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Asked by Federicoq from usa | Dec. 24, 2025 02:05
About:Visa on Arrival

Huanggang Port- 1 January 2026

Hi there,
My partner and I (USA passports) plan to enter Shenzhen from Hong Kong on 1 January via Huanggang Port- I've heard this is the most reliable option and less people. Would you agree with this? Can we pay using AliPay or is it cash only? Would you recommend we get there by 10-11am is fine?

If you can help step by step instructions to get to Huanggang border that would be much appreciated!

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Answers (4)
Answered by Borut | Dec. 25, 2025 01:56
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May I suggest you something? I hope you will find it more logical and easier. Huanggang border crossing is huge, with great capacity and fine in general, but not exactly for those arriving by public transport and in general it is less appealing than Lo Wu / Luohu border crossing. So, my suggestion is, take Lo Wu / Luohu border crossing and make your visit to Shenzhen so easy logistically. You will take MTR East rail line from the very center of Hong Kong all the way to Lo Wu. At Lo Wu you will perform Hong Kong exit formalities. After that you will shortly walk to reach Luohu that is mainland China counterpart of Lo Wu. Here you will first approach visa office and not the immigration. At visa office you will perform all the formalities (nothing is done ahead of your arrival) and receive your visa. You can pay with Alipay, cash (mainland China cash only) or overseas bank cards (debit and credit), the choice is yours. The price is the same for all the citizenship - 130 CNY. When you receive your visa, you will head to the immigration and then to Shenzhen. Luohu border crossing facility has a metro line number 1 station integrated within the premises, so you can travel from there directly to different parts of Shenzhen, the very center of the city, included. When you are done with your visit to Shenzhen you can return to Hong Kong by taking any border crossing and any mean of transport, high speed train included. I hope you will accept the suggestion because it is so much easier than Huanggang logistically. Border crossings are open on January 1, do not worry. Have a nice visit to Shenzhen.
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Answered by Federico | Dec. 26, 2025 16:29
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Thank you for this honest review. I was told Luohu is very very busy and crazy and for this reason go to Huanggang. If you think it’s ok and easier, I can try that :/
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Answered by Phillip | Dec. 28, 2025 19:40
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The quickest way to avoid all the massive local traffic at the HK/SZ crossings, expect one, is to take the ferry from the HK Macau Ferry Terminal (in Shengwan just off HK's Central district) directly to the Shekou Port where there is a VOA office and usually not busy at all as most people take the subway to the other two VOA crossings (if you happened to be there when there are international exhibitions in SZ the waiting can be long!) From Shekou Port just get an Uber to the city (suggest your first point of visit is Shekou's Sea World then from there subway to the rest of SZ)

It's slightly more expensive (HK$120 a ticket last time I checked, that is also why no local will go this route, passengers are mostly expats working in the Shekou/Nanshan districts). Its a very nice comfortable 60 min cruise across HK's Victora Harbour under the MaWan bridge, round the corner into the Shekou Port. Not only VOA office is not busy, the custom X-scan of luggages has almost no line ups vs the other crossing points which often resemble Disneyland type line ups.

Coming back out to HK you can take any crossings.

Enjoy!
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Answered by Borut | Dec. 30, 2025 02:06
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The recommendation presented by Phillip is definitely correct as far as the waiting time at Shekou visa office is concerned, but I usually do not recommend it because the overall time needed to travel from Hong Kong center to Shenzhen center is longer when you take all the segments into calculation. Also, the price is also higher, ferry + taxi... In any way, you have several choices and you will easily decide what to choose.
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