Shenzhen Railway Station

Shenzhen Railway Station is one of the five main train stations in Shenzhen. The other three main stations are Shenzhen North Railway Station, Shenzhen Futian Railway Station, Shenzhen West Railway Station and Shenzhen East Railway Station. Among them, Shenzhen West is the closest to Bao'an International Airport and Shenzhen Railway Station is the most centrally located at the Luohu / Lo Wu border crossing.

The large station is mainly for conventional slow trains, and it is useful for travelers mainly for rail access to the Hong Kong border, its facilities, restaurants, bullet train access to Guangzhou, and metro, bus, and taxi stations.

• Chinese: 深圳站 Shēnzhèn Zhàn /shnn-jnn jan/
• Name on train tickets: 深圳
• Address: 1003 Jianshe Road, Nanhu Avenue, Luohu District, Shenzhen 深圳市罗湖区南湖街道建设路1003号
• Location: 100 meters north of the Luohu checkpoint for the HK border (see our Shenzhen Railway Map)
• Metro: Subway Line 1 (Luo Bao Line).
• Station size: 4 platforms.

Popular Trains to Other Cities

Shenzhen Station has the Guangzhou to Shenzhen bullet train and several overnight regular train routes that tourists might find useful.

Shenzhen–Guangzhou Bullet Trains

Shenzhen Station offers the best fast access to central Guangzhou: Shenzhen's other bullet train lines don't start at the border, and they don't go to the central / Tianhe area's that most travelers want to go to. Considering the speed, convenience, flexibility, and ticket prices, it is the most efficient/comfortable way from Hong Kong to Guangzhou for tourists at present.

C Trains:

• To Guangzhou East (广州东): about 1 hour 12 minutes
• To Guangzhou Station (广州): about 1 hour 25 minutes
• Ticket price: 80 RMB (2nd class), 100 RMB (1st class)
• Main stops: Guangzhou Station, Guangzhou East Station, Dongguan Station, Shenzhen Station

There are about 65 D-trains running daily to Guangzhou East Railway Station from 06:40 to 22:40. There is a train every 15 to 30 minutes, and it takes about 1 hour and 12 minutes. Another 21 D-trains go to Guangzhou Railway Station from 06:20 to 20:37. A train departs every 30 to 45 minutes with the journey taking about 90 minutes. The ticket price is the same as the other trains.

Trains leave as frequently as every 5 minutes during rush hours.

Slow Trains from Shenzhen Station

However, for tourists who would enjoy a leisurely slow train ride and want to sleep in a bunk, riding the station's conventional trains is a way to get to know the people and see the scenery. There are T-trains to Shanghai, Beijing, etc., and a Z-train (express) to Wuhan.

To Shanghai South Station (上海南站):

• Journey: about 19 hours
• Prices: soft sleeper 100 USD, hard sleeper 69 USD, and hard seat 36 USD).
• Main stops: Shenzhen, Yiwu, Hangzhou East, Shanghai South

To Wuchang Station, Wuhan (武昌站):

• Journey: about 13 hours
• Prices: 86 dollars USD soft sleeper, 46 USD hard sleeper
• Main stops: Wuchang Station and Shenzhen Station only.

Train Schedules From Shenzhen Railway Station

*"+1" means that the train arrives the next day.

Using Shenzhen Station

There is English signage and some English-speaking staff readily available to help foreigners get tickets and find the departure waiting rooms.

Arrive Early

Conventional trains: Despite of its easy accessibility from every corner of the city, ticket-checking and waiting often takes a long time, so we strongly suggest you be at the station as least 2 hours prior to your departure time if you're taking a conventional train.

Bullet train: Taking a bullet train is easier. When it isn't busy, be there about half an hour before your departure if you already have a ticket and if you feel it is important to get on the exact train, or just wait the 5 to 18 minutes for the next one. When it isn't busy, there are no lines.

See How to Get On/Off a Train and 7 Things to Know Before Riding a Train for more.

Guide Map of Shenzhen Station

Large and complex, but convenient: The station is made up of a big central plaza called the east square with a big three-story main train station building on the west side of the plaza, the Border Crossing Building on the south side of the plaza, and a mall building in front of the border crossing building that forms the east side of the plaza. The metro is under the plaza.

Two squares: The main east square is much bigger than the west square. Both have taxis, long distance buses, and city buses. All these transportation modes in easy walking distance makes the station convenient for travelers if you know where these facilities are and how to navigate around the area. It is the lack of English signage that makes the place confusing for foreigners. So study the layout before you go.

Station Access

Access via the east square, west, square, and by the broad entrance in front of the large Shangri La Hotel that is directly north of the station.

The metro station is in an especially convenient place under the plaza. It is only about 30 meters away from the train station.

The Border Crossing Building is directly south of the main east plaza about 50 meters from Exit A of the metro station. This building is the southern boundary of the whole station area.

