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 December 2025 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 421 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.
border|center|thumb|514x514px|The current network map
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! data-sort-type="text" |Line
! colspan="2" class="unsortable" |Terminals<br />(District)
! class="unsortable" style="width:225px;" |Service patterns
! Commencement
! Latest<br />extension
! Length<br />km
!Stations
!Operator
|-
| <span style="display:none">01</span>
| Luohu<br />(Luohu)
| Airport East<br />(Bao'an)
| ↔
Partial: ↔ , ↔ , ↔ , ↔
| 2004
| 2011
| 41.04
| 30
| rowspan="3" |30x30px<br /><small>Shenzhen Metro Group</small>
|-
| <span style="display:none">02</span>
| Chiwan<br />(Nanshan)
| Liantang<br />(Luohu)
| Chiwan ↔ Liantang<br />Rush Hour: Wanxia ↔ Liantang<br />Partial: Houhai ↔ Liantang
| 2010
| 2024
| 39.78
| 32
|-
| <span style="display:none">03</span>
| <br />(Futian)
| <br>(Longgang)
| ↔ <br />Rush Hour: ↔ <br />Partial: ↔
| 2010
| 2024
| 52.33
| 38
|-
| <span style="display:none">04</span>
| Futian Checkpoint<br />(Futian)
| Niuhu<br />(Longhua)
| Futian Checkpoint ↔ Niuhu<br />AM Rush Hour: Futian Checkpoint ↔ Xikeng
| 2004
| 2020
| 31.3
| 23
| 30x30px <br /><small>MTR Corporation (Shenzhen)</small>
|-
| <span style="display:none">05</span>
| Chiwan<br />(Nanshan)
| Grand Theater<br>(Luohu)
| Chiwan ↔ Grand Theater<br />Rush Hour: Qianhaiwan ↔ Huangbeiling<br />Partial: Changlingpi ↔ Chiwan<br />Changlingpi ↔ Huangbeiling
| 2011
| 2025
| 50.3
| 37
| rowspan="9" |30x30px<br /><small>Shenzhen Metro Group</small>
|-
| <span style="display:none">06</span>
| Science Museum<br />(Futian)
| Songgang<br />(Bao'an)
| Science Museum ↔ Songgang<br />Partial: Songgang ↔ Fenghuang Town/Science Museum ↔ Fenghuang Town
| 2020
| —
| 49.4
| 27
|-
| <span style="display:none">6B</span>
| <br />(Guangming)
| SIAT<br />(Guangming)
| ↔ SUAT
| 2022
| 2025
| 11.07
| 7
|-
| <span style="display:none">07</span>
| <br>(Nanshan)
| <br>(Luohu)
| ↔ <br />Partial: ↔ / ↔
| 2016
| 2024
| 32.32
| 29
|-
|
| Liantang<br />(Luohu)
| Xichong<br />(Dapeng)
| Liantang ↔ Xichong
| 2020
| 2025
| 20.38
| 11
|-
| <span style="display:none">09</span>
| Qianwan<br />(Nanshan)
| Wenjin<br />(Luohu)
| Qianwan ↔ Wenjin<br />Partial: Shenzhen Bay Park ↔ Wenjin
| 2016
| 2019
| 36.18
| 32
|-
| <span style="display:none">10</span>
| Futian Checkpoint<br />(Futian)
| Shuangyong Street<br />(Longgang)
| Futian Checkpoint ↔ Shuangyong Street<br />Partial: Futian Checkpoint → Gankeng
| 2020
| —
| 29.3
Line 2
thumb|[[Xianhu Road station of 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 World
- June 28, 2011: Window of the World – Xinxiu
- October 28, 2020: Xinxiu – Liantang
Line 3
thumb|[[Low Carbon City station of 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. 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
- October 28, 2020: Futian Bonded Area – Yitian
- December 28, 2024: –
Line 4
thumb|[[Mission Hills station of 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
thumb|[[Qianwan Park station of 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. 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
thumb|[[Guangming Street station of 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
thumb|[[SUAT station of Line 6B]]
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
thumb|[[Huanggang Checkpoint station of 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
thumb|[[Yantian Port West station of Line 8]]
Line 8, formerly known as Yantian line of the Shenzhen Metro, opened on October 28, 2020, with a length of
History
left|thumb|400px|Evolution of the Shenzhen metro
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. 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.
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. In July 1998, SZMC (Shenzhen Metro Group). was formally established.
