TUESDAY’S completion of the 6,845-meter-long undersea tunnel of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link marked a significant milestone in the project, which is expected to be operational next year.

The link, spanning a distance of 24 km, will play a pivotal role in integrating the eastern and western banks of the Pearl River estuary. When it opens to traffic, the travel time from Shenzhen to Zhongshan will be cut from the initial two hours to within 30 minutes.

For the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), where geographical barriers such as rivers and seas have historically hindered integration, connectivity brought about by the link is of paramount importance for concerted development across the region.

The uneven economic development within the GBA has long been a pressing concern. In the Pearl River Delta (PRD), the cities on the eastern bank are much stronger in economic strength compared with those on the west. Presently, the combined economic output of the eastern block represented by Shenzhen and Dongguan eclipses that of western regions represented by Zhongshan and Zhuhai by fivefold.

The link not only enhances the efficacy of passenger and goods transport but also predicts exciting prospects for industrial collaboration and multifaceted integration of Shenzhen and Zhongshan, invigorating the economy of the entire GBA.

Shenzhen and Zhongshan stand to be the primary beneficiaries. The symbiotic relationship between Shenzhen and Dongguan over the past decades serves as a promising model, offering insights into the potential for integrating Zhongshan into Shenzhen’s economic radius. Yolanda via email