Shenzhen Bay Port in Shenzhen City, south China's Guangdong Province, has checked more than 50 million inbound and outbound passenger trips this year as of Friday, a record high, according to Shenzhen immigration authorities.
A key gateway in the west of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), the port lies next to Hong Kong International Airport and connects with the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Riverside Expressway and the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, making it a key hub linking Hong Kong with the Pearl River Delta city cluster.
As the GBA's "one-hour living circle" takes shape faster, demand has surged from Hong Kong and Macao residents traveling north to visit relatives and take vacations, and from mainland residents traveling south to tour and shop.
The "one-hour living circle" refers to an integrated network of high-speed rail and bridges that allows residents to cross municipal borders to dine, shop, and socialize within 60 minutes.
"We usually come to Shenzhen once a week. We mostly cross at Shenzhen Bay Port. Crossing is more convenient now, and much faster," said Qiu, a Hong Kong resident.
Additionally, with major international events such as the "APEC China Year" series and the 140th edition of the China Import and Export Fair taking place this year, inbound tourism has also remained robust, driving steady growth in foreign business travelers and sightseeing visitors and fueling overall cross-border mobility.
In the first three quarters of this year, the number of people and vehicles checked at the port rose 21 percent and 32 percent year on year, respectively. With pressure on clearance services continuing to grow, the Shenzhen Bay Border Inspection Station is building a smart port and combining technology with duty scheduling to ensure travelers can pass through efficiently and smoothly.
Shenzhen Bay Port hits record 50 million passenger trips
