The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is becoming more akin to a single city. In May of this year, four "inter-city metro" lines connecting five cities in an east-west direction were successfully linked. Recently, planning and construction for subway connectivity projects among five cities in a north-south direction have also officially commenced. One of China's largest "inter-city metro" networks is rapidly coming together.

The GBA includes the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macao Special Administrative Region, as well as nine mainland cities: Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Foshan, Zhuhai, and others. The average daily trip volume in these nine mainland cities exceeds six million. In addition to business and tourism, a significant group making inter-city journeys consists of "migrant populations" who move between cities.

"Previously, my daily commute from my home in Foshan to my company in Guangzhou took over five hours every day, which was extremely exhausting. Now, with the newly opened inter-city lines, my commute time has been reduced by more than half, making it much faster and more comfortable." In May of this year, the Guangfo South Ring and two Foguan Intercity Railways officially began operations, allowing Mr. Xie, a Foshan resident, to experience the convenience of "working in the same city" for the first time.

The two newly opened inter-city lines are now connected with the already operational intercity railways from Foshan to Zhaoqing and from Dongguan to Huizhou , creating a comprehensive network that spans five cities: Guangzhou, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhaoqing, and Huizhou. This transportation artery features a "stop-at-every-station + express service " operation model, earning it the title of the "longest metro" in the GBA.

Professor Hu Gang from Jinan University believes that this line, which spans five cities and operates under a public transportation model, represents an innovation in management systems. It involves the interconnection of rail transit facilities, unified ticketing systems, mutual trust in security checks, and information sharing. This is a significant achievement of reform and plays a foundational role in promoting the integrated development of the GBA.

A city cluster typically consists of multiple metropolitan areas, with each area centered around a mega or super-large city. The basic scope of these areas is defined by a one-hour commute circle, encompassing several surrounding cities. The 11 cities in the GBA are almost fully integrated, and within this area, the Guangzhou and the Shenzhen metropolitan areas are highly developed and recognized as national-level metropolitan regions.

In addition, the GBA is home to a manufacturing base often referred to as the "world's factory ." It boasts a highly dense network of airports and ports, as well as an extensive transportation network, made up of high-speed rails, inter-city lines, and subways. The cities within this area are progressing towards deeper regional collaboration and integration, with the acceleration of integrated urban development in transportation, industry, urban planning, and even public services.

Li Peilin, an associate researcher of the Institute of Spatial Planning and Regional Economy at the National Development and Reform Commission , believes that the "inter-city subway network" has expanded the one-hour commute circle within the GBA. He stated, "It can promote different cities in the GBA to leverage their comparative advantages, develop differentiated industries and functions, and form an open, networked economic zone, thereby enhancing regional competitiveness."

Source : Lingnan on the Cloud

中国超大“跨市地铁”群加速成型，粤港澳大湾区越来越像一个城市

粤港澳大湾区越来越像一个城市。今年5月，“串起”东西向5座城市的4条“城际地铁”实现首尾相连；近期，南北向5座城市的地铁连通项目，规划和建设也已正式起步，中国最庞大的“跨市地铁”网络之一正加速成型。

粤港澳大湾区包括香港、澳门2个特别行政区，以及内地的广州、深圳、东莞、佛山、珠海等9座城市。其中，内地9市的日均出行量超过600万人次，除了商务、旅游，“候鸟人群”是跨城出行的一个重要群体。

“以前从佛山家里到广州的公司，每天往返5个多小时的通勤真的苦不堪言，现在新开通的城际让我的通勤时间缩短了一半还多，又快又舒服。”今年5月，广佛南环、佛莞两条城际正式开通运营，家住佛山的谢先生第一次体验到“同城上班”的便捷。

新开通的两条城际还与已开通的佛肇、莞惠城际实现首尾相连、四线贯通，形成一条横跨广州、佛山、东莞、肇庆、惠州5座城市的交通大动脉，并实行“站站停+大站快车”的公交化运营模式，被誉为粤港澳大湾区“最长地铁”。

暨南大学教授胡刚认为，这条线路横跨五个城市，并实行公交化运行，涉及轨道交通的设施互联、票制互通、安检互信、信息共享，这是一个管理体制的创新，也是改革的成果，对推动大湾区融合发展起到基础性作用。

一个城市群，往往包含多个都市圈，而都市圈则以超大特大城市为中心，以一小时通勤圈为基本范围，涵盖多个周边城市。粤港澳大湾区11个城市几乎已连成一体，大湾区里的广州都市圈和深圳都市圈则是极为成熟的国家级都市圈。

此外，粤港澳大湾区有堪称“世界工厂”的制造业基地，坐拥密度极高的机场群、港口群，更有星罗棋布的高铁、城际、地铁构筑的交通网络，这里的城市群正朝着区域协同的“一体化”方向深入发展，交通、产业、规划乃至公共服务的“同城化”加速推进。

国家发展改革委国土开发与地区经济研究所副研究员李沛霖认为，“跨市地铁”群拓展了粤港澳大湾区一小时通勤圈范围。“它可以促进粤港澳大湾区不同城市发挥比较优势，打造差异化产业和功能，形成开放式、网络型的经济区，增强区域竞争力。”李沛霖说。

来源｜新华网
译 | 林佳岱
审 | 王枥焓