As mentioned in part 1, my connection with China began in 1984, when I travelled by train from Hong Kong to Canton (now Guangzhou) and stayed at the famous White Swan Hotel.
Twenty years later, I returned to China, flying from Hong Kong to Shanghai once or twice a month for about a year. It was only in 2008, my travel into China ramped up, mainly by a bus round trip from Diamond Hill and Shunde.
But it wasn’t until 2024 that my trips ramped up for a few reasons, mainly because the Northbound Travel Scheme changed everything and allowed me to drive in China.
We continue where I left off in Part 1. Part 2 covers everything you need to know about driving your car across the Hong Kong to Zhuhai Bridge having obtained all the papers and permits.
For first-time users of the website to book a date and time for your vehicle to cross from Hong Kong using the engineering marvel that is HZMB, it can be quite daunting.
This is the first page
And this is the second
It gets easier as you become accustomed to the process.
Travel dos and don’ts
• Travel on the exact date and at the exact time reserved, and allow additional time around holidays and festivals when traffic is likely to be heavier.
• Check Hong Kong and Mainland traffic notices before departure and follow directions at the Hong Kong and Zhuhai ports.
• Cancel early if you cannot travel as booked; do not wait until after the cancellation deadline.
• Do not enter the bridge route and then turn back or divert to an unrelated destination instead of entering Guangdong as booked.
• Do not rely on expired licences, permits, insurance or scheme approvals.
• There isn’t an official Northbound Travel booking app. Use the current government or HZMB website instead.
Penalties for missing a Northbound Travel booking slot
This is very important.
The penalties for missing a Northbound Travel booking slot can escalate if breaches are repeated.
• A first failure to make a booking, travel within the reserved period or enter Guangdong as required may cause a warning.
• A second breach within a year may lead to a four-week suspension of booking privileges.
• Further non-compliance may cause a six-week suspension.
Repeated breaches mean steeper actions, such as the Transport Department requesting that mainland authorities cancel the vehicle’s electronic mainland licence.
Final checklist for a Greater Bay Area self-drive trip
Confirm that you have the proper Hong Kong and Mainland licences, vehicle eligibility, Northbound Travel approval, booking slot, Temporary Electronic Vehicle Licence, Mainland vehicle insurance, and any required electronic tag. Then check the latest traffic and operational notices.
Oh, and have a grand adventure!
Northbound Travel booking and HZMB Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book HZMB Northbound Travel?
Yes. Drivers travelling northbound into Guangdong through the HZMB Hong Kong Port booking system must reserve both a travel date and a specific time slot before setting off. The booking requirement applies to the journey into Guangdong; a booking is generally not required for the return journey to Hong Kong.
Bookings are subject to daily capacity and are normally allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are travelling during a public holiday, weekend or other busy period, make the reservation as early as the system allows.
What is the booking deadline?
The HZMB booking deadline for Guangdong travel is normally 12 noon on the day before the selected travel date, and the same deadline applies when cancelling a booking.
Can one vehicle reserve more than one slot on the same day?
No. Each vehicle may reserve only one specified time slot per calendar day.
Can I make several bookings under one login?
No, you must log in again to make a separate booking for another date.
Can I book if my documents have expired?
The system may reject a reservation if a required licence, permit, approval, or insurance document has expired.
Do I need dual plates to drive across the HZMB?
No, that’s the beauty of the Northbound Travel Scheme. You don’t need China and Hong Kong plates; just HK plates if you drive across the HZMB and intend to drive in China. But Hong Kong-plated cars are limited to the Greater Bay Area; considering this is an area covering 56,000 square kilometres, it will be very hard to stray outside the zone.
Information source and disclaimer
Information source: HZMB booking and Northbound Travel guidance, https://qfs1.td.gov.hk/hzmbz/. Requirements and penalties should be verified against the latest official notices before publication or travel. Also check the HK Transport Department at https://www.hzmbqfs.gov.hk/en/.
Always, always check the relevant websites of the HK Government. I base my posts on information from HK Government sites and sometimes third-party websites or from personal experience.
About Ivan Theodoulou
The founder of Eight PR, an international and independent PR agency in Hong Kong, Ivan first visited China in 1987 by train from Hong Kong to Guangzhou and has since travelled extensively on the mainland and in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). He passed his China driving test in March 2024.
Places visited in China (by car, plane, train, high speed train, ferry, coach, bus) include: Beijing, Beijou, Chengdu, Dali, Daya Bay, Dongguan, Ganzhou, Gaoming, Guangzhou, Hainan, Hailing Island, Heishan, Huizhou, Junan, Kunming, Lijang, Longjiang, Nanhai, Shanghai, Shanwei, Shenzhen, Shilin Yi, Shunde, Wuzhou, Xiamen, Xiqaio, Yingde, Yinghe, Zhuhai, and Zhaoqing.
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Before traveling, please verify the official requirements, deadlines, and penalties.
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