Macau Border Gate to Mainland China Poised for US$69 Million Renovation

The Gongbei border checkpoint in Macau – connecting the gambling mecca to the Chinese-mainland city of Zhuhai – is poised for a CNY500 million (US$69.18 million) renovation. The border gate is currently the most used of the three crossing points between the two jurisdictions.

The upgrade is scheduled for two years and is part of a broader facelift plan in Xiangzhou, a Zhuhai district bordering Macau. The endeavor is meant to upgrade the people processing functionality and transport systems to and fro the checkpoint. The plans also include the overhaul of a nearby underground shopping center.

A Long-Standing Facility

The Gongbei border gate opened in January 2004, just over five years after Macau was declared a Chinese Special Administrative Region (SAR). The checkpoint sits on the city's northern edge and earns its name from neighboring Gongbei in Guangdong Province. It is one of three crossings to mainland China—the other two are the Qingmao Port-Macau Frontier Post Building in the Macau Peninsula and Lotus Bridge that connects Macau's Cotai to Hengqin Island.

A Welcome Upgrade

This revitalization project comes after Macau's Judiciary Police counted about 40 million visitor arrivals in the SAR, a 24% increase from 2023. Of these arrivals, eight out of ten went through land checkpoints, most of which were recorded at the northern Gongbei gate. The remaining visitors arrived through sea or air, processing their visas through sea and airport terminals.

The border gate upgrade is one of 144 projects in Xiangzhou valued at nearly CNY32.9 billion (US$4.54 billion). The project will run in phases, and the first will focus on refurbishing the facility's auxiliary transport systems and an underground retail shopping mall. The authorities will add housing, office spaces, and accommodation to the area.

A Focus on Improvement

The revamp announcement comes approximately one year after the Gongbei checkpoint received extensive upgrades to its main inspection building. The previous refurbishment covered 33,000 square meters and enhanced critical systems like water supply, power, and air conditioning. The most recent official figures indicate that the border handles 310,000 crossings daily, totaling 113 million over the past year.

Optimism among industry investors and analysts remains on the potential positive impact of such projects. This is despite the slow start in 2025, with the gaming revenue reported in the first two months not meeting forecasts.