# Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX)

> Shenzhen, CN · 32 km (20 mi) northwest of central Shenzhen

Web: https://airport.flights/airport/szx
JSON: https://airport.flights/api/airport/szx.json

## Facts

- **IATA**: SZX
- **ICAO**: ZGSZ
- **Timezone**: Asia/Shanghai
- **Runways**: 2
- **Terminals**: 1
- **Passengers**: 52.3M/yr
- **Worldwide rank**: #24
- **Hub for**: Shenzhen Airlines, China Southern Airlines
- **Official site**: https://www.szairport.com/

## Overview

## Welcome

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport feels more like a sci-fi design project than a typical Chinese hub. Terminal 3, with its eye-catching honeycomb ceilings and dramatic natural light, promises a surprisingly quick landside-airside transition, even for an airport handling 52.3 million passengers annually. Frequent flyers praise its compact and efficient layout, making it one of mainland China's easiest airports for quick turnarounds.

## At a glance

This airport operates a single magnificent Terminal 3, simplifying navigation as all flights — both domestic and international — fly out of this terminal. It's a hub for Shenzhen Airlines and China Southern Airlines, making it a bustling center of activity 32 km northwest of central Shenzhen. Travelers have direct access to the metropolitan area, thanks to the efficient Shenzhen Metro Line 11, connecting the airport to the city center in 30-40 minutes for about $1-1.50.

## Terminals & layout

Terminal 3 is the sole passenger terminal here, built for both scale and efficiency, with 63 contact gates and 15 remote gates. It can handle large volumes of passengers while still maintaining a structured flow, thanks to its design. The interiors hold impressive double and triple height spaces that establish visual connections across internal levels, allowing natural light to flood the space.

## Getting to and from the city

Shenzhen Bao’an provides multiple transport options to suit all itineraries. Metro Line 11 is favored by locals for its speed and convenience during rush hours. Airport shuttle buses, like Line 1 and Line 2, are budget-friendly at $1.50-5.50, covering key districts and offering service times of 40-90 minutes. Taxis cost $11-20, with a 30% surcharge after 23:00. Didi Chuxing offers rideshare services typically priced between $7-17.

## Traveller essentials

For parking, rates are set at RMB 100/day for lots such as P1 and P2. An EV Charging Zone ensures electric vehicles are catered for. Once inside, travelers might note the heavy reliance on local payment apps like WeChat Pay and Alipay, so having these ready can ease transactions.

## Dining & shopping highlights

Dining is abundant with options like KFC, McDonald's, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, Ajisen Ramen, and more—all within Terminal 3. Coffee lovers can take a break at Pacific Coffee or a Starbucks Reserve. Shopping is just as rewarding with China Duty Free, King Power Duty Free, and fashion outlets like HLA and Uniqlo offering a wide range of choices.

## Lounges

T3 hosts numerous lounges including the China Southern Sky Pearl Lounge and Shenzhen Airlines King Lounge. For an upscale experience, the First Class Lounge is available at £41 for two hours. Bank-associated lounges like those of China Merchants Bank and ICBC provide exclusive retreats for cardholders.

## Insider tips

- **Insider:** Opt for Metro Line 11 during peak hours — it's faster and more reliable than taxis, with a ride time of about 35-40 minutes to central Shenzhen.

- **Time:** Take advantage of the single-terminal layout; you can realistically make a 90-minute domestic-to-domestic connection when flights are on time.

- **Money:** Shuttle buses offer a budget-friendly alternative to taxis or rideshare services, ideal for solo travelers not on a tight schedule.

- **Local:** If heading to Hong Kong or Macau, consider downtown transfers via Metro Line 11; it might be quicker than direct cross-border buses from the airport.

- **Quiet:** The satellite concourse is notably quieter, a peaceful spot to wait with the same architectural pizzazz as the main terminal.

- **Avoid:** Avoid airport taxis late at night; night buses and Airport Express services are easier with fixed rates.

- **Time:** Arrive 2.5-3 hours before long-haul flights as queues can be unpredictable despite the calm atmosphere.

- **Insider:** Lovers of architecture should allocate time to explore the departure hall's striking design details; it's best viewed from the upper levels.

## Terminals (1)

- **Terminal 3** — Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines
  Terminal 3 is the main terminal for international flights.

## Dining (20)

- **85°C Bakery Cafe** — T3
- **Ajisen Ramen** — T3
- **BreadTalk** — T3
- **Burger King** — T3
- **COSTA Coffee** — T3
- **FamilyMart Cafe** — T3
- **Gong Cha** — T3
- **Häagen-Dazs** — T3
- **KFC** — T3
- **Kungfu** — T3
- **McDonald's** — T3
- **Pacific Coffee** — T3
- **Pizza Hut** — T3
- **Quanjude** — T3
- **Starbucks Reserve** — T3
- **Starbucks** — T3
- **Subway** — T3
- **Xin Wang Cafe** — T3
- **Yoshinoya** — T3
- **Zhen Gong Fu** — T3

