On April 21, 2026, the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone Nansha Area of Guangzhou (Nansha FTZ) marked its 11th anniversary. Nansha's total foreign trade import and export value reached 257 billion yuan in the first quarter, up 8.5% year on year, underscoring the impact of sustained reform and innovation of the FTZ.
The Nansha FTZ is located at the geographical center of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and features the largest area of the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone. Backed by a deep-water port and extensive global shipping routes, it is a key gateway for the opening-up in South China.
Cross-border e-commerce remains a bright spot. A one-stop supervision model for export returns streamlines reverse logistics and enables firms to set up global return centers in the comprehensive bonded zone, cutting annual logistics costs by about 50 million yuan.
Institutional innovation is driving deeper GBA integration. At South China's largest vehicle Ro-Ro terminal cluster, the "Guangzhou-Hong Kong Automobile Export Express" at the Nansha Automobile Port reduces Hong Kong license registration time from 14 working days to just three after arrival. In Q1, 2,021 vehicles were exported from Nansha to Hong Kong.
A cross-border fast-pass model introduced in 2025 allows goods to clear instantly upon arrival at the bonded zone, reducing transit time to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge port by more than two hours per trip and lowering costs for e-commerce firms.
Leveraging Nansha Port, the zone is building a high-level gateway for opening-up. The port links 19 river terminals in Guangdong and four inland rail ports in Hunan and Guizhou provinces, forming a 23-port feeder network. Average cargo dwell time has dropped from seven days to under two, benefiting more than 3,000 enterprises.
As a maritime gateway for inland regions, Nansha is also advancing multimodal transport. A shared cargo hub model within the GBA allows goods to be cleared in Nansha and shipped via Guangzhou and Shenzhen airports, cutting logistics costs by around 30%.
Text | South Reporter Dai Bosi, Intern Luo Zihan
Photo | Nanfang Plus
