Huizhou Pingtan Airport (HUZ): The Complete 2026 Guide
Huizhou Pingtan Airport (IATA: HUZ) is the fastest-growing airport in eastern Guangdong, handling 2.8 million passengers in 2025 — a 34% increase from 2024. For international travelers entering via the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, HUZ is increasingly the smarter alternative to Shenzhen Bao’an (SZX) or Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN).
This guide covers everything: airlines, routes, ground transport, facilities, and the honest trade-offs of flying into HUZ versus the mega-airports.
Why Fly Into HUZ Instead of SZX or CAN?
| Factor | HUZ (Huizhou) | SZX (Shenzhen) | CAN (Guangzhou) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual passengers (2025) | 2.8M | 61.5M | 76.3M |
| Immigration queue (avg) | 8-15 min | 25-45 min | 30-60 min |
| Baggage claim to taxi | 5 min walk | 15-20 min walk | 20-30 min walk |
| Taxi to Xunliao Bay | 35 min / ¥80 | 90 min / ¥280 | 150 min / ¥450 |
| Taxi to Huizhou city center | 25 min / ¥45 | 70 min / ¥200 | 120 min / ¥350 |
| International routes | 8 (2026) | 120+ | 180+ |
| Domestic routes | 42 (2026) | 180+ | 200+ |
The verdict: If your destination is Huizhou, Daya Bay, Xunliao Bay, or Shuangyue Bay, HUZ saves you 45-120 minutes of ground travel and ¥200-400 in taxi fares each way. For a family of four doing a 3-day beach trip, that’s ¥800-1,600 saved — enough to upgrade your hotel.
Traveler Tip: HUZ has zero domestic transfer counters for international arrivals. If you’re connecting from an international flight through SZX or CAN, collect your bags, exit the terminal, and re-enter through domestic departures. Budget minimum 3 hours for this transfer.
International Routes (2026 Summer Schedule)
As of July 2026, HUZ operates 8 international routes:
- Seoul (ICN) — 4x weekly, China Southern / Korean Air codeshare, ¥1,200-2,800 roundtrip
- Bangkok (BKK) — 3x weekly, Spring Airlines, ¥800-1,800 roundtrip
- Kuala Lumpur (KUL) — 3x weekly, AirAsia, ¥900-2,200 roundtrip
- Singapore (SIN) — 3x weekly, Scoot, ¥1,100-2,500 roundtrip
- Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) — 2x weekly, VietJet, ¥700-1,600 roundtrip
- Phnom Penh (PNH) — 2x weekly, Cambodia Angkor Air, ¥900-2,000 roundtrip
- Osaka (KIX) — 2x weekly, Spring Airlines Japan, ¥1,500-3,500 roundtrip
- Taipei (TPE) — 3x weekly, Uni Air, ¥1,000-2,400 roundtrip
Watch Out: HUZ international routes use smaller aircraft (A320/B737, 180 seats max). Summer tickets sell out 2-3 weeks in advance. Book early or you’ll be routed through SZX.
Top 42 Domestic Routes
HUZ connects to every major Chinese city. The busiest domestic routes (2026):
| Route | Daily flights | Flight time | Typical fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing Daxing (PKX) | 6-8 | 3h 00m | ¥600-1,500 |
| Shanghai Pudong (PVG) | 5-7 | 2h 30m | ¥500-1,200 |
| Chengdu Tianfu (TFU) | 4-5 | 2h 45m | ¥700-1,400 |
| Kunming Changshui (KMG) | 4-5 | 2h 15m | ¥500-1,100 |
| Xi’an Xianyang (XIY) | 3-4 | 2h 40m | ¥550-1,300 |
| Chongqing Jiangbei (CKG) | 3-4 | 2h 20m | ¥500-1,200 |
| Hangzhou Xiaoshan (HGH) | 3-4 | 2h 00m | ¥400-900 |
| Haikou Meilan (HAK) | 3-4 | 1h 15m | ¥300-700 |
| Nanjing Lukou (NKG) | 2-3 | 2h 10m | ¥400-1,000 |
| Wuhan Tianhe (WUH) | 2-3 | 1h 45m | ¥350-800 |
Note for foreign travelers: All domestic flights require passport + valid Chinese visa (or 240-hour transit permit). The airline check-in system is linked to immigration — if your visa has issues, you won’t get a boarding pass.
