The Shenzhen Metro () is the rapid transit system of the city of Shenzhen in Guangdong Province, China. The newest lines and extensions which opened on 28 June 2026 put the network at of trackage. It currently operates on 17 lines with 421 stations. Despite having only opened on 28 December 2004, the Shenzhen Metro is the 5th longest metro system in the world. By 2035, the network is planned to comprise 8 express and 24 non-express lines totaling of trackage.
Current system Currently the network has of route, operating on 17 lines with 432 stations. Line 1, Line 4 and Line 10 run to the border crossings between the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region at Luohu/Lo Wu and Futian Checkpoint/Lok Ma Chau, where riders can transfer to Hong Kong's MTR East Rail line for travel onwards to Hong Kong.
LineTerminals(District)Service patterns Commencement Latestextension LengthkmStationsOperator 01 Luohu(Luohu) Airport East(Bao'an) ↔
Partial: ↔ , ↔ , ↔ , ↔ December 28, 2004 June 15, 2011 41.0 30Shenzhen Metro Group 02 Chiwan(Nanshan) Liantang(Luohu) Chiwan ↔ LiantangRush Hour: Wanxia ↔ LiantangPartial: Houhai ↔ Liantang December 28, 2010 October 28, 2020 39.78 32 03 (Futian) (Longgang) ↔ Rush Hour: ↔ Partial: ↔ December 28, 2024 52.33 38 04 Futian Checkpoint(Futian) Niuhu(Longhua) Futian Checkpoint ↔ NiuhuAM Rush Hour: Futian Checkpoint ↔ Xikeng December 28, 2004 October 28, 2020 31.3 23 MTR Corporation (Shenzhen) 05 Chiwan(Nanshan) Grand Theater(Luohu) Chiwan ↔ Grand TheaterRush Hour: Qianhaiwan ↔ HuangbeilingPartial: Changlingpi ↔ ChiwanChanglingpi ↔ Huangbeiling June 22, 2011 December 28, 2025 50.28 37Shenzhen Metro Group 06 Science Museum(Futian) Songgang(Bao'an) Science Museum ↔ SonggangPartial: Songgang ↔ Fenghuang Town/Science Museum ↔ Fenghuang Town August 18, 2020 — 49.39 27 6B (Guangming) SIAT(Guangming) ↔ SUAT November 28, 2022 September 28, 2025 11.33 7 07 (Nanshan) (Luohu) ↔ Partial: ↔ / ↔ October 28, 2016 December 28, 2024 32.32 29 Liantang(Luohu) Xichong(Dapeng) Liantang ↔ Xichong October 28, 2020 December 28, 2025 24.45 11 09 Qianwan(Nanshan) Wenjin(Luohu) Qianwan ↔ WenjinPartial: Shenzhen Bay Park ↔ Wenjin October 28, 2016 December 8, 2019 36.18 32 10 Futian Checkpoint(Futian) Shuangyong Street(Longgang) Futian Checkpoint ↔ Shuangyong StreetPartial: Futian Checkpoint → Gankeng August 18, 2020 — 29.31 24 11 Hongling South(Futian) Bitou(Bao'an) Hongling South ↔ BitouAM Mon–Fri Peak: Hongling South ↔ Airport North June 28, 2016 December 28, 2025 57.3 22 12 Zuopaotai East(Nanshan) Songgang(Bao'an) ↔ Partial: ↔ November 28, 2022 December 28, 2024 48.59 39 13 Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint(Nanshan) Lisonglang(Guangming) Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint ↔ Lisonglang December 28, 2024 June 28, 2026 41.69 26 MTR CREC Metro (Shenzhen) Company Limited 14 Gangxia North(Futian) Shatian(Pingshan) Gangxia North ↔ Shatian October 28, 2022 — 50.32 18Shenzhen Metro Group 16 (Longgang) Tianxin(Pingshan) ↔ Tianxin December 28, 2022 September 28, 2025 38.74 32 20 Airport North(Bao'an) Convention & Exhibition City(Bao'an) Airport North ↔ Convention & Exhibition City December 28, 2021 — 8.43 5Total 642.02 432
Year-end urban-rail operating length reported for Shenzhen by CAMET, separating the metro series from the all-mode city total where both are reported.
