EdEdwards

Will be in Hong Kong in late October, then moving on to Guilin (actually planning to stay in Yangshuo). So far, the best airfare I've found is about $250 each from Hong Kong to Guilin on Dragonair. I'm wondering if it's likely that a) I'd get a much cheaper price by waiting until we're in Hong Kong, and b) if we did that, would there likely still be seats available on that flight. Alternatively, is it likely to save much to wait, and try to get a flight from Shenzhen. Or, is the train a realistic option? I've read that we'd have to transfer trains at least twice, after leaving from Shenzhen. I've also read about peoples' overnight bus experiences, and don't think we'd like to chance it.

Thanks.

rkkwan

Fly from Shenzhen (SZX) is the most sensible method.

EdEdwards

Thanks. I've checked the ctrip site and I see that the airfare from Shenzhen is about $150 a person cheaper, to Guilin, than from HK.

From reading, I'm not entirely clear how best to get to the Shenzhen airport from Kowloon, where we'll be staying. The flights from Shenzhen are either fairly early in the morning, or late in the evening - so we'd want to go early. What I've read about the express Jetboat, suggests that they don't start sailing to Shenzhen until too late to make our connection. I've also read about what sounds like a fairly rapid shuttle bus that runs frequently, from Hong Kong airport to Shenzhen airport, and that seems to start running earlier in the morning. Is it feasible and cost effective to take a taxi to the HK airport, and catch that shuttle bus to Shenzhen airport?

Either way -- by Jetboat or shuttle from HK airport -- what is the customs arrangement and wait like? Is this a cumbersome process? And is it possible to take a taxi all the way across the border from HK to the Shenzhen airport?

Thanks.

rkkwan

The best and easiest way is to use the Chinalink direct bus from the Elements Mall, above the Kowloon MTR/Airport Express station. HK$100 each way, takes 90 minutes. First bus is at 7:15a, which will get you to SZX by 8:45. If you flight is 10am or later, you'll be okay.

Here's official site (in Chinese), with timetable:

www.chinalink.hk/co_service_routes16.html

Basically every :15 and :45. They're located across from Starbucks at the Elements Mall. Super easy to find.

Here's a thread about it on Flyertalk which I have posted on, and there's a very recent user report on it:

www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=753178

This bus uses the new Shenzhen Bay boarder crossing which you only need to get off bus once to clear both HK and China immigration, rather than twice for those buses that use Huanggang.

But if your flight is before 10am, I wouldn't use this one. I'd suggest just taking the East Rail commuter train from Kowloon to Lowu, cross the border and then take a taxi.

rkkwan

BTW, there are car service from Hong Kong to Shenzhen, but not regular taxis. Service have to be pre-arranged (ask your hotel), and they may run about HK$1,000. Makes sense if you have 4-5 in your party, or if any of you have mobility issues.

rkkwan

CZ3240 SZX-KWL departs 10:00am. I think it's still possible with that 7:15a bus.

EdEdwards

Thanks for all the detail. On the ctrip website, they say that the 10AM for the China Southern flight is for "reference only," so that it might well be adjusted later. That makes me wary of counting on the 7:15 bus.

Does the East Rail commuter train leave from near the Salisbury Y, where we'll be staying? And is Lowu the first stop for customs in Shenzhen? I'm wondering how long we should plan for the customs clearance, and how much / how long to expect for the taxi to the airport from there.

Alternatively, I'm thinking perhaps we should just take the later flight at 8:15 PM, which gets in to Guilin at 9:10 - except that we're heading out to the Yangshuo Mountain Resort, which may be quite a distance from the Guilin airport.

Thanks again.

rkkwan

The terminus for the East Rail is at East Tsim Sha Tsui (which is underground). It has entrance behind the Sheraton, just east of the Salisbury. Definitely walkable. Make sure you take train that's going to Lowu and not Lok Ma Chau.

From www.mtr.com.hk, it takes 43 minutes. First train is at 5:28a, and it runs extremely frequent, every 5 minutes or so. HK$36.5, or $34.8 if you're using an Octopus.

At Lowu, you will go through Hong Kong immigration, walk cross the Shenzhen River on a footbridge and then clear Chinese immigration on the other side. No wait for the HK immigration, but not sure about Chinese side, though I think 20 minutes should be enough.

You don't want to be carrying lots of luggage, as you'll be going up and down escalators, and maybe even steps.

I am not totally sure where the taxi stand is on the Chinese side, but it should be pretty easy to find. About 40 minutes and 130RMB for the taxi to SZX.

EdEdwards

Thanks again for all this detail, rkkwan! I think I last used some of your advice back in 2004, before my last trip to China. You really know the territory....

nmilller1950

bump