Updated 30 September 2026 · LocalKey consultant team
Short answer
As of 30 September 2026, leaving Macau SAR for Zhuhai means clearing Macau exit and mainland entry because they are separate immigration jurisdictions within China. Main visitor land paths are Border Gate (Portas do Cerco) into Gongbei, Hengqin Port, and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge ports. For 240-hour visa-free transit into the mainland from the Macau side, Hengqin Port and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port are listed entry ports; Gongbei is not. See our Hong Kong–Macau visa and re-entry guide and full 240-hour guide. After Zhuhai, search Zhuhai to Guangzhou South, or Guangzhounan, on 12306. Check Macau PSP guidance and the National Immigration Administration before travel.
This route sits within the Greater Bay Area, the cluster of Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Foshan. Use the Guangzhou destination guide for the mainland arrival plan. For a Macau city stop before this crossing, see the Macau travel guide for a China trip. For UNESCO and Macanese food planning, see Macau Historic Centre and Macanese Food 2026. Zhuhai city guide is pending. For Hong Kong-to-mainland options, use the Hong Kong–mainland crossings guide, which covers that separate crossing pattern.
1. The options
| Path | Best when | Immigration / 240-hour note | Hours / official check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Border Gate (Portas do Cerco) to Gongbei | You want the central Macau–Zhuhai pedestrian crossing near Gongbei and Zhuhai Station | Clear Macau exit then mainland entry. Gongbei is not a 240-hour entry port | Macau passenger halls 06:00–01:00 per the PSP live monitor; confirm day-of on the Portas do Cerco monitor and gov.mo |
| Hengqin Port, Macao Port Zone | You need a 24-hour crossing or a listed 240-hour mainland entry port from Macau | Joint inspection and one-stop model described by Macau PSP; Hengqin Port is a 240-hour entry port following the NIA November 2025 addition | Arrival and departure halls are 24 hours; passenger vehicle channels are 24 hours, while hazardous-goods vehicles have shorter operating arrangements. Check PSP guidance |
| Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Zhuhai–Macao and bridge ports | Your route uses the bridge toward Zhuhai or connects with Hong Kong Port | Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port is a 240-hour entry port. Visitors clear the relevant Macau, mainland or Hong Kong controls for the leg they actually use | Macau checkpoint details are listed by PSP; check Macau vehicle-channel guidance, the Hong Kong Port passenger guide, and shuttle or coach operator pages for the day |
| Qingmao Port | Not for ordinary foreign-visitor planning | Macau PSP states that Qingmao access is for eligible Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao residents only | 24 hours for eligible users; do not plan a foreign-passport itinerary through Qingmao |
Hours can change on holidays and during peaks, so confirm with PSP or the relevant port operator on the day.
2. Step by step
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Check your Macau SAR visit permission and mainland entry tool separately. Start with the Macau PSP page and the visa and re-entry guide. Do not assume that permission to enter Macau also gives permission to enter mainland China.
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If you are using 240-hour visa-free transit into mainland China, choose Hengqin Port or the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port, not Gongbei. The 240-hour guide explains the wider rule. The NIA English release names Hengqin and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge among five Guangdong ports added effective 5 November 2025. It is not necessary to reproduce the full 65-port list here.
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At Border Gate and Gongbei, walk or transfer to Border Gate Checkpoint on the Macau side, also known as Portas do Cerco. Clear Macau exit, then clear mainland entry at Gongbei. Continue toward the Zhuhai Station area for rail. The station search name on 12306 is typically Zhuhai, near Gongbei, but confirm the station shown for your date. Use the 12306 English site.
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At Hengqin, follow the on-site joint-inspection channels at the Macao Port Zone of Hengqin Port. Once admitted, continue in Zhuhai or Hengqin according to your itinerary.
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For a bridge route, if your specialist sends you via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, clear the controls for the ports you actually use. Check the HZMB bus or coach operator for the day. This is not a self-drive product.
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For rail to Guangzhou, search Zhuhai to Guangzhou South, or Guangzhounan, and consider other Guangzhou stations only if 12306 shows them for your date. Foreign passport holders use the English site or app after identity verification where available. Read the 12306 train ticket guide for foreigners and China train stations guide. Do not rely on journey durations or ticket details copied from older pages.
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For a Guangzhou soft landing, use the Guangzhou destination guide. If you are continuing, existing Guangzhou–Guilin private tour and Guangzhou–Shenzhen private tour samples can be used as building blocks, subject to your passport, dates and preferred pace.
3. Mistakes and edge cases
Planning a 240-hour mainland entry through Gongbei
Gongbei is not on the NIA list for 240-hour entry. If this visa-free transit arrangement applies to you, use Hengqin Port or the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port instead. Confirm the current rule in the 240-hour guide.
Treating Qingmao as a tourist backup
Qingmao has an eligible-resident scope under Macau PSP guidance. It is not an ordinary foreign-visitor alternative for a Macau-to-Zhuhai itinerary.
