West artificial island of Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link Photo: CCTV

The west artificial island of Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, a mega project in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, officially opened to the public on Monday after a two-month trial operation that began on October 25, China Central Television (CCTV) News reported Monday.

During the trial period, the island received nearly 10,000 visitors and more than 20 study tour groups, according to operators.

After the official opening, the daily reservation quota was raised to 900, allowing the public to book visits to the island, while dedicated shuttle bus services were increased to six per day, with departures arranged on a "full-and-go" basis during peak hours, per CCTV.

The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, spanning approximately 24 kilometers, opened to traffic on June 30, 2024, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

As the core hub for the bridge-tunnel transition of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, the west artificial island looks like a giant "Kunpeng," a mythical Chinese creature that transformed from a giant fish into a giant bird, from above. It covers about 137,000 square meters — roughly the size of 19 soccer fields — and sits in the waters of Lingdingyang.

The west artificial island of Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link has become a new marine landmark in the bay area. Visitors can view the twin towers of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge spanning the Lingdingyang waters from the observation platform and take in the surrounding seascape. The island also functions as a science education base for cross-sea infrastructure in the Greater Bay Area, offering immersive exhibitions that present the project's background, technological achievements and construction process.

Following the official opening, new tourism offerings have been introduced, including a large-scale VR experience zone and specialty sea-salt beverages. Operators said marine routes and low-altitude sightseeing programs are planned, aiming to expand tourism content and attract more visitors, per the report.

Global Times