{| class="wikitable"
! Date Opened
! style="width:200px;"| Line
! style="width:300px;" colspan="2"| Termini
! Length<br />
! Stations
|- style = "background:#606060; height: 2pt"
| colspan = "6" |
|-
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| December 28, 2004
| – phase 1
| Luohu
| Window of the World
| 17.4
| 15
|-
| – phase 1 (initial section)
| Fumin
| Children's Palace
| 3.4
| 4
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| June 28, 2007
| – phase 1 (extension)
| Futian Checkpoint
| Fumin
| 1.1
| 1
|}
Name changes
On April 23, 2008, Shenzhen Municipal Planning Bureau announced that it would change the nomenclature of Shenzhen's subway lines according to the "2007 Urban Rail Transit Plan Scheme". Instead of using numbers as the lines official designation, as typically used in other mainland Chinese metro systems, lines would be given Chinese names more akin to the Hong Kong MTR. In 2010, the Scheme was reviewed and adjusted with new routes and names in addition to newly proposed lines. On October 23, 2013, the SZMC (Shenzhen Metro Group) decided that current operational lines will have their number and names combined, while future lines will only be numbered. Due to the change in the construction order of several lines, some numerical names have been reviewed in order to prevent big jump between numbers. By 2016, only numerical names are used.
Lines currently in operation:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%; line-height:1.05"
|-
! Original No.
! 2007 Scheme
! 2010 Scheme
! Current name
|-
| Line 1 || Luobao Line || Luobao Line (Line 1)
|Line 1
|-
| Line 2 || Shekou Line || Shekou Line (Line 2)
|Line 2
|-
| Line 3 || Longgang Line || Longgang Line (Line 3)
|Line 3
|-
| Line 4 || Longhua Line || Longhua Line (Line 4)
|Line 4
|-
| Line 5 || Huanzhong Line || Huanzhong Line (Line 5)
|Line 5
|-
| Line 7 || Xili Line || Xili Line (Line 7)
|Line 7
|-
| Line 8 || Yantian Line || Yantian Line (Line 8)
|Line 2 Extension (Line 8 Phase 1)
|-
| Line 9 || Neihuan Line || Meilin Line (Line 9)
|Line 9
|-
| Line 16 || Pinghu Line || Bantian Line (Line 16/Line 10)
|Line 10
|-
| Line 11 || Airport Line || Airport Line (Line 11)
|Line 11
|-
| Line 10 || Bao'an Line || Nanbao Line (Line 10/Line 12)
| Line 12
|-
| Line 14 || Eastern Express || Eastern Express (Line 14)
| Line 14
|-
| Line 12 || Pingshan Line || Longping Line (Line 12/Line 16)
| Line 16
|-
| – || – || Fuyong Line (Line 20)
| Line 20 (International Expo Conveyance Project)
|}
Lines under construction:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%; line-height:1.05"
|-
! Original No.
! 2007 Scheme
! 2010 Scheme
! Current name
|-
| Line 15 || Shiyan Line || Shiyan Line (Line 15/Line 13)
| Line 13
|}
Phase II (2007–2011) + 2025
From 2004 to 2007, there was a lack of official government interest and attention to expanding the subway after completion of Phase 1 with little or no active projects. Subway construction speed was ridiculed as "earthworm speed". On January 17, 2007, Shenzhen won the right to host the 2011 Universiade. In the bid Shenzhen committed to complete of subway lines before the games. Subsequently, the Shenzhen municipal government and various departments signed a liability form, requiring Phase II subway expansion to be completed in time for the Universiade. Shenzhen Metro increased to over a hundred operating metro stations in June 2011, just before the Shenzhen Universiade games. In the span of two weeks, the network expanded from to . This expansion increased rail transit's share of total public transit trips from 6% to 29% in 2014.
