Hong Kong to Shenzhen Transfers｜Complete Guide to Border-Crossing Taxis and Licensed Cross-Boundary Cars
There are two completely different ways to travel from Hong Kong to Shenzhen: an ordinary Hong Kong taxi takes you to the Hong Kong side of a crossing, and you then clear immigration and change vehicles yourself; or you book a qualified cross-boundary vehicle holding the required licences, quota and hire car permit. Shenzhen Bay, Futian, Huanggang and Liantang crossings differ in location, opening hours and the destinations they suit, so confirm the route before booking.
What is the difference between an ordinary Hong Kong taxi and a cross-boundary car?
| Compared on | Ordinary Hong Kong taxi | Qualified cross-boundary hire car |
|---|---|---|
| Transfers within Hong Kong | Yes | Subject to its permit and service arrangements |
| Drives directly into Shenzhen | No | Possible when travel documents and crossing eligibility are all in order |
| Statutory Hong Kong taxi colours | Red, green or blue | Usually a hire car holding cross-boundary eligibility, not an ordinary street taxi |
| Do passengers clear both jurisdictions? | Yes | Yes, equally required |
| Is staying in the vehicle guaranteed? | Not applicable; passengers must get out and clear immigration | Not guaranteed; depends on the crossing, the traveller’s status and officers’ instructions |
| Verifying the vehicle | Check the taxi registration mark, driver identity plate and meter | Check the hire car permit, registration mark and cross-boundary eligibility |
| Pricing | Hong Kong meter, a meter discount or a fixed price for the Hong Kong leg | Quoted for the whole cross-boundary route by vehicle type, crossing and waiting |
Important legal and insurance reminders
To carry passengers for hire or reward in Hong Kong, a private car must hold an applicable hire car permit. A cross-boundary vehicle also needs the relevant crossing licence, quota and mainland driving eligibility.
Do not assume a vehicle may legally take bookings simply because it carries both Hong Kong and mainland plates. If a vehicle without a valid hire car permit carries passengers for reward, its third-party liability cover may also be in question after an accident.
How do you verify eligibility before booking a cross-boundary car?
- Ask for the Hong Kong registration mark: do not settle for a photo of the model, a company name or a driver’s nickname.
- Check the hire car permit: go to the Hong Kong Government’s online hire car permit enquiry system and enter the vehicle registration number.
- Confirm the crossing and eligibility: ask which crossings the vehicle may use and whether its permit covers your travel dates and purpose.
- Get the itinerary in writing: the Hong Kong origin, Shenzhen destination, crossing, any stops, vehicle type and passenger count.
- Get a complete quotation: Hong Kong and mainland road costs, waiting at the crossing, parking, overtime, rescheduling and cancellation.
- Check again at pick-up: the registration mark, driver and vehicle type should match what was confirmed; do not accept an unagreed last-minute vehicle change.
Official vehicle enquiry
Passengers can use the Hong Kong Government’s online hire car permit enquiry system, entering the Hong Kong vehicle registration number to see whether a valid hire car permit has been issued for it.
Dual plates do not mean a vehicle may legally charge for carrying passengers
Plates from both sides mainly show that a vehicle is registered or eligible to drive in those places; carrying passengers for hire or reward still involves the hire car permit and other cross-boundary requirements. Be wary when a price is unusually low, when a registration mark is withheld, when you are asked to transfer money to an unfamiliar account, or when someone claims you "never have to clear immigration at all".
