Macao Bridge sees record crossings as traffic soars in Q1, boosting Greater Bay Area integration

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(Global Times) 13:48, April 01, 2025

In the first quarter, the HZMB border inspection station processed 880,000 crossings by single-plate vehicles from both SARs, up 34 percent year-on-year, making it the first quarter to exceed 800,000 crossings since the policies began, official data showed.

Driven by the surge in vehicle traffic, the number of residents of both SARs passing through the port rose sharply. In the first quarter, more than 4.1 million trips were recorded, accounting for 54.6 percent of the port's total passenger trips, official data showed.

Growing traffic volumes on the HZMB reflect improving connectivity within the GBA, with the bridge's economic potential gradually being unleashed, Song Ding, a research fellow at the China Development Institute, told the Global Times on Monday.

The bridge primarily links Hong Kong and Macao with the western Pearl River Delta, serving a vast economic zone, Song said. "While traffic volumes will keep growing, its real value lies in not only broadening the 'one-hour living circle' but also driving regional economic integration," he added.

The expansion of mainland cities eligible for individual travel to Hong Kong and Macao has spurred the appeal of tourism routes revolving around the bridge. Starting on January 1, the "once-a-week" travel policy has enabled Zhuhai residents with household registrations to apply for permits for weekly trips to Macao.

Official data showed that 1.5 million visits were made by mainland travelers holding Hong Kong and Macao tourism endorsements in the first quarter, up by 14 percent year-on-year.

Inbound tourism has also thrived, thanks to the bridge's direct land link to Hong Kong International Airport and China's broadened visa-free policies. The HZMB border inspection station processed more than 120,000 visits by foreigners in the first quarter, a 22 percent increase year-on-year and a new record.

China has been actively enhancing connectivity across the GBA in recent years. This year's Government Work Report pledged to "boost the capacity for innovation of economically developed regions."

The bridge and tunnel projects in the GBA, such as the HZMB and the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, are exceptional globally in both scale and technology, Song said. "Targeted policy refinements, such as cross-boundary traffic facilitation, and stronger regional coordination could further unlock the bridge's full value," he noted and expressed optimism about the long-term expansion of the region's transport network.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)