Shenzhen has an extensive public transportation system, featuring metro, bus, ferry and intercity rail services as well as an integrated green way network. For specific routes and schedules, please check out：

 

Metro

Since opening in 2004, the city' s metro system has been developing at a stunning speed. It currently has nine lines extending a total of distance of 304 kilometers, which ranks it seventh in the country following Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. By 2022, the total length of Shenzhen Metro lines will reach 580 kilometers, and by 2035 the city plans to have 33 Metro lines in operation with a total length of 1,335 km.

Upon entering the city, you can purchase a Shenzhen Tong IC Card for 50 RMB and charge it up with either 50 or 100 RMB for a convenient way to pay metro, bus and rail fares while also saving five percent on each ride. The Metro runs between 6:30 a.m and 11:00 p.m.

Metro, bus and rail fares can also be paid using the Shenzhen Metro mobile payment app, which is available as a convenient mini-app on Tencent' s WeChat messaging platform. If you are using the Metro for business purposes that require a receipt, the operator * s WeChat mini-app now offers a blockchain-based e-receipt service. The receipts will be sent to your WeChat wallet after you submit an application for reimbursement receipts. The blockchain-based e-receipt program was jointly launched by the Shenzhen tax authority and Tencent. It also can be used for the other sectors of the city' s public transport system, including taxis and airport shuttles.

Line 1 (Luobao Line) 

Luohu - Shenzhen Airport (Identification Color: Green)

Luobao Line runs east-west between Luohu District and Bao'an International Airport with 30 stations. On work days, it runs from 06:30 to 23:00 at intervals of 2 minute 45 seconds during peak hours (07:00-09:00; 17:30- 19:30) and 5 mins 30 seconds during non-peak hours. On weekends, it runs from 06:20 to 23:00 at 3-minute intervals during peak hours and at 6-minute intervals during non-peak hours.

 

Line 2 (Shekou Line) 

Chiwan - Xinxiu (Identification Color: Orange)

Shekou Line runs west-east between Chiwan in Nanshan District and Xinxiu in Luohu District with 29 stations. On work days, it operates daily from 06:00 to 23:00 at 8-minute intervals (3-minute intervals during peak hours). On weekends, it operates from 6:03-23:00 at intervals of 4 minutes 30 seconds during peak hours and 8 minutes during non-peak hours.

Line 3 (Longgang Line) 

Yitian - Shuanglong (Identification Color: Light Blue )

Longgang Line runs south-north between Yitian Station and Shuanglong Station with 30 stations.

On work days, it operates daily from 06:20 to 23:00 at intervals of 3 minutes 25 seconds during the peak hours (07:00-09:00; 17:30-19:30) and 8 minutes during non-peak hours.

Line 4 (Longhua Line) 

Futian Checkpoint - Qinghu (Identification Color: Red

Longhua Line runs south-north between Futian Checkpoint Station and Qinghu Station with 15 stations. Futian Kou An (Checkpoint) Station connects to Lok Ma Chau Station on the Hong Kong MTR East Rail Line via Futian Checkpoint. Longhua Line runs from 06:30 to 23:00 at six-minute intervals.

Line 5 (Huanzhong Line) 

Chiwan - Huangbeiling (Identification Color: Purple)

Huanzhong Line runs west to east between Chiwan and Huangbeiling, passing through

34 stations. On work days, from Huangbeiling to Chiwan, it runs from 06:14 to 23:03. From Chiwan to Huangbeiling, it runs from 6:21 to 23:00. On weekends, from Chiwan to Huangbeiling, it runs from 6:18 to 23:00. From Huangbeiling to Chiwan, it runs from 06:20-00:03. Line 5 runs at 8-minute intervals during non-peak hours and 3-minute intervals at peak hours.

Line 6 (Guangming Line) 

Songgang-Science Museum (Identification Color: Mint Green)

Guangming Line passes through Bao'an District, Guangming District, Longhua District and Luohu District with 27 stations. It operates from 06:20-23:30 at 4 to 12-minute intervals.

