Shenzhong Link to bring Delta cities into one-hour travel circle

Trials for the express bus service linking the Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport and its Zhongshan Terminal have proved successful, setting the stage for the official opening of the Shenzhong (Shenzhen-Zhongshan) Link later this month.

During Saturday’s trial, over 40 passengers who had arrived in Shenzhen from Shanghai embarked on the express bus journey to the Zhongshan Terminal. This same group traversed the same route in the opposite direction five days prior, becoming the first passengers to use the Zhongshan Terminal.

For their trips, the travel time was more than two hours since the bus had to use the Humen Bridge. When the Shenzhong Link opens, the trip will only take 50 minutes.

An exterior view of the Zhongshan Terminal of the Shenzhen airport. Chen Faqing

Located at the Zhongshan Expo Center, the Zhongshan Terminal, which will begin operations on the same day as the Shenzhong Link, has check-in counters, ticket dispensers, and luggage transport services.

“The Shenzhen airport now operates terminals in Hong Kong, Dongguan, Huizhou, Jiangmen, Zhongshan, and Zhuhai, which enhances the connectivity of the Pearl River Delta cities,” said Zheng Lihua, marketing manager of the airport marketing department.

Express buses that run between the Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport and its Zhongshan Terminal are parked outside the airport. Liu Xujie

Ten shuttle buses will be used on the route between the Zhongshan Terminal and the Shenzhen airport when the link opens. Shuttles will pick up passengers from 3:10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Zhongshan Expo Center and between 7 a.m. and 4 a.m. the next day at the Shenzhen airport, with the buses departing every 30 to 40 minutes.

Meanwhile, the Shenzhen Bus Group will launch two intercity bus routes with Zhongshan in conjunction with the opening of the Shenzhong Link. The first will run between the Zhongshan Expo Center and the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub (E-hub), and the second will operate between the Zhongshan International Talent Hub and the E-Hub.

A total of 24 buses will be deployed on these routes. The route departing from the Zhongshan Expo Center operates from 6:20 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., while the one from the Zhongshan International Talent Hub operates from 6:20 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The route departing from the E-Hub operates from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. A one-way ticket is estimated to cost between 15 yuan (US$2.06) and 18 yuan.

It has been reported that Nansha District in Guangzhou also plans to launch intercity buses to Shenzhen after the opening of the Shenzhong Link, and the routes will connect Nansha with Qianhai and the Shenzhen airport.