MACAO, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- On a typical weekday, Lei Zhen moves easily between Macao and Hengqin. Based in the special administrative region and working in Hengqin, the founder of a technology startup sometimes crosses the border several times a day.
Hengqin, located in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, is separated from Macao by a narrow stretch of water. The Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin was established in 2021 to help Macao diversify its economy.
With facial-recognition clearance and dedicated channels for Macao residents at the border, commuting has become markedly more efficient for Lei. "Sometimes I cross four, six, even eight times a day," he said, noting that travel between Macao and Hengqin now feels like moving within the same urban area.
That growing sense of integration accompanied his company's development. In 2025, Nanometals Technology, which focuses on nanomaterials and industrial applications, recorded business growth close to doubling year-on-year.
Lei also mentioned talent mobility between Macao and Hengqin. The company had recently introduced an overseas expert in biomedical new materials to work full-time across both locations. "This is precisely about leveraging the talent support policies of Macao and Hengqin," he said.
While Lei's experience reflects building a cross-border career, the daily life of Sheeta Su, a Macao resident who works at a university in Macao, illustrates how integration influences residential choices.
Every morning, Su leaves home around 8:30 a.m. and arrives at her workplace before 9:00. She drives a Hengqin-plate vehicle and completes border clearance within minutes.
Su and her family relocated from the Fai Chi Kei area in Macao to the Macao New Neighborhood in Hengqin after visiting the area during its construction. "We decided to move right after seeing it," she said, describing the community as comfortable and efficient.
In December 2024, the family moved into their new home. As a new mother, Su said she can easily reach doctors, nurses, and medicines from Macao, allowing residents' basic medical needs to be met locally.
Over the past year, she observed steady changes in the neighborhood -- more families have moved in, more children are playing nearby, and surrounding shops, many run by Macao residents, have gradually opened.
Looking ahead, Su plans to enroll her daughter in K1 at the Hengqin School Affiliated to Hou Kong Middle School. The proximity of Macao-linked education resources reduces time costs for families, she said.
As someone who had witnessed a place's development firsthand, Su said she believes Hengqin provides the space needed for Macao's future development. ■
