Traffic flows steadily across Lingdingyang, part of the Pearl River Estuary in southern China. In November, Shenzhen will host the APEC China 2026 Economic Leaders' Week, once again drawing global political and business attention to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). At the center of this attention is a world-class cross-sea cluster project stretching about 24 kilometers. It has brought the eastern and western banks of the Pearl River Estuary within a 30-minute drive of each other, significantly shortening travel times between key industrial, commercial and residential areas on both sides. In less than two and a half years, the link has evolved from a mega project to a major transport corridor.

The mega project spanning Lingdingyang is the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link. Since opening to traffic on June 30th, 2024, it has consistently handled heavy traffic. On October 30th, the cumulative number of vehicle trips across the link surpassed 80 million. The GBA is home to around 80 million people — roughly the same as the number of vehicle trips recorded on the link. In a sense, that is as if every resident had crossed the bridge once, whether on a daily commute, a journey home or a leisurely getaway.

Improved connectivity through the link has been key to Zhongshan's transformation from a transit point into a destination in its own right.

With Shenzhen hosting APEC China 2026 meetings in November, the link is expected to see an even more diverse mix of travelers. Political and business figures from around the world arriving via Shenzhen's airport and ports will be able to travel westward across the Pearl River Estuary via the 30-minute corridor.

The significance of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link extends far beyond transport infrastructure. It provides the foundation for the reallocation of resources between the two sides of the Pearl River Estuary and stands as one of the most tangible landmarks of the GBA's "one-hour living circle." As the world's attention turns to the GBA in mid-November, the link will demonstrate how interconnected infrastructure can translate into deeper integration of people, consumption and industries, while bringing greater certainty to regional economic activity.

一座桥的APEC时间，伶仃洋上八千万次奔赴

伶仃洋上，车流不息。11月，APEC会议将在深圳举行，全球政商目光再度聚焦粤港澳大湾区。聚光灯下，一条全长约24公里的世界级跨海集群工程，把珠江口东西两岸的产业半径、消费半径与生活半径，压缩进30分钟车程，并用不到两年半的时间，从“超级工程”变成了“超级流量入口”。

这条横跨伶仃洋的“超级工程”即是深中通道，自2024年6月30日通车以来，车流量始终高位运行。10月30日，深中通道累计通行车流量突破8000万车次。粤港澳大湾区生活着约8000万人——8000万车次，相当于每个人都走过这座桥一次，这可能是一次通勤、一次归途、抑或是一次畅游。

一座桥拉近的距离，是中山从“过境地”变“目的地”的关键一跃。

随着11月APEC会议在深圳举行，深中通道承载的客流结构有望进一步丰富：经由深圳机场、口岸抵达的全球政商人群，将沿30分钟通道向珠江口西岸扩散。

深中通道的意义已超出交通基建本身，它是珠江口两岸要素再配置的基础设施，也是大湾区“一小时生活圈”最直观的地标。当11月中旬，世界的目光聚焦大湾区，深中通道将向世人展示：基础设施的互联互通，如何转化为人员、消费、产业的深度融合，如何为区域经济注入确定性消费。

文｜记者 王丹阳
翻译｜徐芷晴
审校｜盛嘉