The World's Longest Sea Bridge Opens Wednesday
The longest sea-crossing bridge ever built is set to open this week, nine years after construction.
The 34-mile bridge connects Hong Kong and Macau to the mainland Chinese city of Zhuhai. CNN reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping and top officials from Hong Kong and Macau are expected to attend a ceremony in Zhuhai on Tuesday, and the bridge will be open to the public on Wednesday.
The $20-billion bridge was originally planned to open in 2016, but several delays pushed the due date back to 2018. The bridge is located next to the Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) and will provide access between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. It is also the first land transport link between Hong Kong and Macao.
Secretary for Transport and Housing, Frank Chan, believes this bridge will help Hong Kong serve as regional aviation and logistics hub. Chan said Friday that traveling between Zhuhai and Hong Kong International Airport typically takes four hours, but the bridge will shorten the trip by 45 minutes. Similarly, travel time between Zhuhai and Kwai Tsing Container Terminal will be reduced from 3.5 hours to an hour and 15 minutes.
"In light of the development of the Greater Bay Area, the Bridge will be instrumental in enhancing the flow of people, goods and capital, as well as technological collaboration within the region," Chan said. "The Government will closely monitor the utilization rate of the Bridge and actively explore measures in conjunction with our counterparts with a view to optimizing the utilization and benefits of the Bridge."
On the other hand, the bridge has received a lot of criticism. According to CNN, some Hong Kong critics say there was little public demand for more links to Macau or Zhuhai and that the bridge could cause the city to be overloaded with tourists from mainland China.
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app