Raw operating-length data Line 1
Line 1, formerly known as Luobao line, runs westward from Luohu to Airport East. Trains operate every 2 minutes during peak hours and every 4 minutes at other times.
December 28, 2004: Luohu – Window of the World September 28, 2009: Window of the World – Shenzhen University June 15, 2011: Shenzhen University – Airport EastShenzhen Metro Line 1, from Luohu to Airport East was put into a trial operation
Line 2
Line 2, formerly known as Shekou line, runs from Chiwan to Liantang. Line 2 is connected with Line 8 at Liantang station.
December 28, 2010: Chiwan – Window of the Worldphoto of ongoing construction in Shekou June 28, 2011: Window of the World – Xinxiu October 28, 2020: Xinxiu – Liantang
Line 3
Line 3, formerly known as Longgang line, runs from Futian Bonded Area to Pingdi Liulian in Longgang, in the north-east part of the city. Construction began on December 26, 2005.(Chinese) Wang, Xiaoqing (王晓晴) and Qiu, Gang (邱刚), "深圳地铁3号线动工 2009年建成通车" southcn.com December 27, 2005 The line is operated by Shenzhen Metro Line 3 Operations, which has been a subsidiary of SZMC (Shenzhen Metro Group) since April 11, 2011, when an 80% stake was transferred to SZMC.
December 28, 2010: Caopu – Shuanglong June 28, 2011: Yitian – Caopu(Chinese) 深圳地铁3号线规划线路图 August 21, 2008 October 28, 2020: Futian Bonded Area – Yitian December 28, 2024: –
Line 4
Line 4, formerly known as Longhua line, runs northward from Futian Checkpoint to Niuhu. Trains operate every 2.5 minutes at peak hours and every 6 minutes during off-peak hours. Stations from Futian Checkpoint to Shangmeilin Station are underground. The line has been operated by MTR Corporation (Shenzhen), a subsidiary of MTR Corporation, since July 1, 2010.
December 28, 2004: Fumin – Children's Palace June 28, 2007: Futian Checkpoint – Fumin June 16, 2011: Children's Palace – Qinghu October 28, 2020: Qinghu – Niuhu
Line 5
Line 5, formerly known as Huanzhong line, runs from Chiwan in the west to in the east via an arch-like shape. Construction began in May 2009 and the line opened on June 22, 2011.(Chinese) Wang, Xiaoqing (王晓晴) "深圳地铁5号线全面开工" Xinhua September 19, 2008 Line 5 required a total investment of 20.6 billion RMB. The line is operated by SZMC (Shenzhen Metro Group).
June 22, 2011: Qianhaiwan – Huangbeiling September 28, 2019: Qianhaiwan – Chiwan December 28, 2025: Huangbeiling – Grand Theater
Line 6
Line 6, formerly known as Guangming line, runs from Songgang in the north to Science Museum in the south, with a length of and a total of 27 stations. Construction began in August 2015 and the line opened on August 18, 2020.
August 18, 2020: Science Museum – Songgang
Line 6 Branch
Line 6 Branch, also known as Branch Line 6, runs from Guangmingcheng to SUAT in the north. The line opened on November 28, 2022.
November 28, 2022: Guangming – SUAT September 28, 2025: Guangmingcheng – Guangming
Line 7
Line 7, formerly known as Xili line of the Shenzhen Metro, opened on October 28, 2016, with a length of and a total of 29 stations. It connects SZU Lihu Campus at Shenzhen University to Tai'an. The line travels East–West across Shenzhen in a "V" shape. October 28, 2016: Xili Lake – Tai'an December 28, 2024: –
Line 8
Line 8, formerly known as Yantian line of the Shenzhen Metro, opened on October 28, 2020, with a length of and a total of 11 stations. It connects the eastern suburbs of Liantang to Yantian Road, then towards the beach resorts at Dameisha, Xiaomeisha before entering Dapeng at the beach resort at . However, this line serves as the extension of Line 2 in actual operation. October 28, 2020: Liantang – Yantian Road December 27, 2023: Yantian Road – Xiaomeisha December 28, 2025: Xiaomeisha – Xichong
Line 9
Line 9, formerly known as Meilin line or Neihuan line of the Shenzhen Metro, opened on October 28, 2016. The line runs eastward from to . It has 10 transfer stations. The line is long, running through the districts of Nanshan, Futian and Luohu. October 28, 2016: – December 8, 2019: –
Line 10
Line 10 formerly known as Bantian line, runs from Futian Checkpoint in the south to Shuangyong Street in the north, with a length of and a total of 24 stations. Construction began in September 2015 and the line opened on August 18, 2020.
