SHENZHEN · DAY TRIPS
Day trips from Shenzhen
Shenzhen borders Hong Kong to the south and has high-speed rail connections to Guangzhou, Guangdong coastal cities, and beyond. It is also one of the easiest mainland cities from which to visit Hong Kong on a day trip.
Destinations within reach
Hong Kong
香港
- How to get there
- MTR East Rail from Shenzhen to Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau; ferry from Shekou to Central (1 hour)
- What to see
- Victoria Peak; Kowloon street markets; dim sum and Michelin restaurants; Tram ride on Hong Kong Island.
- Why go
- Visa-free for many nationalities; a completely different urban experience just across the border.
Guangzhou
广州
- How to get there
- G trains every 10–15 minutes from Shenzhen North to Guangzhou South
- What to see
- Shamian Island; Chen Clan Ancestral Hall; Guangzhou tower; Pearl River cruise.
- Why go
- A half-day or full-day option; Guangzhou's Cantonese food scene is deeper and older than Shenzhen's.
Zhuhai & Macao
珠海/澳门
- How to get there
- Direct ferry from Shekou or Fuyong Ferry Terminal; or train to Zhuhai then border crossing to Macao
- What to see
- Macao Historic Centre (UNESCO-listed Portuguese colonial buildings); Cotai casino strip; Coloane fishing villages.
- Why go
- Macao is a very different cultural experience from anywhere else in China; the egg tarts alone are worth the trip.
Dapeng Fortress
大鹏所城
- How to get there
- Metro Line 8 to Dapeng then bus or taxi
- What to see
- Ming-dynasty coastal garrison town with intact walls and ancestral halls; Dapeng Bay beach nearby.
- Why go
- One of the few genuinely old sites in Shenzhen; the 500-year-old garrison is an unexpected find.
Dongchong Beach Hiking Trail
东冲海岸线
- How to get there
- Bus 811 from Huaqiangbei; or chartered car
- What to see
- Rugged coastal trail between Dongchong and Xichong beaches; clear water; dramatic cliffs.
- Why go
- A rigorous coastal hike with rewarding views; best October–March when it is cooler.
Nanling National Forest
南岭国家森林公园
- How to get there
- Chartered car or organised tour
- What to see
- Subtropical mountain forest with waterfalls and cool air; good for birding.
- Why go
- A genuine natural escape from the urban heat; cooler by about 5°C than the coast.
Kaiping Diaolou
开平碉楼
- How to get there
- Chartered car or Guangzhou transit connection then coach
- What to see
- UNESCO watchtower villages; early 20th-century fusion architecture in rice-field settings.
- Why go
- Reachable via Guangzhou connection; a unique UNESCO landscape.
Verified May 2026