The Shenzhen Airport-Qianhai section of the Guangzhou-Dongguan-Shenzhen Intercity Railway is making steady progress and is now expected to open by the end of 2026. As of late March, the project had reached 87% overall completion, marking a major milestone for one of the Greater Bay Area's most significant transportation projects.

Project updates show that tunneling work is fully complete, equipment installation and station interior works have reached 80%, and 46% of track-laying has been finished. The "Airport-Qianhai segment" spans 15.15 kilometers, running from Shenzhen Airport Station (exclusive) to Qianhai Station. It passes through Bao'an District and the Qianhai Cooperation Zone, with three underground stations — Xixiang, Bao'an, and Qianhai—and includes provisions for a future extension toward Huanggang Port.

The Guangzhou-Dongguan-Shenzhen Intercity Railway serves as a backbone of rail transit along the eastern bank of the Pearl River. The project is being built in three phases:

· Xintang (Guangzhou)-Shenzhen Airport section: Opened in December 2019, providing a fast commuter link among Guangzhou, Dongguan, and Shenzhen.

· Shenzhen Airport-Qianhai section: Currently under full-scale construction, with all stations built underground.

· Qianhai-Huanggang Port section: Also under construction, featuring two underground stations — Super Headquarters and Huanggang Port — and designed for seamless interchange with multiple Shenzhen Metro lines.

Situated at the heart of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), the intercity railway is a vital connector linking Guangzhou, Dongguan, Shenzhen, and Foshan. It enhances rapid east–west mobility along the Pearl River and strengthens development synergy between Qianhai and Bao'an. Once fully operational, the line will support deeper regional integration and boost the economic dynamism of western Shenzhen.

Equally significant is the line's planned connection with the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Line, which is expected to enable direct travel between Hong Kong's Northern Metropolis, Qianhai, and Nansha. This future linkage will further streamline the flow of people, goods, capital, and technology across the GBA, reinforcing the region's position as a globally competitive urban cluster.