Meizhou Transportation

Overview of Meizhou's Geographic Importance

Meizhou (梅州市) is strategically located at the junction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the West Coast Economic Zone, and the Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone. It serves as a crucial link between the Shantou (汕头) - Chaozhou (潮州) - Jieyang (揭阳) Plain and the inland areas of southern Jiangxi (江西) and western Fujian (福建). This position allows it to connect two bay areas, neighbor three provinces, and engage with three economic zones, playing an essential role in facilitating a smooth circulation of the domestic market. Currently, Meizhou is experiencing a significant strategic opportunity for development, being part of the former Central Soviet Area (中央苏区), which presents new, higher demands for the construction of its comprehensive transportation system during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.

Comprehensive Transportation Plan

In December 2021, Meizhou released the "14th Five-Year Plan for the Comprehensive Transportation System" (《梅州市“十四五”综合交通运输发展规划》), outlining its overall goals, main tasks, and security measures for transportation development during this period. The plan aims for a total investment of 96 billion yuan to accelerate the construction of a regional transportation hub linking Guangdong, Fujian, and Jiangxi, transforming it into a fortress for internal connectivity and expansion. By 2025, Meizhou intends to establish four comprehensive transportation corridors to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Shantou-Chaozhou-Jieyang urban agglomeration, West Coast Economic Zone, and southern Jiangxi.

Road Network

General Roads

As of the end of 2022, Meizhou's total road mileage reached 20,841 kilometers, with a density of 131.3 kilometers per 100 square kilometers. The network includes 10 expressways totaling 752 kilometers, 6 national roads (National Highway 205 (国道205), National Highway 206 (国道206), National Highway 235 (国道235), National Highway 238 (国道238), National Highway 355 (国道355), National Highway 358 (国道358)) totaling 838.2 kilometers, 21 provincial roads totaling 2,279 kilometers, 3,153.5 kilometers of county roads, 6,981 kilometers of township roads, and 6,837.3 kilometers of village roads. This extensive ordinary road network forms a "one-hour living circle" for cities and counties and a "two-hour transportation circle" centered around the urban area.

Expressways

Meizhou is home to 10 expressways, including the Changshen Expressway (长深高速公路), Jiguang Expressway (吉广高速公路), Shankun Expressway (汕昆高速公路), Meilong Expressway (梅龙高速公路, Quanzhou (泉州) - Meizhou section), Shanzhan Expressway (汕湛高速公路), Meishan Expressway (梅汕高速公路), Meiping Expressway (梅平高速公路, Chaozhou-Nanchang section), Dachao Expressway (大潮高速公路), Fenghua Expressway (丰华高速公路, Dafenghua section), and Meizhou East Ring Expressway (梅州东环高速公路), totaling 752 kilometers. The density reaches 4.74 kilometers per 100 square kilometers, with expressway access from the urban area to county towns, increasing the number of expressway channels for inter-provincial travel to 9 and ensuring at least one expressway connection to every neighboring prefecture-level city.

Passenger Transport

As of July 2022, Meizhou has 22 passenger transport stations and a fleet of 6,507 passenger vehicles (including 1,076 passenger buses, 2,003 public buses, 128 taxis, and around 3,300 active ride-hailing vehicles). Seven platform companies, including Didi (滴滴), have obtained ride-hailing operation licenses. The ratio of passenger buses serving rural villages has reached 100%. Electronic non-stop toll collection on expressways has been fully implemented, with a total of 543,000 ETC devices issued. In 2021, road transport volumes reached 5.4563 million passengers and 112.0704 million tons of cargo.

Major Bus Stations

Key bus stations include Meizhou Bus Station (梅州汽车客运站), Meizhou Central Hub Bus Station (梅州中央枢纽客运站), Meicheng Jiangnan Bus Station (梅城江南客运站), Meixian District Hub Station (梅县区枢纽站), Meizhou West Passenger Station (梅州西客运站), Meixian Shunfeng Bus Station (梅县顺丰客运站), Meixian Dingziqiao Bus Station (梅县丁字桥客运站), and Meixian District Nankou Kuigang Freight and Passenger Transport Hub Station (梅县区南口奎岗货客运输枢纽站).

