Shenzhen Metro/Subway Guide

Shenzhen Metro (深圳地铁) is the fifth city in mainland China to open a metro system. As of May 2026, it operates 16 metro lines spanning over 634.5 kilometers with 441 stations, achieving full coverage across Shenzhen’s 10 districts. The network connects airports, high-speed rail stations, border checkpoints, business hubs, and trending tourist spots, making it one of the busiest and most convenient urban rail systems in South China.

Core Metro Lines and Highlights

Line 1 (Luobao Line | Red Line | East–West Main Line)

Route: Luohu (罗湖) ↔ Airport East (机场东)
Operating Hours: 06:20–23:00 (weekends from 06:14)
Key Stations:
Luohu (罗湖) → Laojie (老街, transfer Line 3) → Grand Theatre (大剧院) → Science Museum (科学馆) → Huaqiang Road (华强路) → Gangxia (岗厦) → Convention & Exhibition Center (会展中心, transfer Line 4) → Shopping Park (购物公园) → Xiangmi Lake (香蜜湖) → Chegongmiao (车公庙, transfer Lines 7/9/11) → Zhuzilin (竹子林) → Qiaocheng East (侨城东) → Overseas Chinese Town (华侨城) → Window of the World (世界之窗, transfer Line 2) → Baishizhou (白石洲) → High-tech Park (高新园) → Shenzhen University (深大) → Taoyuan (桃园) → Daxin (大新) → Liyumen (鲤鱼门) → Qianhai Bay (前海湾, transfer Lines 5/11) → Xinan (新安) → Bao’an (宝安) → Baoti (宝体) → Pingzhou (坪洲) → Xixiang (西乡) → Gushu (固戍) → Hourui (后瑞) → Airport East (机场东)

Highlights: Shenzhen’s primary east–west artery, connecting Luohu Port (罗湖口岸), Window of the World (世界之窗), High-tech Park, and Bao’an Airport (宝安机场), linking the city’s original downtown with the Qianhai area (前海).

Line 2 (Shekou Line | Orange Line | West Coastal Line)

Route: Chiwan (赤湾) ↔ Xiaomeisha (小梅沙)
Operating Hours: 05:50–22:44
Key Stations:
Chiwan (赤湾) → Shekou Port (蛇口港) → Sea World (海上世界) → Shuiwan (水湾) → Dongjiaotou (东角头) → Wanxia (湾厦) → Haiyue (海月) → Dengliang (登良) → Houhai (后海, transfer Line 11) → Keyuan (科苑) → Hongshuwan (红树湾) → Window of the World (世界之窗, transfer Line 1) → Qiaocheng North (侨城北) → Xiangmei North (香梅北) → Jingtian (景田, transfer Line 9) → Lianhua West (莲花西) → Futian (福田) → Civic Center (市民中心, transfer Line 4) → Gangxia North (岗厦北) → Huaqiangbei (华强北, transfer Line 7) → Yannan (燕南) → Grand Theatre (大剧院, transfer Line 1) → Hubei (湖贝) → Huangbeiling (黄贝岭, transfer Line 5) → Xinxiu (新秀) → Liantang (莲塘) → Xianhu Road (仙湖路) → Wutong Mountain (梧桐山) → Yantian Port West (盐田港西) → Yantian Road (盐田路) → Haishan (海山) → Xiaomeisha (小梅沙)

Highlights: Connects the west coastal areas and east mountain–sea scenic line, offering direct access to Shekou Port (蛇口港), Sea World (海上世界), Houhai (后海), Yantian coastline (盐田海滨栈道), and Xiaomeisha Beach (小梅沙)—ideal for ocean sightseeing and photo opportunities.