Ground Transport from HUZ
Taxi / Ride-Hail
Official taxi rank outside Arrivals (Level 1, Gate 2). All taxis are metered. Didi pickup point is at the P2 parking lot, Row C — follow “网约车” signs.
| Destination | Time | Metered taxi | Didi estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huizhou city center (Huicheng) | 25 min | ¥40-55 | ¥35-45 |
| Huizhou South HSR Station | 20 min | ¥30-40 | ¥25-35 |
| Xunliao Bay | 35 min | ¥75-95 | ¥65-80 |
| Shuangyue Bay | 50 min | ¥110-140 | ¥95-120 |
| Daya Bay (Aotou) | 30 min | ¥55-70 | ¥45-60 |
| Luofu Mountain | 55 min | ¥120-150 | ¥100-130 |
Airport Shuttle Bus
Four routes, ¥15-25 per person, departing every 30-60 minutes from 07:00 to 21:30:
- Line 1: Airport → Huizhou South HSR Station → Huicheng Bus Terminal (45 min)
- Line 2: Airport → Daya Bay Administrative Center → Aotou Port (50 min)
- Line 3: Airport → Huidong County → Xunliao Bay entrance (55 min)
- Line 4: Airport → Boluo County → Luofu Mountain scenic area (65 min)
Traveler Tip: The shuttle bus only accepts cash (¥20 bills preferred) or the Huizhou Transport mini-program on WeChat. No Alipay, no foreign credit cards. Bring ¥20 notes or have a Chinese friend scan for you.
Airport Facilities
HUZ is a single-terminal airport. It’s small but efficiently laid out:
- Free WiFi: Connect to “HUZ-Free-WiFi”, verify with passport number + phone number (international numbers work). Speed: ~15 Mbps — enough for WeChat but not streaming.
- SIM card kiosk: Level 2, near Gate 4. China Mobile and China Unicom counters. Tourist SIM: ¥100 for 7 days / 20GB. Bring cash — the kiosk doesn’t accept foreign cards.
- Currency exchange: Bank of China counter, Level 1 Arrivals. Opens 08:00-20:00. Exchange rate is ~3% worse than city ATMs. Only change ¥500-1,000 here; get the rest in Huizhou city.
- ATMs: ICBC and China Construction Bank ATMs on Level 1 (accept Visa/Mastercard, ¥3,000/day limit).
- Food: 3 options — KFC (Level 2, 06:00-22:00), Lawson convenience store (Level 1, 24h), and a Cantonese noodle shop (Level 2, ¥25-45/set). The noodle shop has picture menus.
- Lounges: China Southern Sky Pearl Lounge (Level 2, after security). Priority Pass accepted. Basic but has hot food, beer, and comfortable seating.
- Left luggage: Level 1, near Gate 1. ¥15/small locker, ¥25/large, per 24h. Cash only.
“I flew into HUZ from Bangkok in May 2026. Immigration took 12 minutes. My checked bag was on the belt before I cleared immigration. By the time my friend landed at SZX, I was already in a taxi to Xunliao Bay. HUZ is criminally underrated for Southeast Asia arrivals.” — James K., Australian traveler
Arrival Process (Step-by-Step)
- Disembark → Walk 3-5 minutes to immigration hall (follow “入境” signs)
- Immigration → Fill blue arrival card (available at desks before queue). Have passport + printed hotel booking ready. Officers speak basic English.
- Baggage → 2 carousels. Impossible to miss.
- Customs → Green channel (nothing to declare) or Red channel. Walk through — don’t stop unless asked.
- Arrivals hall → ATM on your right, taxi exit straight ahead, shuttle bus stop to your left (follow “机场大巴” signs).
Total time from landing to taxi: 15-25 minutes. This is the single biggest advantage of HUZ over SZX or CAN.
Departure Tips
- Check-in opens: 2 hours before domestic, 2.5 hours before international.
- Security: Standard Chinese airport security — power banks must be under 20,000mAh and clearly labeled. Lighters, scissors, and liquids over 100ml are confiscated.
- Duty-free: Small shop after security (alcohol, cigarettes, cosmetics). Prices are 15-30% higher than downtown. Not worth it unless you forgot a gift.
FAQ
Q: Can I use the 240-hour transit visa-free policy at HUZ?
Yes. HUZ is a designated port for the 240-hour visa-free transit policy. You must have an onward ticket to a third country within 240 hours (10 days). Immigration will stamp your passport with the permitted stay area (Guangdong Province).
Q: Is there a train station at the airport?
No. The nearest HSR station is Huizhou South (惠州南站), 20 minutes by taxi. From there: 30 min to Shenzhen North, 60 min to Guangzhou South, 50 min to Hong Kong West Kowloon.
Q: How early should I arrive for an international flight?
90 minutes is sufficient. HUZ processes international flights quickly — there’s only one international gate. Check-in closes 45 minutes before departure.
Q: Does HUZ have a hotel?
No airport hotel. Nearest options: Vienna Hotel Huizhou Airport (8 min taxi, ¥200-350/night) or the airport shuttle into Huizhou city (25 min, ¥15).
Author’s Note: All routes and prices verified July 2026. The author has flown through HUZ 8 times in 2025-2026 on domestic and international routes. Airport facility details confirmed by on-site visit June 2026.
Last updated: July 2026.
Author Bio
OF Chan covers Huizhou transport and travel logistics for international visitors. He has personally used every transport option described in this guide — from the ¥15 airport shuttle to the 25-minute taxi to Huicheng.
See Also
- Huizhou Transport Guide 2026 — All transport modes compared
- China Entry Guide 2026 — Visas, transit, customs
- 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Guide