Chen Siqi

vankochensq@163.com

THE upcoming Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link (Shenzhong Link), crossing the eastern and western banks of the Pearl River, is poised to promote tourism and foster industrial integration between the two cities as well as cities within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), said experts during an interview at the Qianhai Tower on Tuesday.

Once operational, the Link is set to slash the travel time between Shenzhen and Zhongshan from two hours to under an hour. “Shenzhen residents will have more short travel options for weekends and holidays, given by Zhongshan’s abundant tourism offerings,” said An Jian, chief engineer of Shenzhen Urban Transport Planning Center Co. Ltd. Moreover, neighboring cities such as Jiangmen and Zhuhai, situated on the far side of the Shenzhong Link, allure tourists with their culinary delights, hot springs, and scenic landscapes.

Conversely, Shenzhen, particularly Qianhai, can serve as a recreational hub for residents on the western bank of the Pearl River, offering them a blend of business and leisure opportunities. An highlighted that travelers utilizing the Shenzhong Link will first arrive at Qianhai, prompting them to appreciate Qianhai’s urban design and planning intricacies.

Shi Kun, director of the Regional Development Planning Department of the China Development Institute, lauded the Shenzhong Link for its potential to empower economic parity within the GBA, promoting growth on the western shore of the Pearl River.

“An important benefit brought by the Shenzhong Link will lie in its ability to forge connections between the economic powerhouse cities and those on the western bank within the GBA,” Shi said. While the annual GDP per capita in Shenzhen surpasses US$30,000, with areas like Nanshan and Bao’an exceeding US$50,000, the figures in cities on the western bank hover at around US$10,000, Shi explained. “The bridge between Zhongshan and Shenzhen is expected to propel economic expansion on the western bank,” Shi said. He also added that the Shenzhong Link is expected to nurture industrial clusters within the GBA.

Firms operating across extensive industrial chains within the GBA will find diversified partnerships crucial. Western bank companies excel in traditional manufacturing sectors like home appliances and furniture, and will rely on connections with Shenzhen and Hong Kong to facilitate expansion into international markets, according to Shi.