The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge recorded its highest daily cross-border vehicle traffic since opening, with 29,800 vehicles processed on Easter Monday at the Zhuhai port, according to border inspection authorities.
The total included 28,400 passenger cars, while 22,800 vehicles carrying Hong Kong or Macao single licence plates also set a new daily record, reflecting growing self-drive travel between the mainland and the two Special Administrative Regions.
The surge came during the three-day combined Easter and Qingming Festival holiday. From 4 to 6 April, more than 77,400 vehicles passed through the Zhuhai port of the bridge. Vehicles bearing Hong Kong and Macao single plates accounted for over 72.8 percent, or about 56,400 trips, according to border authorities.
[See more: The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao bridge hits the 100-million crossing milestone]
To cope with the increase in traffic, the Zhuhai border inspection station activated contingency plans, strengthened coordination with police departments in Guangdong province, Hong Kong and Macao, and adjusted staffing based on real-time forecasts of peak travel periods.
The record traffic comes as authorities are moving to further ease travel restrictions for Macao vehicles entering mainland China.
China’s State Council has approved a vehicle bond exemption that will allow Macao-registered cars with Hengqin entry permits to travel across the whole of Guangdong province once the measure is implemented.
Currently, Macao vehicles holding a Hengqin permit can only travel within the island of Hengqin, which is administratively part of the neighbouring mainland city of Zhuhai.
[See more: This is how to get to Hengqin from Macao]
A separate programme, launched in 2023, allows Macao vehicles to enter Guangdong via the bridge under a quota system, requiring an appointment for each trip and limiting cars to three trips per month.
Once the new system is implemented, cars with Hengqin permits are expected to be able to travel throughout Guangdong without relying on the existing quota-based scheme.
The Greater Bay Area comprises nine cities in Guangdong province along with Hong Kong and Macao, with authorities promoting cross-border mobility as part of efforts to deepen economic integration across the region.