Line 7 (Xili Line) 

Xili Lake - Tai' an (Identification Color: Dark Blue)

Xili Line links Xili Lake and Tai' an, passing through 28 stations. It operates daily from 06:30 to 23:00 at intervals of 4 minutes 25 seconds during peak hours and 9 to 10-minutes at other times. Through Huanggang Checkpoint, one of the stations on this line, tourists can easily cross the border to Hong Kong.

Line 8 (Yantian Line) 

Wutong Mountain South - Yantian Road (Identification Color: Orange)

The first phase of Line 8 is connected by the third phase of Line 2 at Liantang Station. It starts at Wutong Mountain South Station and ends at Yantian Road Station, passing through 6 stations. The operating time has yet to be determined.

Line 9 (Meilin Line) 

Qianwan - Wenjin (Identification Color: light gray)

Meilin Line links Qianwan and Wenjin, passing through 32 stations. Consistent with other metro lines in the city, it operates daily from 06:20 to 23:00 every day at intervals of five to four - minutes during peak hours (07:00-09:00; 17:30-19:30) and 5-9 minutes intervals at other times.

Line 10 (Bantian Line) 

Futian Port-Shuang Yong Street (Identification Color: Pink)

Bantian Line connects Futian Port and Shuangyong Street with 24 stations and 7 transfer stations. It only takes 45 minutes to reach Pinghu from Futian Port, which greatly eases the traffic pressure from Futian Central Area to the Bantian section. The operating time has yet to be determined.

Line 11 {Airport Line) 

Bitou - Futian (Identification Color: Deep Purple)

Airport Line, which connects Bitou and Futian, is the fastest metro line in China, running at a speed of 120km/h (75mph). It takes only half an hour to go from Futian Station to the airport in Ba。' an on the Airport Line. From Airport Metro Station, it is only a three-minute walk to terminal three (T3) of the airport. On work days, it operates from 06:30 to 23:30 at four-minute intervals during peak hours (07:00-09:00; 17:30-19:30) and ten-minute intervals at other times. On weekends, it operates at 5-minute intervals during peak hours and 10-minute intervals during non-peak hours.

Bus

There are more than 17,177 electric buses operating in Shenzhen,, which is more than the total number of buses in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, New Jersey and Chicago combined. The bus network reaches every corner of the city, allowing efficient access to the more out-of-the-way areas. The route numbering system can be confusing at times, especially as services are split between a number of companies, but new technologies like the 交通在手 (jiaotongzaishou) app, digital schedule signboards, and QR-code schedule checking, as well as integration with several map apps, makes it easy to plan a route to any destination in the city.

Most buses operate between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m, and now all the buses in Shenzhen accept digital payment. If you have WeChat Pay, here is what to do:

Scan the QR code below：


2.Click scan to pay

If you leave an item on a bus, there are a couple ways to try and locate it. Add Shenzhen Transport Bureau1 s WeChat account; locate the *' lost items" option; enter the bus line, the time you were on the bus and the type of item you lost.

Alternatively, look up which company operates the bus route and call the respective lost and found hotline listed below. These hotlines don' t offer English-language services, so if you can' t speak Chinese you' II have to find a friend to help you.

SZ Bus Co. Ltd: 8316-1116

SZ Eastern Bus Co. Ltd.: 8998-3563

SZ Western Bus Co. Ltd.: 3635-7333

Taix
lt is easy to identify atradional tx in Shenzhen because the entre feet snow solely comprsed of blue and white elecriciy powered minvans made by the local EV company-BYD.Eares can be paid wih cash,WeChat or Alpay.The fare mechanism includes a 10 RMB flag-drop fe,plus 2.6 RMB per kilometer and 0.8 RMB per waing minute.Between 1100 pm.and 600 am.the flag-drop fe is 13 RMB and an additional 30 percen is charged on top of the accumulated fare. Forlonger rides that requre expressway ols, such as a trip from the airpot to Futian CBD, the price of the tol wil ne added to your total fare.

