The total number of vehicles passing through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge's Zhuhai port exceeded 120,000 during the five-day May Day holiday from May 1 to 5, a sharp year-on-year increase of 44 percent, according to customs data.
According to the data released by the customs office on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the peak traffic volume through the port during the May Day holiday came at 15:00 to 19:00 on Monday. The daily number of vehicles passing through the port exceeded 28,000 on the day, a year-on-year increase of 50 percent, once again setting a new record for the port.
As of Monday, the total number of single-license plate vehicles from the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions that have passed through the port this year has exceeded 1.3 million, an increase of 34 percent over the same period of last year. Self-driving tours to cities around Guangdong Province and cross-border family visits by Hong Kong and Macao residents have become the main driving force for the growth of traffic through the mega bridge.
"I come back from time to time and go through the port each time. Sometimes we go to Zhuhai to have dishes. This time we are passing through the port for a trip to cities of Guangzhou, Zhaoqing and Dongguan," said a resident from Hong Kong.
In order to ensure smooth and orderly customs clearance during the holiday, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Customs has strengthened coordination and collaboration with various other ports and the relevant departments in Hong Kong and Macao to improve customs clearance service.
"At present, the customs clearance time for vehicles with no abnormality and no need for inspection does not exceed 10 seconds. We have built the country's first intelligent top-lighting image review system for passenger cars, which shortens the vehicle inspection time by about 30 percent," said Feng Wenjun, chief of the No.1 supervision section of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Customs Office.
Stretching more than 55 kilometers, the bridge links Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), the Macao SAR and the city of Zhuhai in Guangdong Province. It is the world's longest bridge-and-tunnel sea crossing.
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge port sees sharp surge in vehicle crossings during May Day holiday
Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province saw a soaring number of visitors from abroad on Thursday, the first day of 2026 and also the opening day of China's three-day New Year holiday, as festive celebrations unfolded across the city.
Major border checkpoints in the city recorded peak inbound passenger flows, with large numbers of travelers from Hong Kong, Macao and overseas entering the city to experience its vibrant holiday vibes.
"I'm so happy 'cause this is the first day of 2026, and I'm bringing my friends to visit Shenzhen," said a visitor from Hong Kong.
International tourists also shared their excitement.
"It's a very modern city and it's interesting to see such a New Year Eve in such a city," said an overseas visitor.
The inbound passenger flow at Luohu Port peaked from 8:00 to 20:00 on Thursday, said an officer there, adding the average daily passenger flow during the New Year break is expected to reach about 240,000.
At the West Kowloon Station port, eye-catching red decorations themed around the upcoming 2026 Spring Festival which will mark the beginning of the Year of the Horse added to the festive mood.
As a key transportation hub of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, the port also saw heavy two-way passenger traffic. Daily cross-border passenger flow there is expected to average around 100,000 during the holiday.
An Australian tourist said he was looking forward to his trip to south China.
"I am from Melbourne, Australia and I'm coming to Guangzhou and Shenzhen in China. I'm excited to see all the tall buildings, especially all the ones that light up and experience a new culture in China." said a tourist.
Outside the ports, celebrations were in full swing as the city prepared for rising visitor numbers.
A large-scale parade featuring more than 30 themed formations kicked off in the morning along the 1.6-kilometer Festival Avenue in Shenzhen's Futian District.
The event drew huge crowds with inflatable cartoon characters, lively drum performances, and traditional Yingge Dance -- a form of folk dance popular in south China's Guangdong Province that merges opera, dance, and martial arts.
Nearby commercial zones also rolled out special consumption coupons, allowing visitors to enjoy a one-stop experience combining festive celebrations and shopping.
"The atmosphere is really nice. We feel very welcomed here. It's a very, very international vibe", said an international visitor.
China continues to grow in popularity as a destination for overseas travelers. Data from online tourism platforms show that inbound flight bookings to China rose 20 percent year on year on the first day of the holiday, with Shenzhen ranking fifth among the country's most popular inbound travel destinations.
"On the first day of holiday, international flight ticket purchases to Shenzhen has increased by 52.5 percent while the international flight bookings to the city has grown by 33 percent," said Shi Ke, a researcher from big data research institute of Qunar, an online travel service provider.
Shenzhen embraces influx of visitors on first day of 2026
