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Hengqin

geography Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Hengqin is a large and important island in China. It sits within the city of Zhuhai in Guangdong Province.

Zhuhai Hengqin Island administrative division
Zhuhai Hengqin Island administrative division

This island is the biggest of the 146 islands found in Zhuhai. It is roughly three times the size of Macau. The island is near the Taipa and Coloane districts of Macau. A path called the Lotus Bridge connects the island to Macau's Cotai area. To the north, it borders Zhuhai Shizimen. To the west, it sits near Jinwan.

The island has a very interesting shape and look. It features wide bays and many sandy beaches. You can also find jagged rocks that have strange shapes. Much of the land is covered in natural plants and green scenery.

Zhuhai Hengqin Island administrative division
Zhuhai Hengqin Island administrative division

Long ago, the area was actually two different islands. These were called Small Hengqin and Great Hengqin. People used land reclamation to join them into one big island. This new land makes the island a special economic district.

History shows that different groups wanted to control these islands. Portugal once claimed Small Hengqin and Great Hengqin. They also claimed a place called Wanzai to the north. In 1896, the Portuguese tried to occupy the two islands. They did not succeed at that time. However, Portugal did occupy them for a short time before World War II. Today, the island is part of a special cooperation zone. This zone helps different areas work together closely.

Many big projects are happening on the island right now. In 2009, Macau announced a plan for a new university campus. The University of Macau is building this campus on one square kilometer of land. This area uses Macanese law instead of mainland law.

Zhuhai Hengqin Island administrative division
Zhuhai Hengqin Island administrative division

There is even an underwater tunnel built for this campus. In 2014, the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom opened its doors to visitors. This huge place has rides, shows, and animal watching. In 2017, it was the 11th most visited theme park in the world.

Visitors come to Hengqin for many different kinds of fun. Some people want to see the big ocean animals. Others might enjoy playing sports at the Hengqin International Tennis Center. This center hosted several international competitions until 2023.

Zhuhai Hengqin Island administrative division
Zhuhai Hengqin Island administrative division

Some companies even planned to build huge resorts with golf and tennis. The goal is to make the island a great place for travel. It combines big cities with beautiful nature and new learning spaces.

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File:Zhuhai Hengqin Island administrative division.png
Zhuhai Hengqin Island administrative division.png
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