Money at Shenzhen Bao'an International (SZX)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Shenzhen, China.
Shenzhen uses the CNY (¥). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly ¥7–¥150. Alipay/WeChat Pay dominant; cash still works, cards rarely.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Shenzhen Bao'an International (SZX)?
China uses the CNY (¥). Airport ATMs dispense CNY directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from SZX to the city cost?
Expected fare on the SZX → Futian route is roughly ¥7–¥150. Around ¥250+ is already high, and ¥400+ private is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at SZX?
Not expected — can offend. Drivers in China don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at SZX?
Alipay/WeChat Pay dominant; cash still works, cards rarely. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of CNY notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at SZX?
Only if you need $10–20 of CNY to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
Every transport option ranked, fare tiers, first-30-minute checklist and reported scams.