Hengqin: The Chinese island being transformed into a massive leisure and education hub

Countries & Cities · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Once two separate islands, Hengqin has been reclaimed and reimagined as a strategic bridge between mainland China and Macau. With a unique legal arrangement allowing Macau jurisdiction over parts of its territory, this massive development aims to become Asia's premier destination for tourism, education, and international commerce.

Hengqin, the largest of Zhuhai’s 146 islands, has undergone a dramatic transformation. Originally two distinct landmasses known as Small Hengqin and Great Hengqin, the area was unified through land reclamation to create a 96-square-kilometer territory. While Portugal historically attempted to claim the islands in 1896 and briefly occupied them before World War II, the island today serves as a critical component of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone. Its proximity to Macau, separated only by the Shisanmen Waterway and connected via the Lotus Bridge, makes it a natural extension for Macau’s land-constrained development.

The island’s governance is a complex experiment in cross-border cooperation. Since 2009, parts of the island have been leased to Macau, most notably to house the University of Macau’s campus. In these specific zones, Macanese law applies, allowing students and residents to cross into the campus without passing through a formal border post. This legal integration expanded in 2020 when Macau’s jurisdiction was extended to parts of the Hengqin Port, signaling a deepening of the administrative ties between the two regions.

Development on Hengqin is driven by a vision to create a multifaceted leisure and business hub. Authorities aim to balance the gaming-heavy economy of Macau with non-gaming tourism, often described as a combined Las Vegas and Orlando for Asia. Major projects have already reshaped the island, including the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, which opened in 2014 and became one of the world's most visited theme parks by 2017. Beyond entertainment, the island hosts the Hengqin International Tennis Center and various residential and commercial zones, all designed to foster a diverse, modern economy that leverages the unique synergy between mainland China and the Macau Special Administrative Region.

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