Ling Wu
What's Inside
I've been guiding travelers from Macau to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom for years, and one thing never changes: the confusion at the border. Google Maps tells you one thing, but the reality on the ground—especially with payments and immigration—is a whole different story. Let me break down the four real ways to get there, with the exact steps and the headache savers.
Route 1: Direct Bus via Gongbei Border
This is the most popular and cost-effective option for most tourists. You'll take the direct cross-border bus from Macau's Border Gate (Portas do Cerco) to Zhuhai's Gongbei checkpoint, then transfer to a shuttle that goes straight to Chimelong.
Step-by-Step
- Get to the Border Gate in Macau: Take bus 3, 3A, or 10 from the city center. A taxi costs about MOP 50–80.
- Cross the border (Macau side exit, then Zhuhai side entry). Time: 15–30 minutes on weekdays, up to 1 hour on weekends. Have your passport and visa ready.
- Exit Zhuhai Gongbei Port and look for bus signs. The dedicated Chimelong Express Bus (marked in Chinese and English) departs every 20 minutes from the bus station near the port exit. Fare: about CNY 25 (MOP 28). You can pay by WeChat/Alipay—cash is rarely accepted. If you don't have Chinese mobile payment, buy a ticket from the counter with cash.
- Ride takes about 40 minutes and drops you directly at the park entrance.
Payment & Network Reality
You'll need Alipay or WeChat Pay for the bus ticket and park entry. Most international credit cards won't work at the ticket booth. Download Alipay and link your foreign card before you leave. Also, your phone won't have signal at the border crossing—install a VPN and download offline maps (Apple Maps works well in China) beforehand.
Route 2: Taxi / Didi via Hengqin Border
If time is money, this is your route. Hengqin Port is much closer to Chimelong (only 5 km away) and usually less crowded than Gongbei.
Steps
- Take a taxi from Macau to Hengqin Port (Heungqin Border). From Taipa (where the Macau airport and Cotai casinos are), it's a 15-minute ride—about MOP 80–100. From Macau Peninsula, allow 30 minutes and MOP 120–150.
- Cross the border—this port is newer and often has shorter queues. You'll exit Macau and enter China through the same building.
- Once in Zhuhai side, you'll be in the border checkpoint. Don't exit to the main road; instead, go to the taxi/didi pickup area. Open the Didi app (you need a Chinese sim or register with a foreign number—it works) and set destination: 珠海长隆海洋王国 (Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom). Fare: about CNY 30–40. Or grab a metered taxi—just show the driver the Chinese name.
- 10–15 minutes later, you're at the park gate.
Cost Comparison
| Item | Estimated Cost (MOP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi to Hengqin (Macau side) | 80–150 | Depends on starting point |
| Border crossing time | 10–20 min | Varies by crowd |
| Taxi from Zhuhai side to Chimelong | 30–40 (CNY) ≈ 35–46 MOP | Cash or WeChat Pay |
| Total | 115–196 MOP | ~ $14–$24 USD |
Route 3: Ferry + Shuttle (Scenic but Slow)
I only recommend this if you want to combine travel with a sea view. It's more expensive and takes longer, but some visitors enjoy the experience.
- Take a ferry from Macau Outer Harbour to Zhuhai Jiuzhou Port. Ferries run every 30 minutes, journey time 50 minutes. Fare: about MOP 130 one-way. Book on Klook or at the terminal.
- Upon arrival at Jiuzhou Port, exit and take bus 99 or K10 to “Hengqin” – the stop is called “长隆大道东”. The bus takes about 50 minutes and costs CNY 1–2. But frankly, this is a hassle with luggage and kids. A taxi from Jiuzhou Port to Chimelong costs about CNY 70–90 and takes 40 minutes.
- Total time: about 2.5 hours door-to-door, compared to 1.5 hours via Gongbei bus.
Route 4: Private Transfer (Hassle-Free)
For families or groups, this is the sanity saver. Book a private car through Trip.com or a local agency that picks you up at your Macau hotel and drops you at Chimelong entrance. The driver handles the border crossing (you just sit in the car and show passports through the window).
- Price: Typically MOP 600–900 (USD 75–115) per car up to 4 people. This includes both sides of the border tolls.
- Booking: Use Trip.com (search “Macau to Chimelong private transfer”) or ask your hotel concierge. Need to book at least 24 hours in advance.
- Time: About 1 hour from Macau hotel to park gate, all inclusive.
- Payment: Prepaid online with credit card or via Alipay. The driver will not accept cash.
Insider Advice: If you're staying in the Cotai Strip (Venetian, City of Dreams), the private transfer is worth every cent. You'll skip the border bus queues and the scramble for Didi. I always tell my clients with small kids: just book it and enjoy the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Verified and fact-checked by the editorial team.
Honestly, the route via the Heliport was a disaster for us. The guide said it's the fastest, but we hit crazy traffic on the bridge approach and missed our 10am booking. Ended up waiting another hour for the next available shuttle. Plus the ferry schedule from Macau to Zhuhai was less frequent than advertised – we almost didn't make the last one back. Park itself was amazing, but the transportation part left a sour taste. Would research more next time. 3 stars.
We tried the cheapest option: taking a local bus from Macau to the Gongbei border, then walking across and catching the Chimelong shuttle. It worked, but wasn't as smooth as I hoped. The local bus was packed and the aircon barely worked – felt like a sauna. Crossing the border on foot took 30 minutes because of the queue. The shuttle was fine though. Overall it's doable and saves money, but if you're in a rush or traveling with kids, just spend a bit more on the direct bus. Solid 4 stars for the budget option.
Took the direct bus from Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal to Chimelong – it was a game changer! The bus was clean, had AC, and the driver even gave a brief intro about the park. We arrived right at the entrance, no extra taxis needed. The whole journey took about 1 hour 45 minutes including border clearance. My kids were thrilled because we could see the whale shark dome from the bus window as we approached. Absolutely stress-free day trip. Highly recommended!
Used the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge shuttle bus route based on this guide. Got a coach from Macau city center to the bridge checkpoint, then a shuttle bus to Zhuhai, and another taxi to the park. Super efficient and way cheaper than a direct taxi. The bridge itself is an engineering marvel – felt like we were driving over an ocean! Only downside was the 20-minute wait at the checkpoint during peak hour, but everything else was flawless. 5 stars from me.
We followed the ferry from Macau Taipa to Hengqin Port and then grabbed a taxi. Honestly, it was the smoothest border crossing I've ever had! The ferry ride was quick, only about an hour, and the views of the coastline were stunning. Once we got to the port, the taxi queue moved fast and the driver knew exactly where to go. Total time door-to-door from our hotel was just over 2 hours. Definitely the route I'd recommend to anyone – no stress, no hassle. Can't wait to go back!