The Shenzhen–Zhongshan Link is a large bridge-tunnel that connects two important cities in China’s Pearl River Delta: Shenzhen on the east and Zhongshan on the west. This project features a series of bridges and tunnels that begin at Bao’an International Airport in Shenzhen.
It stretches about 49.7 kilometers and includes eight lanes—four for each direction of travel. The construction was finished in 2024, with an estimated cost of around 4.83 billion US dollars. The new route is located roughly 27 kilometers downstream from the older Humen Bridge, which used to be the only bridge crossing the estuary. It is also about 32 km north of the famous Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge, which opened in 2018 and links Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macau.
Construction of the Shenzhen–Zhongshan Link began in May 2017 and officially opened to traffic on June 30, 2024. The route includes a 6.7 km tunnel that starts from Shenzhen, along with 19 bridges totaling about 43 km. The longest part of the bridge is about 22.5 kilometers long, and about 15.5 kilometers of that runs over the sea. The speed limit on the bridge is 100 km/h, helping vehicles and travelers move faster between the cities.
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The bridge connects the Guangshen Expressway south of Shenzhen airport and the Jihe Expressway to the east, linking them to the Zhongjiang Expressway on the west side.The new route now cuts the trip between Shenzhen and Zhongshan from over two hours down to less than 30 minutes.
Soon after it opened, Shenzhen started new bus services to link the city directly with Zhongshan. In the first few days, some drivers and passengers experienced heavy congestion, with long delays, and some decided to use the older Humen Bridge as an alternative route.
Historically, Shenzhen wanted to be part of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge project but was excluded in 2004. Instead, it proposed a separate link, which finally became the Shenzhen–Zhongshan Link in 2011, after several years of planning and debate.
The new bridge aims to improve connectivity and reduce travel time, making it easier for people and goods to move in and out of Shenzhen and Zhongshan. Although it initially faced some traffic congestion, it is expected to support the growth of the region and boost economic development in the Pearl River Delta area.
