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
