Hengqin Checkpoint on the Zhuhai side of the Lotus Bridge to Cotai in Macao processed an unprecedented 260,000 border crossings during the Lunar New Year holiday (between midnight Feb 4 and 5 pm Feb 10). New records of more than 50,000 passages were set for single days on Feb 7 and 8.

A major factor was Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents hurrying to reunite with families -- part of the Chinese New Year travel rush, or Chunyun. Another was the rise in the number of outbound travelers from the Chinese mainland. They flooded into Macao on self-guided tours or just headed for flights from Macau International Airport. Tourist groups going to foreign countries also upped the numbers.

Security forces were reasonably deployed due to scientifically forecast expectations. Also, due to an adequate number of open inspection channels, Chinese citizens were able to complete entry and exit procedures within 30 minutes, a stated goal of the State Immigration Administration. The success was partly due to the aggressive spread of information across various media to encourage staggered shifts.

Hengqin Checkpoint well-prepared [Photo courtesy Zhuhai Daily]