uncommon and not recommended. Driving in China is on the right, with enforced speed limits, mandatory seatbelts and strict penalties for drink-driving; paid parking is common at retail areas and tourist sites, payable by mobile app or cash to an attendant, and urban traffic is heavy at peak hours.
Some specialised transport exists but isn't really point-to-point transit: boat rides on West Lake are sightseeing excursions, and there's a cable car at Luofu Mountain that takes you up to the viewpoints. Tour buses aimed at international visitors are not commonly available, and domestic agency tours often operate in Mandarin only.
Getting In from the Airport
Huizhou Pingtan Airport is the city's own airport, and it has designated taxi queues and marked Didi pick-up points, so the simplest arrival options are a metered taxi or a ride-hailing car. A taxi from the airport into the West Lake area is a reasonably short and inexpensive run.
Many visitors, however, fly into Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport instead. From there, Huizhou is roughly a one-and-a-half-hour drive by bus, and coach services also connect Huizhou with Hong Kong International Airport. If you're arriving at Bao'an, the intercity bus is the straightforward option; alternatively, high-speed rail from Shenzhen North into Huizhou South or Huidong is fast and frequent, with a short taxi ride at the far end.
Practical Tips
- Download Baidu Maps or Gaode (Amap) before you arrive — they're far more accurate than signage for bus routes and real-time arrivals.
- Set up WeChat Pay and Alipay early. Between them they cover buses, taxis, intercity coaches and high-speed rail tickets, and they work with foreign Visa and Mastercard without a Chinese bank account.
- Carry a small amount of cash in low denominations as a backup; drivers and bus fare boxes don't give change.
- Have your destinations written in Chinese, and keep a translation app to hand.
- At railway stations, allow extra time for security and boarding, and remember your passport is required.
- For long journeys, prefer ride-hailing over street taxis so the price is fixed in advance.