Comparing the four main Hong Kong to Shenzhen crossings
| Hong Kong crossing | Shenzhen counterpart | Usual passenger clearance hours | Destinations it suits better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shenzhen Bay Control Point, Hong Kong Port Area | Shenzhen Bay | 06:30–24:00 | Nanshan, Houhai, Shekou, Qianhai and western Bao’an |
| Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point | Futian crossing | 06:30–22:30 | Futian central district, the convention centre, and stops along Shenzhen Metro Lines 4 and 10 |
| Lok Ma Chau Control Point | Huanggang crossing | 24 hours | Overnight crossings, and the Futian and Huanggang areas |
| Heung Yuen Wai Control Point | Liantang Port | 07:00–22:00 | Eastern Luohu, Liantang, Yantian, Dapeng, Pingshan and eastern Shenzhen |
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is not a normal Hong Kong to Shenzhen crossing
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge mainly links Hong Kong, Macao and Zhuhai; it is not a normal direct crossing from Hong Kong into Shenzhen. When your destination is in Shenzhen you should usually compare Shenzhen Bay, Futian, Huanggang or Liantang; consider the Hong Kong Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge only when you are heading for Zhuhai, Hengqin or Macao.
Shenzhen Bay Port: for Nanshan, Houhai, Shekou and Qianhai
- Board in Hong Kong
- →
- Hong Kong taxi or licensed cross-boundary car
- →
- Shenzhen Bay
- →
- Immigration checks on both sides
- →
- Nanshan and western Shenzhen
Opening hours
Shenzhen Bay Port normally clears ordinary travellers from 06:30 to 24:00 daily. Cargo lanes running 24 hours does not mean ordinary travellers can cross after midnight. The road leading to the crossing may also close about 30 minutes before closing time.
Ordinary Hong Kong taxi
Both urban red and New Territories green taxis may serve the public transport interchange in the Hong Kong port area of Shenzhen Bay Port. Passengers get out with their luggage, complete the formalities on both sides, then change to the metro, a bus, a taxi or a ride-hailing car on the Shenzhen side.
Licensed cross-boundary car
If a cross-boundary car holds the eligibility relevant to Shenzhen Bay Port and your Shenzhen destination has been confirmed, it may proceed into Shenzhen under the crossing’s inspection arrangements. Passengers must still complete Hong Kong departure and mainland entry as required by law and follow officers’ instructions on site.
For transfers within Hong Kong, see Shenzhen Bay Port taxis.
Futian and Huanggang: similar names, two separate crossings
| Compared on | Futian crossing | Huanggang crossing |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong counterpart | Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point | Lok Ma Chau Control Point |
| Usual hours | 06:30–22:30 | 24 hours |
| Ordinary Hong Kong taxi | May reach the Spur Line Control Point public transport interchange | Usually to San Tin for the Huangbus during the day; may enter the Hong Kong control point directly between 23:00 and 06:30 |
| How you cross | After clearing Hong Kong departure, walk across the bridge to Futian Port | After clearing Hong Kong departure, take the Huangbus to Huanggang Port |
| Onward travel in Shenzhen | Shenzhen Metro Lines 4 and 10 | Follow that day’s metro, bus, taxi and ride-hailing arrangements at Huanggang Port |
For overnight trips north, use Huanggang rather than Futian
Futian Port closes at 22:30. To cross after midnight or in the early hours you should normally use the 24-hour Huanggang Port. Even though an ordinary Hong Kong taxi may drive into the Lok Ma Chau Control Point late at night, passengers still change to the Huangbus; an ordinary taxi does not cross the boundary itself.
For the full explanation, see Lok Ma Chau / Futian / Huanggang crossing taxis.
Liantang Port: for eastern Shenzhen and Yantian
The Hong Kong side is called the Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point and the Shenzhen side Liantang Port; ordinary travellers are normally cleared from 07:00 to 22:00 daily. Both urban red and New Territories green taxis may serve the Heung Yuen Wai public transport interchange.
Destinations it suits
If your Shenzhen destination is in Liantang, eastern Luohu, Yantian, Dapeng, Pingshan or further east, Liantang Port may be more direct than Shenzhen Bay. It is also more convenient from the northern New Territories, Tai Po, Sha Tin and Ma On Shan.
Cross-boundary car arrangements
Only a cross-boundary car holding the crossing eligibility relevant to Heung Yuen Wai / Liantang and a valid hire car permit may provide a direct service for reward. Travellers must still carry valid documents and undergo checks on both sides as arranged on site.
For the Hong Kong leg, see Liantang / Heung Yuen Wai crossing taxis.