Big mall: There is a big mall building called Luohu Shang Ye Cheng (商业城) with shops and tailor shops across the broad east plaza from the building. There is a police station in it. It is the eastern side of the plaza, and under it is a bus station.

Long distance bus stations: There are two. One is under the mall in the east plaza, and one is in the southwest corner of the train station called Qiaoshe Coach Station. The former is more convenient and has nicer buses that cost more. Some go direct to places in Guangzhou, and if you want to go to specific places there and get on the right bus, you might find this more convenient than other methods. The latter is for the cheapest long distance bed buses. Some go even to Guilin and Yangshuo and these are used mainly by workers or Chinese now that bullet train travel is available.

City bus stations: There are two of these as well. The biggest is in the eastern plaza and to the north of the mall building. There are a score of convenient routes that go all over the city. The smaller is in the western square area adjacent to the Qiaoshe Station.

Taxi waiting areas: The main one and the recommended one for foreign tourists is to the north of the mall. Taxis can also be caught in the Qiaoshe square area or in the street on the northern side of the plaza near the Shangri La Hotel.Lou

Train Station Building Layout

There are three floors and an underground level:

• Floor 3: Waiting Area, Ticket Office, Mother & Baby Waiting Room, Left Luggage Office
• Floor 2: Ticket Office, Passenger Information Center, Restaurant, Bank, Coffee Shop, Service Center
• Floor 1: Ticket Office, Supplementary Ticket Office, Exit, Luggage Consignment Office
• Underground(B1): Police Desk, Ticket Office, Exit, Subway

Confusing: Be aware that although it is a border station, English signage is limited, and the station sprawls. First-timers will likely find the station confusing and hard to navigate around in. Even the Immigration entrance is confusing to navigate, especially if you don't speak Chinese. This is why it is good to study this station's layout first before you go.

Shenzhen Metro Luohu Station Layout

You'll find the Shenzhen Metro Line 1, Luohu Station beneath the big east square. If you are coming out of the Cross Border Building, the down escalators of Exit A are in front of you. When you're downstairs, you'll find automatic ticket dispensing machines where you can buy tickets.

This metro station also sprawls, so it is good to know the exit layout:

• Exit A: To Border Station (Luohu Port), Coach Station, the mall, and the Overseas Hotel. You could also use this exit to reach the southwestern station area exit to get to the Qiaoshe Station.
• Exit B: Bus Station, Taxi Station, Luohucun, and Lushan Hotel.
• Exit C: To Railway Station, Customs Building, Shangri La Hotel, Huamin Plaza, and Dexing Plaza.
• Exit D: To the West Station Square, Customs Building, Luohu Port Departure Lounge, Fulin Hotel, and Gangcheng Commercial Plaza.
• Exit E: To the Shangri La Hotel. Past the Shangli La that fronts the big plaza, you'll find other hotels, local bus stations and stops, stores, cheaper restaurants, and etc.

Facilities and Services at the Station

Left Luggage Office: The left luggage room is located in the waiting area of 3F. It usually charges about 25 RMB per day depending on the size of the luggage.

LED signs: Both outside and inside the station, there are big LED screens that offer detailed information about the trains such as departure times.

Information desks: There are two places to go if you have questions or need help on 2F and 1F.

Luggage and package services: By the right side of the station, you will find a China Railway Express Office (中铁快运) where you can have your large luggage delivered to predesignated destinations at a reasonable price.

Hotels, restaurants, and shops: You'll find a plethora of these all around but inside and outside the station area. Opinions differ about the shops and stores. Many say avoid the shops and the big mall in the station in front of the border crossing. Others claim to get excellent prices and workmanship on professional tailoring. It probably comes down to your haggling skills and whether you find a good store owner and/or tailor.

There are both Western and Chinese fast food restaurants in the train station building such as McDonald's. You'll find much better prices if you walk to small restaurants on the other side of the Shangri-La.

Transportation - to/from Shenzhen Station

Generally, unless you know the city bus routes, the best way to go to and from the station by public transportation is by taxi or subway. Otherwise, if you are unused to riding Chinese buses, you could get on the wrong bus or miss your stop. Shenzhen has six train stations. Be sure about which of the six train stations you are going to and explain to your driver clearly about which station you are going to.

Shenzhen Station is in Luohu District, 17 kilometers (11 miles) from Shenzhen North bullet train station and 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Bao'an International Airport. The Luohu Border Checkpoint is only about 100 meters south.

Buses

• To/from Shenzhen Railway Station: 1, 7, 12, 38, 101, 102, 205, 302, 306, 306 (inter-zone line), k538 (Shajing Line), k538 (Songgang Line), k545. Night buses: n2, n4, n7, n15, n15, n16, n18.
• To/from Shenzhen Railway Station's west square: 2, 18, 61, 207, 228, 309, 321, m373, Bao'an Airport Shuttle Bus Line 1 (330)

Getting to the west square: On the southwest side of the plaza is a station exit to the Qiaoshe Station area. But it is difficult to find because of few signs. You can’t see it from the plaza. You must go to the southeast corner and find stairs or an escalator that leads to an overpass and walk some distance to the descending stairs. Mainly locals use that bus station.

