The cumulative passenger flow at the Zhuhai Highway Port via the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge has recently exceeded 100 million, and the cumulative passenger flow of the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou Shenzhen Hong Kong high-speed railway has recently exceeded 100 million. The "double breakthrough" of passenger flow demonstrates the continuous improvement of the "three connections" among Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. The increasingly improved transportation infrastructure "hard connectivity", smoother rule connection and mechanism docking "soft connectivity", and closer communication and interaction "heart connectivity" are constantly consolidating the foundation for the integrated development of the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area. Currently, there are six cross river and cross sea channels in the Greater Bay Area that have been completed and opened to traffic, namely the Humen Bridge opened in 1997, the Huangpu Bridge opened in 2008, the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge opened in 2018, the Nansha Bridge opened in 2019, the Shenzhen Zhongshan Passage opened in 2024, and the Huangmaohai Cross sea Passage. The "hard connectivity" of infrastructure in the urban agglomeration within the region has opened up a "major artery" for the integrated development of the Greater Bay Area, especially with the rapid growth of passenger flow in the two major infrastructure projects, the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou Shenzhen Hong Kong high-speed railway and the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge, which have been successively opened. Nowadays, taking the Guangzhou Shenzhen Hong Kong high-speed railway, the fastest travel time from Guangzhou South Station to Hong Kong West Kowloon Station is less than 50 minutes, and from Shenzhen Futian Station to Hong Kong West Kowloon Station is only about 15 minutes. Yang Meizhen, Executive Director (Hong Kong Passenger Services) of MTR Corporation, believes that the continuous record high passenger volume of the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou Shenzhen Hong Kong High Speed Rail reflects the vigorous development trend brought about by the deepening integration between mainland China and Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Zhuhai Macau Bridge has shortened the travel time from Hong Kong to Zhuhai and Macau from 3 hours to about 45 minutes. It took more than 5 years to break through the first 50 million person times (clearance), and only 1 year and 8 months to break through the second 50 million person times, "said Chen Shibai, the head of the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge border inspection station. For more than 7 years since the opening of the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou Shenzhen Hong Kong High Speed Rail and the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge, more and more travelers in the Greater Bay Area are experiencing the novelty of cross-border travel for meetings and shopping through the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge. The "double over 100 million" passenger flow data intuitively confirms that the concept of a "one hour living circle" in the Greater Bay Area is becoming a reality. These two cross-border projects directly promote the barrier free flow of talent, capital, and innovation in the Greater Bay Area, accelerating the complementary advantages and industrial chain integration of urban functions and socio-economic resources, "said Yan Gang, a member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The increasingly improved transportation infrastructure is hardware, and the constantly convenient supporting customs clearance policies are software. In the past two years, with the implementation of policies such as "Australian cars heading north", "Hong Kong cars heading north", and "Guangdong cars heading south", the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge has witnessed the acceleration of integration in the Greater Bay Area. Customs clearance policies such as "cooperative inspection, one-time release" and "facial recognition clearance" are constantly being optimized at major ports. In July 2023, "Hong Kong Car Northbound" officially landed. On December 23, 2025, the policy of "Guangdong cars heading south" entering the urban area of Hong Kong was officially implemented. Mr. Cao, a resident of Zhuhai who took advantage of the end of year consumption season to drive his family to Hong Kong, said, "You can drive from Zhuhai to Hong Kong with just one step on the gas pedal. This experience is so enjoyable. People traveling between the two places generally believe that in the past, they had to consider issues such as vehicle traffic restrictions and passenger ship schedules when traveling between the two places. Nowadays, the procedures have been greatly simplified to make travel more convenient. Chen Meibao, the Secretary for Transport and Logistics of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, stated that Hong Kong is making every effort to promote the Northern Link and the Hong Kong Shenzhen Western Railway (from Hung Shui Kiu to Qianhai) project. These two cross-border railway projects will fully connect the subway networks of Hong Kong and Shenzhen. No need to search for documents, just face the camera, lightly press your fingerprint, and complete customs clearance and inspection in about 10 seconds - this convenient scene has become a daily routine before the "face recognition" intelligent channel at Gongbei Port for more than a year. In November 2024, the first batch of intelligent fast channels in China will be put into trial operation at Gongbei Port between Zhuhai and Macau, and Shenzhen Bay Port between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. I work in Macau, and in the past, I had to collect my documents and queue up for customs clearance every morning and evening. Now, 'facial recognition+fingerprint printing' can be done in one step, which is very convenient. ”Ms. Li, a migrant worker living in Zhuhai and working in Australia, said. The infrastructure is gradually improving, and supporting policies are becoming more convenient, promoting closer communication and integration among residents in the Greater Bay Area. Going to Hengqin feels very relaxed and comfortable. ”Macanese Su Baijing works at a university in Macau and is impressed by the comfortable living environment and increasingly convenient customs clearance policies in Hengqin. After moving to a new neighborhood in Hengqin, she drives a single license plate Hengqin car to and from customs every day. During non peak hours, she hardly has to wait and can quickly clear customs in just a few minutes. Since moving in at the end of 2024, Su Bojing and her family have witnessed the changes in the new neighborhoods and surrounding areas of Macau. Whether it's the living environment, supporting facilities such as health stations and family community service centers, or community activities, they all make her feel very considerate. "In the past year, there have been more neighbors and children in the community, and many Macanese people have come to open shops nearby, which is very prosperous. My parents often travel to my hometown of Yangjiang and Hengqin in Guangdong, while I live in Hengqin and work in Macau. Su Bojing's family is a participant and witness to the integrated development of the Greater Bay Area. Hengqin has already traveled extensively, and our daily travel is now expanding to cities such as Zhuhai and Zhongshan. ”Su Baijing said that as the spatial distance narrows, the flow of people and capital accelerates, and people's psychological distance will become closer and closer. "This is the trend of the times. The smooth flow of people naturally drives the convenience of logistics and efficient circulation of capital flow. The interaction between consumption and economy in the north and south is constantly consolidating the foundation of integrated development in the Greater Bay Area. ”Shi Ronghuai, member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and President of the Hong Kong and Beijing Federation of Societies, said. (New Society)