Arriving at Shenzhen Airport: metro, taxi and Hong Kong (2026)

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport (深圳宝安国际机场, SZX) has one passenger terminal, T3, for international and domestic flights; some flights use its satellite concourse. Metro Line 11 leaves from right next to the terminal and reaches Futian in the city centre in about 30–35 minutes for about ¥8. A taxi to Futian takes 40–60 minutes and costs about ¥100–150.

One terminal: T3 and the satellite concourse

Everything happens in T3, opened in 2013. A satellite concourse added in December 2021 has more gates; if your boarding pass shows a gate there, follow the signs and allow extra walking time. International, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan flights check in at areas D and E; check the screens, as counters can move. The metro, buses, taxis and car parks all start from the Ground Transportation Centre (GTC), linked to the arrivals hall by covered walkways.

Immigration, baggage and customs

1. Arrival card. Since 20 November 2025 you can fill in the arrival card online before you fly: on the National Immigration Administration (NIA) website, in the NIA 12367 app, or in its Alipay and WeChat mini-programs. If you have not, scan the QR code in the hall, use the self-service machines or fill in a paper card.
2. Passport control. Foreign visitors queue in the lanes for foreigners. If you are using 240-hour visa-free transit, have your confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region ready. See also visa-free countries and our visa checker.
3. Fingerprints. Foreigners aged 14 to 70 give fingerprints, at the self-service machines or at the desk. Children under 14 and people over 70 are not asked.
4. Baggage reclaim. Checked bags on international arrivals are X-rayed and CT-scanned on the belt before they reach you, so most travellers simply collect their bags and walk through customs without a second check. Use the green channel if you have nothing to declare and the red channel if you do.

After customs: SIM, cash, Wi-Fi and luggage

• SIM and eSIM. We could not confirm which mobile operators currently have counters in the arrivals hall. An eSIM bought before you fly is the safer choice and works as soon as you land; see best eSIM for China and staying online. If you buy a local SIM in the city, bring your passport: SIM cards are registered to your name.

• Cash. Use a bank ATM in the terminal rather than an exchange counter, whose rates are poor. See cash, ATMs and cards.
• Alipay and WeChat Pay. Link your foreign card before you fly; see how to pay in China.
• Wi-Fi. Free Wi-Fi covers the terminal; the login code comes by SMS. Without a Chinese number, look for a kiosk that scans your passport and prints a code.
• Luggage storage. There are left-luggage counters in the departures hall and in the walkway to the GTC; expect roughly ¥15–50 per bag per day. See luggage storage in China.

Getting into Shenzhen

• Metro Line 11 (fastest and cheapest). Airport station (机场) is under the GTC; follow the metro signs. Line 11 runs along the coast through Bao’an and Nanshan (Qianhai) to Futian (福田), about 30–35 minutes, where you can change to Lines 2 and 3. The standard fare to Futian is about ¥8. Each train has two business-class carriages, which cost up to three times the standard fare. Pay with an Alipay or WeChat ride code, or buy a single ticket at the machines. Some gates take contactless foreign bank cards, so look for the card logos. The first trains leave the airport at about 06:00–06:30 and the last ones around 23:30–midnight; check the last train in the Shenzhen Metro app or at the station. See using the metro.
• Metro Line 20. One stop north on Line 11, Airport North (机场北) is the start of Line 20 to the Shenzhen World exhibition centre, about 10 minutes.
• Intercity train. Shenzhen Airport station on the Guangzhou–Shenzhen intercity railway is reached from the terminal or the GTC by escalator. It is handy for Dongguan and Guangzhou, not for central Shenzhen.
• Airport express buses. Express and night routes leave from the west side of the GTC on level 2, with fares from about ¥10 to ¥40 depending on distance. The night route NA1 to Futian and Luohu (¥25) runs 22:30–05:00, after the metro has stopped. Timetables change, so check at the ticket office.
• Taxi. The official taxi rank is on the east side of the GTC, level 2, through Door 13. Fares are metered: about ¥100–150 to Futian, 40–60 minutes, a little more late at night. Ask for a receipt (发票). See taking a taxi in China.
• DiDi. In the app, choose the ride-hailing pickup zone at the T3 GTC and walk there. See how to use DiDi.

Going on to Hong Kong

• Coach. Cross-border coaches to Kowloon and Hong Kong Island leave from the west side of the GTC, level 2; buy tickets at the counter near Doors 16 and 17. They cross at Shenzhen Bay or Huanggang, where you get off for both border checks.
• Ferry. The Shenzhen Airport Ferry Terminal (深圳机场码头, formerly Fuyong) has had sailings to Hong Kong International Airport (about 50 minutes) and to Tsim Sha Tsui, but in recent years only a few per day, on some routes only on certain dates, and timetables change often. A free shuttle bus (M590) has run from GTC Door 16. Check the ferry terminal’s current schedule before you count on it.
• Metro and walk across. Take Line 11 towards the centre and change for Futian Checkpoint (Lines 4 and 10) or Luohu (Line 1), then cross on foot. See Hong Kong and Macau to mainland China.

Connecting to a domestic flight

Shenzhen has only one terminal, so there is no terminal change. You clear immigration and customs here even if your next flight is domestic. Ask your airline whether your bags are checked through; if not, collect them, clear customs and check in again at the domestic counters. Leave at least three hours between flights and ask your airline for its minimum connecting time. Flying on from Guangzhou instead? See arriving at Guangzhou Baiyun.

Flying out of Shenzhen

• International check-in is in areas D and E. Closing times depend on the airline, usually 45–60 minutes before departure; arrive about three hours early.
• Tax refund (离境退税). Before you check in a bag containing the goods, have your forms and goods verified at the customs counter; since 1 July 2026 forms under ¥10,000 are only checked at random. The refund agent’s counter is in the International Departures Hall at 308–309, open 09:00–21:00. See tax refund for tourists.
• Power banks on domestic flights need a 3C mark; see domestic flights in China.

Show this to the driver

“Please take me to the departures level of Terminal 3 (T3), Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport.” For more useful sentences, see basic Chinese phrases, and for the city our Shenzhen guide.