Bridges

From 1978 to 2001, Meizhou expatriates contributed to the construction of 1,091 bridges, such as the Delong Bridge (德龙桥), Jiaying Bridge (嘉应桥), and Xianzhi Bridge (仙子桥). Major bridges in Meizhou city include the Guangzhou Bridge (广州桥), Kedu Bridge (客都桥), Meizhou Bridge (梅州桥), Jiaying Bridge (嘉应桥), Meijiang Bridge (梅江桥), Dongshan Bridge (东山桥), Xiulan Bridge (秀兰桥), Jianying Memorial Bridge (建英纪念桥), Xianzhi Bridge (仙子桥), Delong Bridge (德龙桥), Luole Bridge (罗乐桥), Lidu Bridge (李渡桥), Chengjiang Bridge (澄江桥), and the Meizhou Political Consultative Conference Friendship Bridge (梅州政协友谊桥).

Railway System

As of the end of 2022, Meizhou has three railways: the Guangmeishan Railway (广梅汕铁路), Meikan Railway (梅建铁路, Meikan section of Zhanglong Railway (张龙铁路)), and the Meishan High-Speed Railway (梅汕高铁), totaling 317.78 kilometers, with a railway density of 200 kilometers per 10,000 square kilometers. Passengers and freight can reach major cities such as Guangzhou (广州), Fuzhou (福州), Nanchang (南昌), Changsha (长沙), Wuhan (武汉), Nanning (南宁), and Kunming (昆明). Two high-speed rail lines, Longlong High-Speed Railway (龙龙高铁, Longyan (龙岩) to Longchuan (龙川) section) and Ruimei Railway (梅汕铁路), are under construction. Additionally, the construction of the Meizhou to Zhangzhou High-Speed Railway (梅州至漳州高铁), Meizhou to Shanwei High-Speed Railway (梅州至汕尾高铁), Jiao Ling to Bingcun Railway (蕉岭至丙村铁路), and Dapu to Chaozhou Port Railway (大埔至潮州港铁路) is in progress. Plans for tourism rail transit in Meizhou are also being considered, closely monitoring the developments of the Heyuan (河源) to Jieyang High-Speed Railway (揭阳高铁).

Recent Developments

On August 2, 2023, the "Meizhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone to Nansha Port" (梅州综合保税区至南沙港) sea-rail intermodal train successfully commenced trial operations, following the successful trial run of the "Meizhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone to Yantian Port" (梅州综合保税区至盐田港) sea-rail intermodal train in July 2023.

Overview of Passenger Railway Stations

Completed passenger stations include Meizhou West Station (梅州西站), Meizhou Station (梅州站), Xingning Station (兴宁站), Shejiang North Station (蛇江北站), Fengshun East Station (丰顺东站), Jianqiao Station (尖桥站), Dapu Station (大埔站), Fengshun Station (丰顺站), and Huacheng Station (华城站). Under construction are Meizhou East Station (梅州东站, Yanyang West Station (炎阳西站)), Xingning South Station (兴宁南站), Wuhua Station (五华站), Jiao Ling Station (蕉岭站), and Pingyuan Station (平远站).

Overview of Railway Lines

Line NameDesign SpeedIn Service Date

Shipping

Meizhou has integrated the construction of the Meijiang (梅江) and Hanjiang (韩江) green health ecological tourism industrial belt, completing the rectification project of the Meijiang and Tingjiang (汀江) waterways. Currently, the total length of navigable rivers in Meizhou is 180 kilometers, with 9 docks built, including 7 comprehensive docks. The Meijiang and Tingjiang rivers are planned to have a navigation capacity of 3,000 tons, allowing for the handling of over 500,000 tons of cargo annually.

Waterway Transport

Waterway transportation routes connect Meizhou to various regions, facilitating the movement of goods and providing leisure travel options. The service has been upgraded to accommodate larger vessels.

Passenger Ferry Services

Currently, Meizhou's main passenger ferry services include routes to the islands in the nearby waters, allowing for efficient travel and tourism opportunities.

Aviation

Overview of Airports

Meizhou currently operates Meizhou Airport (梅州机场), which opened on October 29, 2018. This airport plays a critical role in connecting Meizhou to various destinations within China, enhancing the region's accessibility.

Flight Services

As of now, Meizhou Airport operates several domestic flights to major cities, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen (深圳), and Beijing (北京), with future plans to expand to international destinations.

Future Transportation Developments

Urban Rail Transit

Plans are underway to develop urban rail transit in Meizhou to facilitate local travel and improve urban mobility.

Intelligent Transportation Systems

Investment in intelligent transportation systems is a priority, aimed at enhancing traffic management and providing real-time information to commuters.