The city' s transport bureau, taxation bureau and Tencent have launched a WeChat mini-app,出租车助手(chuzuchezhushou), that provides blockchain-based e-receipts, post-ride satisfaction surveys and lost-and-found services. To log onto this app, just scan the QR code on the screen of the taxi' s intelligent terminal. You can request an e-receipt immediately instead of waiting for a printed receipt upon arriving at your destination.
An alternative is to use the WeChat app to pay the fare after the trip is completed. Upon e-payment you will receive a notification with a link to request an e-receipt and information about the taxi and driver, as well as a hotline to call in case you realize you left some personal belongings in the car.

 

As you exit major checkpoints and transport hubs, it is not uncommon to be approached and offered aride to your destination. The solicitor may even speak a little English and allow you to haggle to a pricethat seems like a good deal, but don' t be fooled. Even if you ve done your research and they areunable to overcharge you off the bat,the best you can hope for is that these private car drivers willtake detours or circle around the pick-up area trying to get another passenger (or two!)before takingyou to your destination. Be assured,there are plenty of legitimate taxis lined up just down the corridorthat are ready to transport you at a fair price.

 

Ferry

Inter-city ferry services out of Shenzhen provide access to Macao, Hong Kong and Zhuhai from two ports 一 one in Shekou, Nanshan District, and another in Bao' an District near Shenzhen International Airport.

Shekou Cruise Center in Nanshan District provides ferry services to Zhuhai, Macao and Hong Kong. Take Metro Line 2 to Shekou Port and then a free shuttle bus to the new terminal. Alternatively, you can take bus B601 or Ml 05 to Shekou Ferry Center (Shekou youlun zhongxin), or bus 331,332 to Shekou Passenger Terminal (shekou matou zhongzhan).

The Shenzhen airport is connected with all three modes of transit: road, ocean and rail. The ferry service from the airport to Zhuhai is operated by Shenzhen Ocean us Group out of Fuyong Ferry Terminal. With eight trips made daily in each direction at 90-minute intervals, from 7:30 am. to 8:00 p.m., it should be easy to connect your flight' s arrival with a nice trip east of the big city. The ferry service to Zhuhai is connected to the airport by a free shuttle bus service, takes around 65 minutes and costs 125 RMB (US$19). Travelers from Shenzhen can either ride Metro Line 11 to the airport and then take the free shuttle bus to the ferry terminal or get off Metro Line 11 at Hourui Station and take a city bus on route M419 to the terminal.

There is also an intra-city ferry service between Yantian Port and Nan' ao Shuangyong Wharf in western Shenzhen' s Dapeng New Area, which is operated by Shenzhen Oceanus Group. Four trips are made from Yantina to Nan' ao per day between 10:00 am. and 17:00 p.m. Four trips are made from to Yantian per day between 08:50 a.m. and 16:30 p.m. The fare for a single trip is 50 RMB (US$7.35) for economy class and 70 RMB for business class. A single trip takes 70 to 90 minutes.

High-speed Rail

Shenzhen' s rail network connects to 58 mainland cities, including the capital cities of 18 provinces and autonomous regions.

Futian Railway Station, located in the city's central business district between Fuzhong 3rd Road and Shennan Road, is the largest underground high-speed railway station in the world at 147,000 square meters. It intersects with Shenzhen Metro lines 1, 3 and 11, and provides intercity rail connections to Guangzhou, Wuhan, Changsha, Zhengzhou and Beijing, as well as a cross-border high-speed train to Kowloon Station in Hong Kong. The debut of the Hong Kong line in 2018 cut the travel time between Shenzhen and Hong Kong to 15 minutes.

Shenzhen North Railway Station operated 369 pairs of trains in the 2019 national train schedule. During travel peaks, such as holidays and the July to August summer period, some stations activate additional trains to compensate for the additional travelers.

The city also has railway stations in Luohu, Longhua, Longgang, Nanshan, Pingshan and Guangming districts. Tickets purchased online can be picked up at any ticket counter in the city by providing the traveler' s passport.

Slow Traffic System

In 2019, Shenzhen was ranked "the most walkable city in China" by the Natural Resources Defense Council, an international nonprofit environmental organization, The city has been making great efforts in recent years to develop and integrate its network of bike lanes, greenways and hiking trails by setting up rest areas, environmentally friendly toilets, security stations, bi-lingual signage and lighting systems. Greenways are the soft tarmac paths installed along sidewalks and through parks. They are usually painted green.

