Regarded as the most important port city in China, Shenzhen first set up a customs house by the Shenzhen River in 1900. It now boasts the latest number of border checkpoint sand the heaviest exit-entry flow of people and vehicles in the country．In 2001，shenzhen ports handled a total of 117 million passengers and 11.37 million vehicles，making it the busiest border crossing in China．Imports and exports amounted to 58.1 million tons and total container throughput was 5.07 minion TEUs, second only to shanghai. Shenzhen serves as a major gateway to world markets. Eighty percent of the container traffic between Shenzhen and Hong Kong provide services business in the Pearl River Delta and hinterland provinces, while 60 percent of the cargo crossing the border inward and outward through 10 Shenzhen is from the rest of the country.
Shenzhen is the only city on the Chinese mainland that has air，sea and land ports.
The city now has 12 first category ports，including four land ports. These include Luohu，Wenjindu, Huanggang and shatoujiao．The seaports are at Shekou，Chiwan, Dongjiaotou，Meisha，Yantian and Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant Accommodation Port．Air transport through Baoan international Airport.
24-hour border crossing between Huanggang and Lok Ma Chau checkpoints was timed to start Jan. 27,
2003, shortly before the Chinese Spring Festival.