SHENZHEN – Waiting for a connecting flight means being stuck in the terminal for hours? Not so in Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, which has launched a free city tour for international transit passengers and turned layover time into an opportunity to explore the city’s landmarks.

On August 7, 17 international passengers on flight ZH306 from Bangkok, Thailand, became the first group to experience the new service.

The group departed from the terminal and visited attractions including Nantou Ancient City, Shenzhen Bay Talent Park, the Happy Harbor, and the Bay Glory Ferris wheel, taking in the city’s modern skyline, natural scenery, and cultural heritage.

The service is open to all international and regional transit passengers with a layover of more than six hours at Shenzhen Airport, including travelers connecting between international and domestic flights, domestic to international, or international to international.

Foreign passengers must hold a valid visa or meet the requirements of the 240-hour visa-free transit policy.

Passengers can register online by scanning the QR code on leaflets distributed on Shenzhen-destined flights. Upon arrival, they proceed to a designated meeting point to join the tour on a first-come, first-served basis.

Two tour routes are available, each lasting 4 to 6 hours, and both are completely free.

The “Half-Day Shenzhen Tour” takes passengers to Nantou Ancient City, a site with more than 1,700 years of history, and Shenzhen Bay Talent Park, showcasing the city’s modern coastal landscape.

The “Short Coastal Tour” guides visitors through Happy Harbor and the Bay Glory Ferris wheel, offering scenic views of the west coast.

Transit passengers who joined the inaugural tour said the free city tour made their waiting time more fulfilling and colorful.

“This is an unforgettable transit experience. The ancient architecture, beautiful scenery, and modern cityscape all left a deep impression,” said a passenger.

By integrating aviation with tourism, the free city tour is part of the airport’s broader effort to enhance its international hub status. As of July 2026, the airport operates 63 international and regional passenger routes, connecting to all five continents.

International passenger traffic has been growing steadily. As of August 4, the airport had handled nearly 3.8 million international and regional passengers this year, including nearly 40 percent transit travelers.

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This article is based on original report in Chinese as published on the official WeChat public account of Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport.