On June 30th, 2024, at 3 PM, the highly anticipated Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link commenced its trial operation. Let's take a closer look at the scene of the grand opening.
Citizens eager to experience the "half-hour life circle"
At around 2 PM, residents from Zhongshan gathered at the Cuiheng East toll station, eagerly awaiting the official opening of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link. They were excited to be among the first to traverse this engineering marvel.
Mr. Chen, who has lived in Shenzhen for over a decade, took a taxi to Zhongshan from Phoenix Mountain in Bao'an District, Shenzhen, just to experience the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link for the first time.
Similarly, Mr. Zhan from Hong Kong started queuing at noon to be among the first to enter the link.
Ms. Qiao from Wuhan, Hubei, who bought a house in Cuiheng New District last year, was excited about the convenience the Link brings. "My daughter works in Qianhai Bay, Shenzhen. The opening of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link will make it much easier for us to visit each other, and I've decided to spend my retired years in Cuiheng New District," she shared.
By 3:10 PM, just ten minutes after opening, all seven lanes at the Shenzhen Airport toll station were bustling with traffic, forming long queues.
One hour after the opening, congestion appeared on the bridge. According to statistics, between 3 PM and 6 PM, over 20,000 vehicles traveled between Zhongshan and Shenzhen.
Zhongshan Terminal of Shenzhen Airport officially opens
On the afternoon of June 30th, a bus carrying over 20 Zhongshan passengers departed from the newly opened Zhongshan Terminal of Shenzhen Airport, passing through the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link to arrive smoothly at Shenzhen Airport Terminal 3. This marked the official operation of the Zhongshan Terminal and the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Airport express line.
On the same day, the Shenzhen-Jiangmen airport express line, connecting Shenzhen Airport and Jiangmen, also commenced operations.
Tickets for Shenzhen-Zhongshan Inter-City Bus Lines sell out
At 3 PM, the first bus from the North District of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub in Shenzhen to Zhongshan Expo Center departed, with many citizens and tourists eager to be part of the inaugural ride. Tickets for the day sold out quickly.
Besides the airport express line, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan inter-city bus service launched two routes: Zhongshan Expo Center to the North District of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub, and Zhongshan International Talent Port to the North District of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub. The toll fee for vehicles using the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link is 66 yuan per standard trip, while the one-way ticket price for the inter-city bus routes ranges from 15 to 18 yuan, offering a more affordable option.
Travel time between Zhongshan and Hong Kong reduced by over 45 minutes
At 2:30 PM on June 30th, the day the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link opened, two new stations were inaugurated in Zhongshan by TIL Chinalink. The stations, located at Tianyi Coco City and Shaxi Xi'an Hotel, aim to enhance connectivity.
Lin Xianjun, Director of Cross-Border Business and Operations of TIL Chinalink, explained that the travel time between Zhongshan and Hong Kong will be reduced by more than 45 minutes with the new routes through the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link.
TIL Chinalink operates two routes with five stations in Zhongshan (the city center, Gangkou, Xiaolan, Guzhen, and Dongsheng). With the opening of two new stations, the number of trips between Zhongshan and Hong Kong has increased, reaching up to 26 trips per day.
Editor | Liu Jiahui, Ge Yuting, Holly, Abby, James
Photos | Nanfang Metropolis Daily
