According to Xinhua, passenger traffic this year alone is expected to exceed 30 million for the first time, setting a new record. Since opening in October 2018, the bridge has quickly established itself as a vital connection between Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau. In 2023, it handled 16.3 million passengers, while the 2024 tally has already reached 21.2 million, a 19 percent increase year on year.
Policy measures have further fueled growth. The expansion of the “Individual Visit Scheme” to Hong Kong and Macau, along with the “once-a-week” travel arrangement for Zhuhai residents heading to Macau, have encouraged more visitors to cross via the bridge. This year, more than 9.01 million mainland travelers have entered or exited Macau through the Zhuhai checkpoint.
Meanwhile, the number of Hong Kong and Macau residents traveling north to the mainland has risen sharply—from 4.5 million in 2019 to 16.2 million in 2024. So far this year, the figure has already surpassed 12.7 million and is expected to top 18 million by year-end.
The bridge has also become a crucial route for cross-border vehicles following the launch of the “Macao vehicles heading north” and “Hong Kong vehicles heading north” schemes, which allow eligible cars to enter the mainland directly. By cutting travel time between Hong Kong and Zhuhai from three hours to just 30 minutes, it has become indispensable for tourism, business, education, and family visits.
