Hong Kong to Shenzhen: Border Hours, East Rail Fares, Paying on the Metro with a Foreign Card, and 240-Hour Transit
When the Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau and Shenzhen Bay crossings open, what the East Rail Line costs to the border, how Shenzhen Metro's trial for foreign bank cards works, and which ports near Hong Kong are on China's 240-hour transit list.
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Most day trips from Hong Kong to Shenzhen go by MTR East Rail to Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau, cross on foot, and pick up the Shenzhen Metro on the other side. Before you go, fill in China’s online arrival card and set up Alipay. If you are flying into Hong Kong first, the Hong Kong airport guide covers the trip into town.
Crossing hours
Hong Kong’s Immigration Department lists these hours for passengers:
| Control point | Open |
|---|---|
| Lo Wu | 6:30am to midnight |
| Lok Ma Chau Spur Line | 6:30am to 10:30pm |
| Shenzhen Bay | 6:30am to midnight |
MTR’s Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau page gives the same hours. If you are coming back late, Lok Ma Chau closes 90 minutes before the other two.
East Rail fares to the border
MTR’s fare search gives the same fare to Lo Wu and to Lok Ma Chau:
| From | Octopus | Single ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Hung Hom | HK$41.6 | HK$45.0 |
| Kowloon Tong | HK$41.5 | HK$45.0 |
| Admiralty | HK$52.2 | HK$55.5 |
First class costs double. MTR puts Admiralty to Lok Ma Chau at about 51 minutes. The Transport Department lists trains to Lo Wu from Hung Hom between 5:30am and 11:07pm, and from Admiralty between 6:04am and 11:01pm. Coming back, the last train from Lo Wu to Admiralty leaves at midnight.
Paying on the Shenzhen Metro
The Shenzhen government says “Starting June 30, Shenzhen Metro launched a trial Tap-to-Ride service for international bank cards”. It covers all 17 lines and 432 stations, and takes Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB cards issued in more than 200 countries. A 30 July update says all fare gates have been upgraded, and that “The service is still in trial stage.”
Metro routes, maps and payment apps all need a connection as soon as you cross. Set up a Saily eSIM before you leave home; Saily’s own China page says to install it before travelling, because its app may be hard to reach once you are in China. If Hong Kong and Shenzhen are part of a longer trip, add each country to the same Saily profile. Our China SIM guide covers the other options.
240-hour visa-free transit near Hong Kong
China’s 240-hour transit rule lets nationals of eligible countries enter without a visa at a listed port and stay up to 10 days on the way to a third country or region. Our transit guide has the full rules. The listed ports near Hong Kong:
- Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport and Shekou Cruise Home Port, approved in December 2024, according to the Shenzhen government.
- Hong Kong West Kowloon station on the high-speed rail and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge port, added from 5 November 2025 by National Immigration Administration notice No. 4 of 2025.
Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau and Shenzhen Bay are not among the ports those notices name, so check the full port list before you plan a transit entry on foot.
Emergency numbers
In mainland China, dial 110 for police, 119 for fire and 120 for an ambulance. In Hong Kong, dial 999.
Saily, a data eSIM you install before you fly and top up per country Our full write-up. (affiliate link)