In this guide
💡 The Short Version: The High Speed Rail from Hong Kong West Kowloon to Shenzhen’s Futian station is HK$79 in second class (HK$88 to Shenzhen North), with Hong Kong and mainland immigration both cleared in the station before you board (MTR fares effective 1 November 2026). The cheaper way is the East Rail line to Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau, HK$41.50 to HK$52.20 by Octopus, then a walk across the border. Mainland China needs a visa or an exemption for most passports, so sort that out before you leave. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay too, as Octopus cards do not work. Or book a tour: the private Shenzhen technology day tourad (from HK$2,077, 5 stars from 46 reviews) books the tickets and takes you through immigration.
Getting to Shenzhen
| Route | From | To | Adult fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Speed Rail, second class | Hong Kong West Kowloon | Futian | HK$79 |
| High Speed Rail, second class | Hong Kong West Kowloon | Shenzhen North | HK$88 |
| East Rail line | Admiralty or Exhibition Centre | Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau | HK$52.20 by Octopus, HK$55.50 single |
| East Rail line | Hung Hom | Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau | HK$41.60 by Octopus, HK$45.00 single |
| East Rail line | Kowloon Tong | Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau | HK$41.50 by Octopus, HK$45.00 single |
High Speed Rail fares are from MTR’s fare chart effective 1 November 2026; first class is HK$127 to Futian and HK$140 to Shenzhen North, and children pay roughly half. The Hong Kong dollar price is reset on the first day of each month, so a ticket bought in advance can differ from the fare on the day. East Rail fares are from MTR’s fare data.
Hong Kong West Kowloon Station. Photo: Baycrest, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5.
High Speed Rail from West Kowloon
Futian and Shenzhen North are short-haul stops on MTR’s High Speed Rail, and both connect to the Shenzhen metro (MTR). At West Kowloon you go to the departure concourse on level B3, where Hong Kong and mainland immigration are cleared together, and then board. MTR says travellers normally get through security and immigration within 30 minutes, with longer at peak times; the gates open 15 minutes before departure and close in the last 5 (MTR). Tickets can be bought on MTR’s platform, at the station or on China’s 12306 service, and are issued against your passport.
East Rail to the border
Take the East Rail line to Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau, clear Hong Kong departure, walk across the border and join the Shenzhen metro on the far side. It costs less than the High Speed Rail but takes longer, and the day starts at the border queue.
Border rules
Mainland China is a separate immigration zone. Check the National Immigration Administration’s current exemptions and visa rules for your passport (nia.gov.cn) before you buy a ticket. Two exemptions cover most visitors:
- 30-day visa-free entry. China’s foreign ministry lets citizens of 50 countries enter without a visa for up to 30 days per visit, for tourism, business or visiting family and friends. British and Canadian citizens joined the list on 17 February 2026, alongside Australia, France, Germany, Italy and other European countries, and the policy is set to run initially until 31 December 2026 (BBC). A same-day trip to Shenzhen needs no onward ticket under this exemption. United States citizens are not on it.
- 240-hour visa-free transit. This is the route for US citizens (see below).
MTR publicises the 240-hour visa-free transit at West Kowloon. It covers citizens of 55 designated countries, including the US, Canada and the UK (Chinese consulate in Chicago), who hold a valid travel document and a confirmed onward ticket with a fixed date and seat to a third country or region within 240 hours. The destination must be different from where you departed, so a same-day return to Hong Kong does not qualify. Applications are made on the spot at 65 ports, including West Kowloon Station, and approval takes time, so allow extra before boarding (MTR).
Money and phone
Octopus cards do not work in Shenzhen. Shops, taxis and street vendors expect Alipay or WeChat Pay, so set up one of them with an international card before you cross. Mainland networks block Google, WhatsApp and Instagram; a travel eSIM or international roaming routes your data outside the mainland, so the apps work as usual (see eSIM for Hong Kong).
Tours from Hong Kong
A tour pays for the tickets and a guide through the immigration halls. On the day you pay HK$79 for the train and nothing else, so a tour only makes sense if the border is the part that worries you.
Private technology day tour
From HK$2,077 · 5 stars from 46 reviews · 8 hours · private
From Hong Kong: Shenzhen Technology Day Tour (Private)ad starts in Hong Kong. The guide books the tickets, takes you through immigration and escorts you to Shenzhen for a day built around the city’s technology.
