New ports and cross-border helicopter services to be developed

Guys! When traveling between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, do you worry about the crowds?

(Photo: Shenzhen Special Zone Daily)

In order to make customs clearance smoother, a number of new ports will be built. Let's see the details!

The People's Government of Shenzhen City Port Office (hereinafter referred to as "Shenzhen Port Office") has announced that Shenzhen is gradually rebuilding and upgrading old ports, and planning a variety of new ports, such as the Hetao Special Port and Qianhai Port.

More than 134 million entries and exits

(Photo: Shenzhen Port Release)

As of August 4th, Shenzhen ports have recorded over 134 million passenger trips, including more than 67 million entries and more than 66 million exits.

To effectively manage the surge in travel, port authorities in both cities proactively engage in advanced communication and preparation. This year, during the Spring Festival from the first to the fourth day, the Shenzhen Bay Port pioneered 24-hour customs clearance. Meanwhile, Luohu Port extended its operations until 2 a.m. on February 9th and 11th. During the May Day holiday, in response to large-scale events in Hong Kong, the MTR East Rail Line operated overtime, and the Shenzhen Port Office quickly coordinated relevant port units to provide better customs clearance services for travelers.

New ports will be planned; some existing port functions will be adjusted

Shenzhen, a core engine of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, has become one of the preferred destinations for "144-hour visa-free travel." In the first half of 2024, the city witnessed a remarkable 145.5% year-on-year surge in the number of foreigners passing through its ports, totaling 2.395 million arrivals and departures.

Up to now, 11 ports in Shenzhen have been included in the visa-free policy, covering all land, rail, air, and sea ports. Shenzhen's port services are also continuously improving. Not only have bus routes directly to business districts and attractions been added, but the payment environment for cash, overseas bank cards, and digital RMB has also been optimized.

(Photo: Shenzhen Port Release)

With 16 first-class ports, Shenzhen has the largest number of ports, the most comprehensive range of functions,and the largest volume of customs clearance in the country. The city is now implementing the "Strengthening the West - Optimizing the Center - Supplementing the East" strategy to gradually rebuild and upgrade old ports.

In addition to constructing a series of new ports, Huanggang Port and Shatoujiao Port will be rebuilt, while Luohu Port will undergo renovation and upgrading. Existing port functions will be adjusted by abolishing the cargo inspection functions at Shatoujiao Port and Huanggang Port, and transferring the fresh cargo transportation function from Wenjindu Port to Liantang Port. This strategic move aims to achieve an efficient east-west cargo flow, thereby optimizing the city's overall traffic functional layout. Furthermore, there are plans to introduce cross-border helicopter services at Shekou Port, paving the way for the creation of the mainland's first sea-air composite port hub.

It is understood that in January this year, the State Council officially approved the expansion of Shekou Port and the addition of cross-border helicopter entry and exit functions. Relevant work is currently in progress. 

After the Shekou Cruise Home-port provides the cross-border helicopter service, it can reach Hong Kong and Macao within half an hour, which is conducive to the development of high-end business tourism in the low-altitude fields of Qianhai and even Shenzhen.