Approximate Border Location
Wait Times
30-90 min
Operating Hours
06:30-00:00
Crossing Types
MTR train + pedestrian
Border Type
Land border
Peak Times
Morning & evening rush hours
Daily Crossings
Very high (tens of thousands)
Currency Exchange
HKD, CNY
Safety Information
Medium; pickpockets in crowds
Languages Spoken
Cantonese, Mandarin, English
Accessibility Features
Escalators and elevators throughout
About Lo Wu & Luohu
Lo Wu to Luohu: Hong Kong’s Busiest Land Gate to Mainland China
Every day tens of thousands of commuters, shoppers, and travelers pour through the Lo Wu to Luohu border crossing, the main rail and pedestrian link between Hong Kong SAR and Shenzhen in mainland China. Known simply as Lo Wu on the Hong Kong side and Luohu on the Shenzhen side, this is one of the busiest land ports on earth. You walk from a gleaming first-world city straight into the heart of China’s tech capital in under thirty minutes, yet the contrast hits you the moment you clear immigration.
A Border Born from the 1980s Boom
Before Shenzhen exploded into a megacity, Lo Wu was just rice fields and a tiny checkpoint opened in 1949. When China began economic reforms, the crossing expanded rapidly. The current massive terminal opened in 1987 and has been extended several times. Today it handles up to 250,000 people daily on peak weekends, making it the busiest passenger border between Hong Kong and the mainland.
Before Crossing
Crossing borders gets messy sometimes, think political flare-ups or gates shutting fast. Good travel insurance is a must for handling doctor visits, trip disruptions, or security scares. Don’t get caught unprepared. To find a policy that’s got your back, check out reliable plans today for peace of mind.
Operating Hours That Never Really Sleep
The crossing runs from 06:30 to 23:30 every single day, including holidays. Last entry is around 23:15; after that you must use the 24-hour Huanggang/Futian ports further west. Peak crush happens 08:00 to 10:00 (Hong Kong to mainland) and 17:00 to 20:00 (return).
Hong Kong to Mainland China (Most Common Direction)
Take the MTR East Rail Line to Lo Wu station (final stop, 45 to 55 minutes from central Hong Kong). Follow the endless signs to immigration. Hong Kong exit is fast for residents with Home Return Card, slower for foreigners. Then walk upstairs to mainland China arrival hall. Most nationalities need a pre-issued Chinese visa; no visa-on-arrival here. Have your passport and visa ready; fingerprinting and facial scan are mandatory. Once stamped, you exit directly into Luohu metro station (Shenzhen Metro Line 1).
Mainland China to Hong Kong
Enter Luohu Port building from Shenzhen Metro Line 1. Clear China exit (quick for Chinese ID cards, longer for foreigners). Walk the long bridge corridor, then Hong Kong arrival immigration. Foreign passport holders normally get 90 days or more visa-free. After customs you are in Lo Wu MTR station ready for the train back to Kowloon or Hong Kong Island.
Transport Connections That Move Millions
Hong Kong side: MTR East Rail runs every 4 to 8 minutes, last train south at 23:17. Shenzhen side: Metro Line 1 connects to the rest of the city in minutes. Taxis and buses wait outside both terminals, but the metro is fastest. High-speed trains to Guangzhou and beyond leave from nearby Shenzhen Railway Station (10-minute walk or one metro stop).
Hassles and Warnings
Queues can reach 60 to 90 minutes on Sunday evenings and Chinese holidays. Money changers inside the corridor offer terrible rates; use ATMs after immigration. No photos allowed in the immigration halls; phones get confiscated if you try. Fake “porters” may offer to carry bags for a fee you never agreed to; ignore them completely.
Weather and Best Time
Indoor terminal means weather rarely matters, but summer is brutally hot and humid in the queues. Avoid Chinese public holidays (especially Golden Week in October and Lunar New Year) unless you enjoy human sardine conditions. Early morning or late evening crossings are usually calm.
Nearby Once You Are Through
Luohu Commercial City right outside the Shenzhen exit is five floors of knock-off bags, clothes, and electronics (bargaining required). Real shopping malls and restaurants start two metro stops away. On the Hong Kong side Lo Wu has almost nothing except the station itself.
Last Thought
From Hong Kong’s orderly queues to mainland China’s raw energy in the space of a few hundred metres. Lo Wu to Luohu is loud, crowded, and absolutely essential for anyone wanting to feel the pulse where two different Chinas meet. Come early, keep your visa ready, hold tight to your belongings, and dive into one of the world’s great daily migrations.
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