In southern China, a mega-bridge connecting the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, and the mainland city of Zhuhai has been officially opened. It's set to drastically reduce travel times between the three locations. Shuttles buses and cross-boundary coaches will be available to carry passengers between the cities. The bridge opens to traffic on Wednesday morning. Mao Dan has this report from Hong Kong.

Tam-Kin-Man is one of the few Hong Kong drivers who have already traveled by bridge from Hong Kong to Zhuhai before the official commissioning of the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge. He took part in a three-day trial operation of the Bridge in late September, and drove several round trips between the ports.

TAM KIN-MAN COACH DRIVER "The bridge road is very long yet it's so smooth and flat. I was amazed by the grandness of the bridge. It took only around 35 minutes to drive from Hong Kong Port to Zhuhai Port."

Tam's company, a Hong Kong-based cross-boundary coach provider, has spent a year preparing for the opening of the mega-bridge, getting vehicles, personnel and trip routes ready.

JAMES WONG, CEO KWOON CHUNG BUS HOLDINGS "For daily travelers to and from Macao or Zhuhai, they can have a new option. And for tourists, not only from HK or around Guangdong area, travelers from different provinces in China and even from different areas in the world, I bet they will be interested to visit the bridge."

At the moment, the company plans to offer up to 400 cross-border coach trips between Zhuhai and Hong Kong, and 62 between Hong Kong and Macao every day via the bridge.

MAO DAN HONG KONG "This is the boundary line between HK and the Chinese Mainland. After Opening, the wire net will be removed, vehicles will be able to drive through the East Artificial Island, enter the undersea tunnel and re-emerge from the West Artificial Island." 

Gorden Wu first championed the idea of building a link bridge across the Pearl River Delta in the early 80s. He says the 55-kilometer span is long overdue, calling it a transportation tool that the region badly needs.

GORDEN WU HOPEWELL HOLDINGS CHAIRMAN "The reason why you need to have good links is that it brings up traffic efficiency. You are not earning anything when you get stuck in traffic, because now the Great Bay Area, basically we have to compete with the Deutsdou Area in Germany, Kwansai Area and Tokyo Bay Area."

Vehicles are now ready to test out this new connection, and the region is set to usher in a new chapter of inter-connectivity. Mao Dan, CGTN, HK.