The phase one project of the Pazhou Hong Kong-Macao Passenger Terminal. [Photo/WeChat account: GZWS411665430]

A one-hour life circle is nearing completion in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Transportation plays an essential role in promoting the integration of the Greater Bay Area. New bridges, highways and railways have been continuously put into service since the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area was released three years ago.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge has helped to more closely connect Hong Kong and Macao with the mainland, as it has made the two regions a part of the national expressway network. The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link is under construction, while the construction plan for the Shenzhen-Zhuhai Bridge is being developed.

It will be much easier for researchers in Hong Kong to get to cities like Zhongshan after the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link opens to traffic, said Lin Zhiying, president of Hong Kong Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology. These researchers will provide intellectual support for the development of the manufacturing industry in cities on the west bank of the Pearl River Estuary, Lin added.

Meanwhile, railways spanning nearly 2,500 kilometers are being operated in the Greater Bay Area, including 1,430 kilometers of high-speed railways. The Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong high-speed train enables passengers to reach West Kowloon of Hong Kong from Guangzhou in just 47 minutes.

In addition, travel between Guangzhou and Macao and Hong Kong has become faster and easier now that the phase one project of the Pazhou Hong Kong-Macao Passenger Terminal has been put into service. Passengers can reach Hong Kong International Airport and Macao in about 120 minutes from the Pazhou terminal.

Procedures for cross-city and cross-border commute within the Greater Bay Area have been further streamlined. With the opening of New Hengqin Checkpoint, Qingmao Checkpoint and Liantang/Xiangyuanwei Checkpoint, customs clearance policies such as "one-stop customs clearance" and "cooperative inspection and one-time release" have been implemented, and two thirds of inbound and outbound passengers pass customs through self-service.

By 2035, 14 highway and railway cross-river channels will be open to traffic at the Pearl River Estuary, and a multi-level rapid transit system revolving around high-speed rails, intercity railways and expressways will be formed, which is expected to further improve connectivity among cities in the Greater Bay Area.