Ferry to China

Information on Ferry Services between Korea and China

A 24-hour trip by sea is possible between China and Korea due to their close geographical distance. The ferry is reasonably priced and is becoming an increasingly popular option among travelers without strict time constraints.

• Arrival Procedures
• Departure Procedures
• Ferry Route
• Ferry Schedule
• Ferry Reservations
• Foreign Language Services

Ferry from China to Korea

1. 1) International Passenger Terminals – China

   In anticipation of congestion at the International Passenger Terminal, be sure to arrive at the terminal 2 to 3hours before your departure time. Passengers should have their departure cards completely filled out and have their medical inspection documents prepared so that they can be submitted for departure inspection.

2.  

   2) Harbor Passes and Check-in Procedures (2 hours before departure)

   Passengers may purchase harbor passes at the ferry counter located inside the terminal. Once you have paid for the harbor fees (30RMB), present your ferry ticket and passport to receive an authorized boarding pass with an assigned cabin number.

3.  

   3) Baggage Check

   Those with luggage that needs to be checked should proceed to the baggage check counter after the check-in procedure. Passengers need to present their boarding passes and passports at the baggage check counter. After checking your baggage, you will receive a baggage claim tag.

4.  

   4) Departure Gate

   Follow the directions given over the loudspeaker and present your boarding pass and passport at the departure gate. After inspection, passengers may then proceed through the departure gate. The departure gate will close an hour prior to scheduled departure.

5.  

   5) Customs Inspection

   Personal belongings will be inspected. If any of your items are not cleared for entrance into China, the items in question can be sent to your address in Korea (upon completion of all appropriate forms).

6.  

   6) Departure Inspection

   Proceed to the departure inspection counter (Ministry of Justice Immigrations Office) and present your passport, departure card, declarations form, and boarding pass. After inspection, you will receive a stamp in your passport. Make sure to hold on to your arrival card to present to personnel upon arrival in Korea.

7.  

   7) Waiting for Boarding

   After all departure procedures have been completed, proceed to the waiting room or visit the duty-free shop until boarding time.

8.  

   8) Boarding

   Upon instruction from the loudspeakers and staff, take the shuttle bus from the terminal to the dock for boarding.

9.  

   9) Inside the Ferry

   At some point during your journey, make sure to fill in all appropriate forms. All forms should be completed by the time you arrive in Korea.

10.  

    10) Disembarkation

    Upon arrival in Korea, passengers will disembark in the following order: first class passengers, the elderly, and economy class passengers. After getting off the ferry, take the shuttle bus from the dock to the passenger terminal.

Ferry from Korea to China

1. 1) Incheon Port International Passenger Terminal

   In anticipation of the congestion at the International Passenger Terminal, be sure to arrive at the terminal 2 to 3 hours before your departure time. Make sure to pick up your arrival and departure cards while at the terminal.
   
   For your convenience, fill out both cards at the same time. On your arrivals card, fill in the passenger information, vessel name, and destination. Present the card to staff as you go through departure inspection.

2.  

   2) Check-in Procedures (2 hours before departure)

   Follow the directions broadcast over the loudspeaker and present your boarding pass and passport at the check-in counter. At check-in, you will be assigned a cabin number and may also apply for a visa to China if you have not already done so.
   
   NOTE: Before arriving at the passenger terminal, please confirm your boarding time by telephone. Once at the passenger terminal, proceed to the correct departure gate and board the vessel at the appropriate time.
   
   In addition to the cost of the ticket, each passenger over the age of 6 will need to pay terminal use taxes (2,200 won) and tourism taxes (1,000 won). Upon arrival in China, you will not need to pay any additional fees.
   
   * Arrival Visa Information – Passengers who need to apply for an arrival visa must inform personnel at the ticketing/check-in counter.

3.  

   3) Baggage Check

   After completing check-in procedures, continue to the baggage check counter. Once there, present your boarding pass and passport and check your baggage. You will receive a baggage check tag that will allow you to claim your baggage once you arrive in China.

4.  

   4) Departure Gate

   Following the directions broadcast over the loudspeaker, proceed to the departure gate and present your passport and boarding pass.

5.  

   5) Customs Inspection

   At customs, you will need to go through a security inspection and a brief inspection of your personal belongings. Valuables (300,000 won and over) will need to be declared at customs for insurance purposes and in order to avoid unnecessary taxation upon return. Passengers carrying a combined currency value of more than 10,000 US dollars MUST make a formal declaration of their funds. Failure to properly report large amounts of funds could lead to confiscation and/or other complications.

6.  

   6) Departure Inspections

   Proceed to the departure inspections counter (Ministry of Justice Immigrations Office) and present your passport, departure & arrival cards, and boarding pass. After inspection, you will receive a stamp in your passport and your arrival card will be returned to you along with your passport.
   Make sure to keep track of your arrival card, as you will need it present it upon arrival.

7.  

   7) Waiting for Boarding

   After all departure procedures have been completed, proceed to the waiting room or visit the duty-free shop until boarding time.

8.  

   8) Boarding

   Follow the directions broadcast over the loudspeaker and the directions of personnel. Take the shuttle bus to the ferry for boarding.

9.  

   9) Inside the Ferry

   Before your arrival in China, prepare your arrival card and medical inspection documents (as they will be needed for arrival inspections). On the medical inspection documents, fill out your personal information, vessel name, and reason for visit.
   
   At this time, passengers who do not possess an arrival visa, but have applied for one, will need to turn in their completed application (with an attached photo) to the visa application counter located near the arrival area.
   
   (Chinese Visa Application Checklist: Chinese Arrival Card, Chinese Medical Inspection Documents, and Passport Issuance Application)

10.  

    10) Disembarkation

    Upon arrival, passengers may disembark in the following order: first-class passengers, the elderly, and economy class passengers. After you get off the ferry, take the shuttle bus from the ferry to the passenger terminal.

Incheon Ferry Terminal: http://www.icferry.or.kr/pages (Korean, Chinese)
Pyeongtaek Ferry Terminal: http://www.pyeongtaek.go.kr (Korean)

Ferry Route

The ferry serves the following cities in Korea and China:

Ferry Schedule

* Above ferry schedules are subject to change without notice.

Ticket Reservations

In general, reservations can be made 1-3 months before the date of departure. To make a reservation, you must provide your Romanized name and date of birth (as they appear on your passport). Reservations will only be complete if payment is made by the date specified by each respective ferry company.

Foreign Language Services

Most ferries between Korea and China offer Chinese language services, while other foreign languages such as English are not readily available. For translation assistance, please call the KTO tt call center (02-1330).

Updated September 2011