Passenger and vehicle trips through the Zhuhai highway port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) set a new record in the first quarter of the year, the highest since the bridge opened in 2018, underscoring the mega bridge's growing role in integrating the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), CCTV reported on Monday.
According to Zhuhai border authorities, the port recorded 7.5 million passenger crossings in the first quarter—a 23 percent year-on-year increase—while vehicle crossings soared 31 percent to reach 1.56 million, both setting new records.
The vibrant two-way flow of passengers and goods via the bridge is powering deeper integration of the Greater Bay Area, underscoring its rising value as a transport artery.
The rapid growth of Hong Kong and Macao residents traveling northbound has driven the surge in port traffic. As of Monday, more than 170,000 drivers and over 140,000 single-plate vehicles from the two SARs had been registered, according to the CCTV report.
The surge is fueled by sustained policy incentives. Guangdong Province implemented the "Northbound Travel for Macao Vehicles" policy on January 1, 2023, allowing motor vehicles with only a Macao registration plate to enter the Chinese mainland via HZMB. This was followed by the same policy for Hong Kong vehicles on July 1, the same year, which quickly spurred a surge in border crossings.
In Q1, the HZMB Border Inspection Station processed 880,000 crossings by single-plate Hong Kong and Macao vehicles—up 34 percent year-on-year—marking the first quarter to exceed 800,000 crossings since the northbound policies began, according to CMG.
Meanwhile, the expansion of mainland cities eligible for "individual travel" to Hong Kong and Macao has boosted the popularity of tourism routes centered around the HZMB.
On January 1, 2025, the "once-a-week" travel policy for Zhuhai residents visiting Macao took effect. Zhuhai residents with household registration can apply for travel permits for weekly visits to Macao, with each stay capped at seven days.
In the first quarter, 1.5 million mainland travelers holding Hong Kong and Macao tourism endorsements crossed the bridge, up by 14 percent year-on-year, per HZMB border data.
Inbound travel has also flourished. The Zhuhai Highway Port's direct land connection to Hong Kong International Airport, along with China's expanded visa-free policy and extended visa-free stays, has attracted more international travelers opting for the bridge-to-air or air-to-bridge routes.
In the first quarter, the HZMB Border Inspection Station processed over 120,000 foreign travelers, a 22 percent increase year-on-year and set a new record. Among them, more than 20,000 entered visa-free, up 122 percent compared with the same period last year.
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