The world's longest sea-crossing bridge linking Hong Kong to mainland China was opened for public use.
In Hong Kong, excited cross-border travelers joined tour groups from mainland cities to be the first to experience the 34-mile-long bridge.
Its opening will cut travel time across the delta from several hours to just 30 minutes, something China hopes will bind the region together as a major driver of future economic growth.
The trip from Hong Kong International Airport to the mainland city of Zhuhai is reduced from 125 miles to 25 miles, dropping travel time from four hours to just 45 minutes.
Traffic was light on the bridge's first day of operation and a number of travelers said they were pleased with their commutes.
The 20-billion dollar bridge took almost a decade to build while incurring major delays and cost overruns.
It includes an undersea tunnel allowing ships to pass through the Pearl River delta, the heart of China's crucial manufacturing sector.