Line 3 (Longgang Line | Blue Line | Eastern Main Line)

Route: Fubao (福保) ↔ Pingdi Liulian (坪地六联)
Operating Hours: 06:00–23:00
Key Stations:
Fubao (福保) → Yitian (益田) → Shixia (石厦, transfer Line 7) → Shopping Park (购物公园) → Futian (福田) → Children’s Palace (少年宫, transfer Line 4) → Lianhua Village (莲花村, transfer Line 10) → Huaxin (华新) → Tongxinling (通新岭) → Hongling (红岭) → Laojie (老街, transfer Line 1) → Cuizhu (翠竹) → Tianbei (田贝, transfer Line 7) → Shuibei (水贝) → Buji (布吉, transfer Lines 5/14) → Mumianwan (木棉湾) → Dafen (大芬) → Danzhutou (丹竹头) → Liuyue (六约) → Tangkeng (塘坑) → Henggang (横岗) → Yonghu (永湖) → He’ao (荷坳) → Dayun (大运, transfer Lines 14/16) → Ailian (爱联) → Jixiang (吉祥) → Longcheng Square (龙城广场) → Nanlian (南联) → Shuanglong (双龙) → Xinsheng (新生) → Pingxi (坪西) → Ditan City (低碳城) → Baishitang (白石塘) → Fuping (富坪) → Pingdi Liulian (坪地六联)

Highlights: The main commuter line for eastern Shenzhen, connecting Futian CBD, Buji (布吉), Dayun Center (大运中心), and Longgang District (龙岗中心城), serving over a million residents.

Line 4 (Longhua Line | Light Green Line | North–South Main Line)

Route: Futian Port (福田口岸) ↔ Niuhu (牛湖)
Operating Hours: 06:30–23:00
Key Stations:
Futian Port (福田口岸) → Fumin (福民) → Convention & Exhibition Center (会展中心, transfer Line 1) → Civic Center (市民中心, transfer Line 2) → Children’s Palace (少年宫, transfer Line 3) → Lianhua North (莲花北) → Shangmeilin (上梅林, transfer Line 9) → Minle (民乐) → Baishilong (白石龙) → Shenzhen North Railway Station (深圳北站, transfer Lines 5/6) → Hongshan (红山) → Shangtang (上塘) → Longsheng (龙胜) → Longhua (龙华) → Qinghu (清湖) → Longhua Bus Station (龙华汽车站) → Zhucun (竹村) → Qian’keng (茜坑) → Changhu (长湖) → Guanlan (观澜) → Songyuanxia (松元厦) → Guanlan Lake (观澜湖) → Niuhu (牛湖)

Highlights: Shenzhen’s key north–south line, connecting Futian Port, Shenzhen North Railway Station (深圳北站), and Longhua District (龙华核心区), providing seamless access to Hong Kong border connections.

Line 5 (Ring Central Line | Purple Line | Semi-Ring Line)

Route: Chiwan (赤湾) ↔ Huangbeiling (黄贝岭)
Operating Hours: 06:00–23:00
Key Stations:
Chiwan (赤湾) → Liwan (荔湾) → Railway Park (铁路公园) → Mawan (妈湾) → Qianhai Bay (前海湾, transfer Lines 1/11) → Linhai (临海) → Baohua (宝华) → Bao’an Center (宝安中心) → Fanshen (翻身) → Lingzhi (灵芝) → Honglang North (洪浪北) → Xingdong (兴东) → Liuxiandong (留仙洞) → Xili (西丽) → University Town (大学城) → Tanglang (塘朗) → Changlingpi (长岭陂) → Shenzhen North Railway Station (深圳北站, transfer Lines 4/6) → Minzhi (民治) → Wuhe (五和) → Bantian (坂田) → Yangmei (杨美) → Upper/Lower Shuijing (上水径/下水径) → Changlong (长龙) → Buji (布吉, transfer Lines 3/14) → Baige Long (百鸽笼) → Buxin (布心) → Taian (太安) → Yijing (怡景) → Huangbeiling (黄贝岭, transfer Line 2)

Highlights: Western and northern semi-ring line connecting Qianhai (前海), Bao’an (宝安), Xili (西丽), Shenzhen North Station, Bantian (坂田), and Buji (布吉) for fast transfers in the west and north districts.

