The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB), the world’s longest bridge-and-tunnel sea crossing, has witnessed a new milestone. On Saturday, the Zhuhai section of the HZMB saw more than 20,000 inbound and outbound vehicles, marking the highest daily vehicle passage since its inauguration in 2018.
Stretching 55 kilometers, the HZMB connects the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), the Macao SAR, and the city of Zhuhai in south China’s Guangdong Province. This engineering marvel not only facilitates travel between these regions but also symbolizes the growing interconnectedness of the Greater Bay Area.
According to data from the HZMB border inspection station, between Tuesday and Saturday—the first five days of the weeklong National Day holiday—over 453,000 passengers and 93,000 vehicles crossed the bridge’s Zhuhai section. These figures represent year-on-year increases of 34.33 percent and 56.38 percent, respectively.
Notably, vehicles bearing plates from Hong Kong and Macao exceeded 56,000 in number, an impressive 73 percent rise compared to the same period last year. Border inspection officials attribute this surge to the growing popularity of driving to the Chinese mainland for sightseeing and shopping among families from Hong Kong and Macao, especially during holiday seasons.
The increased traffic is a testament to the bridge’s role in enhancing regional integration and boosting economic activity. From January to October this year, more than 20 million inbound and outbound passengers traveled through the Zhuhai section of the bridge, surpassing the total volume for the entire previous year.
As the HZMB continues to facilitate ease of travel and promote cultural exchange, it stands as a significant contributor to the development of the Greater Bay Area, fostering closer ties between the regions it connects.
Reference(s):
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge sees record-high daily vehicle passage
cgtn.com