Which crossing suits your Shenzhen destination?
| Shenzhen destination | Compare these first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Nanshan / Houhai / around Shenzhen Bay Port | Shenzhen Bay | Closer to south-western Shenzhen |
| Shekou | Shenzhen Bay | Closer to Nanshan and Shekou |
| Qianhai / southern Bao’an | Shenzhen Bay | Usually closer to destinations in western Shenzhen |
| Futian central district | Futian Port or Huanggang Port | Futian during the day; switch to Huanggang overnight |
| Shenzhen Convention Centre / Futian CBD | Futian crossing | Convenient connections to Shenzhen Metro Lines 4 and 10 |
| Eastern Luohu / Liantang | Liantang Port | The crossing sits in eastern Shenzhen |
| Yantian / Sha Tau Kok / Dapeng | Liantang Port | Usually better for eastern and north-eastern Shenzhen |
| Any Shenzhen destination after midnight | Huanggang crossing | The only one of the four main options clearing travellers 24 hours a day |
The crossing that is actually best still depends on where you board in Hong Kong, the exact Shenzhen address, the crossing’s hours, road traffic, travellers’ documents, the vehicle’s cross-boundary eligibility and onward travel within Shenzhen. The destination’s district alone cannot decide it.
What are the options from Hong Kong airport to Shenzhen?
Hong Kong taxi to a crossing
After clearing Hong Kong immigration and collecting your luggage, take a Hong Kong taxi to Shenzhen Bay, Heung Yuen Wai, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line or the San Tin Huangbus stop, then cross on your own.
Licensed cross-boundary car
When the vehicle, crossing and travellers’ documents all meet the requirements, a transfer from Hong Kong airport to a Shenzhen destination can be arranged — but the hire car permit and cross-boundary eligibility must be verified first.
Sea-Air transfer ferry
Travellers who have not cleared Hong Kong immigration, who are eligible and who have a suitable sailing can use the Sea-Air transfer service inside the airport restricted area to reach designated mainland ports.
Cross-boundary coach
Some routes run from Hong Kong airport or the urban area to Shenzhen crossings and the city; frequencies, ticketing and luggage rules follow the operator.
Sea-Air transfer passengers should not clear Hong Kong immigration first
Eligible air-to-sea or air-to-land transfer passengers should go to the designated transfer desk before clearing immigration. Once you have cleared Hong Kong immigration or left the restricted area, you can no longer return to it to use those Sea-Air transfer services, and must instead travel to a crossing by ordinary transport within Hong Kong.
For airport and Macao transfers, see the Hong Kong airport to Macao and Sea-Air transfer guide.
Travel documents, luggage and customs preparation
Travel documents and visas
Travellers are responsible for holding documents, visas or permits that meet Hong Kong departure and mainland entry requirements. Hong Kong residents commonly use a valid Home Return Permit; requirements for other travellers vary with nationality and status.
Luggage and customs
Whether you take an ordinary taxi to a crossing or a licensed cross-boundary car, everything you carry must comply with Hong Kong and mainland customs, quarantine, dangerous goods and declaration rules.
Medicines and controlled items
Prescription medicines, food, animals and plants, cash and other controlled items may carry declaration or quantity requirements; check with the relevant authorities before you travel.
Children and elderly travellers
Confirm that every traveller’s documents are valid, and allow extra time for boarding, walking and checks at the crossing. Children also count towards the vehicle’s passenger total.
Wheelchairs and accessibility
Give the wheelchair’s dimensions, whether it folds and what help is needed getting in and out, and confirm accessible inspection arrangements with the crossing or the vehicle operator.
Connectivity and payment
Keep your phone charged and able to connect on both the Hong Kong and mainland networks, and have suitable electronic payment or renminbi ready for travel within Shenzhen.
A transfer booking does not change your eligibility to enter
Booking a cross-boundary car does not mean a traveller is automatically permitted to enter. Document validity, visas, length of stay, documents for minors and controlled items are all for the traveller to confirm and are the traveller’s responsibility.
