This year marks the end of the 14th Five Year Plan, and during the Spring Festival holiday, many major projects are still accelerating their progress. The Shenzhen Zhongshan Expressway, which was completed and opened to traffic last year, connects Zhongshan, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou like a golden link, accelerating the integrated development of cities in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area. Over the past six months since its opening, the daily traffic volume of the Shenzhen Zhongshan Expressway has exceeded 80000 vehicles. This year's Spring Festival is the first Spring Festival holiday after the opening of the Shenzhen Zhongshan Expressway. How is the traffic and flow? How is the operation of the bridge? On the west side of the Shenzhong Passage in Zhongshan City, various scenic spots are crowded with people. In the parking lot, vehicles from Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Dongguan and other cities on the east bank of the Pearl River estuary can be seen everywhere. Shenzhen tourist Al: After the opening of the Shenzhen Zhongshan Expressway, Zhongshan is a bit like Shenzhen's backyard, which can be reached in half an hour. Australian tourist Ding Weihan: We arrived at Shenzhen Airport and passed through the Shenzhen Zhongshan Expressway to reach Zhongshan. It was really fast and spectacular! The scenery outside the window arrived unconsciously. I really enjoy traveling here. The fireworks on both sides of the Pearl River are also enjoyable. From the Zhongshan Yakou Seafood Street, the first stop of the Shenzhong Channel under the bridge, the local water crab Congee restaurant is full these days. Li Yanpei, the head of Yakou Village Water Crab Congee Store, Zhongshan City: There are so many advance orders that I can't get busy. Before the opening of the Shenzhen Zhongshan Expressway, this street was basically facing bankruptcy. After its opening, it has driven a lot of passenger traffic, with many more customers from Hong Kong, Macau, and Dongguan. One road leads to a bowl of Congee and revitalizes a street. The Shenzhen Zhongshan Expressway has shortened the travel time from Zhongshan to Shenzhen from 2 hours to less than 30 minutes, and from Zhongshan to Nansha, Guangzhou from 15 minutes. A spontaneous trip can be achieved at any time. Bian Shuyong, Deputy Director of the Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism Bureau of Zhongshan City: The opening of the Shenzhen Zhongshan Expressway is a huge influx of traffic for Zhongshan. A large number of people from Shenzhen, Hong Kong and the east bank of the the Pearl River Estuary poured into Zhongshan. In the first half of 2024, from January to June, our city received 10 million tourists. After the opening of the Shenzhen Zhongshan Expressway from July to December, our number increased to 18 million, an increase of nearly 90% compared to the first half of the year. It is predicted that on the first Spring Festival after the opening of the Shenzhen Zhongshan Expressway, the number of tourists visiting Zhongshan will reach a new historical high. The dividend of Shenzhen China Channel also radiates to the east bank of the Pearl River. This Spring Festival, many people from western Guangdong arrived in Shenzhen through the Shenzhen Zhongshan Expressway, departed from Shenzhen Airport, and then embarked on a Chinese New Year tour across the country. Zhang Chao, General Manager of Shenzhen Airport Transportation Operations Center: After the opening of the Shenzhen Zhongshan Expressway, Shenzhen Airport has successively opened four airport express lines passing through the Shenzhen Zhongshan Expressway, including Zhongshan, Jiangmen, and Nansha. The passenger source of Shenzhen Airport has been further expanded. Last year, our annual passenger volume increased by 16.6% year-on-year. Since the Spring Festival travel rush this year, the passenger volume of these four express lines has also increased by nearly 30% per day. The dynamic "conveyor belt" of the Shenzhen Zhongshan Channel has also expanded and accelerated logistics transportation for Spring Festival and New Year goods. In the fresh food area of Zhongshan Logistics Park, this batch of seafood refrigerated containers from Zhanjiang are piled up in the warehouse. It is the first time for this courier to send out 12000 boxes of seafood from the same customer at once. Hu Jinfeng, Deputy General Manager of Shunfeng Express in western Guangdong: Seafood waybills have seen an explosive increase, with this company seeing a 50% increase compared to the same period last year. The person in charge told reporters that after the opening of the Shenzhen China Channel, their transportation time has been significantly reduced, and transportation costs have also decreased by about 15%. The benefits of the Shenzhen Zhongshan Channel are not limited to these. The Bay Area Future Science and Technology City, which is only a few minutes' drive from the Zhongshan side landing point of the Shenzhen Zhongshan Passage, is a key industrial park jointly built by Shenzhen and China. Currently, it has been open for less than a month and about 30 enterprises have settled in. Xie Jianpeng, Deputy General Manager of Shenzhen Science and Technology Industrial Park Group: Enterprises from Beijing, Foshan, and Chongqing have all landed in our project. As New Year's Eve approaches, staff members travel back and forth between Shenzhen and China every day to discuss projects and promote contract signing. During the interview with the reporter, I encountered a Hong Kong businessman who was inspecting and negotiating. Hong Kong businessman Li Shaoqu: After the opening of the Shenzhen Zhongshan Expressway, it will be the center point of the Greater Bay Area, and we hope to implement all development projects before the Spring Festival. I hope to see our cultural and tourism projects launched during next year's Spring Festival. Xie Jianpeng, Deputy General Manager of Shenzhen Science and Technology Industrial Park Group: We have great confidence. We also do a good job in ensuring the operation and service aspects, and better play the role of the Shenzhen Zhongshan Channel as a "heart bridge" and "economic bridge". Develop a 'heart bridge' and integrate an 'economic bridge'. It is expected that during this Spring Festival holiday, the total traffic volume of the Shenzhen Zhongshan Expressway will be about 1 million trains. Xu Xianwei, head of the Shenzhen Zhongtong Road Network Dispatch Center of Guangdong Transportation Group: On peak days, the traffic flow may reach around 150000. The road network dispatch center and road administration personnel work in three shifts, staying on duty 24 hours a day, bringing everyone a prosperous and happy Chinese New Year. Behind the abundance of people and the smoothness of vehicles lies the tireless efforts of 'deep human' and intelligent systems. More than 800 real-time images and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) patrols along the entire line are connected to multiple intelligent systems. In case of abnormal situations, each position will promptly respond in a coordinated manner. On the Western Artificial Island, a Spring Festival reunion event brought a brief gathering for busy "Shenzhen locals". Their special job requires them to be equipped and ready for work at all times, even when giving Spring Festival couplets or playing games. Guo Jiangtao, who is 31 years old this year, lives in Henan. He just got married on National Day last year and has a baby as his New Year's wish. Guo Jiangtao, the project manager of the daily maintenance of the civil engineering of the Shenzhen Zhongshan Passage: Whenever I mention the Shenzhen Zhongshan Passage to my family and classmates, they always say, 'Niu Niu Niu Niu Niu Niu Niu Niu, I am very proud and proud.'. I am on duty during this year's Spring Festival, and my responsibilities lie with me. We must do our utmost to ensure safe, comfortable, and intelligent operation. This Spring Festival, a team of more than 200 traffic police, fire department, road administration, road network, rescue, and maintenance personnel are always escorting the safe and smooth operation of the Shenzhen Zhongshan Expressway. (New Society)