China train guide · checked October 2026
Guangzhou to Shenzhen by train
Guangzhou and Shenzhen are two of China's biggest cities, and the trains between them run so often that you rarely wait long.
- Journey timeabout 30–40 minutes
- Fastest train30 min
- Second classfrom ¥75 (about 44 PLN) – up to ¥100
- How oftenevery few minutes
Stations
Show the Chinese name to your taxi driver.
High-speed trains leave from Guangzhou South (广州南站); trains from Guangzhou East (广州东站) are closer to the city centre.
Futian (福田站) is underground in the business district and closest to the Hong Kong border crossings; Shenzhen North (深圳北站) is the main hub.
Good to know
- Going on to Hong Kong? Some trains from Guangzhou South run straight to Hong Kong West Kowloon – fastest about 47 minutes, second class about ¥185–215.
- Stay in Futian if you plan to cross into Hong Kong the next morning.
Other ways: Intercity buses take 2 hours or more.
On the way
The whole ride runs through the Pearl River Delta, one of the largest urban areas in the world: factories, high-rises and expressways almost without a break.
When you arrive
Futian is in Shenzhen's business district. Go to Huaqiangbei, the world's biggest electronics market, and up to the Free Sky observation deck on the 116th floor of the Ping An Finance Centre (about ¥200) – on a clear day you can see Hong Kong. End the day at Shenzhen Bay Park, with the hills of Hong Kong across the water.
How to book
- Buy on Trip.com (English, foreign cards) or in the official 12306 app – tickets go on sale 15 days before departure.
- Your passport is your ticket: you book with its number and scan it at the gates. Bring the same passport you booked with.
- Be at the station 40–60 minutes early: there is a security check at the entrance, and gates close a few minutes before departure.
- Big suitcases fit at the end of each carriage or on the racks above the seats.
Times and fares are typical values for second class, checked in October 2026. Fares are dynamic (peak trains cost more) and timetables change – check the live timetable on Trip.com or 12306 before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Futian or Shenzhen North – which station?
Futian for the city centre and the Hong Kong border; Shenzhen North is the main hub, about 20 minutes by metro from Futian, with more trains to the rest of China.
Is Shenzhen worth a day?
Yes, if you like modern cities. In 1980 it became one of China's first special economic zones; today it's a city of over 17 million and home to Huawei, Tencent and DJI.