{| class="wikitable"
! Date Opened
! style="width:200px;"| Line
! style="width:300px;" colspan="2"| Termini
! Length<br />
! Stations
|- style = "background:#606060; height: 2pt"
| colspan = "6" |
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| September 28, 2009
| – phase 2 (trial)
| Window of the World
| Shenzhen University
| 3.39
| 3
|-
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| December 28, 2010
| – phase 1
| Chiwan
| Window of the World
| 15.1
| 12
|-
| – phase 1 (elevated section)
| Shuanglong
| Caopu
| 25.6
| 16
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| June 15, 2011
| – phase 2
| Shenzhen University
| Airport East
| 23.6
| 12
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| June 16, 2011
| – phase 2 (first north extension)
| Children's Palace
| Qinghu
| 15.9
| 10
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| June 22, 2011
| – phase 1
| Qianhaiwan
| Huangbeiling
| 40.0
| 27
|-
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| June 28, 2011
| – phase 2 (first east extension)
| Window of the World
| Xinxiu
| 20.65
| 17
|-
| – phase 1 (underground section) & phase 2 (first south extension)
| Caopu
| Yitian
| 16.52
| 14
|-
| style="text-align: center;" |December 28, 2025
| – phase 1 (remaining section)
|Huangbeiling
|Grand Theater
|2.88
|3
|}
Phase III (2012–2023)
In 2010, the Shenzhen Urban Planning and Land Resources Committee proposed a building program (Phase III) between 2011 and 2020. In 2011 this plan was approved by the NDRC. Phase III formally commenced in May 2011 with an expected cost of 125.6 billion yuan. It will cover Lines 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11 and will extend the length of the Shenzhen Metro to and 10 lines. In June 2011, the Shenzhen Urban Planning and Land Resources Commission started gather public input on Phase III station names. On June 28, 2016, Line 11 opened being the first subway line in Shenzhen with 8 car trains and maximum service speed and the first in China with a First Class service. Lines 7 and 9 followed on October 28, 2016. South extension of Line 5 opened on September 28, 2019, and west extension of Line 9 opened on December 8, 2019. Line 6 and Line 10 opened on August 18, 2020, bringing the length of the Shenzhen Metro to and the fourth longest in China. Second east extension of Line 2, second south extension of Line 3, second north extension of Line 4 and phase 1 of Line 8 opened on October 28, 2020, bringing the length of the Shenzhen Metro to . Phase III is also the first phase in which the lines are officially numbered instead of named and colored.
{| class="wikitable"
! Date Opened
! style="width:200px;"| Line
! style="width:300px;" colspan="2"| Termini
! Length<br />
! Stations
|- style = "background:#606060; height: 2pt"
| colspan = "6" |
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| June 28, 2016
| – phase 1
| Futian
| Bitou
| 51.936
| 18
|-
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| October 28, 2016
| – phase 1
| Tai'an
| Xili Lake
| 30.173
| 28
|-
| – phase 1
| Wenjin
| Hongshuwan South
| 25.38
| 22
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| September 28, 2019
| – phase 2
| Qianhaiwan
| Chiwan
| 7.65
| 7
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| December 8, 2019
| – phase 2
| Hongshuwan South
| Qianwan
| 10.79
| 10
|-
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| August 18, 2020
| – phase 1 & 2
| Science Museum
| Songgang
| 49.4
| 27
|-
|
| Futian Checkpoint
| Shuangyong Street
| 29.3
| 8
|-
| (through operation to ) – phase 1
| Liantang
|
| 12.367
| 7
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| December 27, 2023
| (through operation to ) – phase 2
|
|
| 8.01
| 4
|}
Phase IV & Phase IV revised expansion (2017–2027)
With the shortening of the Phase III implementation period, a number of lines (Lines 16 and 12) planned in 2007's Phase III moved into the next phase. By 2016, it was determined that Phase IV will have an implementation period between 2017 and 2022 and consist of of new subway. Lines 13 and 14 which originally had a long term 2030 completion deadline were moved into Phase IV expansion. In addition, a branch line of Line 6 will connect with the neighboring Dongguan Rail Transit system. Lines 12, 13, 14, and 16 and branch of Line 6 was approved by the NDRC in July 2017 and started construction in January 2018.
{| class="wikitable"
! Expected opening
! Line
! Section
! colspan="2"| Terminals
! Length<br />
! Stations
|- style = "background:#606060; height: 2pt"
| colspan="7" |
|-
| June 2026
| rowspan="2" |
| Phase 2 North
|
|
| 18.8
| 11
|-
| 2027
| Phase 2 South
|
|
| 4.47
| 3
|-
|- style="background:#606060; height: 2pt"
| colspan="7" |
|}
Phase V (2023–2028)
In the Shenzhen Metro 2007 masterplan proposed four more lines (Lines 13, 14, 15 and 16) which have a planned completion target of 2030. In 2016, all aforementioned lines but Line 15 were designated as part of the Phase IV expansion, moving the completion date forward from 2030 to 2022. In 2012, four further lines Qiannan (Line 17), Pinghu (Line 18), Pingshan (Line 19) and Fuyong (Line 20) where unveiled, making the total planned length of the Shenzhen Metro to spread out over 20 lines. The first phase of Line 20 was fast-tracked and included in the Phase III revised expansion with a completion date of 2018. This leaves Line 15, 17–19 and the rest of Line 20 available for the next phase (Phase V) of subway expansion. In September 2022, the Shenzhen municipal government confirmed the projects proposed to be included in its phase V expansion. A total of of new lines are proposed.