High tech tour with visa support
From HK$2,007 · 4.8 stars from 35 reviews · 8½ hours · private
From Hong Kong: Shenzhen High Tech Tour with Visa Supportad goes by high-speed train for a day of robots and an autonomous-vehicle ride, with visa support included.
Private Shenzhen day tour
From HK$1,250 · 4.8 stars from 75 reviews · 1 day · private
Private Shenzhen Day Tour from Hong Kongad is a private day tour for visitors who want a guide for a day in the city.
Shenzhen tech tour
From HK$706 · 4.9 stars from 646 reviews · 3 to 6 hours · pickup available
Shenzhen Tech Tour: Explore the Futuread is a technology tour of the city lasting a few hours. Pickup is available, and cancellation is free.
Official fare or tour: the prices side by side
| Option | Operator’s price | Tour price | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Speed Rail to Futian, second class | HK$79 | n/a | Immigration at West Kowloon, a short ride |
| East Rail from Admiralty to Lo Wu | HK$52.20 by Octopus | n/a | A border walk and your own plans |
| Technology tour within Shenzhen | n/a | From HK$706 | A guided tech day, 3 to 6 hours |
| Private tour from Hong Kong, tickets and immigration included | n/a | From HK$2,007 to HK$2,077 | Tickets, escort through immigration, a guide |
The train or the East Rail line is the cheap part of the day. A tour is worth the money only for the guiding and the escort through the border.
What to see
The Ping An Finance Centre. Photo: Chris from Shenzhen, China, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
- Futian. The High Speed Rail arrives in the business district, so towers and malls are on the doorstep. Ping An Finance Centre is the 599 m tower that dominates the skyline.
- Huaqiangbei. Shenzhen’s electronics district, a run of multi-storey markets selling components, gadgets and accessories; reach it on the Shenzhen metro.
- OCT-LOFT. In Nanshan, a former factory estate turned into galleries and coffee shops.
- Cantonese food. Dim sum, roast goose and claypot rice are on every main street; see the dim sum guide and the roast goose guide for what to order.
Futian’s business district and the Civic Centre. Photo: Yida Xu, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
A Vibrant Express train. Photo: Tim Wu, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
For the other border crossing, see the Macau day trip; day trips from Hong Kong compares every excursion.
Common questions
How much is the High Speed Rail from Hong Kong to Shenzhen?
From Hong Kong West Kowloon, a second-class adult ticket is HK$79 to Futian and HK$88 to Shenzhen North, and a first-class ticket is HK$127 to Futian and HK$140 to Shenzhen North. These are MTR's fares effective 1 November 2026; the Hong Kong dollar fares are adjusted on the first day of each month.
How much is the MTR to the Shenzhen border?
On the East Rail line, an adult Octopus fare to Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau is HK$52.20 from Admiralty or Exhibition Centre, HK$41.60 from Hung Hom and HK$41.50 from Kowloon Tong. The single-journey ticket costs HK$55.50 from Admiralty and Exhibition Centre and HK$45.00 from Hung Hom and Kowloon Tong. You walk across the border and join Shenzhen's own metro on the other side.
Do I need a visa for Shenzhen?
UK, Canadian, Australian and most EU passport holders can enter mainland China without a visa for up to 30 days; the exemption took effect for UK and Canadian citizens on 17 February 2026 and is set to run initially until 31 December 2026 (BBC). US citizens are not on that list, so check the National Immigration Administration (nia.gov.cn) before you book. The 240-hour visa-free transit that MTR lists for citizens of 55 countries, including the US, Canada and the UK, needs a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region, which a same-day return to Hong Kong does not provide.
How early should I arrive at West Kowloon Station?
MTR says passengers normally clear the security check and both sets of immigration formalities within 30 minutes, longer at peak times. The boarding gates open 15 minutes before departure and close in the last 5 minutes.
Can I use an Octopus card or Hong Kong dollars in Shenzhen?
Hong Kong Octopus cards do not work in Shenzhen. Mainland shops and taxis expect Alipay or WeChat Pay, so set one up with an international card before you cross.
Do WhatsApp and Google work in Shenzhen?
Not on mainland Wi-Fi and mobile networks, which block Google, WhatsApp and Instagram. A foreign SIM on international roaming or a travel eSIM routes your data through its home network, so the apps normally work.
