Zhuhai, China
Zhuhai: China's coastal garden city connecting the Pearl River Delta with Macau.
Port Overview
Zhuhai is a prefecture-level city in southern Guangdong Province, China, situated on the west bank of the Pearl River estuary, adjacent to Macau and facing Hong Kong across the water. With a land area of approximately 1,725 square kilometers and a population nearing 2.5 million, it ranks among China’s medium-sized coastal cities. Strategically, Zhuhai is a key node in the Greater Bay Area, directly linked to Hong Kong and Macau via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, enhancing its role in regional trade and logistics. While specific annual TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) capacity figures are not publicly detailed in standard references, Zhuhai operates multiple major ports, including Gongbei, one of China’s largest land ports, supporting significant cross-border cargo flows. The city’s ports are integral to southern China’s maritime network, though they are smaller in scale compared to giants like Shenzhen or Shanghai. Zhuhai’s combination of strategic location, connectivity, and ongoing infrastructure development positions it as an emerging hub in the Pearl River Delta’s maritime economy.
Facilities & Infrastructure
The Port of Zhuhai comprises seven main port areas, with Gaolan and Jiuzhou being the most significant. The port operates 98 berths, including 9 deep-water berths capable of handling vessels in drafts up to 15.5 meters. Key facilities include container terminals at Gaolan and Jiuzhou, a high-speed ferry terminal connecting to Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and specialized terminals for forest products. Equipment includes 9 shore cranes, 20 gantry cranes, 26 forklifts, and 20 tug masters, primarily concentrated at the Gaolan terminal facility.
Container Terminals
Zhuhai, located in Guangdong Province, operates a multi-terminal port complex with seven main port areas, including Gaolan, Jiuzhou, and Wanshan. The port features over 130 berths, with 17 deep-water berths capable of handling vessels over 10,000 DWT. Annual container throughput exceeds 1.4 million TEUs. Automation levels are moderate, with ongoing upgrades but not yet fully automated. Major operators include Zhuhai Port Holdings Group, COSCO, and China Energy Transport. The port is a key hub for regional and international trade, serving the Greater Bay Area and Southeast Asia.
Port Services
Main Services at Port of Zhuhai
The Port of Zhuhai offers comprehensive maritime services including:
Terminal Operations: Container handling and general cargo operations across multiple berths, with dedicated container terminals at the Gaolan and Jiuzhou port areas.
Ferry Services: High-speed passenger ferry connections to Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Hong Kong International Airport via the Skypier.
Cargo Facilities: Bulk cargo handling, bonded warehousing services, and river-ocean shipping operations supporting both domestic and international trade routes throughout the Pearl River Delta region.
Global Connectivity
Zhuhai Port comprises seven main port areas including Gaolan, Jiuzhou, Xiangzhou, and Wanshan, with 131 berths handling over 100 million metric tons annually. The port connects to Hong Kong, Macau, and Shenzhen via high-speed ferries and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Major shipping routes link Zhuhai to Asia, Europe, and North America, with the port handling approximately 600,000 TEUs annually. Regional connections extend west to cities like Jiangmen and Shunde, positioning Zhuhai as a strategic gateway within the Greater Bay Area.
Port Statistics
Zhuhai Port Statistics:
- TEU Throughput: Historically aimed for 3.1 million TEUs by 2020.
- World Ranking: Not among the top global ports.
- Number of Berths: Includes container berths at Gaolan port area.
- Area: Located opposite Macau, serving as a regional logistics hub.
- Shipping Lines: Supports river-ocean shipping services.
