Jetfoil to Shenzhen Airport
 

Could someone please provide information on the direct jetfoil to Shenzhen Airport from HK? Does it leave from Kowloon, near the Star Ferry terminal? How would we find the schedule? I've tried searching websites and can't seem to find it, but I know several people here have mentioned it. Thanks.

They are down to just one single sailing now:

http://www.turbojet.com.hk/eng/schedule/prd_2.html

Just not a viable form of tranportation anymore. It simply cannot complete with the direct bus between the Elements Mall at the Kowloon Airport Express/MTR station to SZX, which costs HK$100 and departs every 30 minutes.

They used to have about 5-6 sailings from Shun Tak Center (Macau Pier) on HK Island. But with the increased HK-Macau service on both Turbojet and Cotaijet, they don't have enough berths for the Macau service, so they cancel all the ones to SZX.

Minor point, Turbojet uses their slower catamaran for their routes to China; you basically only gets jetfoils and foilcats on HK-Macau.

Thanks. I can't tell from the schedule exactly how long the trip takes by jetfoil?

And with the bus, does it wait for people at customs and then continue on to the airport, itself? I thought it required a walk across the border, and then finding a shuttle of some sort on the other side.

Ferry about 50 minutes. But after you clear Chinese customs, you need to take a short (and free) shuttle to the terminal.

For the bus - and I am talking about the one-year old direct service from the Elements mall, not other ones - you need to take all your belongings off the bus, clear HK immigration and then Chinese immigration. The exact same bus will be waiting for you on the other side, and they have workers to direct you to the bus (and they recognize you by a sticker they put on you earlier).

This bus uses the Shenzhen Bay crossing, which is much less crowded. No steps, no escalators. And because it doesn't segregate foreign passport holders from the Hong Kong people using a permit, there won't be long lines for foreigners like at some other Chinese entry points. And you only get off the bus once, unlike other services that you need to get off twice.

I've used the bus, and it's one of the most civilized way to get into China I've done. And I use a US passport with a visitor visa, like most of you.

One thing though. The bus actually takes 90 minutes. The 75 that they advertise is optimistic.

Terrific information, thanks. The bus sounds like a great idea. Do you have the link to the bus schedule, by any chance?

http://www.chinalink.hk/co_service_routes16.html

Every :15 and :45 from 7:15a to 7:15p. HK$100. Takes 90 minutes, not 75 as they say. They will first stop at SZX Terminal A, but may not make the extra stop at Terminal B. It is just a short walk between the two connected terminals.

Go to the Elements Mall above the Kowloon MTR/AE station. Find the Starbucks. (If you're arriving by train, go up the escalators to the mall, then turn right). They are directly opposite Starbucks.

http://rkkwan.zenfolio.com/p1003229518/?photo=711815527

Thanks for all this info and the link to your pictures. That Elements mall looks ultra modern, quite a location for a bus station. Clearly, this bus is the way to get to SZX - and the price is right.

What if one is doing the reverse, i.e. arriving at Shenzhen by an early morning flight, or a late night flight (at about midnight), and seeking a transfer to Kowloon ? Do buses run that late ? Any other mode of transport ?

Last Chinalink bus is at 9pm from SZX:

http://www.chinalink.hk/co_service_routes17.html

And first one at 9:30a.

There are plenty of other options. You can take a taxi or the 330 Airport Bus to the Lowu border, cross into Hong Kong and then take the East Rail train.

Or there are other so-called "direct" buses to Hong Kong that uses the older and more crowded Huanggang crossing. Or you take a taxi to Huanggang, and then take another coach after you exit the Chinese border. [The Huanggang border requires one to get off a vehicle twice - once for Chinese border, once for HK; like the Shenzhen Bay crossing.]

But Huanggang is the only crossing that opens 24 hours. So, if you're talking about the overnight hours, that may be your only choice.