Guangzhou/Shenzhen

[klavier]

I'm flying to Shenzhen next month by China Southern, landing 1750, Wednesday.

Approximately how long will it take to pass through ica? This will help estimate what time train I can take from Shenzhen to Guangzhou.

Have landed at this airport twice in recent years..
First time immigration took me 15 mins while second time took me about 45mins as somehow only 2 counters were open when I first queued.. Only after the queue got so long did they open like 4 more counters...

Do note weather delays are common during typhoon season..

 

[s7460597]

Found this. Based on past data

https://flightqueue.com/shenzhen-baoan-international-airport-passport-control-wait-times

 

[beanstalk6]

the nearest hsr station from shenzhen airport by metro is 福田站.

1. if you are heading to guangzhou southern areas like 广州南站 :
within the airport, there is 深圳机场站, which is part of the guangdong intercity railway network. different from the hsr network. there are 3 services per day towards the southern outskirts of guangzhou at 番禺站, which is right next to the hsr 广州南站. train is slower but train fare cheaper. free seating.

based on the very high frequencies of hsr trains to 广州南站 from 福田站, you might be able to reach earlier using hsr, you will have to compare.

2. if you are heading to guangzhou central areas like 广州东站, then 福田站 hsr make better sense.

guangdong intercity railway network map ( not hsr, not metro )

That is correct. The transit network from Guangzhou is now meeting that of Shenzhen. From Baoan where the airport is, the 2 systems meet. Between LRT/MRT and HSR or K/T trains you even get something like the regional trains in Europe (eg. RER in Paris) which is the Guangdong Intercity. Getting from west Shenzhen to east Guangzhou is very convenient.

 

[umansg]

Hi

Any recommendation of hotel for family of 4 in 1 room?

Thanks

 

[Joe Mahmood]

China unveils regulation on exit, entry administration

Updated: July 31, 2026 20:23 Xinhua

BEIJING, July 31 -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang has signed a State Council decree issuing a regulation on exit and entry administration.

Scheduled to take effect on Sept. 15, the regulation aims to standardize exit and entry administration, protect the lawful rights and interests of exit and entry personnel, and safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.

The regulation will improve the exit security risk prevention system, stipulating that the foreign affairs, culture and tourism, and other competent departments under the State Council shall promptly and publicly issue overseas safety alerts and safety risk warnings for tourist destinations.

When processing and approving applications for exit and entry documents, as well as conducting exit border inspections, the immigration authorities shall remind Chinese citizens to exercise caution when traveling to high-risk countries or regions, according to the regulation.

The regulation also details application requirements for exit and entry, refines restrictive measures, and regulates intermediary services related to exit and entry.

https://english.www.gov.cn/policies/latestreleases/202607/31/content_WS6a6c93d6c6d00ca5f9a0c82a.html

 

[beanstalk6]

The new regulations mean the following:
1. Chinese passport holders can be restricted exit from China for reasons put up by their local government, and not only the Chinese immigration authority.
2. The PRC reserves the right to define high-risk countries which will thus allow the Chinese immigration authority to restrict Chinese passport holders from visiting.
3. Former holders of Chinese passports or citizenship can face restrictions or sanction when they visit China if they are deemed to be acting against the interests of the PRC, even though they may be citizens of another country at the time of the "offence".

 

[beanstalk6]

Not that it matters us at all. Ordinary Chinese are already facing restrictions at the base level, from what I understand.
1. You can apply for a passport, but not get one.
2. You can have a valid passport, but because of your occupation and the business of your employer, you need approval to use it to travel, or it is kept by your employer. This is particularly true for uniformed services and public servants (active/retired teachers, nurses, state firm employees, academics, high-tech firms eg Manus in AI field).
3. You can have your passport at the airport, but because you have been a nuisance to your town council or protested against something, you are not allowed to leave.
4. You can have your passport at the airport, but because your destination country was just declared to be high-risk, you are barred from leaving (as in the case of Japan, as the PRC could have).

