Over the last 20 years, Zhuhai and Macao have witnessed huge steps forward in communications thanks largely to a continuous construction of ports. By now, a total of 7 ports, 5 on land - Gongbei, Hengqin, Wanzai, Cross-Border Industrial Zone, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, and 2 over water —Jiuzhou, QingMao, connecting Zhuhai and Macao.
Gongbei Port
A century old, Gongbei Port is the biggest inland port of China, and was renovated in 1999 to celebrate the return of Macao. For 6 consecutive years, annual customs clearances of the port reached over 100 million, and in 2019 alone, 145 million people crossed the border through the port. Under the influence of the pandemic in 2020, Gongbei Port still manages up to 60 million passengers.
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Zhuhai-Macao Port
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge serves as a connection between Zhuhai, Hong Kong, and Macao. It is the first inland port in the nation to have put into practice "one-time check" as well as 24-hour automated lanes for both vehicles and passengers. By August, the port had allowed over 1.1 million vehicles to cross the border this year.
Hengqin Port
As a young port, in operation since August 18, 2021, Hengqin Port has gained popularity over the past year. Upwards of 6 million inbound or outbound passengers, and about 900 thousand vehicles, have passed through the port.
The port is now capable of handling up to 30,000 passengers and 4,000 vehicles daily. And of all vehicles, cars licensed in Macao make up over 50%, amounting to 2,000 - a record high.
Wangzai Port
Officially open to public in 1984, Wangzai Port mainly handles around 700 thousand passengers passing through Maliuzhou Waterway, and waters nearby. A trip from the port to Macao takes a mere 5 minutes.
Jiuzhou Port
Jiuzhou Port is so far, Zhuhai's only waterway to connect both Hong Kong and Macao, with 20 clearance lanes including 12 automated ones. But for now, both lines remain suspended in face of the pandemic.
Zhuhai-Macao Cross-Border Industrial Zone Port
Established in March 2009, Zhuhai-Macao Cross-Border Industrial Zone Port is the first 24-hour clearance point between Zhuhai and Macao.
In 2019, Zhuhai-Macao Cross-border Industrial Zone Dedicated Control Point handled about 2.58 million passengers and 37,000 vehicles; in 2020, the number of passengers reduced to 1.128 million passengers and 39,000 vehicles due to the pandemic.
Since June 23 2020, the port has received permission to allow fresh products from Macao to enter the Chinese mainland. By July 31, 2021, over 1 million people and around 40 thousand vehicles have passed the port this year.
Qingmao Port
Qingmao Port is one of the key cooperation projects of Guangdong and Macao aimed at providing another option for passengers, and thus relieving the burden on Gongbei Port.
Featuring a convenient "one-time check", the port is so far the most digitalized and intelligent port of the country. The 50 automated lanes and 2 human service lanes it contains are designed to deal with 200 thousand passengers daily.
Author: Ray (intern)
Editor: Will, Jerry