## Lounges (10)

- **Agricultural Bank of China Lounge** — T3 · Terminal 3, credit card lounge
- **Business Lounge** — T3 · Terminal 3, pay-per-use
- **China Construction Bank Lounge** — T3 · Terminal 3, credit card lounge
- **China Merchants Bank Lounge** — T3 · Terminal 3, credit card lounge
- **China Southern Sky Pearl Lounge** — T3 · Terminal 3, airline lounge
- **First Class Lounge** — T3 · Terminal 3, pay-per-use · £41 for 2 hours
- **Hainan Airlines Fortune Wings Lounge** — T3 · Terminal 3, airline lounge
- **Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Lounge** — T3 · Terminal 3, credit card lounge
- **SF Airlines VIP Lounge** — T3 · Terminal 3, airline lounge
- **Shenzhen Airlines King Lounge** — T3 · Terminal 3, Star Alliance

## Shops (20)

- **Apple Authorized Reseller** — T3
- **C-Store** — T3
- **China Duty Free** — T3
- **China Mobile** — T3
- **DFS Beauty** — T3
- **HLA** — T3
- **Huawei** — T3
- **Kansai Yamato** — T3
- **King Power Duty Free** — T3
- **Li-Ning** — T3
- **Lukfook Jewellery** — T3
- **Moutai Flagship Store** — T3
- **MUJI to Go** — T3
- **Relay** — T3
- **Sephora** — T3
- **Shenzhen Gifts Shop** — T3
- **Sunglass Hut** — T3
- **Sunrise Duty Free** — T3
- **Uniqlo** — T3
- **Watsons** — T3

## Parking (10)

- **Coach Parking Lot** — Bus parking · up to RMB 200 in P3 for medium/large vehicles/day
- **EV Charging Zone** — Electric vehicle
- **Off-site Economy Parking A** — Shuttle
- **Off-site Economy Parking B** — Shuttle
- **P1 Parking Garage** — Short-term · up to RMB 100/day
- **P2 Parking Lot** — Long-term · up to RMB 100/day
- **P3 Economy Parking** — Long-term · up to RMB 100 for small vehicles; up to RMB 200 for medium/large vehicles/day
- **Staff Parking Lot** — Employee
- **Taxi Holding Area** — Commercial vehicles
- **VIP Parking Area** — Valet

## Ground transport (18)

- **Airport Express Coach to Guangzhou** — Intercity coach
- **Airport Express Coach to Hong Kong** — Intercity coach · 90-150 min (including customs) · $16-20 · Roughly every 30-60 min during the day
- **Airport Express Coach to Macau** — Intercity coach
- **Airport Intercity Bus to Dongguan** — Intercity coach
- **Airport Intercity Bus to Huizhou** — Intercity coach
- **Airport Intercity Bus to Zhuhai** — Intercity coach
- **Airport Shuttle Bus Line 1** — Bus · 40-90 min (typical airport shuttle range in Shenzhen per Trip.com overview) · $1.50-5.50 · Varies by line; several departures per hour on main routes
- **Airport Shuttle Bus Line 2** — Bus · 40-90 min (typical airport shuttle range in Shenzhen per Trip.com overview) · $1.50-5.50 · Several departures per hour on core airport shuttle routes
- **Airport Shuttle Bus Line 3** — Bus · 40-90 min · $1.50-5.50 · Several departures per hour, daytime‑focused
- **Airport Shuttle Bus Line 4** — Bus · 40-90 min · $1.50-5.50 · Several departures per hour; fewer late at night
- **City Bus Route 355** — Bus
- **City Bus Route E16** — Bus
- **City Bus Route M416** — Bus
- **City Bus Route M522** — Bus
- **Didi Chuxing** — Rideshare · 20-50 min · $7-17 · On demand · 24/7 (subject to driver availability)
- **Shenzhen Metro Line 11** — Metro · 30-40 min · $1-1.50 · Every ~5-8 min · ~06:00–24:00 (extended to ~01:00 during holidays)
- **Shenzhen Metro Line 20** — Metro
- **Taxi** — Metered taxi · 30-60 min · $11-20 (plus 30% after 23:00) · On demand · 24/7

## Insider tips

- _Insider_: Opt for Metro Line 11 during peak hours — it's faster and more reliable than taxis, with a ride time of about 35-40 minutes to central Shenzhen.
- _Time_: Take advantage of the single-terminal layout; you can realistically make a 90-minute domestic-to-domestic connection when flights are on time.
- _Money_: Shuttle buses offer a budget-friendly alternative to taxis or rideshare services, ideal for solo travelers not on a tight schedule.
- _Local_: If heading to Hong Kong or Macau, consider downtown transfers via Metro Line 11; it might be quicker than direct cross-border buses from the airport.
- _Quiet_: The satellite concourse is notably quieter, a peaceful spot to wait with the same architectural pizzazz as the main terminal.
- _Avoid_: Avoid airport taxis late at night; night buses and Airport Express services are easier with fixed rates.
- _Time_: Arrive 2.5-3 hours before long-haul flights as queues can be unpredictable despite the calm atmosphere.
- _Insider_: Lovers of architecture should allocate time to explore the departure hall's striking design details; it's best viewed from the upper levels.