What should a cross-boundary quotation cover?
- The full Hong Kong pick-up address and the full Shenzhen destination.
- Whether it uses Shenzhen Bay, Futian, Huanggang or Liantang.
- One way, return, a same-day return or a return on a later day.
- Vehicle type, registered seating and luggage capacity.
- Hong Kong and mainland road, tunnel and bridge tolls, and costs related to the crossing.
- Whether queuing and ordinary inspection waiting at the crossing are included.
- How overtime waiting is calculated.
- Stops along the way, and pick-up or drop-off points for different passengers.
- How a delayed flight or high-speed train is handled.
- Rescheduling, cancellation, no-shows and what happens to money already paid.
- Payment currency, methods and whether any platform fee applies.
- How the vehicle licence and hire car permit can be verified.
A cross-boundary quotation should never be just one number
A reasonable quotation sets out the route, crossing, vehicle type, passengers, luggage, road costs, waiting and cancellation terms. If the other party gives you only a price and refuses to provide a registration mark, operator details, a permit or the crossing arrangements, hold off on paying.
How to book a Hong Kong to Shenzhen transfer
- Give your Hong Kong starting point: hotel, home, office building, the airport, the cruise terminal or a crossing.
- Give the full Shenzhen address: district, street, hotel, office building, residence or a map pin.
- Give the date and time: for trips that cross midnight, use the full year-month-day and the 24-hour clock.
- Give the type of travel document each passenger holds: you need not send full document numbers, but confirm that every person is eligible to enter.
- Give passengers and luggage: including children, prams, wheelchairs, golf bags and oversized items.
- Choose the type of service: a Hong Kong taxi to a crossing, or an enquiry about a qualified cross-boundary car.
- Confirm the crossing: choose Shenzhen Bay, Futian, Huanggang or Liantang according to the destination, opening hours and the vehicle’s eligibility.
- Verify the vehicle’s eligibility: get the registration mark and check for a valid hire car permit and the relevant cross-boundary eligibility.
- Confirm the complete quotation: road costs on both sides, waiting, stops, payment, rescheduling and cancellation.
- Check again before departure: registration mark, driver, vehicle type, time, address and crossing must all match the booking.
WhatsApp booking template
Hong Kong pick-up address: ________
Shenzhen destination and map pin: ________
Date and time: ________
Passengers: __ adults, __ children
Large luggage: __ pieces
Special items: ________
Needed: Hong Kong taxi to the crossing / licensed cross-boundary car enquiry
Preferred crossing: ________ / please suggest one for the destination
Please provide the registration mark, how to verify the permit, the total price and what it includes.
Do you have to get out of a licensed cross-boundary car at the border?
Every traveller must clear Hong Kong departure and mainland entry checks. How those checks are actually carried out depends on the crossing’s design, the type of vehicle, the traveller’s status and documents, customs requirements and the arrangements in place on the day.
| The situation | Possible arrangement |
|---|---|
| Ordinary document check | Handled at the crossing’s designated lane, inspection building or in-vehicle inspection arrangement |
| First entry, or documents needing verification | You may have to get out and go to a counter |
| Customs spot check | Passengers may be asked to get out, open luggage or undergo further inspection |
| Children, elderly or less mobile travellers | Say so when booking and allow extra time for checks |
| Ordinary Hong Kong taxi to a crossing | Passengers must get out; an ordinary taxi does not accompany you across |
Do not believe "nobody ever has to get out, at any crossing"
No cross-boundary service can replace immigration and customs checks. Even though some travellers in some lanes may be processed while staying in the vehicle, officers still have the power to require you to get out or to inspect luggage as circumstances demand. Follow instructions on site.
Transfers between Hong Kong airport and Shenzhen
Shenzhen to Hong Kong airport
First settle the flight date, airline, departure time, whether you check in at Hong Kong airport T1 or T2, and the cross-boundary route you are taking. Besides the drive within Shenzhen and clearing the border, allow time for Hong Kong roads, airport check-in, baggage drop and security.
