The long-awaited Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, a monumental infrastructure project spanning seven years of construction, is set to commence trial operations at 3:00 PM today!

This Link, soaring over Lingdingyang waters, has finally bridged the gap between Shenzhen and Zhongshan, reducing the commute from a two-hour journey to a mere 30 minutes. The "urbanization" of the eastern and western banks of the Pearl River estuary has taken a significant leap forward, with the potential of the Link now becoming a tangible reality.

Integrating the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), it is set to revolutionize the lives of ordinary residents in the area, bringing changes to travel, daily life, and leisure activities. And here is the "Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link Edition" of the lifestyle guide for the residents of the GBA!

Travel: Seamless connectivity for commuters

Spanning nearly 24 kilometers, the Link features an expansive two-way eight-lane layout with a design speed of 100 km/h, adhering to high-speed highway standards. This will drastically shorten the travel time between Shenzhen and Zhongshan, as well as Guangzhou.

To facilitate rapid cross-city commuting, Zhongshan and Shenzhen are set to launch a dedicated cross-city bus service on the day of the Link's opening. Additionally, the Nansha District People's Government of Guangzhou Municipality has disclosed in the response to Guangzhou's NPC deputies that research institutions have been tasked with a study on cross-city bus routes from Nansha to Shenzhen, with preliminary plans for routes via the Link, starting from the Jiaomen River Central Area in Nansha and extending to Qianhai and Bao'an Airport in Shenzhen.

The Shenzhen Bus Group Co., Ltd and Shenzhen Airport Group Co., Ltd have also collaborated to launch a special line from Shenzhen Airport to Zhongshan's aviation hub. This service, which will operate from Zhongshan Expo Center to Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, offers time-segmented pricing and plans for 72 daily trips, cutting the journey time from two hours to just 50 minutes.

Life: Accelerating the one-hour living circle in the GBA

Beyond economic vitality, the Link is set to enhance the integration of people and logistics across the Pearl River estuary, transforming residents' lifestyles.

With the Link's opening, daily commuting between Shenzhen and other cities like Zhongshan, Zhuhai, and Jiangmen has become possible. Even before the opening of the Link, a new social trend emerged among commuters, with the concept of "commuting partners" gaining popularity.

Mr. Li, for instance, found potential partners through social platforms, all working at Shenzhen Kexing Science Park and living close to each other in Zhuhai's Tangjia Bay. After the opening of the Link, they plan to share the commute and expenses.

The Link is also expected to attract more homebuyers to the two places, boosting the real estate market. Areas such as Ma'an Island, Bo'ai Road, Cuiheng, and Li Village in Zhongshan, located at the exit of the Link, will become attractive for young people with housing needs who work in Shenzhen.

Cultural exchanges are also set to flourish, with book borrowing services now interconnected between Shenzhen and Zhongshan. Currently, Shenzhen and Zhongshan are planning a series of literary and artistic activities, including the concert in the Lingdingyang, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link-themed calligraphy and photography exhibition, and the calligraphy exhibition in the GBA, signaling a more frequent exchange of industry, resources, technology, and talent across the region.

Travel: New tourism circuit in the GBA

The Link is poised to revolutionize travel within the GBA, making spontaneous trips a reality.

For example, starting from the eastern bank of the Pearl River in Shenzhen, you can reach Zhongshan in just 30 minutes. Renowned as the cradle of Cantonese cuisine, Zhongshan tantalizes the palate with its delectable dishes such as crispy-skinned fish, succulent pigeon, and tasty almond cookies. The city is also steeped in historical significance, with landmarks like the former residence of Sun Yat-sen, narrating the glorious chapters of Zhongshan and modern Chinese history. The cultural connotation of Zhongshan is further enriched by its traditional arts, including Zhongshan Xianshui (literally meaning "saltwater", Xianshui is a traditional style of folk music), the vibrant Xiaolan Chrysanthemum Festival, the dramatic Yakou Piaose Parade in Nanlang District (a national intangible cultural heritage, where performers perform folk legends on a small stage), and the spirited Drunken Dragon Dance, all of which are emblematic of the broader Lingnan cultural tradition.

Setting off from Zhongshan, a short drive leads to Jiangmen, a city celebrated as the "Hollywood of the East." It has served as the backdrop for acclaimed films and TV series, including The Knockout, Let the Bullets Fly, and The Grandmaster, drawing visitors with its distinctive blend of cinematic history and architectural heritage. Jiangmen's charm lies in its preservation of the Republic of China-era architectural marvels, which display a complex and flamboyant fusion of Chinese and Western structural and decorative forms, such as Kaiping Diaolou (watchtowers), Chikan Town, and Meijia Courtyard. These sites encapsulate the unique essence of life and the rich overseas Chinese culture that has flourished in this region.

