Hong Kong-Shenzhen Border

[maxham]

Does anyone know if this is open 24-hours? If not, what are the hours you can cross?

I'm looking at a flight that gets me into Shenzhen 10:20pm, hoping to be able to connect with a flight out of Hong Kong at 9:25am the next day? Is this doable? I'm happy to spend the night (or much of it!) at the airport if needs be.....

Many thanks

[johnd]

This is a crap schedule, but it's do-able.

Huanggang border crossing is open 24hrs, and that's the most direct overland between the two airports anyway. There are coaches that go from Shenzhen airport to HK airport, but I don't know how late/early they run. But anyway, in the worst case, you could get taxis all the way. It will take 30 minutes from SZ airport to Huanggang border. 30 minutes to 1 hour to cross the border. Then about 40 minutes to HK airport.

If you can take the close call, the first boat from Shenzhen Shekou leaves at 0745 am and arrives at HK airport at 0815am. See here:

http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/aguide/skypier_schedule.html

This is by far the most relaxed option but you MUST MUST MUST be on an airline that allows you to check in in Shenzhen Shekou. See here:

http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/aguide/skypier_list.html

If it was me, I would stay in a hotel in Shekou (also 30 minutes from SZ airport), then get the first boat. Remember that you must arrive at the dock with enough time to do all the ckeck-in.

[889]

The most commonly used crossing to Hong Kong is at Luowu -- where you connect to the KCRC rail system -- but it closes at midnight so you'll probably have to cross at Huanggang, as mentioned above. You'll need to take a taxi to Huanggang, but if the bus from the airport to central Shenzhen is still running that late it'll be much cheaper to just taxi over from the bus stop.

No need to take a cab from Huanggang into Hong Kong proper; there are minibuses running to Mongkok all night. Make sure you've got HK$!

In any event, 40 minutes from Huanggang to the HK Airport sounds pretty optimistic.

[roddy]

I don't think the boat is an option for that close a call - I've never done that particular trip, but I know that they are very strict about having enough time to catch your flight and once saw someone throw a massive hissy fit because they didn't think one hour between the boat arriving and the plane leaving was enough, and didn't allow the guy to board. I guess it causes plenty of hassles if someone gets caught airside with no plane.

Roddy

[johnd]

Bear in mind, that if you cross at Luohu (Luowu) and then take the train, you'll need at least 2 hours to get to the airport after you cross the border.

If you cross at Huanggang, I think the coach to the airport costs about HK150, and if there's two of you the combined price wouldn't cost too much more for a taxi. Be wary of the bus ticket touts. If you're not satisfied with the deal on the Shenzhen side then you can easily cross no-man's-land on the shuttle bus.

[pkinchina]

Please allow me to add my two cents:

a. The ferry is not an option in this case. They require that the ferry SAIL 2.5 hours before the flight leaves. I had the experience once of arriving at the terminal 2.5 hours before flight time with the boat sailing 2 hours before flight time. They would NOT sell me the ticket. I had to go back to Huanggang and cross.

b. I don't think you will have enough time to make it to Luo Hu crossing before it closes for the night.

c. With your times, I think your best bet is to take a taxi to Huanggang and take the bus to Wan Chai (can find after you pass the China customs exit) - ticket counter is all the way to the left. This bus runs 24 hours. Bus ride costs about 45HKD is about 40 minutes once you cross the HK border. You can find a hotel in HK and then check in at Airport Express the next morning.

Good luck!

[JARB2008]

I'm so glad I came across this thread! Has the original poster been able to get into HK without too much hassle at that time of night? I land in Shenzhen airport this sunday at 1130pm-ish... I also need to get into HK and it seems that Huang Guang is the only option available to me... unless buses are running 24 hours now?

Also, if i take a taxi to the huang guang border crossing, about how much would the fare cost me?

Will there be buses or mini buses on the HK side of the border to take me closer into town?

I only thought about this after i bought the tickets, and I'm panicking! I would really appreciate any advice you can offer.

Thanks!

[Rincewind]

Don't worry. I did the same journey at a similar time of night to you back in October and it was about 1am when I actually crossed the border. Took the taxi form Shenzhen airport to Huang guang crossing. Cost 110 yuan for the taxi and I'd say leave 50 minutes in your schedule for it. Once you pass through the Chinese side of control into no man's land, there are kiosks where you can buy bus tickets to places in Hong Kong. Almost all seemed to run 24 hours a day. If memory serves me correctly, the people in the kiosks would take both RMB and HKD but take HKD just to be safe. You can also pay by Octopus card if you have one. The bus will take you over to the HK control point where you de bus, go through the system then re board on the other side. You will need to know which bus goes near where you are going. Nobody at the crossing spoke English and there is no map indicating where various place names are. If you are not familiar with Hong Kong geography, print a map out from your computer and locate your destination on it. Then you'll be able to board the correct bus.

The earlier thread comments on ferry times. Be careful with these. Last year on arriving in Shenzhen Shekou and wanting to connect to Macau, I found I'd missed the last ferry. This was despite checking on-line and by telephone the day before and being told there were two more sailings that day. I had to reroute via Zhuhai. Similarly a week later wanting to go form Hong Kong to Shenzhen I got my hotel to check the times and when I arrived, there as no boat for 4 hours. This time I headed for Luo Hu on and then a taxi. It seems the ferries within China are fast and frequent. Likewise the Hong Kong to Macau route, but the links between China and the two SAR seem to be poor.

[flameproof]

Lowu is an option!

It opens at 06:00, get on the train, go 1 stop to Sheung Shui, from there take a green taxi to the Airport. Will be about HK$300. Check if the taxi drives accepts RMB, some do 1:1. Rate nowadays is more like 0.9:1, so they gain.

However, I would also opt for Huaggang. Take a bus or taxi to near Huanggang, stay there overnight, go early the next morning to Huanggang. On the China side you can also check out the airport transport. There are maxicabs going to the HK airport for below 200

In any case, be there much earlier then you need.

[thi15]

is it possible from luowu just to go directly to the airport?