The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) celebrated its sixth anniversary on Thursday, marking a significant milestone with record-breaking passenger and vehicle crossings. According to data from the HZMB border inspection station, by October 22, a total of 62.3 million passengers and over 12.76 million vehicles had crossed the Zhuhai Port since the bridge's inauguration.
Spanning 55 kilometers, the HZMB connects the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Macao SAR, and the city of Zhuhai in Guangdong Province. As the world's longest bridge-and-tunnel sea crossing, it has become an essential artery for regional connectivity, facilitating convenient travel for residents and boosting economic integration.
"Over the six years since its opening, the total number of Hong Kong and Macao residents entering and exiting the mainland through the bridge has exceeded 35.6 million person-times, accounting for more than 57 percent of the total crossings," said Chen Faqiu, head of the HZMB border inspection station. "In 2024 alone, the number of Hong Kong and Macao residents entering and exiting the mainland through the bridge exceeded 12.9 million person-times, up 82.8 percent year on year, setting a new record."
Driving has emerged as one of the most popular cross-border transportation methods. By September this year, Gongbei customs at the bridge port had inspected a total of 3.6251 million vehicles with Hong Kong and Macao license plates, facilitated by the "Macao vehicles northward" and "Hong Kong vehicles northward" policies introduced in 2023.
The HZMB also serves as a vital channel for travelers going abroad or coming to China. The border inspection department has inspected 6,052 domestic tour groups with 234,800 tourists and more than 330,000 foreign passengers, marking a significant 169 percent year-on-year increase. To date, 37,000 passengers have successfully cleared customs under the "via Zhuhai to Hong Kong flight" model.
Cargo transportation across the bridge has soared as well. Between 2018 and September this year, the total value of goods imported and exported through the bridge port reached 942.7 billion yuan (approximately $132.48 billion), with 164.97 billion yuan in the first nine months of this year alone, a year-on-year increase of 10.4 percent.
Since its inauguration, the HZMB has not only bridged geographical distances but also fostered closer economic ties and cultural exchanges among the three regions. With the 24-hour customs clearance at the port and continuous policy support, the bridge is expected to play an even more significant role in the Greater Bay Area's development.
Reference(s):
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge sees record crossing 6 years on
cgtn.com
