From January 1 to June 30, 2025, the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High-Speed Rail transported a total of 15.032 million cross-border passengers, an increase of 2.088 million compared to the same period last year, reflecting a 16.1% year-on-year increase, with a daily average of 83,000 passengers.
In the first half of 2025, more than 37,000 trains operated along the route. Passenger departures from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station to the Chinese mainland reached 7.362 million, a rise of 15.1% year-on-year. Among them, 5.838 million passengers were bound for Guangdong Province, accounting for 78.3% of the total, also up 15.1% year-on-year.
Shenzhen, as a core city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), has seen increasingly frequent cross-border travel with Hong Kong. Among the passengers traveling from Hong Kong to Guangdong, 2.616 million were headed to Shenzhen, making up 35.5% of the total, with an increase of 14.9% year-on-year.
Over 7.67 million passengers traveled from the Chinese mainland to Hong Kong West Kowloon, up 1.121 million, or 17.1% year-on-year. Among them, 6.068 million departed from Guangdong Province, accounting for 79.1% of the total, with an increase of 15.8%. Of these, 2.858 million passengers were from Shenzhen, making up 37.3% and showing a sharp rise of 21.6% year-on-year.
This year, the 15-million passenger mark was reached on June 30, 27 days earlier than last year. The peak was recorded on January 31, with 136,000 passengers.
The 240-hour visa-free transit policy has further boosted cross-border travel. In the first half of the year, Hong Kong West Kowloon Immigration Inspection Station processed over 663,000 foreign travelers, a 35% increase year-on-year. Among them, more than 138,000 foreign travelers entered the Chinese mainland visa-free, representing a 1.1 times surge.
Reporter | Dai Bosi
Poster | Cai Junru
Photo | China Railway Guangzhou Group
Editor | Hu Nan, James, Shen He