August 18, 2020: Futian Checkpoint – Shuangyong Street
Line 11
Line 11, also known as the Airport Express, runs from Bitou in the northwest to in the city centre via Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport. Construction began in April 2012 and the line opened on June 28, 2016. Line 11 runs at a higher speed of . June 28, 2016: Bitou – Futian October 28, 2022: Futian – Gangxia North December 28, 2024: Gangxia North – Huaqiang South December 28, 2025: Huaqiang South – Hongling South
Line 12
Line 12, also known as Nanbao Line, runs from in the southwest to in the northwest. Construction began in 2018 and the line opened on November 28, 2022. November 28, 2022: Zuopaotai East – Waterlands Resort East December 28, 2024: –
Line 13
Line 13, also known as Shiyan Line, runs from Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint at the Shenzhen Bay Port in Nanshan to Lisonglang in northeast Guangming. Construction began in 2018 and the first phase of the line between Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint and Hi-Tech Central opened on December 28, 2024. Like Line 4, Line 13 is operated by MTR Corporation (Shenzhen). December 28, 2024: – December 28, 2025: – June 28, 2026: –
Line 14
Line 14, also known as the Eastern Express, runs from Gangxia North in the city centre to Shatian in the northeast. Construction began in 2018 and the line opened on October 28, 2022. October 28, 2022: Gangxia North – Shatian
Line 16
Line 16, also known as Longping Line, runs from Yuanshan Xikeng in the south of Longgang to Tianxin in the northeast. Construction began in 2018 and the line opened on December 28, 2022. December 28, 2022: Universiade – Tianxin September 28, 2025: Yuanshan Xikeng – Universiade
Line 20
Line 20, formerly known as Fuyong line, runs from Airport North in the north-west to Convention & Exhibition City near Shenzhen World. Construction began in September 2016 and the line opened on December 28, 2021. Line 20 runs at the same top speed as line 11, at . December 28, 2021: Airport North – Convention & Exhibition City
History
Early planning In late 1983, Party Secretary of Shenzhen Mayor Liang Xiang led a team to Singapore to study its mass transit system. Upon returning it was decided that on each side of Shennan Avenue should be protected as a green belt, and to set aside a wide median reserved for a light rail or light metro line. In 1984, the "Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Master Plan (1985–2000)" pointed out that, with the growing population and traffic in Shenzhen, a light metro system would not have sufficient capacity to meet future demand. Instead the report proposed a heavy rail subway line to be built along Shennan Avenue.深圳经济特区总体规划简介[J]. 城市规划,1986,06:9–14. The project was finally approved by the Central Planning Department in 1992.
In August 1992, during and re-feasibility and rail network planning, The Shenzhen Municipal Government decided to move from building a light metro line to a heavy rail subway line. The rapid growth of Shenzhen City made a lower capacity light metro line impractical. In 1994, Shenzhen organized the preparation of the "Shenzhen urban rail network master plan" to be incorporated into the "Shenzhen City Master Plan (1996–2010)". The city's vision for an urban rail network would consists of nine lines. Of the nine transit lines, three of them would be commuter rail lines upgraded from existing national mainline railways. The total length of the proposed network would be about . The three upgraded commuter rail lines would overlap the Guangzhou–Shenzhen railway, Pinghu–Nanshan railway and Pingyan railway. This plan established the basic framework for the Shenzhen Metro network.
Construction suspended and restarted In December 1995, the State Council issued the "moratorium on approval of urban rapid transit projects" to suspend approval of rail transit projects in all Chinese cities except Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. The Shenzhen Metro project was postponed. In 1996, prior to the handover of Hong Kong, authorities attempted to restart construction by renaming the project "The Luohu, Huanggang / Lok Ma Chau border crossing passenger rail connection project", stressing that the project is designed to meet the potential growing demand for cross-border passenger traffic after the handover.