Hong Kong to Shenzhen: which border crossing to use
Updated 2026-10-19: Wildfire near Mongolia-China border in Inner Mongolia, 2,000 firefighters deployed.
You cross at a land control point or on the high-speed rail from West Kowloon, and you clear mainland immigration there — Hong Kong runs its own border, so being in Hong Kong gives you no right to enter Shenzhen. Hong Kong has nine land crossings into the mainland: six road, three rail.
1. Check what your passport allows
Nationals of 45 countries — France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and others — can enter China for up to 30 days without a visa until 31 December 2026. Sweden was added to that list in November 2025. UK, US, Canadian and Indian passports are not on it.
The alternative is the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit, which requires a confirmed onward ticket to a country or region different from the one you arrived from. Hong Kong counts as a separate region for this test, which means Hong Kong → Shenzhen → Hong Kong does not qualify: the place you leave to must differ from the place you came from. Carry on to a third country instead, or get a visa. West Kowloon station became an entry port for this scheme on 5 November 2025.
Everyone else needs a visa arranged before travelling. Sort cover for the mainland leg before you go — compare all the main travel policies first.
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2. Pick a crossing
| Crossing | Open | Where it puts you |
|---|---|---|
| Lo Wu (East Rail) | 06:30–00:00 | Luohu, Shenzhen metro Line 1 |
| Lok Ma Chau Spur Line (East Rail) | 06:30–22:30 | Futian, across a footbridge |
| Shenzhen Bay | 06:30–00:00 | Nanshan and Shekou, west Shenzhen |
| Huanggang (via Lok Ma Chau) | 24 hours | Coaches and cars, Futian side |
| Heung Yuen Wai / Liantang | 07:00–22:00 | Eastern Shenzhen, Yantian side |
| West Kowloon (high-speed rail) | 06:30–23:30 | Futian in about 15 minutes |
| Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge | 24 hours | Zhuhai, not Shenzhen |
West Kowloon does both immigration checks inside the station before you board, and a second-class seat to Futian costs CNY 68–75. Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau are on the East Rail line, so they suit anyone staying along it. Huanggang is the only road crossing running round the clock. Expect the longest queues at Lo Wu on weekend mornings and around mainland public holidays.
3. Before you walk through
Octopus stops working at the boundary and Shenzhen prices everything in yuan. Link Alipay or WeChat Pay to your own card while you still have full internet, because Google, WhatsApp and most Western apps are blocked on the mainland side.
Last checked: 2026-10-19
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