A guide for travelling to Shekou via Hong Kong

Eager to visit Shenzhen, one of the Greater Bay Area’s hubs for business, as well as shopping, dining and sight-seeing? There are plenty of ways to travel from Hong Kong to Shenzhen, but getting to the buzzing Shekou port by transiting through Hong Kong International Airport – especially if you’re flying in from the rest of the world – is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to do so. Not only do you not have to lug your checked-in suitcases around with you, you also don’t have to worry about undergoing the immigration process at Hong Kong airport. 

If you’re unsure about what to expect we’ve got you covered. We highlight the must-knows throughout your journey, from the moment you step off the plane to disembarking the ferry at Shekou. 

Here’s a pro tip: to make your journey more seamless, you can get a Direct Air+Sea combined flight and ferry ticket by entering your destination as "Shenzhen, Shekou Cruise Home Port (ZYK)" when you book your flight with us.*

As always, double-check what travel documents you need for entry to the Chinese Mainland before you set off. 

1. Arriving at Hong Kong International Airport

After you get off the plane and step into the airport, follow the signs and head in the direction pointing to Mainland/Macao. This will take you to the ferry connection to Shekou.  

Depending on which gate you arrive at, along the way there may be washrooms, water fountains or even shower rooms that are free-of-charge for you to refresh after your flight. Check the locations of these facilities here . 

2. Skip Immigration 

You’ll likely see or pass by Immigration at Arrivals as you head towards the Mainland/Macao connection. To get to the ferry, you don’t need to go through Immigration – so make sure not to follow the crowd heading towards that area. 

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

After following the sign towards Mainland/Macao for about 5-10 minutes, you’ll arrive at an open waiting area with couches. There’s also a dark blue sign labelling the area as “E2”, which is where the transfer desks are for both flights and ferries.

In this area, you’ll also see a green lightbox next to a row of transfer desks, labelled “SkyPier Terminal Ferry Service” in both English and Traditional Chinese. 

The transfer desks next to the green panel are where you’ll line up to get your ferry tickets to Shekou. There’s a queue for Macao as well as one servicing ferries to the Chinese Mainland. For the correct queue, look for the sign labelled “Shenzhen Shekou” 深圳蛇口, and just join that line.

To expedite the process, make sure you have the following documents on hand: your travel documents, flight ticket and baggage tag (sometimes attached to your boarding pass). For your reference, the monitors above the desks will list the upcoming ferry routes and scheduled departure times.

When you get to the counter, the ferry operator will ask you where you’re going and how many pieces of checked baggage you have. One piece of baggage is free of charge – any more will incur an additional cost. Here, you’ll hand over your baggage tag so the airport staff can help transfer your bags directly to your destination. 

If you bought a combined flight and ferry ticket, you don’t need to purchase another ticket here – the operator will simply print your ferry pass for you.

If you need to purchase a ferry ticket, the operator will let you know when the next available ferries to Shekou are, and if you’re happy to proceed they’ll confirm the ticket price with you. Cash, credit card and WeChat Pay are all accepted as payment methods, which will be made in HKD. 

Once you have your ticket, the operator will tell you what time you should arrive at the departing gate in the SkyPier and point you in the right direction.

An important note (also outlined on signs throughout the queue): you can only do same-day transfers – that is, the same day listed on your flight ticket. This is to ensure that your bags can be smoothly transferred from the plane to the ferry and onwards to your destination. 

You can check here for a full list of scheduled ferries and fares to Shekou beforehand. The last ferry departs at 9.15pm, meaning the latest you should arrive at the ferry transfer desk to hand over your baggage tag and purchase your ticket is 8.15pm. 

4. Train to the SkyPier

Head around to the back of the transfer counter and you’ll see a sign that says: “Coach Ferry Boarding”. Around the corner, there’ll be airport staff who’ll scan your ferry ticket and let you through a gate, which leads to an escalator heading down to the Automatic People Mover (APM) which will transport you to the SkyPier. You won’t be able to return to the airport past this point, so be sure to get your last-minute duty free shopping done before reaching this point. There will be refreshments and washrooms available at the SkyPier.

5. SkyPier

There’s only one stop – the SkyPier, which takes around 2-3 minutes to get to via the APM. After you get off, head to the escalators or the lift going up to the ferry departure gates. 

At the top, there’s a small money exchange booth. You can also grab a drink or snack at the 7-11 or use the washroom. 

Find the sign for the ferry to Shenzhen Shekou or check the gate number on your ticket. When it’s time to board, you’ll scan your ferry ticket at the gate before following the escalator down to the gangplank that leads to the ferry.

Don’t worry about the “Baggage Reclaim” area beyond the departure gates – this is only for travellers commuting by cross-boundary coach service.

6. On and off the ferry

The ferry ride only takes around 30 minutes. After getting off, you’ll go up the escalator or lift towards “Arrivals”. Continue down the corridor and you’ll eventually see Immigration past a temperature check. 

7. Immigration

Follow the signs on the floor or overhead to figure out which lane to use for Immigration. Have your documents ready, and note the signs that ask you not to use your phone or take photos in this area.

After getting through, you’ll see a sign for “Baggage Claim”. If you had checked-in baggage from your flight, you can retrieve it here. Afterwards, you’ll go through Customs.

8. Shekou Cruise Centre

Shortly after, you’ll walk out into the Homeport lobby. A sign overhead points you to the different modes of transport you can take to leave the port, including the metro, buses and taxis. 

*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.