A FERRY route connecting Shenzhen’s Qianhai & Shekou Free Trade Area with Hengqin in the city of Zhuhai will be launched May 1, Shenzhen Economic Daily reported.

This will be the first sea link between the two free trade areas of China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the ferry will pass under the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and sail past Macao peninsula. It takes 100 minutes from Taizi Bay Cruise Home Port in Shekou to Hengqin Port instead of the three hours to drive from Shenzhen to Hengqin.

A special fare of 65 yuan (US$9.21) for one way will be offered until June 30 and passengers on the maiden voyage of the Shekou-Hengqin ferry will receive a nice souvenir, according to the Daily.

The launch of the Shekou-Hengqin route will pave the way for the integration of tourism resources in both Shenzhen and Zhuhai, and is of significance in the general layout for cruise destinations in the Greater Bay Area, the Daily said.

Zhuhai’s Hengqin island is known for its variety of tourist attractions. It is home to a number of theme parks as well as other leisure sites and scenic spots.

Discounts to theme parks, restaurants and hotels on the Hengqin island will be offered to visitors arriving by the ferry through July 31.

In another development, the Dameisha beach park will reopen starting May 1 by limiting the number of visitors to 5,000 a day.

Park visitors need to make reservations via WeChat accounts “大梅沙旅游” or “畅游盐田” no more than seven days in advance.

Carnivals, beach activities and performances will be held during May Day holiday, but visitors are not allowed to swim, sources from Yantian District Government showed.  (Wei Jie)