Shenzhen
Dafen Art Village & OCT Day Tour
Watch painters work in a village that once supplied the world's hotel lobbies, then cross town to Shenzhen's contemporary art district.
From US$89/per person
View tourShenzhen
Hong Kong Day Trip from Shenzhen
Fifteen minutes on the train, then Kowloon, the Star Ferry, Central's banking district and the tram up to Victoria Peak.
The short version
Shenzhen and Hong Kong are 15 minutes apart by high-speed rail, which makes this the cheapest way to add a second destination to a China trip. A day covers Kowloon's markets, the Star Ferry across the harbour, Central's banking district and the tram up to Victoria Peak — about ten hours door to door, including two immigration checks.
- Fifteen minutes by train from Futian, plus immigration at both ends.
- Star Ferry across the harbour is still the best-value boat ride anywhere.
- Victoria Peak on a clear day; the tram up, and a walk along Lugard Road for the view without the ticketed platform.
- Check your China visa is double-entry before you cross — this catches people out.
What not to miss
08:00
Hotel pickup
Driver to Futian station. Your guide checks documents before you reach the barrier — a single-entry China visa is the usual problem.
08:40
Train to West Kowloon
Fifteen minutes, then immigration on arrival in Hong Kong. Your guide walks you through the hall and onto the MTR.
10:00
Kowloon markets
The flower market, the goldfish market and a wet market where the day's fish is still moving. This is the Kowloon that tourists skip.
12:00
Dim sum in Kowloon
A hall that still runs carts, then a walk down Nathan Road to the waterfront.
14:00
Star Ferry and Central
Across the harbour on the lower deck for about HK$4, then up through Central's banking district to the old tram terminus.
16:30
Victoria Peak, then back
Tram up, then the 20-minute Lugard Road loop for the harbour view without paying for the observation deck. Down to Central, train to West Kowloon, and back at your Shenzhen hotel around 19:30.
What's included and what isn't
Includes
- Licensed guide who crosses with you
- Shenzhen hotel drop-off at Futian station
- Round-trip high-speed rail tickets
- Hong Kong MTR and Star Ferry fares
- Peak Tram ticket
- Dim sum lunch in Kowloon
Not included
- Hong Kong entry visa or permit, if your nationality needs one
- Any China visa fees for re-entry
- Dinner and personal shopping
- Gratuities
Pickup, timing and getting around
Pickup at 08:00 from Shenzhen hotels in Futian, Nanshan or Luohu. Your guide meets you in the lobby and checks passports before you reach the barrier.
Two document issues catch people out: a single-entry China visa, which means you cannot come back; and a nationality that needs a Hong Kong entry permit. We check both at booking and tell you plainly if the day will not work.
Route diagrams are schematic and illustrative, not to scale.
More day tours from Shenzhen
Shenzhen
Dapeng Fortress & Coast Day Tour
A Ming garrison town 600 years older than Shenzhen, then a bay of fishing boats and a beach that most visitors never find.
From US$99/per person
View tourFrequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Hong Kong?
Most Western passport holders get 90 days visa-free, but check your nationality. The bigger issue is the Chinese side: if your China visa is single-entry, crossing to Hong Kong ends it and you cannot return to Shenzhen.
How long is the border crossing?
Fifteen minutes on the train, then 20 to 40 minutes through West Kowloon immigration depending on the hour. Weekday mornings are fastest; Sunday afternoons are the worst.
Should I change money?
Bring some Hong Kong dollars for markets and the Star Ferry, though cards are widely accepted and Octopus cards work on almost all transport. Your guide can help you get an Octopus card at the station.
Can we do this in an afternoon?
Not usefully. The crossing plus the Peak plus a meal needs the full ten hours. If you have only an afternoon, stay in Shenzhen and do the Dafen art villages instead.
Explore next
More in this city
Before you fly
- Do I Need a Visa for China? Requirements, Costs and How to Apply
- China's 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Who Qualifies and How It Works
- Paying in China: Alipay, WeChat Pay, Cards and Cash
- China's High-Speed Rail: How to Book, What It Costs, How Fast It Goes
- Is China Safe for Tourists? Honest Risks and How to Avoid Them
- Best Time to Visit China: Month by Month, Region by Region
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