The number of crossings at Hengqin Port broke the 10 million mark on 22 June, according to Hengqin officials, whose figures were cited by multiple local media outlets. In comparison to 2023, the port reached the milestone 2 months earlier, with the total representing an increase of 44.4 percent year-on-year.
The total included approximately 4.1 million people going to and from Macao for work or school, as well as some 2.47 million Macao and Hong Kong residents, a year-on-year increase of 50 percent and 20 percent respectively. Crossborder vehicle numbers also witnessed an increase of 9.3 percent year-on-year, reaching a total of roughly 1.02 million.
Hengqin Port officials said that they expect a pronounced increase in the number of mainland visitors during the upcoming summer holiday, with the forecast total of border crossings per day to be around 60,000. Meanwhile, the total for the entire year is expected to reach 20 million crossings, compared to last year’s figure of 16.7 million crossings.
[See more: More than 20,000 people from Macao are now living in Hengqin]
Ties between Macao and Hengqin – an island district of the neighbouring mainland city of Zhuhai – have grown considerably over the past decade. Initiatives such as the Macao New Neighbourhood housing project, the two-tier customs regime, and multiple entry visas for tour groups have helped to foster integration between the two cities. Macao firms are also choosing to establish a presence on the island, with the total revenue for SAR funded businesses in Hengqin reaching more than 20 billion yuan last year.
Recent data shows that there are over 20,000 Macao people now living in Hengqin, a jump of 22.4 percent in comparison to 2023. The Hengqin master plan expects the number of residents originating from Macao to jump to around 120,000 by 2035.
The SAR government sees Hengqin as playing a pivotal role in Macao’s long-term development as the mainland island’s 106 square kilometres allow for economic diversification and offer more residential space.
