In this guide · 7 sections
The Shenzhen Metro is clean, cheap and air-conditioned to the point of discomfort, and most of what's on SZMeetups is a short walk from a station. That's why our listings show the line, station and exit whenever we know it: it's the single most useful thing to know.
Paying: three ways through the gate
- Ride code. In Alipay or WeChat, search 深圳地铁 (Shenzhen Metro) and turn on the ride code. Both work with a linked foreign bank card. Scan in and out; the fare is charged when you exit.
- Tap your bank card. Since September 2026 every gate on every line accepts contactless Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB and UnionPay cards, and phones or watches linked to them. Contactless payment must be switched on for the card.
- Shenzhen Tong card. Sold at metro customer service centres. It also works on buses and gives 5% off standard metro fares.
On Line 11, two of the eight carriages are Business Class. They cost about three times the standard fare, so check the signs on the platform before you board.
Reading exits
Big stations have many exits, lettered A, B, C and so on, with numbered sub-exits (C1, C2). Chegongmiao goes all the way to J. Picking the wrong one can put you on the wrong side of an eight-lane road. Our listings give the exit when we know it: for example, Line 2 Sea World, exit A for Shekou's bars.
Useful lines for going out
| Line | Colour | Why you'll use it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Green | Luohu → Futian → OCT → Shenzhen University: the east–west spine |
| 2 / 8 | Orange | Sea World and Shekou, for the expat bars |
| 9 | Grey | Shenzhen Bay Park and the waterfront |
| 11 | Burgundy | The fast line: Futian ↔ Nanshan ↔ the airport |
| 20 | Cyan | Airport North → Shenzhen World, for trade shows |
For trade shows at Shenzhen World, get off at Shenzhen World or Shenzhen World North (Lines 12 and 20). Convention & Exhibition City is the end of Line 20, not the nearest stop to the halls. See our trade show guide.
The rules
- No eating or drinking past the gates or on trains, and that includes water. Babies and people taking medicine are the exceptions.
- Hold the handrail. Shenzhen dropped the old 'stand on the right' campaign in 2018; the official message now is to stand still and hold on.
- Every bag is scanned. Checks were tightened in July 2026, so allow a few extra minutes at busy stations. Controlled knives are banned.
- Holiday nights run later. There's no regular late service on Fridays, but on nights like New Year's Eve and the Spring Festival and National Day holidays, lines run an hour or two past normal.
Your first metro trip: go meet people
Sources
- Shenzhen Special Zone Daily: network reaches 634.5 km after the December 2025 openings (30 Dec 2025)
- Bendibao: Shenzhen Metro fares (updated June 2026)
- 21st Century Business Herald: foreign bank cards at the gates, trial from 30 June 2026 (1 Jul 2026)
- EyeShenzhen: paying for the metro with a foreign card in WeChat (28 Apr 2024)
- The Paper: first and last train times (Feb 2025)
- BBC Chinese: stricter bag checks from July 2026 (21 Jul 2026)
FAQ
How much does the Shenzhen Metro cost?
Fares start at ¥2 for the first 4 km and rise with distance, up to ¥15. Line 11's Business Class carriages cost about three times the standard fare.
Can foreigners pay for the Shenzhen Metro with Alipay or a foreign card?
Yes. Link a foreign bank card to Alipay or WeChat and use the Shenzhen Metro ride code, or tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB or UnionPay card at the gates. Every line has accepted them since September 2026.
What time does the Shenzhen Metro close?
Last trains leave the ends of each line between about 11pm and midnight, so they pass central stations a little later. There's no regular late service on Fridays, but lines run later on some holiday nights.
Can I drink water on the Shenzhen Metro?
No. Eating and drinking, including water, aren't allowed past the gates or on trains. Babies and people taking medicine are the exceptions.
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