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Travel to/from Dongguan China to Hong Kong

Travel to/from Dongguan China to Hong Kong

Old Mar 7th, 2012, 03:13 PM
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Travel to/from Dongguan China to Hong Kong

Hopefully someone on this forum can suggest the quickest & most comfortable way for this route. I'll originate from the Sheraton in Houjie Dongguan and going to Kowloon - final destination is near Nathan Rd MTR. I'm a little confused about the different options (ferry, train, etc.) and can't tell which is better.

I did this 3 yrs ago using the CTS bus which picks up from the hotel. I remember dreading the multiple get on/get off routine to clear China and then HK customs. It was not pleasant with big luggage. Plus, I always end up being last to get back to the bus since everyone else is a local (they clear thru immigration much faster). So I want to avoid this method.

BTW, I can either taxi or have a driver take me to the ferry or train station, so the local travel within Dongguan/Guangzhou is not a problem... just looking for how to get to Kowloon easily. TIA!
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Old Mar 7th, 2012, 05:34 PM
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First, where are you going in Kowloon? There is no Nathan Road MTR, but 5 different stops along Nathan Road.

1. There is no ferry service that will make sense.

2. The best way is to get a private van. Door to door, no need to get off at the border. Expect about HK$1,000 one-way. May be worth it.

3. There are multiple train options now. The Sheraton is not close to the old rail line for the Dongguan train station, if you want to take the Intercity "Through Train", which takes you direct to Hung Hom in Hong Kong before you clear Hong Kong immigration. Over 10 miles to station, the trains are infrequent and costly, but the immigration is easiest this way and most comfortable.

Or, you can again get youself to the Dongguan station and then take the much more frequent train to Shenzhen. They depart every few minutes. Cross the border at Lowu, and then connect to the East Rail Line in Hong Kong down to Kowloon.

A new option is to try the new Guangzhou - Shenzhen highspeed rail. The Humen station is about 5 miles from the Sheraton, and train runs every 20 to 30 minutes to Shenzhen-North, and takes just 17 minutes. From Shenzhen North, you can connect to the Line 4 subway to the Futian/Lok Ma Chau border crossing (10 stops). And from there, the East Rail line down to Kowloon.

4. Believe it or not, the bus is probably still more comfortable than any of the train options. See if there are "direct" buses that use the Shenzhen Bay crossing rather than Huanggang. There, you only get off the coach once to clear both sets of immigration; rather than twice at Huanggang.

And if you worry about last to get back on the bus, don't buy a "direct" bus ticket. Just take bus to the Huanggang border crossing. Take your time to cross the border, then buy a separate bus ticket to wherever you need to go in Kowloon. There are direct services to at least 4 points along Nathan Road I can think of - Prince Edward, Mongkok, BP International, and Tsimshatsui.
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Old Mar 7th, 2012, 05:37 PM
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Sorry, you can also do the separate buses through Shenzhen Bay as well, not just at Huanggang. So, only get off bus once and not twice. Fewer options to points in Kowloon, but probably more pleasant.
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Old Mar 7th, 2012, 05:47 PM
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I am not sure if the direct train from Guangzhou East Station to Hung Hom stops at Dongguan but the ride is relatively comfy & getting through customs is not too manic. At Hung Hom you could the hop on taxi to Nathan Rd w/ ease. Not the most direct or fastest but pleasant ride all around.

Equally pleasant is taking the "local" train which stops at Lo Wu station. After going through customs, you can take the MTR and get off at Mongkok stop. Closer to Nathan Rd but you'll have to deal w/ the transfer & custom hassles at Lo Wu. But still the ride is just as comfortable imho.
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Old Mar 7th, 2012, 05:51 PM
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Oops. I meant local train to Shenzhen. After a 5-10 min walk to customs crossing, you will arrive at Lo Wu MTR station.
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Old Mar 7th, 2012, 06:21 PM
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Yes, the direct trains to Hung Hom do stop in Dongguan. But as I mentioned, it's not close to the Sheraton, and those trains are only about once an hour.
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Old Mar 7th, 2012, 09:17 PM
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Thanks rkkwan & Homersimp!!

