Ferries & Boats in China: Hong Kong, Yangtze River, Coastal Routes & (2026)

Hong Kong ↔ Macau (TurboJet / Cotai Water Jet)

The busiest ferry route in China is actually between two Special Administrative Regions. TurboJet and Cotai Water Jet run roughly every 15-30 minutes between Hong Kong and Macau.

| Detail | Info | |---|---| | Duration | 55-70 minutes | | Price | HK$160-200 (economy), HK$300-400 (super class) | | Departure points (HK) | Sheung Wan (Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal), Tsim Sha Tsui (China Ferry Terminal) | | Arrival points (Macau) | Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal (Macau Peninsula), Taipa Ferry Terminal (Cotai) | | Immigration | Passport required. Hong Kong exit → Macau entry. Check-in 30 min before departure |

Night sailings (after 6pm) cost more. Book online through TurboJet or Cotai Water Jet websites, or buy at the terminal. Weekends and holidays sell out — book a day ahead.

Hong Kong ↔ Zhuhai / Shenzhen / Guangzhou

Several operators run ferries from Hong Kong to mainland China ports:

Hong Kong → Zhuhai: 70 min, HK$220-280. Used by travelers heading to the Zhuhai area who don’t want to take the bridge bus.
Hong Kong → Shenzhen (Shekou): 50 min, HK$130-160. Faster than the metro in some cases if you’re staying in Shekou.
Hong Kong → Guangzhou (Panyu): 2 hours, HK$280-350. Slower than the high-speed train (50 min) but different arrival location.

All require immigration clearance — treat these like border crossings. Passport required. Arrive 30 min early.

Hong Kong Star Ferry (Tsim Sha Tsui ↔ Central/Wan Chai)

Not “China” transport, but worth mentioning: the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour is one of the world’s great commutes. HK$4-5 (upper deck), 10 minutes, operating since 1888. Take it at sunset. Best views of Hong Kong for the price of a bus ticket.

Xiamen ↔ Gulangyu Island (鼓浪屿)

Gulangyu is a car-free island off Xiamen’s coast — colonial architecture, piano museums, beaches, and approximately one million tourists on weekends. The ferry is the only way there.

| Detail | Info | |---|---| | Duration | 20 minutes | | Price | ¥35 round trip (tourist ferry) / ¥8 (local ferry, but tourists may not use it) | | Departure | Xiamen International Cruise Terminal (Dongdu) or Lundu Ferry Terminal (locals only) | | Arrival | Sanqiutian or Neicuo’ao wharf (Gulangyu) |

Important: Tourists MUST use the Dongdu terminal, not Lundu (locals only). Book Gulangyu ferry tickets in advance through the official WeChat mini-program or Trip.com — ferries sell out on weekends and holidays. Your passport is required for booking. Buy round-trip — the return is open within 20 days.

Take the first ferry of the day (7:10am) to see Gulangyu before the crowds arrive. By 10am the island is packed. The last return ferry is around midnight in summer, earlier in winter.

Shanghai Huangpu River Ferry

Shanghai has two very different ferry experiences on the Huangpu River:

The Commuter Ferry (¥2)

The public ferry crosses the Huangpu at multiple points. The most useful for tourists: Dongchang Road (Pudong, near the Pearl Tower) to Jinling East Road (the Bund). It’s ¥2, runs every 10-15 minutes, takes 7 minutes. Locals use it for commuting. You get the same skyline views as the tourist cruise for 1/60th the price. Payment: Shanghai transit card or Alipay transport QR.

The Tourist Cruise (¥120-160)

The Huangpu River cruise is 45-60 minutes, covers both sides of the river from Yangpu Bridge to Nanpu Bridge, and passes the full Bund skyline and Pudong skyline at night. Is it worth it? If you want the full city-light-on-water experience with a drink in hand, yes. If you just want to see the skyline from the water, the ¥2 commuter ferry does 80% of the job.

Yangtze River Cruises

Multi-day cruises between Chongqing and Yichang (downstream: 4 days) or Yichang to Chongqing (upstream: 5 days) pass through the Three Gorges. This is not a ferry — it’s a cruise vacation.

| Detail | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury | |---|---|---|---| | Price (4-5 days) | ¥1,500-2,500 | ¥2,500-5,000 | ¥5,000-15,000+ | | Cabin | Interior/lower deck | Balcony cabin | Suite with butler | | Meals | Buffet included | Better buffet + a la carte | Fine dining | | Shore excursions | Basic (included) | Better selection | Private tours |

Book through a travel agency or Trip.com. The best time is April-May and September-October (pleasant weather, water levels good). Summer is hot and humid. Winter is cold but the Three Gorges Dam is most impressive when water levels are low.

Island Routes for Travelers

Sanya ↔ Wuzhizhou Island (Hainan): 30 min ferry to a tropical island popular for snorkeling. ¥140-160 round trip.
Zhoushan ↔ Putuoshan (Zhejiang): 30 min to a sacred Buddhist island. ¥60 round trip. Putuoshan is one of China’s four sacred Buddhist mountains, on an island.
Weizhou Island (Guangxi, near Beihai): 70 min to China’s youngest volcanic island. ¥150 round trip. Bananas, beaches, and a Catholic church built by 19th-century French missionaries.
Dalian ↔ Yantai/Weihai: Overnight car ferries across the Bohai Strait (6-7 hours, ¥200-400 for a berth). Not touristy — this is how trucks and locals cross. An interesting alternative to flying between Dalian and Shandong.

General Ferry Tips

Passport: Any international ferry route (HK ↔ Macau/Zhuhai/Shenzhen) requires passport and immigration clearance. Arrive 30+ minutes early. Domestic ferries may ask for passport as ID.

Seasickness: The Pearl River Delta routes are on calm water. The Xiamen-Gulangyu crossing is a bathtub. The Dalian-Yantai overnight ferry is open sea — rough in winter.

Booking: For major routes (HK-Macau, Xiamen-Gulangyu), book ahead online or through Trip.com. For local ferries (Shanghai commuter, island day trips), just show up and buy at the terminal.

Ferries in China are practical, not luxury. They get you from A to B. Sometimes B is an island with no cars, old colonial buildings, and piano music drifting from open windows. Worth the boat ride.