“Thirty minutes.” That’s all it takes now to travel between Shenzhen and Zhongshan because of the Shenzhen–Zhongshan Link. Imagine that a journey that once took two hours now is a short trip. The Shenzhen–Zhongshan Link is more than just a bridge. It is a bridge and tunnel system connecting two major cities in the Pearl River Delta.
The Shenzhen–Zhongshan Link opened on June 30 2024. This link includes the Shenzhen–Zhongshan Tunnel and the Zhongshan Bridge. The entire link stretches from Bao’an International Airport in Shenzhen. This point is important for travelers arriving by air.
The original plan for a direct connection to Shenzhen was altered. Shenzhen had wanted to be part of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge project. However, the final design left Shenzhen out. This led to the idea for a separate link to Zhongshan.
The Shenzhen–Zhongshan Link project is impressive. It features a 6.7 km tunnel and 19 bridges totaling 43 km. The longest continuous bridge section extends about 22.5 km. Approximately 15.5 km of this section is above the sea.
Each direction has four lanes. Vehicles can travel at a maximum speed of 100 km/h. The bridge connects the Guangshen Expressway to the south of Shenzhen airport. It also links the Jihe Expressway to the east of the airport. On the western side, it connects with the Zhongjiang Expressway.
Initially, some users experienced congestion. Drivers and passengers faced delays. Some even chose to use the Humen Bridge as an alternative. Despite these initial issues, the link saw over 3 million vehicle crossings in its first month.
The Shenzhen–Zhongshan Link is expected to greatly impact the area’s economy. Lin Feiming, head of the Guangdong provincial department of transport, believes it will reshape the road network of the Pearl River Estuary.
Many Shenzhen-based companies have factories in Zhongshan. Yuan Moli, an employee of Shenzhen Xinyichang Technology Co., Ltd, calls the new link a “golden avenue”. It dramatically cuts travel time between their R&D center and factory.
Shenzhen, known as “China’s Silicon Valley”, is home to many tech companies. These include Huawei, Tencent, and BYD. Meng Fanli, Party secretary of Shenzhen, plans to introduce more initiatives to facilitate travel between the cities.
The tourism sector is also excited about the new link. Huang Chuping, from a Shenzhen-based travel agency, anticipates a surge in tourism. His team has already launched several new tourism routes in western Guangdong.
The Shenzhen–Zhongshan Link is not just a road. It’s a symbol of progress. It bridges not only geographical distance but also economic divides. The Shenzhen–Zhongshan Link is one of the most challenging cross-sea cluster projects ever built.