It is usually much cheaper toflyinto Shenzhen from other mainland cities than it is to fly directly to Hong Kong, and there are around 60 Chinese cities to choose from, including Beijing (18 flights daily), Chengdu (seven flights), Guilin (four flights), Hangzhou (six flights), Kunming (five flights), Shanghai (17 flights), Xiamen (12 flights), and Xi'an (four flights).Hong Kongcan be reached directly from the airport using TurboCAT (jetfoil/catamaran) services to Kowloon (six sailings, 9am-5:15pm) and the Macau Ferry Terminal on Hong Kong Island (4:30, 6:30, and 7:45pm; HK$189-HK$289/US$25-US$38, can be paid in yuan on the Chinese side). Shuttle buses take passengers the short distance to the pier, and the total journey time is around 55 minutes. There are also services toMacauat 9:30am and 1:30pm (HK$171-HK$271/US$22-US$34; can be paid in yuan or Macanese patacas). For current times and services in each direction, seewww.turbocat.com/turbojet_sailing_rev.htm.
Airport busno. 330 (tel.0755/99788) runs from the airport to the Hualian Dasha (a hotel and department store), just west of the center on Shen Nan Zhong Lu. The ride takes 40 minutes and costs ¥20 ($2.50); the buses run every 30 minutes from 6:30am to 8pm. When work on an extension to the KCR East Rail line is complete, buses will run to the railway station. For now it's a ¥20 ($2.50) taxi ride farther. (Coming from Hong Kong, ignore touts at Luo Hu, and make for the signposted taxi rank.)
Therailway stationis 2 minutes' walk north of the Luo Hu/Lo Wu border and connected by elevated walkway. Tickets for Guangzhou are on sale at this level, and for elsewhere on the floor below, from 7am to 8pm. The express trains directly from Kowloon to Beijing and Shanghai pass through but do not stop here. Shenzhen has its own services from Beijing Xi, of which the best is the T107 at 8:30pm, passing through Jiujiang and Nanchang, and arriving at 9:10pm the next day -- not bad for 2,373km (1,483 miles). The cost is ¥467 ($58) hard sleeper, ¥720 ($90) soft sleeper. To Beijing, the T108 leaves at 1:08pm. Tickets for this and many othertrainsfrom Shenzhen can be bought at CTS in Hong Kong, but there's a much greater choice of services and destinations from Guangzhou. Departures by 200kmph express trains to Guangzhou Dong (East) leave 45 times a day from 7:18am to 8:45pm. They occasionally continue to the main station.
FromHong Kong,the easiest train route is via the KCR East Rail line from Hung Hom or Kowloon Tong to Lo Wu. The first train from Hung Hom is at 5:30am and the last at 11:07pm.Only stay on for Lo Wu if you plan to cross the border, or you may be fined.The long-distance bus station, Luo Hu Qichezhan,is beneath Luo Hu Commercial City, to your right as you leave Customs. There are rapid bus connections with Guangzhou, Zhuhai Gong Bei (the Macau border crossing, every 15 min. 7am-8:30pm), Kaiping, and most other corners of Guangdong Province. A cross-border coach service runs to the Shangri-La hotel directly from Hong Kong Airport's arrivals hall counter 4B; 16 services make the 2-hour trip from 10:30am to 8:30pm for HK$100 (US$13). In the other direction, 10 services operate from 7:30am to 5:50pm.Warning:Access to Shenzhen is subject to extra controls. Have your passport ready if you're arriving or leaving by bus.
Getting Around
Few people get farther than Luo Hu, with its border station, railway station, bus station, shopping, restaurants, and hotels, all close together.Taxishave high rates similar to those in Guangzhou.Neverdeal with touts who approach you at the border. The taxi stand is signposted beyond Luo Hu Commercial City to your right. At the north end of the plaza, with the border on the south side and the station on the west, stands the Shangri-La hotel. The street leading north on the left side is Jianshe Lu, and the street on the right side is Renmin Nan Lu; between the two of them, they lead to everything you might want.
Fast Facts
Banks, Foreign Exchange & ATMs-- There's a branch of theHongkong and Shanghai Bankon the Renmin Nan Lu side of the Century Plaza Hotel -- you can't change money here but you can use its ATM outside. A branch of theBank of China(open Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm; Sat-Sun and holidays 9am-4pm), which has foreign-exchange service and an outside ATM, is nearby to the right and beyond the Shangri-La hotel.
Internet Access-- The 24-hourPC-War E-Cafeeven has a nonsmoking area. It's on the fourth floor of the Cybermart at Renmin Nan Lu 3005 and charges ¥2 (25¢) per hour. Use the side entrance from 7pm to 9am. Dial-up is tel.169.
Post Office-- There's a useful post office (open 9am-noon and 12:30-5pm) at ground-floor level of the north end of Luo Hu Commercial City.
Visa Extensions-- Cross into Hong Kong and obtain a brand-new 3-month visa within 24 hours if need be.