HZMB sets new record for weekend travels

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Zhuhai Port received 100,000 cross-border travelers from March 18 to 19, setting a record high in terms of the checkpoint's passenger volume in a single weekend.

After normal travel between the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and the Chinese mainland fully resumed on Feb 6, traveling within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has continued to gain popularity. 

According to Wang Zhaoxin, a Macao travel agency staff member, traveling via the HZMB to or from either Hong Kong or Macao is now very popular. Recently, the agency has been receiving 2,000 to 3,000 mainland tourists daily. 

Passengers line up to enter the HZMB's Zhuhai Port [Photo courtesy CCTVNews App]

The number of tourists who are driving has also been increasing, thanks to the policy allowing Macao single-plate vehicles to enter Guangdong. The HZMB Zhuhai Port inspected more than 3,000 Macao single-plate vehicles on March 19, reaching a historical high since the policy was implemented. 

Tan Chang of the HZMB Frontier Inspection Station said that the site has been strengthening information exchanges with relevant departments in Hong Kong and Macao to predict passenger flow peaks in advance so that it can optimize the layout of the entry and exit lanes. The inspection station has also been offering convenient consultation services to passengers in need.

Volunteers can be seen at inspection areas for priority and fast pass channels to ensure safety and smooth operation. 

Between Jan 1 and March 19, the HZMB Zhuhai port has recorded more than 1.78 million border-crossings, a surge of 232 percent year-on-year. Additionally, the number of vehicles crossing the boundary totaled over 466,000, indicating an increase of 48.8 percent from the previous year.