Taxis

It is best to catch taxis in the big east plaza. There are people all around the area on the look-out for unsuspecting non-Chinese travelers offering rides, baggage handling, etc, and they may do crimes like giving counterfeit money or scams. Also, they will probably charge you much more than do these in the plaza.

Legit taxis will generally wait on the east side plaza area where there may also be police and/or guards watching.

• Chinese: 请送我到深圳站. Qǐng sòng wǒ dào Shēnzhèn Zhàn.
• English: Please drive me to Shenzhen Station.

Taxi fares:

• To/from Shenzhen North Station: 40 minutes, 60 RMB
• To/from Bao'an Airport: 40 minutes, 125 RMB.

• To/from Window of the World: half hour, 54 RMB.

See more on Shenzhen Taxis.

Subway to Shenzhen's Other Railway Stations

For other bullet train lines that go across the country, you could access four other bullet train stations via the city metro.

To Shenzhen North Station (深圳北站):

• Take Subway Line 1 (Luobao Line 罗宝线) 7 stops to Convention and Exhibition Station (会展中心站)
• and then transfer to the red Line 4 (Longhua Line 龙华线) going north 7 stops to Shenzhen North Station.

To Futian Station (福田站):

Futian Station Station is important since it is on the future bullet train line to Beijing and Hong Kong (2018) and a major metro hub. It is the second largest underground metro/train station in the world. As of 2016, there are bullet trains running between it and Guangzhou South.

• Take Subway Line 1 (Luobao Line 罗宝线) 3 stops to Grand Theatre Station (大剧院站站)
• then transfer to Line 2 (Shekou Line 蛇口线) and go west to Futian Metro Station (5 stops) that is on level 2 of the three level train station. The long distance rail train lines are on level three.

To Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport (深圳宝安国际机场) has very convenient and direct transport:

• Take Subway Line 1 (Luobao Line 罗宝线) to the end station on the line Bao'an Airport East Station (Chinese: 机场东站, 29 stops).
• Or take the bus: Airport Express Line 2.

To Hong Kong

At Shenzhen Station you are at a convenient, but busy, border with HK: the Luohu / Lo Wu Border Crossing. The East Rail Line at Lo Wu Station on the Hong Kong side is especially convenient for metro travel.

See Border Crossings in Shenzhen/Hong Kong>>

To Hong Kong International Airport

By metro and bus: Take the East Rail Line to Sheung Shui Station. Walk to Sheung Shui Square and take the A43 bus to the airport. The journey may take about 1½ hours. It’s possible to take the HK metro all the way to the airport, but it will take longer.

See Hong Kong Kong International Airport Transport>>

Metro Line 1 to the Main Attractions

To Window of the World: The subway station is directly in front of the theme park.

• Take Subway Line 1 (Luobao Line 罗宝线) westwards to Window of the World Station (Chinese: 世界之窗站, 14 stops)

To Sea World (a popular restaurant and shopping area):

• From Window of the World (above) transfer to Line 2 (Shekou Line 蛇口线) going south to Sea World Station (9 stops).

Booking Tickets

You could book tickets in the station, at the other train stations, or at many other ticket selling locations in the city. Be clear about which train station you want to use. Foreigners who don't speak Chinese or are unfamiliar with the process might prefer using a tour agency. You'll need your passport. See How to Buy Tickets in China>>

Station's Ticket Offices (售票处)

There are four regular ticket offices and a supplementary ticket office. The regular ones are one at the northeast corner of 3F; at the west side of 2F; the east side of 1F (for the high speed train); and at the north side of -1F. The supplementary ticket office is at the west side of 1F.

High speed train counters: At the counters on the east side of 1F, you can expect even a fifteen minute line during rush hours for the high speed train. It is one of the heaviest used intercity routes, but with trains leaving every 5 minutes, waiting is minimal.

The CRH train’s ticket office and waiting rooms are between the conventional long-distance train station and the border check-point building. It might be difficult to find. From the front of the conventional train station, walk about 100 meters or so south along the eastern side of the plaza on the ground level. The ticket windows are in a small area, and the waiting rooms are adjacent to it.

Conventional train ticket counters: Passengers taking slow trains should go to the ticket counters at the north of the station building. It is recommended that you arrive there 1 hour in advance or even an hour and a half during busy travel times.

• Chinese: 请问, 火车售票处在哪里? Qǐng wèn, huǒchē shòupiàochù zài nǎlǐ?
• English: Excuse me. Where are the ticket counters?

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