014. Shenzhen Bao’an Airport (SZX)

SZX

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport (SZX) stands as one of China’s premier aviation hubs, serving as a vital gateway to the country’s southern region and the bustling Pearl River Delta. Located on the east bank of the Pearl River in Bao’an District, this modern facility has rapidly evolved to become a key player in China’s aviation landscape, connecting millions of passengers to destinations across the globe while showcasing innovative architectural design.

History and Development

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, originally known as Shenzhen Huangtian Airport, was inaugurated on October 12, 1991. The airport was established to serve the rapidly growing city of Shenzhen, which had been designated as China’s first Special Economic Zone in 1980 and was experiencing tremendous economic development.

The initial facility covered an area of 10.8 square kilometers (2,700 acres) and featured a single 3,400-meter long, 45-meter wide runway with 53 parking spaces on its apron. The early terminal buildings were modest in size and primarily served domestic routes.

As Shenzhen continued to grow as a major manufacturing center and technology hub, the airport underwent multiple expansions to accommodate increasing passenger and cargo traffic:

  • In 2008, Terminal D (the international terminal) was opened, although it had no dedicated air gates and utilized airside bus service.
  • In 2011, a second runway measuring 3,600 meters was completed, making it one of China’s two-runway airports.
  • The most significant transformation came in 2013 with the opening of Terminal 3, a striking architectural masterpiece designed by the Italian firm Studio Fuksas. This terminal replaced the older Terminals A, B, and D, which were subsequently closed.

Quick Facts and Statistics

  • IATA Code: SZX
  • ICAO Code: ZGSZ
  • Location: 32 kilometers (20 miles) northwest of Shenzhen’s city center
  • Area: Approximately 10.8 square kilometers (2,700 acres)
  • Runways: Two runways (3,400m and 3,800m long)
  • Terminal: Single operational terminal (Terminal 3)
  • Passenger Capacity: Designed to handle 45 million passengers annually
  • Passenger Traffic: In 2023, the airport handled 52,734,934 passengers, making it the fourth-busiest airport in mainland China
  • Cargo Traffic: Registered 1,600,347.7 tonnes of freight in 2023, ranking it as the world’s twentieth-busiest airport for cargo operations
  • Rankings: Currently stands as China’s fifth-largest airport by passenger volume

Terminal Facilities

Terminal 3, which opened in November 2013, is the only terminal currently in operation at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport. This visually stunning structure, often compared to a manta ray due to its flowing, organic design, has become the airport’s defining feature.

The terminal spans 451,000 square meters across five levels and is divided into three main sections: the main terminal building, the cross concourse departure hall, and the satellite concourse. It stretches 1,128 meters from north to south and 640 meters from east to west, providing 62 bridge stands and 14 remote stands.

Terminal Layout

  • 1st Floor: Connects to the Ground Transportation Center (GTC), international arrivals, baggage claim, and waiting hall
  • 2nd Floor: Domestic arrivals, baggage claim, and transfer area
  • 3rd Floor: Departure lounges, inspection and quarantine facilities, and international departure areas
  • 4th Floor: Check-in counters and domestic departure hall
  • 5th Floor: Commercial and dining areas

Check-in Areas

  • Areas A & B: Domestic flights of China Southern Airlines
  • Area C: Hainan Airlines, Sichuan Airlines
  • Areas D & E: International flights of Shenzhen Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Air China
  • Area F: China Eastern Airlines
  • Areas G & H: Domestic flights of Shenzhen Airlines and Air China

Facilities and Services

The terminal offers an extensive range of passenger amenities:

  • Business Center: Provides fax, copying, printing, mail services, and ticket booking
  • Currency Exchange: Multiple currency exchange service providers, including Travelex, YunForex, and United Money
  • Lost and Found Office: Located near the end of Island A in the Departure Hall on the 4th floor
  • Left Luggage Service: Available 24/7 for secure baggage storage
  • Lounges: Multiple premium lounges for business and first-class passengers
  • Hotels: Three Hyatt hotels are located at the airport
  • Dining Options: Numerous restaurants, cafes, and food outlets throughout the terminal
  • Shopping: Extensive duty-free and retail outlets
  • Medical Services: First aid stations and medical assistance

Airlines and Destinations

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport serves as a strategic hub for several major Chinese carriers and offers extensive domestic and international connections:

Hub Airlines

  • Primary Hub for: Shenzhen Airlines and Donghai Airlines
  • Cargo Hub for: SF Airlines
  • Important Base for: China Southern Airlines and Hainan Airlines
  • Asian-Pacific Cargo Hub for: UPS Airlines

