The easiest way to travel between Guangzhou and Shenzhen is by train, although the bus may be a cheaper option.
Where are Guangzhou and Shenzhen?
Guangzhou and Shenzhen are in Guangdong province, China. Guangzhou is the capital of the province and one of the largest cities in China, home to the world famous Canton Fair, while Shenzhen is a major city by right just across the border from Hong Kong. Guangzhou and Shenzhen are about 100 km apart.
Train between Guangzhou and Shenzhen
The easiest and most popular option is the regular train service between Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Train services between Guangzhou and Shenzhen run every 10 minutes during peak hours and run from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The idea is that the service is as frequent as the buses.
With the cutting edge, bullet trains, and only a handful of stops between the two cities, travel time is an hour or less. A handful of these trains will also run further south, ending in Hong Kong.
Where I can buy tickets?
Tickets can be purchased at the station before departure, either at the ticket offices or at the automatic machines. The price of a standard ticket is 80RMB.
Given the frequency of the service, it is not necessary to purchase tickets in advance, although be aware that there may be long lines for tickets at rush hour; 7-9am and 3-7pm.
What are the trains like?
The trains themselves are some of the best in China. Modern, fast and clean, you will find open carriages, air conditioning and comfortable seats. Air conditioning comes standard and there is usually a small snack cart that is carried around.
Is it safe to travel by train in China?
Absolutely. The trains are as modern and well maintained as in the United States and Europe.
Passports and visas
It’s not something you would normally consider for intercity travel, same country, same state, but things work differently in China. By law, you should already carry your passport wherever you go, but you will certainly need it if you are traveling by train; sometimes to buy tickets, sometimes to gain access to platforms, sometimes both, usually neither. Certainly have it with you.
Remember, the five days, the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Visa is not good for Guangzhou. If you have a SEZ visa and want to travel to Guangzhou, you will need to obtain a full Chinese tourist visa and you will not be able to get it upon arrival at the station.
Buses between Guangzhou and Shenzhen
With the frequency of trains between the two cities, there is not a great demand for bus travel. Those that do exist are often direct routes between certain neighborhoods. What the bus offers are cheaper fares, with tickets around 60RMB or less and a travel time of around 2 hours or more. It can be a good way to see a bit of the local countryside, although most of the journey involves being quickly carried along the highway.
If you like the bus, there are a couple of companies that run from the front of the Lo Wu train station that offer regular minibus services.
What about Hong Kong?
Hong Kong is on the same route as Shenzhen and Guangzhou and about a dozen trains travel between Guangzhou and Hong Kong every day. There are also coaches from Hong Kong airport to Guangzhou and ferries (where there is no need to go through Hong Kong passport control) to Guangzhou and Guangzhou airport.
The connection with Shenzhen is more frequent and the two cities MTR, the subway systems connect at the Lo Wu border crossing, which means that you can effectively travel between the two on the subway. Most visitors to Hong Kong do not require a Hong Kong visa.
What about Macau?
There is currently no train connection between Macau and Guangzhou or Shenzhen. The best way to travel between Macau and Shenzhen is by ferry to Hong Kong and then MTR or direct ferry. To travel between Macau and Guangzhou, there are a number of direct ferries.
