The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is an initiative to facilitate greater economic and social integration between key cities in Guangdong Province along with Macau and Hong Kong. The Greater Bay is comprised of the two Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao plus nine municipalities located in Guangdong Province being Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing.
Quick Facts on the Greater Bay Area
- Administrative units: 9 cities + 2 SARs (Special Administrative Regions)
- Population: 66.72 million
- 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
- Three of the worlds top 10 busiest container ports are located in the Greater Bay (Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong)
Overview of the Greater Bay Cities – with links to city guides
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 (Links to airport transport guides).
- Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
- Macau International Airport (MFM)
- Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)
- Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport (SZX)
The New Foshan Airport is under construction.
High-Speed Intercity Train Routes in the Greater Bay Area
- 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)
In Hong Kong
- 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 main ferry operators in Hong Kong
TurboJet provides ferry services between Hong Kong-China Ferry Terminal and Macau that take approximately 55 minutes. And also services between Hong Kong Airport, Shekou, and Macau, Guangzhou (Nansha) turbojet.com.hk
Chu Kong Passenger Transport (CKS) provides ferry services between Hong Kong/Hong Kong Airport and Shenzhen, Dongguan, Guangzhou, Zhongshan, and Zhuhai. cksp.com.hk
Cotai Water Jet provides ferry services between Hong Kong and Macau cotaiwaterjet.com
The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge
Take a bus from Hong Kong to Zhuhai 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
- Eternal East Cross-Border Coach
- Sinoway (HK-China) Express
- Trans-Island Limousine (Go Go Bus)
- Trans Island
- CTS Travel
Intercity Coach
Every city in Guangdong is connected by intercity buses. See the city guide links in the list of Greater Bay cities for more info on stations and routes in each particular city.