How to Travel between Hong Kong & Xiamen: by Bullet Train

Hong Kong – Xiamen by High Speed Train

Xiamen formerly called Amoy City, is a beautiful coastal city in Fujian Province. It is about over 600 km from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Hong Kong West Kowloon – Xiamen by High Speed Train

hongkong-shenzhen-xiamen-high-speed-rail

• Step 1: Hong Kong – Shenzhen North by metro & MTR
• Step 2: Shenzhen North – Xiamen by high speed train

As of January of 2018, there are no direct high speed trains linking Hong Kong and Xiamen, but the good news is that high speed rail service will be available in 3rd quarter of 2018 when Hong Kong’s high speed train station West Kowloon Terminus opens, cutting travel time between Hong Kong and Xiamen into 4 hours. Currently, you will have to make a transfer at Shenzhen North Station, which is the nearest high speed rail station from Hong Kong and has D and G type high speed rail service to or from Xiamen in 3.5-4 hours. Seen the steps below:

How to Take a Train from HK West Kowloon

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong, a Singaporean working in HK & ChinaTrain12306 visitor.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong: Entrance to HK West Kowloon Station from Austin MTR Station. Passengers can get to HK West Kowloon Station by MTR by arriving at Austin Station or Kowloon Station.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong: Entrance to HK West Kowloon Station from Austin MTR Station. Passengers can get to HK West Kowloon Station by MTR by arriving at Austin Station or Kowloon Station.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Link way from Austin station to West Kowloon Station.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Link way from Austin station to West Kowloon Station.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Towards departure area for security checks.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Towards departure area for security checks.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Self-service ticket machine for HK citizens. These don't accept foreigner's passports. Visitors & passport holders must collect or buy tickets from ticket counters next to machines in HK West Kowloon Station.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Self-service ticket machine for HK citizens. These don't accept foreigner's passports. Visitors & passport holders must collect or buy tickets from ticket counters next to machines in HK West Kowloon Station.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Towards HK and China Immigration Area. No photos allow in this area. You clear both China and HK immigration in HK West Kowloon Station.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Towards HK and China Immigration Area. No photos allow in this area. You clear both China and HK immigration in HK West Kowloon Station.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): depaturesPhotos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): depatures

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Queue to go down to train platform by escalator.Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Queue to go down to train platform by escalator.

Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Trains from HK West Kowloon Station to China cities (Xiamen). Photos courtesy of Keith Wong (Singaporean working in HK, ChinaTrain12306 visitors): Trains from HK West Kowloon Station to China cities (Xiamen).

Step 1: Hong Kong – Shenzhen North by Metro & MTR

The high speed rail will not be availabe between Hong Kong and Shenzhen until the West Kowloon Station opens in 3rd quarter of 2018. Now, you can use MTR service and Shenzhen Metro to travel between Hong Kong & Shenzhen North Station.

From Hong Kong to Shenzhen North Station: You can take Hong Kong’s MTR service – East Rail Line to the terminal Lok Ma Chau station first, then pass through the border control and walk across into Shenzhen side border, get to Futian Checkpoint station for line 4 of Shenzhen metro to Shenzhen North Station metro stop. When arrive at Shenzhen North Station stop, just go upstairs to look for the high speed train service to Xiamen.

Useful resources

• Shenzhen metro planner (official Shenzhen metro site)
• Hong Kong MTR planner (official site)
• China train ticket booking service

From Shenzhen North Station to Hong Kong: You can take line 4 of Shenzhen metro to Futian Checkpoint Station first, then walk across border into Hong Kong & pass through the border control. Then take Hong Kong MTR service East Rail Line at Lok Ma Chau station to reach downtown of Hong Kong.

Step 2: Shenzhen North – Xiamen by High Speed Train

High speed rail service linking Shenzhen and Xiamen has been available since the Xiamen-Shenzhen High Speed Railway opened in December of 2013, connecting Shenzhen, Huizhou, Shanwei, Jieyang, Shantou, Chaozhou, Zhangzhou and Xiamen.

Currently, there are 48 daily high speed trains running from Shenzhen to Xiamen or vice verse. All trains use Shenzhen North Station in Shenzhen, and 40 trains use Xiamen North Train Station and 8 trains use Xiamen Railway Station in Xiamen, taking about 3.5 – 4 hours and costing CNY 180 in a 2nd class seat, CNY 288 in a 1st class seat and CNY 540 in a business seat.

Schedule, Fares & Duration

FAQ

Is there flight service between Hong Kong and Xiamen ?

Yes, there are non-stop flights between Hong Kong’s airport and Xiamen Gaoqi Airport operated by Xiamen Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airlines and China Southern Airlines. Fly hour is about 1h15 – 1h 35. Non-stop services run 9 times daily.

Hong Kong to Xiamen by ferry?

So far, Jack cannot find any official ferry service between Hong Kong and Xiamen. So, I don’t think is it still available to travel from Hong Kong to Xiamen by ferry.

Xiamen to Hong Kong by bullet train?

It will be available to travel from Xiamen to Hong Kong by direct bullet train in 3rd quarter of 2018 when Hong Kong West Kowloon Station put into operation.

Trusted Online Ticket Agents:

Option 1: China Highlights is a reliable online agency  for China train ticketing. They get positive reviews on TripAdvisor & Trustpilot. Sharon and her team help you buy tickets & plan rail routes even deliver tickets to your hotels with a service fee from $6.

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Option 2: China DIY Travel  is also a trusted online ticketing agent & get recommended for their excellent service on TripAdvisor. Helen & her Australian husband, team are always helpful buying tickets for foreigners. ChinaTrain12306 users can use PROMO CODE “ct123” to reduce booking fees.

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