Hong Kong airport to Shenzhen
After your flight lands you need to disembark, clear immigration, collect luggage and pass customs. Travellers using an ordinary Hong Kong taxi can head for a crossing once they have cleared Hong Kong immigration; a booked, qualified cross-boundary car follows the confirmed airport pick-up and crossing arrangements.
Sea-Air transfer service
Travellers who have not cleared Hong Kong immigration, who are eligible and who have a suitable sailing can enquire inside the airport restricted area about Sea-Air transfer services to designated Greater Bay Area crossings or piers. That transfer is a different procedure from clearing immigration and taking a Hong Kong taxi.
The landing time is not the pick-up time
An airport pick-up booking has to allow for parking the aircraft, disembarking, immigration, luggage and customs. Giving your flight number helps with updates, but still contact the driver again once you have your luggage.
See also how to book an airport taxi, overnight and red-eye transfers and the airport pick-up guide.
Large groups, bulky luggage and family crossings
| Item | What to give when booking |
|---|---|
| Adults and children | Every passenger needs a proper seat and a valid travel document |
| Large suitcases | The number of pieces and rough dimensions, with boot capacity confirmed |
| Pushchairs | Whether it folds, and its dimensions folded |
| Wheelchair | Whether it folds, its dimensions, and help needed getting in and out |
| Golf bag / instrument / bicycle box | The item’s length, width, height and quantity |
| Customs items | You confirm the declaration rules for food, medicines, animals and plants, cash and other items yourself |
| Vehicle type | Confirm the registered seating and luggage space rather than going by how the vehicle looks |
For details, see airport taxis for large groups and bulky luggage.
Safety and payment for cross-boundary transfers
- Get the company name, Hong Kong registration mark and driver contact in advance.
- Use the government online system to check for a valid hire car permit.
- Confirm the Hong Kong origin, Shenzhen destination, crossing and every stop in writing.
- Confirm the payment currency, deposit, balance, refunds and cancellation terms.
- Do not transfer money to an unfamiliar account, and do not pay on a personal QR code alone.
- Check that the registration mark of the vehicle that turns up matches the booking.
- Everyone wears a seat belt, and luggage must not block doors or the driver’s view.
- Share the registration mark, route and expected arrival time with someone you trust.
- If you are in immediate physical danger, call the emergency services on 999 while in Hong Kong.
An unusually low price may hide something important
A cross-boundary car’s costs include the vehicle’s eligibility, roads on both sides, the crossing and driver arrangements. A quotation far below the market that also comes with a refusal to provide a registration mark, permit, operator details or a receipt may involve illegal carriage for hire or inadequate cover. Safety and legal eligibility come before price.
For safety, see beware of illegal taxis and the night-time ride safety guide; for payment, see Hong Kong taxi payment methods.
Hong Kong to Shenzhen cross-boundary transfers: frequently asked questions
Generally no. Ordinary red, green and blue taxis only carry passengers within Hong Kong, usually as far as the Hong Kong side of a crossing; passengers then get out, clear immigration and change to transport in Shenzhen.
It must be a qualified cross-boundary hire car or vehicle with the applicable cross-boundary licence, quota, road eligibility, mainland documents and a valid Hong Kong hire car permit.
Ask for the Hong Kong registration mark, operator and driver details, then enter the registration mark in the government’s online hire car permit enquiry system to verify it, and confirm the vehicle holds the eligibility relevant to your chosen crossing.
For Nanshan, Houhai and Qianhai, compare Shenzhen Bay; for Futian central district, compare Futian; overnight, Huanggang is the usual choice; for eastern Luohu, Yantian and Dapeng, compare Liantang.
Ordinary travellers are normally cleared from 06:30 to 24:00 daily. Cargo running 24 hours does not mean the passenger channel does.
Normally 06:30 to 22:30 daily. Arrive early if you are close to closing time, to leave room for the formalities on both sides.
