The LRT Hengqin Line connecting the Macao Special Administrative Region and Hengqin, Zhuhai, officially came into operation on Monday, further deepening integration between the two places.
Covering a distance of about 2.2 kilometers, the line has two stations -- Lotus Station and Hengqin Station -- with a total traveling time of around two minutes. The train runs about every six minutes.
Ho Cheong-kei, president of the board of the Administration of Macao Light Rapid Transit Corporation Ltd, said the opening of the Hengqin Line is of great significance, as the connection of rail transit between Macao and the Chinese mainland could help the SAR better integrate into the “one-hour living circle” of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
“By launching the Hengqin Line, we hope to provide convenient travel options for Macao residents and travelers who make border crossings through Hengqin Port,” he said.
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The development came a few days after the National Immigration Administration announced the relaxation of visa policies for Zhuhai residents visiting Macao.
According to the new policy, residents with a Zhuhai hukou, or household registration, can apply for a “one trip per week” permit for Macao starting from next year. They are allowed to stay in the city for up to seven days per visit.
Residents and residence permit holders in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin can apply for a "multiple-entry" permit to Macao, which means they can visit Macao as many times as they wish within a year, with a maximum of seven days per trip.
The new policy is expected to further boost tourism in Macao, which could also benefit catering, retail, hospitality and other related industries.
READ MORE: New transport progress made between Macao, Hengqin
According to a report by the China Tourism Academy, Macao was ranked the most satisfactory destination for outbound tourists from the Chinese mainland during the first quarter of this year. The number of visitor arrivals in Macao grew 24 percent on a monthly basis to 3.14 million in October.
