Getting from Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport to the city

The train

• Metro Line 11 is branded the Airport Express and starts inside the Ground Transportation Center, so there is no shuttle stage between terminal and platform.
• Two branches. Towards Gangxia North it runs through Bihaiwan, Bao'an, Qianhaiwan, Nanshan, Houhai, Hongshuwan South, Chegongmiao and Futian, which is the direction almost every visitor wants. Towards Bitou it runs north through Airport North, Fuyong, Qiaotou, Tangwei, Ma'anshan, Shajing, Houting and Songgang.
• First and last from Airport Station: 05:52 and 00:02 towards Gangxia North, 06:30 and 00:04 towards Bitou. Half-route services run later, to Airport North until 01:05 and to Songgang until 00:45.

Ordinary or business

• Line 11 carries a business carriage, which is unusual on a metro anywhere.
• Ordinary carriage: CNY 2 to 10 one way. Business carriage: CNY 6 to 30.
• Single journey tickets come in two colours for exactly this reason: green for ordinary class, yellow for business.
• What you get is a reserved standard of seat, not a faster journey. The train is the same train.

The luggage ticket, which catches everyone

• Shenzhen Metro charges for large bags. A passenger carrying an item weighing more than 20 kg but not more than 30 kg must buy a luggage ticket.
• So must a passenger whose bag measures 1.4 m to 1.6 m in length plus width plus height added together, which a normal large suitcase can easily reach.
• The luggage ticket costs the same as an ordinary class fare, so it doubles the price of your trip.
• This is a real rule on the airport line, not a formality, and it is worth budgeting for rather than being surprised by at the gate.

Passes

• Day Ticket CNY 25, Three-day Ticket CNY 75, both sold at customer service centres including the one at Airport Station.
• A day ticket pays for itself in about three long rides, so it makes sense on an arrival day with onward travel around the city.
• Payment options are broad: Shenzhen Tong cards, China T-union cards from any bank, Shenzhen Metro QR codes, Tencent Transit Code and financial IC cards.

Coaches, including overnight

• Airport Express coaches are bought and boarded at Gate 17 of the Ground Transportation Center.
• Several routes run through the small hours, some operating 00:00 to 04:00 every 30 to 60 minutes, one from 22:30 to 05:00 every 20 to 30 minutes.
• That matters because the metro stops just after midnight, and Shenzhen is a city where late arrivals are common.