One of the best aspects of living in Shenzhen as an expat is its proximity to Hong Kong. No shade to Shenzhen – some have said it is China’s most fascinating city –  but Hong Kong is just an added perk. We use trips to Hong Kong as a break from China, indulging in Western restaurants and snagging ingredients and toiletries from our favorite stores. It is also great to have access to Hong Kong International Airport for our trips back to the US, providing us with multiple non-stop options. So after a full year living as expats in Shenzhen, we have a lot of experience heading across the border.

After trying all the ways to get to Hong Kong, our current preference is the Shenzhen Bay border crossing.

Getting to the Shenzhen Bay Border Crossing 

One downside to Shenzhen Bay is that it is not easy to reach with the metro system. The closest stop (Keyuan) is about a 25 minute walk, which is way too far to walk in the Shenzhen summer (or spring or autumn) heat. Luckily, it is well connected by public buses. Buses are quite simple to use and very inexpensive in Shenzhen (and fully electric!). We take the #409 bus from Sea World stop (no connection to the amusement park) and swipe our metro card when we get on, which costs 2-3RMB or about $0.30USD. The journey takes about 30 minutes depending on traffic, and terminates at Shenzhen Bay border crossing. If you are heading to Shenzhen Bay from a different area, use Apple Maps or Baidu Maps to find the best bus routes. We avoid using Google Maps since it’s very hit or miss in China in general (#firewall).

If you decide to take a taxi, the fare from Sea World is about 25-30RMB ($4USD) and takes 20-30 minutes, also depending on the traffic. Taxis are very reliable in Shenzhen and they all have meters. The drivers themselves can be a little erratic, so don’t be surprised by sudden u-turns in the middle of an intersection. That is kind of par for the course for driving in China.

There is one key thing to note for taking a taxi to Shenzhen Bay: make sure to say the destination in Chinese to your driver.

Why you ask? Well, taxi drivers do not speak English, and unfortunately, ‘Shenzhen Bay’ in Chinese is the name for the major high-speed train station (spelled Shenzhen Bei, but pronounced the same way). So make sure to use the Chinese name (Shenzhen Wan Kou An) to avoid finding yourself at a train station instead of a border crossing.

Pro Tip: Only get into an official taxi. If someone approaches you saying they can give you a ride, it is most likely a scam. This is very common when returning from Hong Kong at Shenzhen Bay. The people will speak a little English and try to get you to avoid the queue for taxis or buses. Ignore them. Normal taxi drivers don’t walk around trying to recruit customers. Official taxis are easy to spot (either red like the one below, or blue) and have functioning meters.

Want to know more about public transportation in Shenzhen? Check out our guide to getting around Shenzhen!

Shenzhen Bay border crossing is perpetually busy. It is quieter during the week and early in the mornings (the border opens at 7am and closes around 11pm), but since we like to relax and have a ritual of making pancakes every Saturday morning, we often cross late Saturday morning.

Pro Tip: Take note if you are traveling on or around a major holiday. Queues increase and your journey time may double. We do our best to leave a day before a holiday weekend to avoid any unnecessary border stress.

Once you arrive at Shenzhen Bay, the first task is purchasing your bus tickets. This must be done before going through immigration. There is a small ticket office that sells tickets to all locations in Hong Kong, including the airport. We always use ticket booth #6 for buying tickets to Central or Sheung Wan. To be honest, we’re not sure if certain windows only sell tickets to certain destinations, but twice we have been told to order at window #6 by the staff, so we have stuck to that since.

A one-way bus ticket to Central cost ¥45 ($7) and only cash is accepted. The ticket will not display any departure time and not have anything on it besides characters. Don’t worry about not being able to read it.

Entering the Immigration Hall at Shenzhen Bay Border Crossing

Once you have your bus ticket, you can enter the immigration hall. Inside, you will be processed through the China border, walk about 50 feet, then enter the Hong Kong immigration check. Again, lines will vary on day of the week, and time of day. They tend to be fairly swift with processes at both borders, so even when there are hundreds of people waiting, the most it will take is around 30-45 minutes to get through both (all estimates go out the window for any holiday period however).

If you plan on using this border crossing a lot, make sure to apply for the e-channel. If you have a valid visa, you can register at Shenzhen Bay, at a small office located on the left hand side after entering the immigration hall and prior to the China immigration lines. We did it recently, and it took about five minutes.

The advantage is that you do not have to fill out any paperwork, speak to an immigration officer, or get a stamp. You simply scan your passport at a gate, look into a camera to verify your identity, then walk through. It will save you at least 10-15 minutes every time you pass through.

Bus to Hong Kong from Shenzhen Bay Border Crossing

After clearing immigration in China and Hong Kong, you will find yourself on the ramp down towards the exit of the immigration hall. Once outside, there is a large digital bus schedule that is supposed to show departure times and bays for the dozens of buses. However, in the more than a dozen times we’ve passed through Shenzhen Bay, we’ve never seen this operating properly.

When you purchase a ticket, they will tell you what bay to go to to find your bus. For Sheung Wan/Central/Wan Chai, they always say to go to bay#21. Again, our bus has never departed from there, but we simply show them the ticket at bay #21 and they point us to the right bus. It is almost always bay #29 or #31. Buses to all popular areas of Hong Kong depart about every 10 minutes, so the wait is never long. This bus stops at Sheung Wan first, before continuing onto Central and Wan Chai and it takes about 40-45 minutes to reach the first stop.

Going to the Hong Kong Airport From Shenzhen Bay Border Crossing

If you are planning on going to the airport, the process is slightly different than what we mentioned above, as you never have to enter the immigration hall. If you have luggage, you will probably be approached by people asking if you need to go to the airport. Unlike our Pro Tip, this is one time it is okay to follow the random guy to the waiting minivans. There you will buy a ticket for ¥150 ($23.50). If you are quoted above ¥150, say no and walk away. That is the set price. I have never been told a different price. Alternatively, you can go to the ticket window and buy a ticket (the only destination written in English at the office) at ticket window #8. Cash is necessary for all of these transactions.

The airport vans will wait until they have six passengers and then you’re off. It usually does not take more than a few minutes of waiting before there are enough passengers. So if you are going to the airport, do not enter the immigration hall. For airport transfers, you will drive across the border to do passport inspections. You stay in the vehicle and the immigration officers will inspect everyone’s passports.

It takes about 35-45 minutes after clearing immigration to the airport. However, the queues at the border can be unpredictable and can take a long time. Avoid booking any flights prior to 10:30am.

We hope this little tutorial is helpful for those using the Shenzhen Bay border crossing the first time. We know from experience that the first time can be a bit overwhelming, with the crowds and language barrier. But by following our advice, you will be able to cross that border with a little more confidence (hopefully!) and knowledge that you at least have some idea of what is going on at the border.

If you want to see a little more information about the crossing, check out our video below, which shows us going from our nearby bus stop in Shekou to Sheung Wan in Hong Kong.