The newly rebuilt Huanggang Port, a key 24-hour land boundary crossing between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, officially commenced operations at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, marking a significant upgrade in regional connectivity within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The port, considered the world’s largest single-building land border-crossing complex, replaces the existing Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang checkpoint, which had been in service since 1989.
The revamped port is designed to handle between 50,000 and 100,000 passenger trips daily in its initial phase, with capacity expected to increase to 200,000 daily trips and potentially reach 300,000 upon completion of the MTR Northern Link project. Vehicle throughput is projected at 15,000 per day. The crossing operates under a “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” model that aims to cut passenger clearance times from around 30 minutes to approximately five minutes. Eligible travelers will benefit from streamlined procedures allowing them to complete both departure and entry clearance with a single identity document at automated channels equipped with three gates.
Officials emphasized the port’s role in facilitating the movement of people, goods, capital, and information between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, fostering deeper integration within the Greater Bay Area. Jin Lei, Party secretary of Shenzhen, described the project as a pioneering effort to align cross-boundary rules and integrate mechanisms to support economic development, technological innovation, trade, finance, culture, and tourism. The port links Hong Kong's North Metropolis with Shenzhen's Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, extending its influence to innovation hubs such as Hong Kong Science Park, San Tin Technopole, Qianhai cooperation zone, and Guangming Science City.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu characterized the refurbishment as a “landmark project” that demonstrates Hong Kong’s commitment to integrating with the national 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) and its own first Five-Year Plan. Lee noted that the crossing had served hundreds of millions of travelers since 1989, playing a vital role in cross-border interaction for several generations. He also highlighted the port’s significance for Hong Kong’s participation in national development and the Greater Bay Area’s construction.
Authorities on both sides have conducted over 200 rehearsals to prepare for the operational launch, including emergency and crowd control measures. Xue Huaming, an official at Shenzhen’s Office of Port of Entry and Exit, assured that coordination between Hong Kong and Shenzhen would ensure smooth operations during peak travel times. A one-stop service center is also available to provide multilingual assistance, transportation and tourism information, payment services, and policy consultations.
The project has received support from Guangdong provincial leaders, with Huang Chuping, chairman of the Standing Committee of Guangdong’s People’s Congress, calling for Huanggang Port to become a benchmark for modern international ports and a catalyst for integrated development with Hong Kong. The port is part of Guangdong’s network of 50 Class I ports responsible for over 70 percent of passenger and vehicle flow between the mainland and Hong Kong, contributing to Guangdong’s leading share of national import and export values.
Business leaders, such as Wingco Lo Kam-wing of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, welcomed the reopening, emphasizing its potential to boost cross-border industrial innovation, free talent movement, and economic vitality for the Northern Metropolis and wider Greater Bay Area. Lo underscored the importance of continued improvements to cross-border infrastructure and institutional connectivity to maximize these gains.