For Hong Kong residents, the Link promises an expanded radius of life, and with the implementation of a series of convenient policies such as "Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles," more Hong Kong people will be attracted to travel to Shenzhen and other cities in the GBA during holidays for weekend getaways. Imagine starting the day with Hong Kong-style noodles, indulging in Shenzhen's coconut chicken at noon, savoring Zhongshan's crispy-skinned fish in the evening, and exploring Zhuhai's Fisher Girl, Jiangmen's Diaolou, and Guangzhou's Pearl River the following day.

Source: Yangcheng Evening News

深中通道来了！大湾区人“提速版”生活指南请查收

今天15时，历时7年建设的世纪工程——深中通道，将通车试运营！

一桥飞架，跨越伶仃，深中两地终于实现直达式联通，往来两地车程从2小时缩至30分钟，珠江口东西两岸进一步“同城化”，深中通道所打开的广阔想象空间更加具化了。

一桥融通湾区，对于粤港澳大湾区普通居民来说，开通后将给你的出行、生活、出游带来哪些变化？湾区人“深中通道版”生活指南请查收！

出行：驾车、公交、机场大巴都准备好了

深中通道全长接近24公里，采用双向八车道的宽敞布局、设计速度达100公里/小时的高速公路技术标准。通车后，将极大地缩短深圳与中山、广州之间的时空距离。

为方便两地快速通勤，中山联合深圳计划于深中通道通车当天，同步开通深中跨市定制公交专线。此外，广州市南沙区人民政府在近日回应市人大代表时透露，南沙区已组织研究机构开展南沙—深圳跨市公交专题研究，初步确定南沙—深圳前海、南沙—深圳宝安机场的跨市公交线路行经深中通道，南沙侧起点范围为蕉门河中心城区，深圳侧范围分别为前海、宝安机场。

同时开行的还有深圳巴士集团与深圳机场集团联合打造的深圳机场至中山航空港机场专线，从中山博览中心至深圳宝安国际机场，分时段定价，日均计划72班次，路程从2小时缩短至50分钟。

生活：大湾区1小时生活圈加速形成

深中通道不仅为经济注入活力，更促进了珠江口东西两岸人流与物流的交融和居民生活方式的改变。

深中通道通车后，深圳与中山、珠海、江门等地每日异地往返通勤成为可能。早在通车前，深中上班族中就兴起一种新型社交模式——通勤“搭子”。

在社交平台发帖一周后，李先生找到了两三个有意向的通勤“搭子”。他们都在深圳科兴科学园工作，而且在珠海的家也都相距不远。如果一切顺利，通车后，李先生将和“搭子”一起每天在深圳科兴科学园和珠海唐家湾之间驾车往返、分摊费用。

深中通道通车，也将吸引更多购房者到两地，促进房地产市场的增长。中山马鞍岛、博爱路、翠亨、黎村等位于深中通道出口的区域，对在深圳工作的年轻人等有住房刚需的群体来说，或将成为富有吸引力的购房热点区域。

在文化生活领域，深中两地的图书借阅服务已实现了城际互通。目前，深中两地正在筹划举办一系列文艺活动，包括“龙腾伶仃洋”音乐会、深中通道主题美术书法摄影作品展、岭南潮声粤港澳大湾区书法作品展等。可以预见，产业、资源、技术、人才等要素在珠江口东西岸之间的流动将更加频繁。

出游：湾区旅游圈一程多站打卡

在深中通道的“牵线”下，大湾区居民“说走就走”的随心出游近在眼前。

比如从珠江东岸深圳出发，仅需短短30分钟，便能抵达中山。那里是广府粤菜的发源地，有令人垂涎的脆肉鲩、乳鸽、杏仁饼等美食；还有孙中山故居等历史遗迹，诉说着中山乃至中国近现代史的辉煌篇章；中山咸水歌、小榄菊花会、南朗崖口飘色、醉龙舞等传统文化，更是岭南文化的重要组成部分。

第一站是中山，多踩一脚油门就到了江门。那里是《狂飙》《让子弹飞》《一代宗师》等热播影视作品的取景地，被称为“影视侨都”，拥有开平碉楼、赤坎华侨古镇、梅家大院等民国风貌的骑楼建筑群，保留了独特的生活气息和侨乡文化。

对于香港居民而言，生活半径持续扩大，且随着“港车北上”等一系列大湾区互联互通的便民政策落地，也将吸引更多香港人利用假期到深圳等大湾区城市旅游，来一场早上香港车仔面，中午深圳椰子鸡，晚上中山脆肉鲩，隔天珠海见渔女、江门看碉楼、广州游珠江的“湾区周末游”。

（参考资料：央视新闻、深圳发布、中山发布、南方+、南方都市报、宝安日报、深圳卫视深视新闻，部分文字来自羊城晚报记者王丹阳、张德钢）

话题主持丨吴瑕
翻译丨史洋溢