70-Year-Old First Traveler via New Huanggang Port Praises “Spacious, Efficient” Facilities

The new Huanggang Port officially commenced operations at 6:30 a.m. on Monday (Oct. 12). By 6:35 a.m., groups of travelers were already gathered at the fifth-floor departure hall preparing to cross into Shenzhen.

By 6:35 a.m., groups of travelers were already gathered at the fifth-floor departure hall preparing to cross into Shenzhen. Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Hu, a Hong Kong resident in his 70s, was the first person to exit Hong Kong via the new checkpoint. He described the new port as "very big and spacious" with "clear" signage. 

Mr. Hu, a Hong Kong resident in his 70s, was the first person to exit Hong Kong via the new checkpoint. Photo by Bastille Post

As a cross-border sports enthusiast who plays ball twice a week, Mr. Hu took a bus from Sha Tseng, a journey of about "half an hour." He expressed surprise and excitement at becoming the first person to use the new port, saying, "At over 70 years old, I didn't expect I could still walk this fast," his experience underscored that the clearance speed exceeded expectations. 

Mr. Liao, a Shenzhen Longgang District resident, said the entire process "took just one or two minutes." Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Liao, a Shenzhen Longgang District resident, said the entire process "took just one or two minutes." He hopes the "joint inspection, one-time clearance" co-location model can be extended to other ports such as Liantang Port, achieving "one-time clearance" to "save time and be faster." He admitted he will make the new port his primary choice for future passenger clearance, mainly due to convenient bus connections and time savings.  

Cross-boundary student Yang said the overall clearance took about 10 minutes. Photo by Bastille Post

Regarding inbound traffic, cross-boundary student Yang, who arrived via the fourth-floor arrival hall, said the overall clearance took about 10 minutes, which was "more convenient and faster" than previous passenger clearance. Yang lives in the Huang Yu area of Shenzhen, takes a bus to San Tin, then transfers to a school bus to a school in Hong Kong's Southern District. Despite the faster clearance, he said his departure and school times on Monday remained unchanged. 

The new Huanggang Port. Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Zhang, a Guangzhou native working in Hong Kong, deliberately chose to experience the new port on Monday. Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Zhang, a Guangzhou native working in Hong Kong, deliberately chose to experience the new port on Monday. He said the biggest difference compared to the past is completing all inspections at once, making the process "very fast." He gave positive feedback on the clarity of signs, noting "everything is especially large" and "very clear." He previously chose Shenzhen Bay Port but now uses the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong high-speed rail more often, as he frequently departs from Guangzhou South. 

Hong Kong resident Mr. Chan rated the process as "OK" even with the manual counter. Photo by Bastille Post

Hong Kong resident Mr. Chan, who returned via the fourth-floor arrival hall, works in the catering industry. Because his ID card was lost and is being replaced, he could not use the self-service facial recognition channel and had to use a traditional manual counter. He said this trip was specifically to take "the final Huang Bus" before returning to Hong Kong. Regarding his experience, he rated the process as "OK" even with the manual counter, not feeling it was noticeably slower. Compared to other ports like Shenzhen Bay, Lo Wu, and Lok Ma Chau, he said the new Huanggang Port "only maintains the standard" — meaning he does not think the rebuilt Port has outstanding highlights.

The new Huanggang Port officially commenced operations at 6:30 a.m. on Monday (Oct. 12). Adopting a "joint inspection, one-time clearance" model, the port has fully implemented 24-hour customs services. Throngs of Hong Kong residents made a special trip to experience the new clearance mode, praising its efficiency and the clean, modern environment.

The new Huanggang Port. Photo by Bastille Post

At approximately 6:00 a.m., Bastille Post reporters observed many residents waiting at the Shenzhen side of the port to cross into Hong Kong. Xue Huaming, Director of the First Division of the Port Office of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, stated that after multiple drills in the preparatory phase, customs clearance preparations are complete and facilities are operating normally. "Huanggang Port has finally opened its gates and will welcome visitors from all directions with an open and inclusive attitude," he said.

Xue Huaming, Director of the First Division of the Port Office of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government. Photo by Bastille Post

Xue Huaming noted that the average daily passenger volume is expected to be between 40,000 and 50,000. As Monday marks the first day of operation, foot traffic is expected to be higher. He added that the peak passenger flow is anticipated to arrive this coming weekend, and preparations have been made accordingly.

The new Huanggang Port. Photo by Bastille Post

The new Huanggang Port. Photo by Bastille Post

The new Huanggang Port. Photo by Bastille Post

The new Huanggang Port. Photo by Bastille Post

Some Hong Kong residents crossed over from Hong Kong early in the morning. Ms. Wong, who commutes between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, came early to experience the new port to prepare for her future work routine. "I wanted to check out the route because I have to travel between the two cities for work and need to leave very early in the morning," she said. She found the overall clearance speed acceptable and believed that the 24-hour operation would be very smooth. "It opened at 6:30 a.m., and I was out by 6:40 a.m. It was very fast."

Ms. Wong. Photo by Bastille Post

Some students planned a trip to Guangzhou for dim sum. A student surnamed Chan, and his friends took a bus. The roughly hour-long trip, he said, was quite convenient. He mentioned they specifically came to try out the new port. When asked about the clearance experience, he let out a "wow," stating it was very quick. "It took less than 30 seconds to get through," he said. He described the new Huanggang Port as spacious, clean, and well-signposted. "Compared to Lo Wu Port, it seems like you don't have to walk as much."

Student Chan and his friends. Photo by Bastille Post

Some arrived fully equipped for sports. Mr. Kuang brought his beloved bicycle across the border. As a regular cyclist in Shenzhen, he came this time to experience the new port. "It took about 40 minutes by bus from Tuen Mun, and clearance was also very fast," he said. Meanwhile, Mr. Wu met friends for a round of golf. Traveling from Sai Wan Ho, he said, "I happened to have booked a golf course here, so I took the opportunity to experience the new port. Clearance was very quick, taking just over a minute."

Legislative Council member Michael Yiu. Photo by Bastille Post

Legislative Council member Michael Yiu pointed out that there were many staff members on site to prevent travelers from feeling "confused." Having pre-registered for the "joint inspection," he did not need to present physical documents. The entire process took about ten seconds, and clearance was smooth. "If travelers encounter other issues midway, staff will step in to assist and help them with registration," he said.