My final destination is near the Nathan Rd and Austin Rd intersection. I must've forgotten which MTR station it is... but I've noticed one in that vicinity. BP International is also close to my destination.

I'll have luggage - enough to be a real hassle dragging it on and off buses, walking 15+ min with it, etc.

I'll need to see if someone in DG or the Sheraton DG hotel knows how to help me book the door-to-door private van. Pricey but my company picks up the tab, and it seems to be the easiest.

I'd like to keep the other options in mind and would appreciate more info as to how far thing are. My concern is I'll have the cumbersome luggage and dragging them thru crowds is not fun.

Recapping the train routes mentioned:

Train Option # 1 - local train DG to Shenzhen (~30 min ride, very frequent trains).
* After getting off at SZ train station, how far is the LoWu border crossing - is it in the same building?
* After border crossing, how far to walk to catch the E. Rail Line ?

Train Option #2 - Guangzhou South to Shenzhen North High Speed Rail. Get on at Humen (虎门) station near DG. At SZ North, switch to Line 4 subway to the Futian/Lok Ma Chau border.
* How far is the walk at the SZ North connection and then after border crossing?
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Old Mar 7th, 2012, 09:23 PM
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Train Option #3 - Guangzhou East to Kowloon (Hung Hom).
* This seems to be the least transfer. But it takes 1 hr drive from DG to GZ train station, the 2 hr train ride. Is this much longer time wise?
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Old Mar 7th, 2012, 09:25 PM
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Forget the high speed rail and local train options if you have significant luggage. Hauling them on and off buses will be much better than those options. The only train option you should consider is to take the direct 'Through' train from DG to Hung Hom. Then taxi to you destination.

If someone's paying, definitely get a private car/van. The concierge at the Sheraton should be able to find you one. But I apologize about the cost. HK$1,000 is between HK and SZX. Dongguang may be more.
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Old Mar 7th, 2012, 09:34 PM
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Hi rkkwan! Thanks.

I also stayed in this Sheraton last time and I remember they did not even offer the private car/van option for me.... only that CTS bus. Perhaps it's because I don't know how to talk with the person working the concierge desk in Mandarin.

OK, it has been 3 yrs and I still remember how I hated dragging my luggage on/off the CTS buses, so I might as well cross out taking the train with connections if that's even worse.
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Old Mar 7th, 2012, 09:39 PM
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You put your luggage in the belly of the bus, then take them off at Shenzhen Bay. After crossing both border checkpoints, repeat the same one more time. That's as easy as you can get other than private car/van.
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Old Mar 7th, 2012, 09:42 PM
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For the direct 'Through' train from DG to Hung Hom that you mentioned, do you mean the train makes stops but no need to get off and switch to another train?

I don't see it in the search, which Train # is that?
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Old Mar 7th, 2012, 09:48 PM
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'Through Train' is the nickname for the Intercity Rail between Hung Hom in Hong Kong and Guangzhou-East. It has a stop in Dongguan. Immigration are done at Hung Hom and the Chinese stations respectively, and not at the actual border. It does not make any stop inside HK nor at Shenzhen.

Look for Intercity on www.mtr.com.hk. You can even purchase tickets online there. That is a valid option for you with luggage. Just use taxis on either end of the trip.
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Old Mar 7th, 2012, 09:54 PM
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Thanks, looking up the 'Though Train'....

That trip 3 yrs ago, I took a mini-van (~10 passengers) from HK Airport to DG. Mini-van was packed tight so seats were less comfy, BUT no need to get on/off that van at the border crossing. In comparison, the return trip to HK using the Bus was way more hassle and end up taking a lot longer because of lines at 2 immigration points. That's why I want to avoid that this time.
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Old Mar 7th, 2012, 10:11 PM
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Indeed, the Intercity Rail 'Through Train' sounds good.

It'll be 1 hr drive from Sheraton in Houjie to Changping DG, then 1 hr on the Rail to get to Hung Hom. Then I'll taxi to final destination. Looks simple! THANKS!
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