GZ SHOPPER

Greater Bay Area

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is a mega-plan in motion to integrate key cities in Guangdong Province with Macau and Hong Kong. The Greater Bay comprises nine municipalities located in Guangdong Province being Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing along with the two Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao.

The stated goals of the newly forming region are to enhance economic and social integration of which a key pillar is an infrastructure that will facilitate easy and fast travel between the areas. Examples are the Hong Kong-Macau-Zhuhai Bridge and the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Line and ever-expanding high-speed rail network and metro networks on the mainland.

Along with opportunities for corporate and business, it’s expected that many from workers from Hong Kong will take up opportunities on the mainland which can offer substantially cheaper housing and living costs along with the work opportunities that come from fast-growing economies. There is also speculation of the mainland becoming attractive for retirees from Hong Kong/Macau.

 

 

Greater Bay Area Facts

  • Combined Area: 56,000 sq. km
  • Combined GDP: 1.3 trillion USD
  • The nine mainland cities make up 85% of Guangdong’s GDP
  • The Greater Bay Area accounts for 12% of China’s GDP
  • Population: 66.72 million
  • Administrative units: 9 cities+2 SARs
  • Three of the worlds top 10 busiest container ports are located in the Greater Bay

 

Overview of the Greater Bay Cities – with links to city guides

 

City/Area CN Airport High-Speed Rail Stations Intro
Hong Kong 香港 Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) West Kowloon Station An international city, tourist destination, finance hub and highly regarded for its legal expertise and institutions.
Macau 澳门 Macau International Airport (MFM) A popular tourist destination for it’s unique Chinese/Portuguese heritage and casinos.
Dongguan 东莞市 Dongguan Station
Humen Station
Changping Station
Humen South Station
Dongguan West Railway Station		 Known for being the “worlds factory” and for its cultural attractions
Foshan 佛山市 Foshan Shadi Airport (FUO) Foshan West Railway Station
Sanshui South Station
Bijiang Station
Beijiao Station
Shunde Station
Shunde College Station
Ronggui Station		 Known for ceramics and furniture production it also features cultural and historical attractions inc Bruce Lee’s Ancestor’s House.
Guangzhou 广州市 Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) Guangzhou East Railway Station
Guangzhou South Railway Station
Guangzhou North Railway Station
Guangzhou Railway Station		 Capital of Guangdong, International trade base, and home to the regions leading cultural & historical attractions.
Huizhou 惠州市 Huizhou Pingtan Airport (HUZ) Huizhou South Station
Huidong Station
Xiaojinkou Station
Huihuan Station
Zhongkai Station
Huizhou North Station  – under construction
Boluo North Station  – under construction		 A tourism city, home to the Taoist Luofu Mountain, Pinghai Ancient City, hot spring and beach resorts, and the beautiful Xunliao Bay
Jiangmen 江门市 Jiangmen East Station
Xinhui Station		 A well-known hometown of overseas Chinese, famous for its Kaiping Diaolou and Villages
Shenzhen 深圳市 Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport (SZX) Shenzhen North Station
Futian Station
Shenzhen Station
Pingshan Station		 The gateway of China’s opening up and reform, hi-tech industry base, economic powerhouse, and home to the scenic Dapeng Bay coastal area and beaches.
Zhaoqing 肇庆市 Zhaoqing Railway Station
Zhaoqing East Railway Station		 Famous for the beauty and fresh air of nearby Dinghu Mountain, and the Star Lake Scenic Area.
Zhongshan 中山市 Zhongshan Station
Zhongshan North Station
Xiaolan Station
Nantou Station
Guzhen Station
Nanlang Station
Dongsheng Station		 A key manufacturing base that attracts a lot of overseas investment and expats.
Zhuhai 珠海市 Zhuhai Jinwan Airport (ZGSD) Zhuhai Station
Qianshan Station
Tangjiawan Station		 A tourism city that is known for its long coastline, islands, hot springs. It is also an SEZ with a focus on textiles and electronics.

 

Transport in the Greater Bay Area

Airports

The region has four major international airports which all have easy transport connections to cities in the GBA.

The New Foshan Airport is under construction.

 

High-Speed Intercity Train Routes

  • Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link 广深港高速铁路
  • Guangzhou–Shenzhen railway 广深铁路
  • Guangzhou–Foshan–Zhaoqing intercity railway (Guangfozhao) 广佛肇城际轨道交通
  • Dongguan–Huizhou intercity railway (Guanhui) 莞惠城际轨道交通
  • Guangzhou–Zhuhai intercity railway (Guangzhu) 广珠城际
  • Guangzhou–Foshan circular intercity railway (Guangfo ring) 广佛环城际轨道交通 (under construction)
  • Foshan–Dongguan intercity railway 佛莞城际轨道交通 (under construction)
  • Guangzhou–Dongguan–Shenzhen intercity railway (Suiguanshen) 穗莞深城际轨道交通 (under construction)
  • Guangzhou–Qingyuan intercity railway (Guangqing) 广清城际轨道交通 (under construction)
  • Zhuhai–Zhuhai Airport intercity railway (Zhuji) 珠机城际轨道交通 (under construction)

 

Ferry Passenger Ports

Ferries are a convenient and fast way to transfer between airports and the cities of the Greater Bay.

  • Zhuhai Jiuzhou
  • Doumen (Zhuhai)
  • Zhongshan
  • Shunde (Foshan)
  • Guangzhou Lianhuashan
  • Guangzhou Nansha
  • Jiangmen
  • Shekou (Shenzhen)
  • Fuyong (Shenzhen Airport)
  • Macau (Taipa)
  • Macau (Outer Harbour)
  • Skypier (Hong Kong International Airport)
  • Sheung Wan (Hong Kong)
  • Tuen Mun (Hong Kong)
  • China Ferry Terminal (Hong Kong)
  • HK-Macau Ferry Terminal (Hong Kong)

 

The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge

The new bridge is set to open and while permits have sold out you will be able to take a bus from Zhuhai to Hong Kong via the bridges shuttle service (HZMB Bus), a cross-border coach, or taxi. More details here

 

Cross-Border Coaches Between Mainland and HK/Macau

There are cross-border coaches operated by several companies that have boarding and departure points across many locations in Hong Kong including Hong Kong Airport. They travel to/from cities including Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Foshan, Dongguan, Huizhou, Zhuhai, Macau, Jiangmen and more. Companies include

 

Intercity Coach

Every city in Guangdong is connected by intercity buses. See the city guide links in the table of Greater Bay cities for more info on stations and routes in each particular city.