Shenzhen Metro New Lines 2026: Dongmen, Xichong and Hongling South

Shenzhen Metro New Lines 2026: New Stations Open, Easier Trips from the Ports

Shenzhen Metro has been expanding non-stop in recent years. On 28 December 2025, the Line 5 western extension, Phase 3 of Line 8, Phase 2 of Line 11 (the Hongling South section) and the northern section of Line 13 Phase 1 all opened on the same day — the largest single batch of openings ever. The new stations make it more direct to get from the ports to places worth visiting — especially Dongmen and Dapeng. Below we go through each line's attractions, port connections and travel tips.

1. Line 5 Western Extension: Dongmen Station Opens Straight onto the Pedestrian Street

The Line 5 western extension is about 2.88 km long and adds three stations — Hubei Station, Dongmen Station and Grand Theatre Station — extending Line 5's service into the core of Luohu. In the past, getting to Dongmen Old Street usually meant alighting at Laojie Station, which is always packed; now you can ride to Dongmen Station and step out of the gates right onto Dongmen Pedestrian Street, with no need to squeeze through Laojie Station. The Dongmen area is home to Dongmen Town, Baima Fashion Wholesale Market and Sun Plaza, a busy district for bargain clothes and street snacks.

• Station: Dongmen Station (Line 5 western extension)
• Things to do: Dongmen Old Street Pedestrian Street, Baima Fashion Wholesale, Sun Plaza area
• Transport: After clearing Luohu Port, take Line 1 from Luohu Station and change to Line 5, or walk to the Dongmen area

2. Line 8 Phase 3: Xichong Station, Dapeng Peninsula's First Metro Station

Phase 3 of Line 8 adds Xichong Station, the first metro station in Dapeng New District (Dapeng Peninsula), making trips that previously relied on buses into Dapeng much easier. From Xichong Station you can transfer to buses for seaside spots such as Jiaochangwei, Dapeng Fortress and Shayuchong — great for swimming in summer and hiking with sea views in autumn and winter. Xichong itself also has a beach and a coastal boardwalk, an up-and-coming spot for sea views.

• Station: Xichong Station (Line 8 Phase 3)
• Things to do: Xichong Beach, coastal boardwalk; transfer to Dapeng Fortress and Jiaochangwei
• Transport: Ride Line 8 direct from the Yantian direction; or from Luohu/Liantang Port transfer into Yantian and then take Line 8

3. Line 11 Phase 2 (Hongling South Section): Linking Futian and Luohu

Line 11 is itself an airport express line, and with Phase 2 (the Hongling South section) open it extends to the Hongling South area of Luohu, adding a fast corridor between Futian and Luohu. For Hong Kong visitors, Line 11 is the top choice for getting from the city to Bao'an Airport — fast and with few stops — and the Hongling South section makes the trip to the airport smoother from the Luohu area.

• Station: Hongling South Station (Line 11 Phase 2)
• Things to do: Hongling and Sungang commercial area (near Sungang MixC Food Market)
• Transport: From Luohu Port Station, change to Line 11 towards Hongling South or the airport

4. Line 13: Straight into the City from Shenzhen Bay Port

Line 13 connects to Shenzhen Bay Port, so after clearing customs you can take the metro straight into the city from Shenzhen Bay Port Station. The southern section opened first, and along the line you can reach the Houhai Station area (Coastal City, Shenzhen Bay MixC, MixC World) — the most-used line for readers crossing at Shenzhen Bay Port. Compared with the old bus connections, Line 13 greatly cuts the time to reach the Nanshan core area.

• Stations: Shenzhen Bay Port Station → Houhai Station
• Things to do: Coastal City, Shenzhen Bay MixC, MixC World, the Houhai area
• Transport: After clearing Shenzhen Bay Port, go straight through the gates onto Line 13

5. Line 6 Branch Phase 2 and Line 16 Phase 2 (Extending to Guangming and Longgang)

The earlier openings (28 September 2025) of Line 6 Branch Phase 2 and Line 16 Phase 2 strengthened connections between Guangming Science City and the Longgang Yuanshan area and the city centre, and also make it easier to reach the popular photo spot Hongqiao Park (Guangming). These two lines link with the high-speed rail and several city lines, making it easier to go to Guangming for roast pigeon or to stroll Hongqiao Park.