For example, at a rest area on the Shatou greenway in Futian District, a station with drinking water, kettles, mosquito repellent and first-aid kits has been set up. Nursery rooms for mothers with infants and book bars have been built along other greenways.

Ride Hailing App： Didi

Didi, the Chinese ride-hail behemoth that acquired ride-sharing giant Uber' s China operations, has further expanded its business by offering its services in English. Didi also offers car-renting services and long-distance commuting. You can rent a car with a professional driver for a specific time period The service is a huge help when you are planning a small-load move.

Didi also offers real-time, in-app, text message translation between English and Chinese to facilitate rider-driver communication. Pay directly through the app, using Alipay, WeChat pay or a credit card, or pay in cash (taxi service only). To download the app, go to the App Store/Google Play and find the one called "Didi-Rider,

Bike Sharing App

As a popular and healthy transportation option for short trips, bike sharing programs have been flourishing in China. As it strives to expand its overseas market, Mobike now allows you to open an account in your home country, add your own payment method to that account and then use it anywhere internationally, including China.

Since China does not recognize driver' s licenses from other countries, you first need to get a Chinese driver' s license in order to rent a car in China.

Step 1: Get a Chinese driver' s permit

a.Temporary driver' s permit

Tourists who wish to drive in China for a short period of time can get a temporary driver' s permit for a maximum of three months without needing to pass an exam. You will be asked to provide the following documents：

Driver' s license from your home country translated into Chinese and notarized

International Driving Permit

Completed application form

Passport, visa and hotel reservation

Four one-inch color photos with a white background

Certificate of temporary registration of a foreigner (to be filled out and sealed by a hotel clerk upon the request of the hotel guest)

A certificate of temporary registration of a foreigner should be certified at Xili Vehicle Administration, Longjin Road, Longzhu Avenue, Xili, Nanshan District, Shenzhen (Tel: 0755-22222000)
Applicants should undergo a medical check on the spot, which takes about 15 minutes and includes an eye test as well as a test of one' s ability to distinguish between colors.

b.Permanent driver* s license (if you already have one from your home country)

In this case, you can get a Chinese driver' s license (valid for six years) by passing a written exam.

Step 1: Book an appointment with the traffic police department, scan the QR code below to download the app:

Written exams can be done in English in Shenzhen. The exam consists of answering 100 multiple choice questions, lasts 45 minutes and requires more than 90 percent of the answers to be correct to pass. If you don' t pass on the first try, you can repeat it at that time. If you don' t pass the second time, you will have to wait at least 20 days to take it again.

Necessary documents include:

Passport and residence permit or Chinese Visa with at least three months of validity (original and photocopy) Record of temporary residence registration obtained at the local police station (original and photocopy) Driver' s license from your home country (original and photocopy)
Notarized translation of your driver' s license into Chinese
Medical certificate (complete health check-up done at a city hospital)
Four one-inch color photos with a white background

Step 2: Rent a car
In order to rent a car, you will need to present the following documents a few days before you actually need the car:

Your passport' s personal information
Your passport' s residence permit page
Your Chinese driver' s license

Some reputable car rental companies in China include:
Avis China https://www.avis.com/en/home
eHi Car Service http://en.1 hai.cn
Zuche https://en.zuche.com

Alternatively, you can rent a car on a car sharing app. Similar to bike sharing, you are required to download a company's app and submit necessary information, such as an image of your license. A hefty deposit (RMB500-1,500) is also generally required.

After your application has been approved by staff members, you can check to see whether there are any shared-cars near you. Then it's simply a matter of reserving the type of car you want, unlocking it with an app and driving off. When you're ready to return the car, choose a spot to drop it off, end your ride and pay on whatever app you're using. Here are four Car-Sharing apps that you can download to use.

PonyCar
Togo
United Journey
EVCard

Step 3: Pick up the car
On the day you go to pick up the car you need to bring:
Your passport
Your Chinese driver' s license
A credit card or debit card with enough money to cover the rental price as well as an amount that can be "frozen ” by the car company in case of damage to the car.