Introduction

On June 18th, the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone made a groundbreaking announcement.

Guo Rihua, Deputy General Manager of Dahengqin Technology Development Co., Ltd., disclosed to the media that beginning next week, autonomous vehicles in Hengqin will transition into a fully autonomous phase. This means safety officers will be entirely removed, and steering wheels will be eliminated, enabling residents to board at designated stops and travel seamlessly.

This is no mere test or trial run. Hengqin has unlocked 330 kilometers of roads throughout the entire region, creating a comprehensive network for autonomous driving. Nine companies, operating 64 autonomous vehicles, are set to function continuously in this area.

Let's delve deeper into this topic with Autonomous Vehicles Are Coming (WeChat Official Account: Autonomous Vehicles Are Coming)!

(For further information, please refer to: "Hengqin Cooperation Zone Unveils Two New Autonomous Driving Demonstration Routes: 'Hengqin Port - Hengqin Civic Center' and 'Xiangyun Road Parking Lot - Government Service Center Shuttle'")

I. 330 Kilometers: Not Just a Few Roads, but the Entire City

In many cities, the introduction of autonomous driving is limited to a few predefined routes or specific zones.

Hengqin, however, stands out by fully opening its entire 330-kilometer road network. This implies that upon exiting Hengqin Port and stepping into an autonomous vehicle, you can theoretically reach any destination within the cooperation zone.

RoboBuses, RoboTaxis, autonomous logistics vehicles, cleaning robots—various types and brands of autonomous equipment share the roads.

Step into the Hengqin Full-Space Intelligent Autonomous System Control Center, and you'll witness a large screen displaying the real-time paths of 13 drones, 42 autonomous vehicles, and 2 unmanned boats.

Should any vehicle deviate from its route or run low on battery, the system promptly issues alerts and formulates response strategies.

This is not merely 'vehicle-road coordination'; it's a sophisticated, three-dimensional intelligent management system encompassing 'sky, land, and water'.

Unmanned boats and vessels in Hengqin have achieved 24-hour uninterrupted maritime law enforcement, with annual enforcement hours reaching tens of thousands, resulting in a 60% reduction in actual police deployments.

Everything soaring in the sky, cruising on the ground, and navigating the waters is under precise control.

II. Steering Wheels Gone, Safety Officers Out: What's on the Horizon?

The phrase 'safety officers withdrawn, steering wheels removed' carries substantial significance.

The absence of safety officers indicates that vehicles no longer necessitate constant human intervention.

The elimination of steering wheels signifies that these vehicles are purpose-built without any provision for human driving.

This represents the pinnacle of L4 autonomous driving: the vehicle operates autonomously, while passengers simply relax.

Why does Hengqin dare to take this bold step? Because autonomous driving here is not confined to a 'laboratory setting'; it has undergone rigorous real-world testing.

To date, Hengqin has deployed 64 autonomous vehicles from 9 companies, catering to service scenarios such as commuter shuttles, urban sanitation, urban logistics, and autonomous taxis.

Data from the 'Qin Zhixing' platform reveals that nearly 30,000 Macao residents have availed themselves of these services.

30,000 rides, zero major accidents: this is the solid foundation behind Hengqin's decision to remove steering wheels.

III. 'Qin'ao Medical Route': Autonomous Driving Addresses Real Needs

What is the primary concern regarding autonomous driving? It's the fear of 'autonomous driving for the sake of autonomy,' where concepts are created, videos are shot, press releases are issued, and then nothing substantial materializes.

Autonomous driving in Hengqin, however, tackles real-world scenarios and fulfills genuine needs.

On March 14, 2026, China's inaugural autonomous driving microcirculation route dedicated to cross-border medical visits, the 'Qin'ao Medical Route,' commenced operations.

This route links Hengqin Port with Hengqin Hospital, affiliated with the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, spanning 7 kilometers and requiring just 15 minutes for a direct trip.

