More than 20,000 Shenzheners walked across the Shenzhen side of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Western Corridor yesterday in honor of the 2011 Universiade, which will be staged in Shenzhen.

The walkers included Party chief Li Hongzhong and Mayor Xu Zongheng, apart from students, foreigners and ordinary residents. Xu said the event was to inject the Universiade spirit into city residents.

A Shenzhen Daily reader surnamed Liu, who went with her baby girl, said it was a rare chance to walk across the Western Corridor, which will not have a pedestrian lane when it is put into use in July.

The walk took approximately one hour. Beginning at the corridor's Shenzhen entrance, participants walked over a construction of spectacular design, enjoying a scenic view of Shekou and a glimpse of Hong Kong. The walk ended at the Shenzhen checkpoint.

Traditional yangge dances and dragon dances were performed during a brief opening ceremony.

On the other side of the Western Corridor, 30,000 Hong Kongers also walked over the bridge for charity, raising some HK$8 million (US$1.04 million). It was part of the celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland.

The 5.5-kilometer-long Western Corridor is expected to be put into service July 1, as a gift for the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return.

The corridor, with 86 vehicle passages at the Shenzhen entrance, will replace Huanggang Checkpoint as the country's biggest land checkpoint, easing the congestion in Huanggang, Wenjindu and Shatoujiao checkpoints. Authorities expect the new route will see more than 10 percent of total cross-border traffic flow.

Editor: Donald