Destinations

The airport currently operates over 150 air routes connecting approximately 100 domestic and international destinations:

  • Domestic: Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Xi’an, Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Sanya, and many other Chinese cities
  • International: Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Seoul, Tokyo, and other Asian destinations
  • Intercontinental: Limited but growing service to destinations in Europe, with Air China launching the first intercontinental route from Shenzhen to Frankfurt, Germany in May 2016

Ground Transportation

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport’s strategic location in the Pearl River Delta and its role as a comprehensive transportation hub provide travelers with multiple convenient options for reaching the city and surrounding areas:

Metro

Shenzhen Metro Line 11 (also known as the Airport Line) provides direct access to the airport:

  • Airport Station: Directly connected to the Ground Transport Center of Terminal 3, with a 3-minute walking distance
  • Service Direction: Eastbound service via Bao’an and Nanshan to Futian station (connecting with Futian railway station High-Speed Rail services) and westbound service via Fuyong, Shajing, and Songgang to Bitou
  • Journey Time: Approximately 45 minutes from the airport to central Shenzhen
  • Seating Options: Regular and business class seats available (business class offers more space for luggage)

Airport Shuttle Buses

Several shuttle bus services connect the airport to various parts of Shenzhen and neighboring cities:

  • Airport Express Shuttle 330: Operates from the second floor of the Ground Transportation Center
  • City Routes: Multiple routes connecting to different areas of Shenzhen
  • Intercity Routes: Services to nearby cities such as Guangzhou, Zhongshan, Huizhou, Hong Kong, and Macau
  • Fares: Most city routes cost approximately ¥10 yuan

Ferries

Fast ferry services provide convenient sea connections:

  • Destinations: Hong Kong International Airport (via Skypier Ferry Terminal), Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal and Taipa Ferry Terminal in Macau
  • Embarkation Point: Fuyong Port, connected to Terminal 3 by frequent shuttle buses
  • Special Services: Some airlines offer check-in services at Fuyong Port for Hong Kong flights, including baggage tag-through service

Taxis

Three main types of taxis serve the airport:

  • Blue: Electric vehicles
  • Red and Green: Conventional vehicles
  • Pickup Location: Designated taxi stands at the terminal

Future Connections

Several major transportation projects will enhance the airport’s connectivity:

  • Shenzhen–Maoming High-Speed Railway: Planned to stop at the airport
  • Hong Kong–Shenzhen Western Express Railway: Will provide direct rail connections to Hong Kong
  • Shenzhen–Zhongshan Bridge: Currently under construction, this bridge will directly connect the airport area with Zhongshan city on the western side of the Pearl River Delta, cutting travel time to less than 30 minutes

Environmental Initiatives

Future development phases will incorporate additional sustainable design elements:

  • Expansion of photovoltaic systems on terminal roofs
  • Enhanced ventilation and daylight filtration systems
  • Energy-efficient building systems

As Shenzhen continues to grow as a global technology and innovation center, its airport will play an increasingly important role in connecting this dynamic city to the world, supporting its economic development, and showcasing China’s commitment to modern, efficient, and architecturally significant transportation infrastructure.

The Future of SZX

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport has ambitious plans for continued growth and development to cement its position as one of China’s premier aviation hubs:

Master Plan

According to the airport’s master plan (2020 version), Shenzhen Airport aims to build a “3+3+3+1” operation pattern:

  • Three runways
  • Three terminal areas
  • Three cargo areas
  • One satellite hall

Terminal 3 Expansion

The original plans for Terminal 3 outlined three development phases:

  • Phase 1 (completed): Initial capacity of 24 million passengers per year, including the 63 contact gate terminal, traffic system, automated people mover (APM), parking area, and shopping center
  • Phase 2 (planned for 2025): Addition of the first remote passenger concourse and satellite terminal with railway station, increasing capacity to 36 million passengers
  • Phase 3 (planned for 2035): Full completion of Terminal 3 with possible expansion of the satellite terminal and new remote concourses

Terminal 4

Planning is underway for a future Terminal 4, with the Airport North Station on Metro Line 11 already built under the site of this future terminal project.

Strategic Development Goals

Looking ahead, Shenzhen Airport Group has outlined several strategic priorities:

  • Building a high-quality and innovative international aviation hub
  • Developing a pilot national airport-based logistics hub
  • Creating an efficient and convenient international comprehensive transportation hub
  • Implementing five key strategies focused on “passengers, cargo, city, people, and intelligence”
  • Enhancing international hub capacity
  • Pursuing higher quality development to become a world-class airport

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