A new ferry route connecting Zhongshan Passenger Port and Macao’s Taipa Ferry Terminal was officially launched on Wednesday, marking a new milestone in waterway transportation between the two cities.

The ferry service will initially make two round trips per day, with a one-way journey taking about 50 minutes. Passengers can enjoy several popular tourism destinations along the route, including the seashell-shaped Zhuhai Grand Theatre, Qi’ao Island and the mega-sized Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.

According to Yao Yong, an official from the Inspection Department at Zhongshan Customs, schedule adjustments and additional trips are planned for the future, based on passenger demand and market trends.  

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With a convenient ferry route now in service, exchanges between Zhongshan and Macao are expected to strengthen, facilitating smoother trade, cultural communication, and tourism, especially over the upcoming Spring Festival period.  

Chen Yuanliang, deputy director of the Zhongshan marine authority, said the opening of the new route involved overcoming many difficulties because the waterway between Zhongshan and Macao is difficult to navigate, given its intersecting routes, high vessel traffic density, numerous bridges, and large number of docks.

To ensure the safety of the maiden voyage on Jan 15, the marine authority dispatched patrol vessels to oversee the ferry’s departure and utilized smart monitoring systems to enhance the organization of water traffic.

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The new route is the latest addition following the launch of the new Zhongshan Passenger Port in November 2024. The facility features 12 berths — six for routes to Hong Kong and Macao, four for mainland connections, and two that are reserved for maintenance purposes. It is designed to handle a capacity of up to 2.77 million passengers per year.

The terminal also offers routes to Hong Kong and Shenzhen. In total, it now operates 15 inbound and 15 outbound trips daily.