The two-tiered customs system in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin as a separate customs zone has operated smoothly over the last two years.
Hengqin, located in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, is separated from Macao by a narrow stretch of water. The Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin was established in 2021 to help Macao diversify its economy.
Sunday marks the two-year anniversary of the implementation of the special customs system. China's Hengqin Port handled over 55.6 million passenger entries and exits and also received more than more than 6.25 million vehicles in the past two years, up 103.4 percent and 88.5 percent year on year respectively, compared to the two years prior to the implementation of the policy, according to the Hengqin Border Inspection Station under the Zhuhai General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection.
In 2025, the Hengqin Port fully launched a total of 64 smart e-gates across the passenger hall and the clearance hall for car passengers, officially ushering in the era of "facial-recognition clearance" for cross-border trips between Macao and Hengqin.
As the first port in China to fully implement facial recognition clearance at all cooperative fast channels, Hengqin Port significantly enhances the efficiency of cross-border passenger flows and further improves the convenience of customs clearance. At present, the annual passenger flow volume at the port has surpassed 30 million, with an average daily volume exceeding 90,000. "Generally, the facial-recognition clearance takes just a few seconds, making the process very efficient. It is great. It saves a lot of time," said a Hong Kong resident. To address the educational needs of cross-boundary students, the Hengqin Border Inspection Station has raised the age limit for children traveling through the Hengqin Port from 10 to 14 years old. This change effectively alleviates challenges faced by cross-border families.
Nowadays, more than 30,000 Macao residents are living and working in the cooperation zone, and more than 7,500 Macao-funded enterprises have been established in this zone. Cross-border commuting and leisure travel have become the norm.
The area between Hengqin and the Macao Special Administrative Region is regarded as the "first-tier" zone, while the area between Hengqin and other areas within the mainland is regarded as the "second-tier" zone.
Two-tiered customs system in Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin operates smoothly
