The number of northbound trips made by single-plate vehicles from Hong Kong and Macao via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) exceeded 10 million as of May 25, with daily traffic now averaging 11,000 trips. The milestone marks a significant step toward stronger connectivity and integrated development within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Launched in January 2023 and July 2023, respectively, the "Northbound Travel for Macao Vehicles" and "Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles" schemes have gained strong popularity thanks to simplified application procedures and broad travel access. To date, more than 228,000 drivers and more than 192,000 vehicles have completed border inspection registration.
Data show that Macao-registered vehicles took 1,233 days to reach 5 million northbound trips, indicating that the scheme has increasingly shifted toward daily commuting. Hong Kong-registered vehicles, whose traffic peaks mainly on weekends and public holidays, have recorded 4.96 million trips, taking only 1,060 days to approach the 5 million mark and reflecting rapid growth.
More Hong Kong and Macao residents are heading north into the Chinese mainland for tourism, family visits, shopping, and business opportunities. Since the schemes were launched, cross-border passenger flows via the bridge have grown at an average annual rate of 34 percent, reaching nearly 18 million in 2025. Authorities expect the figure to exceed 20 million for the first time in 2026.
Customs authorities will further advance smart customs development and optimize supervision and services. Border inspection authorities will deploy big data systems, mobile inspection terminals, and smart express lanes to ensure smooth and efficient clearance.
Text | South Reporter Dai Bosi, Intern Luo Zihan
Photo | Department of Transport of Guangdong Province
