For the first time in National Games history, marathon runners literally crossed an international border mid-race on 15 November, sprinting from Shenzhen into Hong Kong and back without breaking stride. The feat was enabled by a “pre-clearance + closed-loop” protocol devised by the Shenzhen Bay Border Inspection Station and unveiled to media on 16 November. All athletes, officials and support crews completed immigration and customs formalities in a dedicated zone at the start/finish area, where officials verified biometric wristbands linked to exit-entry databases.
During the race, facial-recognition cameras, drones and four-legged robotic patrol units monitored the 42 km course, allowing participants to glide through the normally restricted border zone on the Shenzhen Bay Bridge. According to station spokesperson Huang Zhao, the system reduced border-control dwell time to “near zero,” compared with the typical 45-minute group-clearance process required for sporting delegations.
![‘Seamless Clearance’ Debuts at Cross-Border Marathon, Showcasing Smart Border Tech in the Greater Bay Area]()
The pilot demonstrates how China’s National Immigration Administration plans to extend touch-less, data-driven clearance to high-volume traveler segments such as daily commuters in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Shenzhen Bay Port has already introduced “scan-and-go” e-gates for the public, and the lessons from the marathon will inform a wider rollout across Luohu, Futian and West Kowloon high-speed-rail checkpoints.
For event organisers and multinational companies, the technology promises smoother logistics for cross-boundary conferences, concerts and athletic meets, cutting the need for escort vehicles and manual passport checks. Supply-chain analysts note that the same infrastructure could accelerate cross-border trucking if extended to drivers, shaving hours off just-in-time deliveries between Hong Kong’s container terminals and Shenzhen’s manufacturing parks.
Officials are also evaluating integration with the Arrival Card online-submission system that goes live nationwide on 20 November, meaning accredited visitors could clear both immigration and customs using a single QR code pushed to their smartphones or wearables. If successful, the initiative would position the GBA as China’s test-bed for next-generation border management, aligning with Beijing’s strategy to make the region a world-class hub for talent, finance and sports tourism.
During the race, facial-recognition cameras, drones and four-legged robotic patrol units monitored the 42 km course, allowing participants to glide through the normally restricted border zone on the Shenzhen Bay Bridge. According to station spokesperson Huang Zhao, the system reduced border-control dwell time to “near zero,” compared with the typical 45-minute group-clearance process required for sporting delegations.
The pilot demonstrates how China’s National Immigration Administration plans to extend touch-less, data-driven clearance to high-volume traveler segments such as daily commuters in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Shenzhen Bay Port has already introduced “scan-and-go” e-gates for the public, and the lessons from the marathon will inform a wider rollout across Luohu, Futian and West Kowloon high-speed-rail checkpoints.
For event organisers and multinational companies, the technology promises smoother logistics for cross-boundary conferences, concerts and athletic meets, cutting the need for escort vehicles and manual passport checks. Supply-chain analysts note that the same infrastructure could accelerate cross-border trucking if extended to drivers, shaving hours off just-in-time deliveries between Hong Kong’s container terminals and Shenzhen’s manufacturing parks.
Officials are also evaluating integration with the Arrival Card online-submission system that goes live nationwide on 20 November, meaning accredited visitors could clear both immigration and customs using a single QR code pushed to their smartphones or wearables. If successful, the initiative would position the GBA as China’s test-bed for next-generation border management, aligning with Beijing’s strategy to make the region a world-class hub for talent, finance and sports tourism.
