New Zhongshan passenger pier shortens ferry ride to Hong Kong

Wallis Wang

A new passenger pier in Zhongshan, Guangdong, connecting Hong Kong's China Ferry Terminal and Hong Kong International Airport, opened yesterday.

The new terminal shortens the ferry journey from Zhongshan to Hong Kong by 20 minutes, allowing passengers to reach China Ferry Terminal from Zhongshan in 65 minutes and the airport in 50 minutes.

The two routes to the city are among the new pier's three routes, with the remaining one connecting Shekou in Shenzhen. It is understood the new Zhongshan pier will also introduce routes to Macau and Zhuhai later.

Travelers taking flights at Hong Kong airport can complete check-in at the Zhongshan terminal, meaning they could go straight to the restricted area for boarding after reaching the city without having to enter it.

"It is much easier for us to take the ferry than taking road transport because we have to carry baggage," a Chinese living in the United States said.

"If we travel to the airport by vehicle, we would have to carry the luggage ourselves when crossing the border as there are no baggage carts," he added.

Kosuk, a tourist from Thailand, said the ferry service is very convenient. "We can go to the airport directly without [the need to] carry our bags. It was very smooth, we checked in for three people and everything was finished in less than 10 minutes," he said.

A Zhongshan resident, Zeng, said the shortened travel time will allow him to visit Hong Kong more often.

"I will definitely be visiting Hong Kong more often for shopping and entertainment. Without the ferry, it would be much harder for us to travel to Hong Kong via Shenzhen," he said.

Travel between China Ferry Terminal and Zhongshan cost only 1 yuan (HK$1.07) during the first three days from yesterday's opening.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com