On March 31, 2023, the Bureau of Housing and Urban Rural Development of Shenzhen Metro Municipality will open the bidding for the fifth phase planning of Shenzhen Metro Metro, including Line 15, Line 17 Phase I, Line 19 Phase I, Line 20 Phase II (Airport East—Baishizhou), Line 22 Phase I, Line 25 Phase I, Line 27 Phase I, Line 29 Phase I and Line 32 Phase I, This means that these 9 lines have been approved with an investment amount of 191.1 billion yuan. However, Line 18 Phase I, Line 21 Phase I, Line 10 East Extension (Shenzhen Section) and Metro Line 11 North Extension (Shenzhen Section), which were previously proposed to be included in the fifth phase plan of Shenzhen Metro, were not included in this announcement.
In June 2023, the Fifth Phase Construction Plan of Shenzhen Urban Rail Transit (2023–2028) has been approved for a total of 11 construction projects, including Line 15, Line 17 Phase I, Line 19 Phase I, Line 20 Phase II (Airport East—Baishizhou), Line 22 Phase I, Line 25 Phase I, Line 27 Phase I, Line 29 Phase I, Line 32 Phase I, Line 10 East Extension (Shenzhen Section) and Metro Line 11 North Extension (Shenzhen Section).
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Line
! Section
! colspan="2"| Terminals
! Length<br />
! Stations
!Status
|- style = "background:#606060; height: 2pt"
| colspan="6" |
|
|-
|
|East extension
| Shuangyong Street
| Huanggekeng
| 9.8 (2.9 in Shenzhen)
| 5
| rowspan="3" |Approved
|-
|
|North extension
| Bitou
| Chang'an
| 3.7 (0.8 in Shenzhen)
| 1
|-
|
|West extension
|Gangxia North
| Xiangmihu West
|
|1
|-
|
|
| colspan = "2" |Loop Line
|32.2
|24
|Under Construction
|-
|
| rowspan="2" |Phase 1
| Luohu West
| Shanglilang
| 18.8
| 18
|Under Construction
|-
|
| Nantangwei
| Julong
| 12.5
| 12
|Under Construction
|-
|
|Phase 2
| Airport North
| Baishizhou
| 24.9
| 11
|Under Construction
|-
|
| rowspan="5" | Phase 1
| Shangsha
| Liguang
| 34.2
| 21
|Under Construction
|-
|
| Shilong
| Jihua Hospital
| 16.2
| 14
|Under Construction
|-
|
| Songpingcun, Jihua Hospital
| Gangtou West, Lizhi Orchard
| 25.6
| 21
|Under Construction
|-
|
| Hongshuwan South
| Xingdong
| 11.3
| 10
|Under Construction
|-
|
| Xichong
| Kuichong East
| 9.5
| 4
|Under Construction
|-
! colspan="4" |Total
|196.3
|140
|
|}
Long-term plan
Aside from the set masterplan, at the 12th Guangdong Provincial People's Congress in January 2014, it was proposed to extend Line 4 beyond the planned Phase III terminus at the Songyuan Bus Terminal in Guanlan. The proposal wanted to further extend this line to reach the future planned Dongguan Metro Line 4 at Tangxia station. This proposal aims to shorten the distance between the two cities in residents' minds, boost tourism industries in both cities and expand housing options. It would also allow for direct connection between Hong Kong and Dongguan. As the area in the proposed area is less developed, the cost in building the line is expected to be lower, with a feasibility study yet to be conducted. In addition to metro lines, 5 Pearl River Delta Rapid Transit lines connecting neighboring urban centers in the Pearl River Delta such as Dongguan, Huizhou, Foshan and Guangzhou, totaling , have also been revealed. In 2016, an even more ambitious masterplan, expanding the previously planned 20 lines to 32, was unveiled. The new plan envisions a subway network to be completed by 2030. This will allow for travel between the central and suburban districts to be shortened to 45 minutes and for public transit to make up more than 70% of all motorized trips in Shenzhen.