Railway from Zhuhai airport to Hengqin Island officially inaugurated

A train and bridge combo that provides a speedy route from Zhuhai’s domestic airport on China’s mainland to Hengqin island, which is close to Macau, was officially inaugurated on Saturday.

Several Chinese-language media outlets claim that this infrastructure makes it possible to get from Zhuhai Airport to Hengqin in 15 minutes.

In August 2020, a new rail line will open, connecting Zhuhai’s Gongbei border with Hengqin; it will be longer and have additional stations. The new line, which connects the airport in Zhuhai with the Gongbei border post, completes the network around Hengqin.

The new infrastructure, which spans 17.1 kilometers (10.6 miles) and includes the first section of the Jinhai Avenue Bridge, is designed for both road and rail traffic. An extension of the Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity Railway, the Zhuhai to Zhuhai Airport Intercity Railway has five stations along the route, one of which is Chimelong station, which serves the family theme park of the same name located on the southern side of Hengqin.

Beijing has classified Hengqin as an economic zone, even though it is a part of the mainland, in an effort to assist Macau in expanding its economy beyond casino tourism. In an attempt to support Macau’s efforts in this field, it has also been promoted as a venue for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) events.

The idea of “convenience” in visa and travel permit issuance for staff, professionals attending MICE events co-hosted by Macau and Hengqin, and visitors from mainland China and abroad was noted in July by China’s National Immigration Administration.

The original seven-stop Zhuhai-Hengqin rail line begins at Chimelong railway station and concludes at Zhuhai railway station at the Gongbei border post with Macau.

The primary land crossing between Zhuhai and Macau is the Gongbei-Border Gate checkpoint, while traffic at the Hengqin-Cotai gate has been increasing. Approximately 3.13 million tourist visits were recorded along this route in 2023, making up 11.1 percent of Macau’s total 28.21 million visitor arrivals.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, 2.96 million tourists crossed the Hengqin-Cotai border in 2019, making up around 7.5 percent of Macau’s 39.41 million visitors that year.

This year, a line connecting Hengqin’s rail system to Macau’s light rapid transit (LRT) system—which now mostly serves Cotai—is expected to be completed, according per an update from the Public Works Services Bureau (DSOP) of Macau.

Original story by: GGRAsia