A view of the Ruins of St Paul Church in Macao Photo: VCG

The Hengqin line of the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) - consisting of Lotus Station in Macao Special Administrative Region and Hengqin Station in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province - will officially open on December 2, according to a press release from the Macao Light Rapid Transit Corp. 

The opening of the 2.2-kilometer line will provide local residents and travelers with a comfortable and quick travel option to the Macao Port Zone of the Hengqin Port, making it easier for passengers to use Hengqin Port, and closely connecting Macao and Hengqin. It will also help Macao integrate into the one-hour living circle of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

The first train will depart from the Lotus Station at 1:11 PM on the opening day. The total traveling time for the line is about two minutes, and the train frequency is about six minutes, per the press release.

Passengers who need to cross at Hengqin Port into the Chinese mainland can take the train from Lotus Station, pass through an underwater tunnel under the Shizimen Waterway, and arrive at Hengqin Station. After leaving the station, passengers can easily walk to the departure hall.

The LRT will promote Macao to further integrate into the GBA, as Macao can better participate in the GBA's construction and development as well as share the region's resources and opportunities, said Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences.

Wang told the Global Times on Sunday that the greater travel efficiency will bring convenience for travels, business exchanges, and local residents' daily lives. For instance, Wang noted that efficient transportation will reduce business costs and improve business efficiency, creating more opportunities for enterprises in the GBA.

Macao has been undergoing economic and industrial structural changes over the past years, and the region is expanding a wide range of sectors from tourism and dining to technology and education, Song Ding, a research fellow at the China Development Institute, told the Global Times on Sunday. 

Song said that the LRT will help bring more travelers, students and visitors to Macao, which will positively advance its economic and industrial restructuring. 

Echoing Song, Wang noted that Macao can fully utilize the resources of the GBA, including its market, investment, technology, and talent to promote the city's sustainable development.

Spanning 56,000 square kilometers with a total economic output of over 14 trillion yuan ($1.9 trillion yuan) in 2023, the GBA encompasses the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, along with nine cities in Guangdong.