Line 11 (Airport Express | Dark Brown Line)

Route: Futian (福田) ↔ Bitou (碧头)
Operating Hours: 06:00–23:00 (extended to 00:00 on holidays)
Key Stations:
Futian (福田) → Chegongmiao (车公庙, transfer Lines 1/7/9) → Hongshuwan South (红树湾南, transfer Line 9) → Houhai (后海, transfer Line 2) → Guiwan (桂湾) → Qianhai Bay (前海湾, transfer Lines 1/5) → Bao’an (宝安) → Fuyong (福永) → Shajing (沙井) → Songgang (松岗) → Bitou (碧头)

Highlights: Business-oriented airport express line, with dedicated business carriages. 30-minute access between Futian and Bao’an Airport (宝安机场), connecting Qianhai and western Bao’an quickly.

Other Notable Lines

• Line 6 (Guangming Line): Science Museum (科学馆) ↔ Songgang (松岗), connecting Longhua (龙华) and Guangming (光明) in northern suburbs.
• Line 7 (Xili Line): Xili Lake (西丽湖) ↔ Taian (太安), linking Xili, Huaqiangbei, and Luohu (罗湖) with high-frequency service in core areas.
• Line 9 (Meilin Line): Qianwan (前湾) ↔ Wenjin (文锦), vertical line linking Qianhai, Chegongmiao, Meilin, and Luohu.
• Line 10 (Bantian Line): Shuangyong Street (双拥街) ↔ Lianhua Village (莲花村), northbound commuter express for Bantian, Huawei, and Futian.
• Line 12 (Nanbao Line): Zuo Pao Tai East (左炮台东) ↔ Haishang Tianyuan East (海上田园东), connecting Nanshan and Bao’an.
• Line 14 (Eastern Express Line): Shatian (沙田) ↔ Gangxia North (岗厦北), 40-minute rapid access from Futian to Pingshan (坪山), eastern fastest line.

Travel Tips for Shenzhen Metro Visitors

Must-Visit Attractions

• Window of the World (世界之窗): Lines 1/2, Window of the World Station (I Exit), 2-minute walk
• Shenzhen Bay Park (深圳湾公园): Line 9, Shenzhen Bay Park Station (E Exit), direct sea access
• Sea World (海上世界): Line 2, Sea World Station (C Exit), 3-minute walk
• Lianhua Mountain Park (莲花山公园): Lines 3/4, Children’s Palace Station (F Exit), 5-minute walk
• Yantian Coastal Walkway (盐田海滨栈道): Line 2, Haishan Station (B Exit), 8-minute walk
• Fairy Lake Botanical Garden (仙湖植物园): Line 2, Xianhu Road Station (C Exit), 10-minute walk

Key Transportation Hubs

• Bao’an Airport (宝安机场): Line 11, 30 minutes to Futian, direct T3 terminal access
• Shenzhen North Railway Station (深圳北站): Lines 4/5/6, 20 minutes to Futian
• Futian Port (福田口岸): Line 4, direct access to Hong Kong Lok Ma Chau
• Luohu Port (罗湖口岸): Line 1, direct access to Hong Kong Luohu

Operation Tips

• Standard hours: 06:00–23:00; Lines 11/14 extended to 00:00 on holidays
• Peak hours: 07:30–09:00, 17:30–19:00; Lines 3 (Buji), 4 (Longhua), 11 (Airport) are busiest
• Overstaying ticket limit: journeys exceeding 210 minutes require top-up fare

Important Reminders

• Eating, drinking, smoking, and external audio devices are prohibited; fines apply
• Business carriages on Line 11 require separate tickets
• Some transfer passages are long (e.g., Line 5 to Line 4 at Shenzhen North), allow sufficient time
• Download Shenzhen Metro App for real-time arrivals, route planning, and QR entry