Yes. The Lok Ma Chau Control Point in Hong Kong and Huanggang Port in Shenzhen clear travellers 24 hours a day, and the Huangbus also runs around the clock.
The Heung Yuen Wai Control Point and Liantang Port normally run from 07:00 to 22:00 daily, which suits trips into eastern Shenzhen.
Generally it is not the first choice. The bridge mainly serves Macao and Zhuhai; from Hong Kong to Shenzhen you would normally compare Shenzhen Bay, Futian, Huanggang or Liantang.
That cannot be guaranteed. Every passenger must clear departure and entry checks on both sides as required by law, and must get out or undergo inspection when the crossing, documents, customs or officers on site require it.
You need a valid travel document, visa or permit meeting Hong Kong departure and mainland entry requirements. Requirements differ by nationality and status, so confirm with the immigration authorities on both sides.
Go by the written confirmation, which should set out the Hong Kong origin, Shenzhen destination, crossing, vehicle type, road costs, waiting at the crossing, parking, stops, overtime, rescheduling and cancellation.
You can enquire when a qualified vehicle and complete travel documents are in place, but the hire car permit, cross-boundary eligibility, crossing and pick-up terms must be verified first. Until that eligibility is confirmed, treat it only as a transfer from Hong Kong airport to a Hong Kong crossing.
After midnight the usual choice is the 24-hour Huanggang Port. Shenzhen Bay closes its passenger channel at midnight, Futian at 22:30 and Liantang at 22:00; the latest government announcements prevail.
You are welcome to enquire, but give every passenger and the luggage dimensions. When the load exceeds the vehicle’s safe capacity, a larger vehicle or more than one car should be arranged, and you confirm customs and controlled-item requirements yourself.
Shenzhen crossings and Macao transfers
- Shenzhen Bay Control Point taxi
- Lok Ma Chau / Futian / Huanggang crossings
- Heung Yuen Wai / Liantang Control Point
- Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Hong Kong Port
- Hong Kong Airport to Macao
- Small-Hours and Red-Eye Transfers
Booking, Fares and Safety Guides
- Hong Kong airport taxi home
- How to book
- How to call a taxi
- Booking in advance
- Instant quote
- Fare calculator
- Hong Kong taxi fare guide
- Tunnel and Surcharge Guide
- Hong Kong taxi types
- Complete Hong Kong taxi guide
- Groups and large luggage
- Payment methods
- Night travel safety
- Avoiding unlicensed taxis
- FAQ
Travelling to Shenzhen crossings from each district of Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Island transfers
- Tsim Sha Tsui／Jordan Transfers
- Mong Kok／Sham Shui Po Transfers
- Kowloon City / Hung Hom transfers
- Wong Tai Sin / Diamond Hill transfers
- Kwun Tong / Lam Tin transfers
- Tseung Kwan O transfers
- Sha Tin transfers
- Ma On Shan transfers
- Tai Po transfers
- Sheung Shui / Fanling transfers
- Sai Kung transfers
- Tsuen Wan transfers
- Tsing Yi / Kwai Fong transfers
- Tuen Mun transfers
- Yuen Long / Tin Shui Wai transfers
- Tung Chung transfers
Legal, crossing and service notice: ordinary Hong Kong red, green and blue taxis carry passengers only within Hong Kong and cannot take ordinary passengers directly into Shenzhen. Any cross-boundary vehicle hired out as a private car or carrying passengers for reward in Hong Kong must hold a valid hire car permit together with the relevant cross-boundary licence, quota, closed road and mainland driving eligibility. Passengers can verify this by registration mark through the Hong Kong Government’s online hire car permit enquiry system. Passenger clearance normally runs 06:30–24:00 at Shenzhen Bay, 06:30–22:30 at Futian, 24 hours at Huanggang and 07:00–22:00 at Liantang; all times and transport arrangements may change with holidays, works, weather or policy, so the latest announcements from both governments and the crossings prevail. This page does not guarantee that any traveller can cross without getting out of the vehicle; all passengers must undergo immigration and customs checks as required by law. Last updated: 31 August 2026.