Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao bridge sets record travel numbers over the holiday

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao bridge highway port recorded more than 500,000 passenger visits and over 90,000 vehicle visits during the mid-autumn and National Day holidays running from Sept 29 to 4:30 pm Friday.

Both figures reached a record high, seeing an increase of 140 percent and 300 percent respectively when compared to the same period in 2019, according to a statement released by the Zhuhai city government on Monday.

On Oct 2 alone, a record of more than 14,000 vehicle visits exited and entered the mainland via the bridge that connects Zhuhai in Guangdong province and Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions at the estuary of the Pearl River, a record high in a single day, the statement said.

Meanwhile more than 100,700 passengers exited and entered into the mainland via the bridge that day, a record high in four years, it said.

To cope with the traffic peak, border inspection authorities have opened all the inspection channels in advance to help handle vehicle clearance procedures during the peak traffic periods, according to border inspection officers.

Under the northbound travel for Hong Kong and Macao vehicles programs that took effect earlier this year, more and more residents from Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions who have obtained an entry permit in advance have chosen to drive to visit their motherland through the highway port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao bridge, said border inspection officers.

Under the programs, cars from Hong Kong and Macao can stay in Guangdong province for up to 30 days per trip and up to 180 days per year.