A guide for travelling to Pazhou via Hong Kong

From spacious shopping malls housing local and international brands to impressively designed structures like the swirling Canton Tower and Liede Bridge, the buzzing city of Guangzhou offers an excursion filled with shopping, dining and sightseeing opportunities. 

To ensure you get to discover all that the Greater Bay Area holds, our Direct Air+Sea makes planning a trip to the Chinese Mainland as seamless as it can be, with dedicated transfer services and direct baggage transfers. Let us give you a rundown on what you can expect throughout the journey, from arriving in Hong Kong to stepping foot in Guangzhou, Pazhou. 

Here's a downloadable pdf guide to help you on your way. Before you go, double-check what travel documents you need for entry to the Chinese Mainland.

1. Arriving at Hong Kong International Airport 

After you touch down at HKIA, follow the signs to Mainland/Macao and Transfer Desks E2. This will take you to the ferry ticketing desk where you can buy tickets for the ferry journey, as well as transfer your baggage to your destination.  

Alternatively, getting a Direct Air+Sea combined flight and ferry ticket when you book your flight with us will save you time and hassle.* Enter your destination as "Guangzhou, Pazhou Ferry Terminal (PFT)" and you’ll be assigned a SkyPier ferry transfer that aligns with the arrival time of your flight into Hong Kong. 

2. Skip immigration

On the way to the ferry transfer desk, you’ll pass by the Immigration area. There’s no need to go through Immigration before you get on the ferry, so keep following the signs toward Mainland/Macao and Transfer Desks E2. 

3. Mainland/Macao connection via the SkyPier Terminal Ferry Service 

When you see an open waiting area with couches, indicated by a dark blue “E2” sign, you’ve reached the ferry ticketing desks which will connect you to the Chinese Mainland or Macao. Look for a row of operators signposted by a green lightbox labelled “SkyPier Terminal Ferry Service”. Queue here to get tickets and transfer your baggage to Pazhou. 

Have your travel documents, flight ticket and baggage tag receipt (sometimes attached to your boarding pass) on hand. Let the ferry operator know where you’re going and how many pieces of checked baggage you have. They’ll take your baggage receipt to make sure your bags are transferred directly to Pazhou. One piece of baggage is free of charge, with additional pieces incurring a cost.  

Have a combined flight and ferry ticket? The operator will simply print your already-purchased ferry pass for you. 

If you need to purchase a ferry ticket, the operator will tell you when the next available ferries to Pazhou are, with ticket prices in HKD. You can pay by cash, credit card or WeChat Pay. 

Keep in mind that you can only do same-day transfers – that means on the same day listed on your flight ticket. This ensures that your bags are smoothly transferred from the plane to the ferry and onwards to your destination. 

You can check the ferry timetable on the overhead monitors at the SkyPier Terminal Ferry Service, or in advance here . 

4. Train to the SkyPier Terminal 

To reach the SkyPier where you’ll board the ferry, first head to the other side of the ticketing desk. Near a sign that says “Coach Ferry Boarding”, you’ll find staff who will scan your ferry ticket and let you through to the Automatic People Mover (APM), which will transport you to the SkyPier.  

Wrap up any last-minute duty-free shopping before you go, but leave the refreshments till later – they’re available at the SkyPier (as are washrooms). 

5. SkyPier Terminal 

After a two- to three-minute ride, you’ll alight at the only stop – the SkyPier. Head up the escalators or the lift to reach the ferry departure gates. You’ll find a small money exchange booth as well as a 7-11 convenience shop here.  

Find the sign for the ferry to Pazhou or check the gate number on your ticket. When it’s time to board, you’ll scan your ferry ticket at the gate before proceeding to the dock to embark. 

You can ignore the “Baggage Reclaim” area at the SkyPier, as this only applies to travellers commuting by the SkyPier coach transfer service.

6. On the ferry… 

The journey to Pazhou takes two hours and 20 minutes, so you might want to bring a book or a neck cushion for a nap. There is no Wi-Fi on the boat, so if you’d like to use the internet, make sure you’ve purchased a mobile data plan that works in the Chinese Mainland ahead of time. USB charging ports are available next to every row on either side of the boat. 

If you have bulky items you can store them in the luggage area at the back of the ship. The washrooms are also located here.  

Don’t worry about feeling peckish during the journey. The boat’s snack bar is stocked with hot food and snacks like fish ball noodles, sandwiches and crisps – though passengers with dietary requirements may want to purchase snacks ahead of time at the SkyPier 7-11. There are also bottled drinks and hot beverages like coffee and milk tea. You can pay either using WeChat Pay or with cash. 

For those who have purchased first class tickets, you’ll be rewarded with comfier, wider seats on the upper level of the boat, and you’ll have priority when disembarking. First row seaters also get a large table in case you need to work or you’d like some extra space. There are also two VIP rooms for greater privacy, at an extra cost.  

7. …and off the ferry 

Once you step off the boat, it’s only a short walk to the immigration area: from the dock, you’ll head up an escalator and along a short corridor before boarding another escalator to the third floor, where you’ll find the immigration counters. Accessible options are also available in lieu of the escalators.  

8. Immigration 

As you pass through immigration, be mindful of the guidelines posted on the walls such as not taking photos or using your phone. Take off any hats, glasses or face masks to facilitate the identification process; the immigration officer will instruct you to do so if you haven’t already.  

9. Baggage claim 

After immigration, follow the signs to “Baggage claim”. If there are a lot of passengers on your ferry, you may have to wait a little longer for staff to unload your baggage from the ship. They’ll have your suitcases lined up nicely in the baggage claim area, and from there it’s a straight line to Customs. Afterwards, you’ll exit into a small reception area where those welcoming incoming visitors can wait.  

To leave the terminal, follow the overhead “Exit” sign down an escalator to a double door that will lead you outside. Need to use the toilet or grab a drink? The overhead sign for the exit will also point you to the washrooms and a water dispenser. 

10. Pazhou Ferry Terminal, Guangzhou 

Ready to connect to the rest of Guangzhou? The available connections at the exit on ground level include tram, metro, and taxi or ride-hailing services.

*Direct Air+Sea is available for selected routes on our website. For regions where this service is unavailable, please book via a travel agent. If you're departing from Taiwan China, please purchase your ferry tickets separately. We’ll arrange your bags to be checked through when you check in at your departing airport.