 

[Wanderer123]

Not that it matters us at all. Ordinary Chinese are already facing restrictions at the base level, from what I understand.
1. You can apply for a passport, but not get one.
2. You can have a valid passport, but because of your occupation and the business of your employer, you need approval to use it to travel, or it is kept by your employer. This is particularly true for uniformed services and public servants (active/retired teachers, nurses, state firm employees, high-tech firms eg Manus in AI).
3. You can have your passport at the airport, but because you have been a nuisance to your town council or protested against something, you are not allowed to leave.
4. You can have your passport at the airport, but because your destination country was just declared to be high-risk, you are barred from leaving (Japan, recently).

Mostly affect those working in china govt, i juz met a taobao shop owner in vietnam, he got the 3mth viet evisa juz like me, no probs.

 

[beanstalk6]

Mostly affect those working in china govt, i juz met a taobao shop owner in vietnam, he got the 3mth viet evisa juz like me, no probs.

Good for him that he has a 3-month visa issued by Vietnam so he does not have to exit from China so frequently and run the risks of facing possible issues from Chinese immigration. Of course, if he has no past or outstanding issues with his government and he is not in any sensitive position, there is not a lot to worry about.

And yes, we will still see many of their tourists in south-east Asia, given the privilege to leave their great motherland and yet complain about how backward we are.

 

[sKeLeToN]

Hi all, am planning a family trip to Shenzhen and Guangzhou next June. Planning to fly via SQ to SZ first then back from GZ, but came into a couple of peculiar issues when trying to book tickets online:-

1. No direct flights to SZ - apparently the booking only opens up to late March only. I thought usually can book tickets 1 year in advance?

2. Apparently, no return ticket (economy) available via destination open-jaw - i am unable to book the return flight from GZ to SG. But weirdly, if i were to book the entire trip as a return flight (i.e. SG -> GZ -> SG), I can able to book the return tickets.

This is my first time travelling to CN, and i've never encountered any similar issues when travelling to other places. Am i missing something?

 

[s7460597]

Hi all, am planning a family trip to Shenzhen and Guangzhou next June. Planning to fly via SQ to SZ first then back from GZ, but came into a couple of peculiar issues when trying to book tickets online:-

1. No direct flights to SZ - apparently the booking only opens up to late March only. I thought usually can book tickets 1 year in advance?

2. Apparently, no return ticket (economy) available via destination open-jaw - i am unable to book the return flight from GZ to SG. But weirdly, if i were to book the entire trip as a return flight (i.e. SG -> GZ -> SG), I can able to book the return tickets.

This is my first time travelling to CN, and i've never encountered any similar issues when travelling to other places. Am i missing something?

Just tried booking random days in Jan 27 in trip.com to Shenzhen and return from Guangzhou. Shows direct flights by SQ, Shenzhen airlines, China Southern.

Are you booking on SQ website or app?

Seems there's only one flight to sz at 20.45. better check if it's code sharing or operated by SQ.

 

[beanstalk6]

Hi all, am planning a family trip to Shenzhen and Guangzhou next June. Planning to fly via SQ to SZ first then back from GZ, but came into a couple of peculiar issues when trying to book tickets online:-

1. No direct flights to SZ - apparently the booking only opens up to late March only. I thought usually can book tickets 1 year in advance?

2. Apparently, no return ticket (economy) available via destination open-jaw - i am unable to book the return flight from GZ to SG. But weirdly, if i were to book the entire trip as a return flight (i.e. SG -> GZ -> SG), I can able to book the return tickets.

This is my first time travelling to CN, and i've never encountered any similar issues when travelling to other places. Am i missing something?

You can book flights for your itinerary on Trip.com using the multi-city option for next June, though the only feasible choice is likely to be China Southern. Not all airlines allow booking 1 year in advance, especially budget carriers.

 

[sKeLeToN]

Just tried booking random days in Jan 27 in trip.com to Shenzhen and return from Guangzhou. Shows direct flights by SQ, Shenzhen airlines, China Southern.

Are you booking on SQ website or app?

Seems there's only one flight to sz at 20.45. better check if it's code sharing or operated by SQ.

Ya, still have flights till 27 Mar 2027, but no more to SZ beyond that date. I checked this through both the SQ website and app.

