GUANGZHOU/MACAO, June 22 (Xinhua) -- On most weekdays, Macao resident Mio Weng Loi splits his time between Macao and Hengqin, an island district of Zhuhai in south China's Guangdong Province.

Since settling in Hengqin in 2024, the 28-year-old dermatologist has treated patients at a hospital in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) while also working at a medical technology company in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

His journey between the two typically takes less than 40 minutes. Separated by only a narrow waterway, Macao and Hengqin have become increasingly connected through infrastructure links and policy integration in recent years.

The cooperation zone in Hengqin, established in 2021, was envisioned as a catalyst for Macao's diversified economic growth and a hub that expands both the living and working space for Macao residents.

Today, more than 30,000 Macao residents live and work in the cooperation zone.

MORE ROOM TO LIVE

"When people think of Macao, they often associate it with high incomes and generous social benefits," said Huang Yujie, director of the civil affairs office of the cooperation zone in Hengqin. "Yet the city's limited land supply means many residents face high housing costs and cramped living conditions."

Though it spans just 33.4 square kilometers, Macao is home to over 680,000 people, making it one of the most densely populated places on earth. By contrast, the cooperation zone in Hengqin is about three times the size of the SAR.

"Hengqin is simply more spacious," said Mio. "For a similar budget, you can enjoy a much better living environment, and the same is true of workplaces and research facilities."

However, proximity and affordability are only part of the story. A range of policy measures has helped make living in Hengqin a practical option for Macao residents.

Crossing procedures have become significantly more streamlined in recent years. Travelers can now clear immigration in around 20 seconds on average, while vehicle crossings typically take less than two minutes, according to Zeng Xiang, deputy head of the Hengqin immigration inspection station.

Measures such as facial-recognition clearance services, dedicated channels for frequent travelers and special cross-border school bus services for Macao students have been introduced, Zeng said.

As of April this year, the cooperation zone saw an average daily flow of more than 260,000 people and around 12,000 vehicle crossings.

Beyond commuting, Macao residents living, working or studying in the cooperation zone can also bring in food products, including cooked meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, for personal use, according to He Qiming, deputy commissioner of Hengqin Customs.

"Over the past year or two, I've seen many more Macao residents move to Hengqin," Mio said. "These days, I leave home about 10 minutes earlier than I used to, but I see that as a good thing. More people are coming, and the area feels livelier."

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While Mio's daily commute has slowed somewhat with rising traffic, his career has gained momentum. The young physician was recently promoted to partner at the medical technology company where he works in Hengqin.

His employer is among a rapidly growing group of Macao-funded businesses operating in the cooperation zone. As of June 2, more than 8,000 such enterprises were registered there, up 72.6 percent from when the zone was launched in 2021.

"The cooperation between Macao and Hengqin has created a one-plus-one-greater-than-two effect for my personal development," Mio said. "It has given me a more international perspective, access to high-quality resources and exposure to a much wider range of clinical cases."

The rise of Macao-funded businesses underscores the cooperation zone's broader role in supporting Macao's economic diversification beyond its traditional gaming industry. Key sectors include high-end manufacturing, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), financial services and cultural tourism.

Lam Chi Cheong, a young Macao entrepreneur who moved to Hengqin in 2020, is among those seizing the opportunities. He co-founded a TCM-themed museum that combines cultural exhibitions, clinical services and the retail sale of traditional remedies.

Lam said Macao provides unique advantages for global engagement, while Hengqin offers far greater room for industrial development.

Lower operating costs and supportive policies, including subsidies and dedicated administrative services for Macao entrepreneurs, have also made it easier to start and grow a business in Hengqin, he said.

This September, Mio will begin doctoral studies at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, taking another step in a career that increasingly extends across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

"Returning to Macao alone would not be the best path for me," Mio said. "Working across Macao and the mainland allows me to draw on the strengths of both. To me, crossing between the two is really no big deal."