How long does it take to get from Hong Kong to Shenzhen?

On the high-speed Express Rail Link, Hong Kong West Kowloon to Futian is about 14 minutes and to Shenzhen North about 19–23 minutes of riding time — though you should budget extra for immigration, which is done inside West Kowloon station before you board. Crossing instead on the metro at Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau takes longer (allow 1.5–2.5 hours door to door) but is cheaper and more flexible.

How much is the Hong Kong to Shenzhen high-speed train?

Second class from Hong Kong West Kowloon to Futian is roughly HK$78 (about ¥70); to Shenzhen North a little more (around ¥75–80). Fares vary slightly by train. The metro border crossings cost only a few HK dollars/yuan in fares but take much longer.

Do I clear immigration on the train or at a border post?

On the Express Rail Link, Hong Kong exit control and mainland China entry control are co-located inside Hong Kong West Kowloon station — you clear both, one after the other, in the same building before you board. You ride across already cleared, then simply walk out at Futian or Shenzhen North. On the metro crossings (Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau), you clear Hong Kong and mainland control at the border building and then continue on the Shenzhen Metro.

Which is better — the high-speed train or the metro border crossing?

Take the Express Rail Link if you value speed and a single seamless ride from central Kowloon into Shenzhen. Take the metro crossing at Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau if you want the cheapest option, more frequent departures, or you are staying near the border. Both are easy; the train just saves time and hassle.

Hong Kong to Shenzhen: Train & Border Crossings (2026)

The two ways across

Hong Kong and Shenzhen sit right against each other, but crossing means leaving Hong Kong and entering mainland China — a real immigration border, and in this direction a full China entry. There are two practical routes for a foreign traveler: the high-speed train, and the metro-plus-border-walk crossings.

Option 1 — the Express Rail Link (fastest)

The Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link runs high-speed trains from Hong Kong West Kowloon (香港西九龙) station, in the heart of Kowloon. Into Shenzhen the arrival stations are:

Futian (福田) — in central Shenzhen, ~14 minutes from West Kowloon. The quickest option if you are heading downtown.
Shenzhen North (深圳北) — the main HSR hub, ~19–23 minutes from West Kowloon, and where you connect onward to the rest of China by high-speed rail.

The clever part is immigration: at West Kowloon, Hong Kong exit control and mainland China entry control are in the same building ("one station, two checks"). You clear both checkpoints in sequence before you board, ride across already cleared, then simply walk out at Futian or Shenzhen North — no separate border stop. Trains are frequent and second class runs about HK$78 (~¥70) to Futian.

Book the high-speed link

Cross-border Express Rail Link tickets can be booked in English with a foreign card. Passport details are required at booking for the cross-border service.

Check Hong Kong → Shenzhen on Trip.comEnglish UI · Foreign cards · Confirmation in 2 min

Affiliate link · we earn a small commission on Trip.com bookings.

Option 2 — the metro border crossings (cheapest)

The traditional way is to ride the Hong Kong MTR to a border checkpoint, walk through immigration, and pick up the Shenzhen Metro on the other side. The two main crossings:

Lo Wu / Luohu (罗湖口岸) — take the MTR East Rail line to its terminus at Lo Wu, cross immigration, and continue on Shenzhen Metro Line 1 from Luohu. The classic, busiest crossing, and the most direct from Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.
Lok Ma Chau → Futian Checkpoint (福田口岸) — take the MTR East Rail line to Lok Ma Chau, cross to Futian Checkpoint, and pick up Shenzhen Metro Lines 4 and 10. Modern and usually quick.

These cost only a few HK dollars and yuan in fares, run very frequently, and are handy if you are staying near the border — but plan 1.5–2.5 hours door to door with the walk and the queues, versus the train's near-seamless ride.

Documents & the two-zone rule

Bring your passport. The key thing to understand: Hong Kong and mainland China are separate immigration zones, and crossing into Shenzhen is a full mainland China entry. You need a valid China visa, or visa-free eligibility for your nationality (for example a qualifying visa-free transit). A single-entry China visa you have already used cannot be reused — crossing from Hong Kong into the mainland would require a multiple-entry visa or a fresh one. Always confirm your own nationality's rules before you go — see our visa checker and the 240-hour visa-free transit tool.

Which should you take?

Take the Express Rail Link for speed and a single seamless ride from central Kowloon into Shenzhen — ideal if you are heading downtown or connecting onward by high-speed rail and value your time. Take a metro crossing for the cheapest fare, the most frequent departures, or if you are near Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau. Neither is hard; the train simply trades a little money for a lot less hassle.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get from Hong Kong to Shenzhen?: On the high-speed Express Rail Link, Hong Kong West Kowloon to Futian is about 14 minutes and to Shenzhen North about 19–23 minutes of riding time — though you should budget extra for immigration, which is done inside West Kowloon station before you board. Crossing instead on the metro at Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau takes longer (allow 1.5–2.5 hours door to door) but is cheaper and more flexible.
How much is the Hong Kong to Shenzhen high-speed train?: Second class from Hong Kong West Kowloon to Futian is roughly HK$78 (about ¥70); to Shenzhen North a little more (around ¥75–80). Fares vary slightly by train. The metro border crossings cost only a few HK dollars/yuan in fares but take much longer.
Do I clear immigration on the train or at a border post?: On the Express Rail Link, Hong Kong exit control and mainland China entry control are co-located inside Hong Kong West Kowloon station — you clear both, one after the other, in the same building before you board. You ride across already cleared, then simply walk out at Futian or Shenzhen North. On the metro crossings (Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau), you clear Hong Kong and mainland control at the border building and then continue on the Shenzhen Metro.
What documents do I need to cross from Hong Kong to Shenzhen?: Your passport, plus the right to enter mainland China. Hong Kong and the mainland are separate immigration zones, so entering Shenzhen is a full China entry: you need a valid China visa, or visa-free eligibility for your nationality (for example a qualifying transit). A single-entry China visa you have already used cannot be reused — you would need a multiple-entry or fresh visa. Check your own nationality’s rules before you go.
Which is better — the high-speed train or the metro border crossing?: Take the Express Rail Link if you value speed and a single seamless ride from central Kowloon into Shenzhen. Take the metro crossing at Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau if you want the cheapest option, more frequent departures, or you are staying near the border. Both are easy; the train just saves time and hassle.