China

Shenzhen

A fishing village turned tech hub on Hong Kong's doorstep. On the intercity railway, your passport is the ticket.

Cross-boundary ferries (Shekou Cruise Centre / Shenzhen Airport terminal)

Shenzhen's scheduled boats are cross-boundary ferries to Hong Kong and Macau, and only two terminals run them, Shekou and the airport. Tickets are named to your passport, and the Hong Kong airport run is transfer-only.

Updated 13 days ago

How to ride

1
Pick the terminal

Cross-boundary ferries leave from just two terminals, Shekou Cruise Centre and the airport, and your destination decides which.
2
Check the sailing you need

There are only a handful of sailings a day, and the port and times differ for Hong Kong and for Macau.
3
Buy in your own name, with your passport

Buy via the terminal's WeChat account or counter; the Shekou-Macau route also sells online. The name must match your passport.
4
Arrive before the cut-off

For the Hong Kong airport run, be at the terminal and starting formalities 60 minutes before departure.
5
Clear exit immigration, then board

You clear Chinese exit formalities inside the terminal; once ticket checking closes you cannot board.
6
In Hong Kong, transfer without entering

At SkyPier you stay airside and take the automated people mover to the terminal building.

Fares

Single fares3

Shenzhen Airport terminal to Macau Taipa (adult, economy)

Six sailings a day, 08:45-18:30, about 80 minutes; the 08:45 runs Fri-Sun and holidays only

259 CNY ≈ $38

Shenzhen Airport terminal to Macau Taipa (deluxe class)

The upper class on the same sailing, one way

435 CNY ≈ $65

Shekou to Macau Outer Harbour (adult, economy)

Revised 24 August 2026; counters charge the table figure in local currency

296 CNY ≈ $44

Children & discounts2

Shenzhen Airport terminal to Macau Taipa (child, economy)

For children aged 1 to under 6; the upper classes have no child fare

132 CNY ≈ $20

Shekou to Macau Outer Harbour (child, economy)

Children aged 1 to under 6; Shekou departures are 09:00, 11:00 and 16:30, plus 18:30 at weekends

148 CNY ≈ $22

Estimates use exchange rates as of September 5, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride

There is no tap-to-ride on the boats; you buy a ticket before boarding

Card payment at machines Unverified

No official page says whether the ticket counters take bank cards

IC card

Shenzhen Tong is for city transport; the boats are not among its modes

App tickets

微信 WeChat

In the wallet: Each terminal sells its tickets through its own WeChat account

Paper tickets

At machines: The counter issues a named paper ticket; person, ticket and ID must match

Cash Unverified

At machines: The operator says counters take local currency only; the means is not stated

Quick facts

Hours

Shekou border post 07:00-22:30

Fares from

259 CNY+

Heads-up

The Hong Kong airport boats are transfer-only

The boats to SkyPier at Hong Kong International Airport are a transfer service. You need a confirmed flight leaving the same day - some participating airlines also let you sail the day before and connect to a flight within 24 hours of the ferry's arrival - and you stay inside the airport's restricted area the whole way, so you cannot walk out into Hong Kong. To reach the city, take the boat to the Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan instead.
Tickets are in your name and need the original document

Ferry tickets to and from the mainland are issued in your name, and the person, the ticket and the document all have to match. Counters ask for the original travel document, and if you book online you must enter the name and document number exactly as they appear on it and produce the original when you collect the ticket and board.

Timetable

Operating hours Shekou border post 07:00-22:30

Typical duration 30-50 minutes to Hong Kong's airport, 60-80 minutes to Macau

Check the official site for the latest times and service status

Route map

6 lines ·7 stations