On December 15th, the opening ceremony of trail operation for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) tourism took place at the Zhuhai land port, marking the official opening of the bridge for tourism. On the first day, a total of 1200 tourists immersed themselves in the charm of this engineering marvel and landmark.
Stretching 55 kilometers, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is the world's longest cross-sea bridge in terms of the overall span, steel structure, and undersea immersed tunnels. As the first collaboration fruit among Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, the bridge is a remarkable cross-sea transportation project built under the framework of "One Country, Two Systems". It is widely recognized as one of the "Seven Wonders of the New World."
At 10:40 AM on the same day, the first HZMB tour group departed from the Zhuhai land port. After undergoing inspections by immigration, customs, and other departments at the tourist inspection hall, they queued up and boarded the dedicated shuttle bus under the guidance of on-site staff, embarking on a 140-minute journey across the bridge. It is reported that the daily quota for visitors on the HZMB tour is currently set at 1200 people, with entry and exit by groups. The tour price is 298 yuan per person, with a special discounted price of 198 yuan per person during the trial operation period. Those who book in advance through the official WeChat account can enjoy a further discounted price of 188 yuan per person.
With the opening of the trial operation, tourists can have a close-up view of the Jiuzhou Bridge in a "sail" shape, the dolphin-like Jianghai Bridge and the Qingzhou Bridge shaped like a "Chinese knot" along with three navigable spans, where they may encounter with the rare Chinese white dolphins. The Blue Dolphin Island, where visitors will stop, is designed in the shape of an "oyster" and incorporates elements of the traditional qilou buildings. It boasts the world's largest architectural complex made of raw concrete for marine engineering.
One of the tourists, Gong Yafei, an employee of a gas company in Zhongshan, frequently travels to Zhuhai due to his company's involvement in the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. He used to return home late at night, which caused complaints from his wife, Chen Chu. Since the trial operation began, the couple embarked on the bridge for the first time, and while standing in the exhibition hall, Gong Yafei felt a sense of pride. He pointed at a large bridge poster and said, "Look, we've indirectly contributed to the construction of the bridge. We put efforts here!"
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Administration Bureau explained that Blue Dolphin Island, serving as a stopping point for tourists, is an integral part of the bridge's structural engineering. It fulfills essential functions such as the transition between bridge and tunnel, transportation services, emergency response, and maintenance and operation. The opening of tourism not only brings new vitality to Blue Dolphin Island but also presents new challenges for the safe operation of the bridge.
Source: Yangcheng Evening News
The trial operation of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge was officially opened, and 1,200 tourists liked to drink "Tou Ji Soup"
On December 15, the opening ceremony of the trial operation of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge was held at the Zhuhai Highway Port Passenger Delivery Platform of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, marking the official opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge tourism to the public. On the first day, a total of 1,200 visitors experienced the charm of the century project and the important instrument of the country at zero distance.
The 55-kilometer-long Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is the world's longest overall span, the longest steel structure bridge, and the longest submarine immersed tunnel.
At 10:40 on the same day, the "first group" of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge tour set off from the Zhuhai Highway Port, and after being inspected by the border inspection, customs and other departments in the tourism inspection hall, they lined up to board the special bus under the leadership of the on-site staff to start a 140-minute Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge tour.
After the trial operation is opened, tourists can visit the Jiuzhou Bridge in the shape of "sails", the Jianghai Bridge in the shape of "dolphins", and the Qingzhou Bridge in the shape of "Chinese knots". Blue Dolphin Island, where tourists stay, adopts the shape of "oysters" and absorbs the elements of "arcades", and has the world's largest offshore fair-faced concrete building complex.
Tourist Gong Yafei is an employee of a gas company in Zhongshan, during the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, his company has a project to serve it, Gong Yafei often goes to Zhuhai on business trips, and only returns home late at night, for which his wife Chen Chu is indispensable to "complain". After the opening of the bridge tourism trial operation, the couple traveled to the bridge for the first time, standing in the exhibition hall, the husband "has face", he pointed to a bridge poster and said: "You see, we are also indirectly serving the bridge, and there is also our sweat here!"
According to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Authority, Blue Dolphin Island, as a stop for tourists, is an important part of the bridge engineering structure, carrying basic functions such as bridge and tunnel conversion, traffic services, emergency rescue, maintenance and operation and maintenance. The opening of the bridge tourism not only gives new vitality to Blue Dolphin Island, but also brings new challenges to the safe operation of the bridge.
It is reported that at present, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge tour is limited to 1,200 people per day on the island, and only the group can enter and exit, and the ticket price for visiting the bridge is 298 yuan/person, and the ticket price during the preferential period is 198 yuan/person during the trial operation, and the preferential price of 188 yuan/person can be enjoyed by booking through the WeChat public account in advance.
Text丨Reporter Li Xu Qian Yu
Picture丨Reporter Liang Yu, Wen Zeguang, Xi students, Li Yuxuan, Zhang Zhijie
Translation丨Chen Xuan