Assuming Macau SAR and mainland China share one visitor permission
They do not. Macau SAR and mainland China operate separate immigration controls, so check each part of your route independently. The visa and re-entry guide covers the planning relationship.
Booking rail before you know which Zhuhai-side exit you will use
The Gongbei-area Zhuhai Station and Hengqin route create different last-mile arrangements.
Quoting random journey times from blogs
Open 12306 for your date and route. Train availability, station options and connection details should be checked in the live booking system.
Calling Macau a country
Never describe Macau as a country. Macau SAR is a separate immigration jurisdiction within China, and the same careful wording applies to Hong Kong SAR.
4. Sample routes
- Hong Kong–mainland China crossings — use this for the Hong Kong side of a wider Greater Bay Area plan.
- Hong Kong–Macau China visa and 240-hour re-entry — check separate immigration planning.
- 240-hour visa-free China guide — use the full rule and current eligibility framework.
- Guangzhou destination guide — plan your mainland arrival.
- Guangzhou–Guilin private tour — a sample continuation toward Guilin.
- Guangzhou–Shenzhen private tour — a sample Greater Bay Area continuation.
- Hong Kong–Guangzhou–Guilin 10-day route — Macau may be added before or after where the specialist confirms the fit; no Macau day count is assumed.
- Experiences and culture — add context-led experiences to the wider China trip.
For Macau nights and Historic Centre planning, see the Macau travel guide for a China trip. Zhuhai city guide is pending.
5. Build this trip with LocalKey
For a route involving several immigration systems, rail identity checks and changing border conditions, our private China tours can coordinate the pieces as one itinerary.
Independent
Our Independent plan can arrange hotels, including Macau nights, trains, an app roadbook and 7×24 backup. Optional add-ons are available on demand: airport or border pickup, private car and driver, and a local guide.
Your Macau hotels, guides and transfers are arranged by your LocalKey specialist and included in the same trip. We arrange, book and coordinate the route around your passport, border choice and dates.
Private Guided
Our Private Guided plan includes private guides and driver/car across the trip, including Macau guide days and the border transfer if wanted.
Your LocalKey specialist can coordinate the Macau stay, the selected crossing, Zhuhai onward movement and Guangzhou arrival together. You receive 1:1 specialist support and 7×24 WeChat or WhatsApp backup for your own China trip — planned, booked and backed.
For families, see our China family tours.
Sources
- Macau PSP: entry and departure information for non-residents — verified_on: 2026-09-30
- Macau PSP: on-board clearance hours (Border Gate / Hengqin / HZMB vehicle channels) — verified_on: 2026-09-30
- PSP Portas do Cerco live monitor (passenger halls 06:00–01:00) — verified_on: 2026-09-30
- PSP FAQ: Hengqin and Qingmao hours and Qingmao resident-only access — verified_on: 2026-09-30
- NIA 240-hour visa-free transit policy — verified_on: 2026-09-30
- NIA release on the five Guangdong ports added from 5 November 2025 — verified_on: 2026-09-30
- Hong Kong Port passenger guide for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge — verified_on: 2026-09-30
- 12306 English railway booking site — verified_on: 2026-09-30
- LocalKey 240-hour visa-free China guide — verified_on: 2026-09-30
- LocalKey Hong Kong–mainland crossings guide — verified_on: 2026-09-30
- LocalKey Hong Kong–Macau visa and re-entry guide — verified_on: 2026-09-30
FAQ
How do I get from Macau to Zhuhai?
Most foreign visitors choose Border Gate, also called Portas do Cerco, into Gongbei, Hengqin Port, or a Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge route. You clear Macau exit and mainland entry separately, then continue in Zhuhai.
Is Gongbei suitable for 240-hour visa-free entry?
No. Gongbei is not listed as a 240-hour entry port. From the Macau side, check Hengqin Port or the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port instead, subject to your eligibility and route.
Can I use Qingmao?
Qingmao is not an ordinary foreign-visitor option. Macau PSP guidance limits access to eligible Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao residents.
How do I get from Zhuhai to Guangzhou by train?
After mainland entry, search Zhuhai to Guangzhou South, or Guangzhounan, on 12306. Confirm the station, identity requirements and availability for your travel date.
Should I travel Independent or Private Guided?
Independent includes arranged hotels, trains, an app roadbook and 7×24 backup, with optional pickup, private car and driver or local guide. Private Guided includes private guides and driver/car across the trip, including Macau guide days and the border transfer if wanted.
Can LocalKey arrange Macau hotels and the border transfer?
Yes. Your LocalKey specialist can arrange Macau hotels, guides and transfers as part of the same trip, then coordinate your Zhuhai crossing and Guangzhou rail plan.
For Hong Kong–Macau ferry and bridge choices alongside mainland rail, see the Greater Bay Area transport guide.
