Day Trips from Shenzhen: High-Speed Rail & Self-Drive Routes to Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Huizhou, and Dongguan

Getting tired of Shenzhen? Actually, Shenzhen is the transport hub of the entire Pearl River Delta: 30 minutes by high-speed rail to Guangzhou, 45 minutes to Zhuhai, and within an hour's drive to Huizhou or Dongguan. Want to "go one step further north" this weekend? These 4 day-trip routes to nearby cities will help you out:

🏙️ Guangzhou — 30 min by High-Speed Rail・Food Capital Day Trip

Route: Shenzhen North/Futian Station → Guangzhou South → Canton Tower → Beijing Road/Shangxiajiu → Back to Shenzhen

• From Shenzhen North/Futian, take the high-speed rail to Guangzhou South in about 30 minutes — perfect for a same-day round trip (buy tickets with 12306)
• Snap photos at Canton Tower (the "Little Waist"), then stroll along the Pearl River to see the night views
• Hit up Beijing Road/Shangxiajiu for street food: rice rolls, double-skin milk, roast goose — cheaper than Shenzhen and more authentic too
• Best for: Hong Kongers who want authentic Cantonese food and to see historic architecture

🎡 Zhuhai — Chimelong Family Fun・Seaside City Day Trip

Route: Shenzhen → Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom/Lover's Road → Back to Shenzhen

• From Shenzhen to Zhuhai, you can take a ferry (Shekou → Jiuzhou Port, about 1 hour) or the high-speed rail (Shenzhen North → Zhuhai, about 1.5 hours)
• Chimelong Ocean Kingdom is a must for families — see marine life plus ride the amusement attractions, enough to fill a whole day
• Don't want to enter the theme park? Walk along Lover's Road/Zhuhai Fisher Girl by the seaside and eat seafood
• Best for: families and couples

🌊 Huizhou — Twin Moon Bay Sea Views・Self-Drive Getaway Day Trip

Route: Shenzhen → Huizhou Xunliao Bay/Twin Moon Bay → Seafood dinner → Back to Shenzhen

• Driving from Shenzhen to the Huizhou coast takes about 1-1.5 hours — the top choice for a weekend self-drive trip
• At Twin Moon Bay, there's an observation deck where you can see two crescent-shaped bays — the views are spectacular
• At the seafood street, they catch it and cook it fresh — cheaper and fresher than Shenzhen
• Best for: Hong Kongers who want to self-drive and relax by the sea (remember to apply for the "Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles" scheme)

🏘️ Dongguan — Ancient Town Food・Budget-Friendly Day Trip

Route: Shenzhen → Dongguan Keyuan Garden/Nanshe Ancient Village → Roast goose lai fun → Back to Shenzhen

• From Shenzhen to Dongguan by high-speed rail takes about 20-30 minutes (Shenzhen North → Humen/Dongguan South)
• Explore Lingnan-style ancient architecture at Nanshe Ancient Village/Keyuan Garden — great for photos
• Dongguan's roast goose lai fun is famous — you can eat and still make it back to Shenzhen all in one day
• Best for: Hong Kongers looking for a low-cost, short-distance quick getaway

Travel Tips

• Buy high-speed rail tickets on 12306 or Ctrip — you can purchase with your Home Return Permit, just remember to arrive at the station early
• If self-driving, apply for the Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles scheme in advance and check parking arrangements at your destination
• Weekend high-speed rail tickets sell out fast — book early to get a good seat
• For a day trip, pick attractions close to the high-speed rail station to save travel time
• To plan your itinerary, search Xiaohongshu for "Guangzhou day trip" or "Huizhou self-drive" to see the latest guides