I emailed SQ and they said that "flight schedules remain subject to operational requirements and commercial considerations, and therefore we are unable to guarantee whether direct services will be available for your intended travel dates at this stage"...so strange...

 

[dexboi]

as recent as last week (mid-Aug 2026), SIA released flights to SZ for mid-Oct 2026 till end-Mar 2027.

based on the above, expect SZ flight from April onwards to be released somewhere in Feb 2027.

it's not weird, China prioritise their airlines for certain cities, hence approvals for other countries will only be given much much later.

SIA to GZ is not affected. SIA to SZ + some other cities are affected by this rule.

if you can wait, then wait. if cannot, no choice gotta pick China airlines or Malaysia airline.

 

[beanstalk6]

Ya, still have flights till 27 Mar 2027, but no more to SZ beyond that date. I checked this through both the SQ website and app.

I emailed SQ and they said that "flight schedules remain subject to operational requirements and commercial considerations, and therefore we are unable to guarantee whether direct services will be available for your intended travel dates at this stage"...so strange...

Nothing strange about it. Singapore Airlines operates subject to landing rights granted by Chinese civil aviation authority, as described by the previous post. Singapore-Chengdu is also subject to the same and has seen worse.

 

[sKeLeToN]

ok thanks guys for sharing....much appreciated!

 

[Joe Mahmood]

Take note...

 

[Joe Mahmood]

China unveils regulation on exit, entry administration

Updated: July 31, 2026 20:23 Xinhua

BEIJING, July 31 -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang has signed a State Council decree issuing a regulation on exit and entry administration.

Scheduled to take effect on Sept. 15, the regulation aims to standardize exit and entry administration, protect the lawful rights and interests of exit and entry personnel, and safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.

The regulation will improve the exit security risk prevention system, stipulating that the foreign affairs, culture and tourism, and other competent departments under the State Council shall promptly and publicly issue overseas safety alerts and safety risk warnings for tourist destinations.

When processing and approving applications for exit and entry documents, as well as conducting exit border inspections, the immigration authorities shall remind Chinese citizens to exercise caution when traveling to high-risk countries or regions, according to the regulation.

The regulation also details application requirements for exit and entry, refines restrictive measures, and regulates intermediary services related to exit and entry.

https://english.www.gov.cn/policies/latestreleases/202607/31/content_WS6a6c93d6c6d00ca5f9a0c82a.html

China tightens travel restrictions for citizens​

1 day ago (15/9/26)

Abel U,BBC Chinese and
Koh Ewe

China has imposed a range of sweeping new rules restricting travel in and out of the country in a move that observers say will give the government even more control over its citizens.

Citizens deemed to have "harmed" China's national security or interests while overseas can also be barred from leaving China for up to three years.

But the law also says that it will apply to anyone considered a threat to the country's industrial or technological security.

China keeps close scrutiny on sectors like semiconductors and AI, as the race between Beijing and Washington for tech dominance heats up. According to reports, travel restrictions were earlier imposed on some executives from these industries.

In March, the co-founders of Manus - an AI company that had been acquired by Meta - were reportedly barred from leaving China.

Under the new rules, border officials are now also required to advise Chinese nationals against travelling to countries and regions deemed "high-risk".

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqe8x6gkk250o

 

[s7460597]

A few observations.

At Futian, the distance between the metro station and HSR station is quite a long walk, for me it's easily 15 minutes.

The line 11 from Shenzhen baoan airport has several interchange stations with other local metro lines.

Line 11 is normal commuter train without luggage rack. Can get crowded at peak hours. Seems there's a business class with luggage rack at rmb21 compared to standard of rmb7

 

[froztheart]

Ya, still have flights till 27 Mar 2027, but no more to SZ beyond that date. I checked this through both the SQ website and app.

I emailed SQ and they said that "flight schedules remain subject to operational requirements and commercial considerations, and therefore we are unable to guarantee whether direct services will be available for your intended travel dates at this stage"...so strange...

Can book 1 year in advance but if schedule isn't released, there's nothing for SQ to sell you. Flights are released by scheduled periods.