(For additional details, please click:

"Mogu Autonomous Driving Bus: A 15-Minute Journey from the Port to the Hospital, Connecting the 'Qin'ao Medical Route' in the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone")

Data indicates that by 2025, over 20,000 Macao residents will seek medical treatment at Hengqin Hospital.

Previously, traveling from Hengqin Port to the hospital involved cumbersome bus transfers and uncertain travel times. Macao residents facing cross-border follow-up visits endured significant inconvenience after clearing customs.

Now, upon clearing customs, they can board an autonomous vehicle and reach the hospital in a mere 15 minutes.

A Macao resident remarked, 'In the past, cross-border follow-up visits from Hengqin Port to the hospital were cumbersome via public transportation. Now, directly clearing customs and reaching the hospital in 15 minutes, with smooth vehicle operation, makes solo medical visits worry-free.'

This is the essence of autonomous driving—not merely for show, but to solve tangible problems.

IV. '1+1+7+8': Hengqin's Ambitions Transcend Vehicles

Hengqin is not merely conducting an 'autonomous driving pilot'; it's constructing a 'full-space intelligent autonomous system'.

According to the plan, Hengqin is advancing towards the '1+1+7+8' objective:

Establishing 1 full-space intelligent autonomous system;

Relying on 1 international standardization organization for unmanned systems;

Constructing 7 types of new infrastructure;

Deploying 8 major application scenarios, including full-area intelligent unmanned delivery and technology-driven cultural tourism unmanned intelligent systems.

Behind this system lies a robust 'digital foundation'.

Among the 48 planned 5G-A integrated sensing and communication base stations in Hengqin, 25 have already been deployed, providing integrated sensing and communication capabilities for airspace below 300 meters.

Once completed, the low-altitude network coverage will span 50 square kilometers, enabling continuous trajectory tracking of drones with sub-meter to 20-meter accuracy, and a multi-target detection success rate exceeding 95%.

Notably, the Society of Unmanned System Engineers (SUSE) has been established in Macao and operates in Hengqin, initiating the formulation and release of a series of standards for unmanned systems.

While others are still adhering to existing standards, Hengqin is already setting new benchmarks.

V. 26 Cities Nationwide Embrace Autonomy, but Hengqin Soars to New Heights

Hengqin is not an isolated case. As of April 2026, 26 cities nationwide have officially received approval for fully autonomous commercial operations.

Wuhan has opened over 3,300 kilometers of one-way open test roads, while Shenzhen has cumulatively opened over 2,100 kilometers of test demonstration roads.

However, Hengqin's distinction lies in its approach of not just 'opening a few roads' but 'opening an entire city'.

With a 330-kilometer full-area road network, integrated air-land-water operations, 9 companies and 64 vehicles, 30,000 Macao residents experiencing the services, and the establishment of an international standardization organization, this holistic approach is unparalleled nationwide.

Cao Jinfeng, Deputy Director of the Executive Committee of the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone, revealed that the cooperation zone currently hosts a daily floating population exceeding 260,000, with an anticipated 16 to 18 million tourists for the year.

With millions of visitors flocking to Hengqin annually, stepping out of Hengqin Port and boarding a steering wheel-less autonomous vehicle serves as a dynamic business card (symbolizing innovation and progress).

Conclusion

Autonomous Vehicles Are Coming (WeChat Official Account: Autonomous Vehicles Are Coming) believes:

Starting next week, autonomous vehicles in Hengqin will enter a fully autonomous phase.

From the National Development and Reform Commission's 2023 document supporting Hengqin in building a full-space intelligent autonomous system to the official removal of steering wheels in June 2026, in less than three years, Hengqin has transformed a 'concept' into a steering wheel-less reality.

Some say autonomous driving is still a distant dream. Hengqin responds: The door is open, please step inside.

What are your thoughts, dear readers? References: Media reports from Direct News, Greater Bay Area Economic Network, Yangcheng Evening News, Southern Daily, Outlook Weekly, and the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone website, among others.