• Stations: along the Line 6 branch (Guangming area), along Line 16 (Longgang)
• Things to do: Guangming Hongqiao Park, Guangming Farm (roast pigeon), the Longgang Yuanshan area
• Transport: From the city, change to Line 6 towards Guangming

Fares and Opening Hours (Approximate)

• Shenzhen Metro fares are distance-based, ¥2–7 per trip; a few stops from the port is usually ¥2–4. Ride codes and physical cards cost the same.
• Dongmen Old Street Pedestrian Street area: shops roughly 10:00–22:00, with some restaurants open late into the night.
• Xichong Beach and the coastal boardwalk: free entry, best visited during the day.
• Guangming Hongqiao Park: free entry, roughly 06:00–22:00 (subject to official announcements).
• Dapeng Fortress: the old town is free entry, with some exhibition halls charging separately.
• Malls (Coastal City, Shenzhen Bay MixC): generally 10:00–22:00, extending to 22:30 on Fridays and Saturdays.

Travel Tips: The Easiest Ways to Pay

• Use the WeChat ride code or Alipay/AlipayHK ride code to scan through the gates — no need to buy a ticket.
• For physical cards, Shenzhen Tong/Lingnan Tong work; but for visitors the mobile ride code is still the most convenient.
• Watch the last-train times; if heading back to Hong Kong at night, allow for port closing times. City lines generally have their last train around 23:00.
• In peak hours (weekday mornings and evenings), avoid the big interchange stations and your trip will go more smoothly.

Suggested Routes for Hong Kong Visitors

• Half-day quick trip: Shenzhen Bay Port → Line 13 → Houhai Station (Coastal City, Shenzhen Bay MixC), shop and eat, then return the same way.
• Bargain clothes hunt: Luohu Port → Dongmen Station (Line 5), half a day at Dongmen Old Street and Baima Wholesale.
• Full-day sea view trip: Luohu/Liantang → Line 8 → Xichong Station → transfer by bus into Dapeng (Jiaochangwei, Dapeng Fortress).
• Roast pigeon + park: From the city change to Line 6 → Guangming, photo stop at Hongqiao Park, roast pigeon in Guangming.

How Should Hong Kong Visitors Use It?

From Hong Kong, the most direct way is to cross at Luohu, Futian or Shenzhen Bay Port and then change to the relevant metro line; city line fares are cheap at ¥2–7 per trip. To hit several spots in one day, use Line 5 to link Dongmen and Luohu, or Line 13 from Shenzhen Bay Port straight into Nanshan. Before you set off, remember to activate your WeChat/Alipay ride code.

FAQ

When did the latest batch of Shenzhen Metro new lines open?

On 28 December 2025, the Line 5 western extension, Line 8 Phase 3, Line 11 Phase 2 (Hongling South section) and the northern section of Line 13 Phase 1 opened together; Line 6 Branch Phase 2 and Line 16 Phase 2 opened on 28 September 2025. Subject to official announcements.

Which station is best for Dongmen Old Street?

Take Line 5 to Dongmen Station — it is the most direct, and you step out of the gates right onto the pedestrian street without squeezing through Laojie Station.

Crossing at Shenzhen Bay Port, how do I get into Nanshan city centre?

Take Line 13 from Shenzhen Bay Port Station; it is about one stop to Houhai Station, convenient for Coastal City and Shenzhen Bay MixC.

6. 2026 Latest Scale and "Express Stops" Trains

With new lines opening one after another, Shenzhen Metro's network has reached a new high: as of 28 June 2026, when the northern section of Line 13 Phase 2 (Shangwu to Lisonglang) opened, the city's rail transit operating mileage rose to about 653.7 km with 452 stations, firmly among the top cities on the mainland.

In addition, from 8 September 2026 Shenzhen Metro is trialling a new weekday timetable, with some lines adding "express stops" trains — know them to save time:

• Lines 2&8: a new express-stops train from Xichong Station towards Chiwan, 3 runs each weekday, skipping 10 stations including Shatoujiao, Wutongshan South, Liantang, Liantang Port, Xinxiu, Hubei, Grand Theatre, Yannan and Huaqiang North; Haishan Station to Gangxia North Station is about 10 minutes faster than a regular train.
• Line 11: a new express-stops train from Bitou Station towards Hongling South, 3 runs each weekday, skipping 5 stations: Bihaiwan, Bao'an, Nanshan, Houhai and Hongshuwan South.
• Actual journey times: from Liantang Port Station, Lines 2&8 take about 38 minutes direct to Xichong Station; from Hongling South Station on Line 11 it is about 60 minutes direct to Shenzhen Airport, with no changes the whole way.

A reminder: express-stops trains are few and far between (3 runs each weekday), so before setting off it is best to check the departure times on the Shenzhen Metro app or station displays — don't wait for them as if they were regular services. The times and frequencies above are subject to Shenzhen Metro's latest official announcements.

Sources: Shenzhen Metro official announcements and public information from Shenzhen port authorities; opening dates, station names and service hours for each line are subject to the latest official announcements.