The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel: Connecting the Bay Area, Igniting the World!

The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel: Connecting the Bay Area, Igniting the World!Introduction: When we talk about China's infrastructure prowess, we often think of towering skyscrapers, massive bridges spanning mountains, and intricate railway networks. The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel, with its unique design and exquisite craftsmanship, adds a distinct color to this infrastructure marvel

The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel: Connecting the Bay Area, Igniting the World!

Introduction:

When we talk about China's infrastructure prowess, we often think of towering skyscrapers, massive bridges spanning mountains, and intricate railway networks. The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel, with its unique design and exquisite craftsmanship, adds a distinct color to this infrastructure marvel. It's a cross-sea passage connecting Shenzhen and Zhongshan, combining underwater tunnels, cross-sea bridges, artificial islands, and various other engineering technologies, achieving ten world records and showcasing the extraordinary strength and ambition of Chinese engineering technology.

I. The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel: Connecting the Bay Area, Embracing the Future

As its name suggests, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel is a passage connecting Shenzhen and Zhongshan. It's not just a simple road, but a complex project that incorporates "reaching the sky, going underground, crossing the sea, and crossing oceans." The channel comprises a 6845-meter long Shenzhen-Zhongshan tunnel and a 1700-meter Shenzhen-Zhongshan bridge, supplemented by East and West artificial islands. With a total length of 24 kilometers, eight lanes in both directions, and a design speed of 100 kilometers per hour, it's more than just a shortcut between Shenzhen and Zhongshan. It's a crucial node connecting the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, injecting new vitality into its economic development.

1.1 The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area: A Global Engine of Economic Takeoff

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, encompassing Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhaoqing, Foshan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhuhai, Huizhou, Dongguan in Guangdong province, along with the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, is one of the most vibrant economic regions globally. It boasts a robust industrial foundation, strong scientific and technological innovation capabilities, well-developed infrastructure, and rich cultural resources, attracting global attention.

1.1.1 Robust Economic Strength: The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area occupies a mere 0.6% of China's landmass but contributes 12% of its GDP, demonstrating its significant economic strength.

1.1.2 Technology Innovation Drives: The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area houses numerous universities, research institutions, and high-tech enterprises, nurturing a constant stream of innovation and becoming a critical engine of China's technological innovation.

1.1.3 Well-Developed Infrastructure: The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has world-leading ports, airports, expressways, railways, and other infrastructure, providing strong support for economic development.

1.1.4 Rich Cultural Resources: The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area possesses a rich historical and cultural heritage, with a diverse cultural fusion, attracting visitors from around the world and becoming a significant center for global cultural exchange.

1.2 The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel: Promoting Integrated Development of the Bay Area

The construction of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel will effectively promote the integrated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, facilitating resource sharing, complementarity of advantages, and coordinated development.

1.2.1 Shortening Time and Distance: After the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel's completion, the travel time between Shenzhen and Zhongshan will decrease from the original two hours to half an hour, significantly improving the efficiency of personnel, cargo, and information flow, promoting industrial cooperation and economic development between the two cities.

1.2.2 Removing Transportation Bottlenecks: The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel will remove the transportation bottlenecks between the east and west banks of the Pearl River estuary, forming a more convenient and efficient transportation network that will provide robust support for the economic development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

1.2.3 Promoting Industrial Synergy: The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel will promote the synergistic development of industries in Shenzhen and Zhongshan, leveraging their respective strengths and jointly creating internationally competitive industrial clusters.

II. The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel: A Miracle of Technology and Engineering

The construction of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel is not only an engineering marvel but also a technological feast. Engineering personnel have overcome numerous technical challenges, achieving ten world records, showcasing the extraordinary strength and ambition of Chinese engineering technology.

2.1 The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Tunnel: Challenging Limits, Creating Miracles

The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Tunnel is the world's longest double-lane eight-lane underwater immersed tube tunnel. It comprises 32 immersed tubes and a final joint, with a total length of 5035 meters. Each immersed tube is 165 meters long, 46 meters wide, and 10.6 meters high, weighing 80,000 tons, equivalent to a 55-story building, 15-story width, and three-story height, with a remarkable weight of 80,000 tons!

2.1.1 The World's Widest Underwater Steel Shell Concrete Immersed Tube Tunnel: The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Tunnel uses steel shell immersed tube technology. The tube has a cross-section of 46 meters wide and 10.6 meters high, making it the world's widest underwater steel shell concrete immersed tube tunnel.

2.1.2 The World's Longest Double-Lane Eight-Lane Underwater Immersed Tube Tunnel: The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Tunnel is 6845 meters long, with 5035 meters consisting of 32 immersed tubes and a final joint, making it the world's longest double-lane eight-lane underwater immersed tube tunnel.

2.1.3 The World's Largest Single-Unit Volume Casting of Steel Shell Immersed Tube Self-Compacting Concrete: Each immersed tube of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Tunnel is cast using self-compacting concrete, with a single tube section concrete casting volume of 29,000 cubic meters and a total of 910,000 cubic meters, making it the world's largest single-unit volume casting of steel shell immersed tube self-compacting concrete.

2.1.4 The World's Widest Re-Foldable M-Type Water Stop: To ensure the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Tunnel remains waterproof for 100 years, engineering personnel have created the world's widest re-foldable M-type water stop to solve the water leakage problem at the final joint of the immersed tube.

2.2 The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge: Challenging Heights, Transcending Limits

The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge is another highlight of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel and is the world's highest bridge deck sea bridge. It spans the Pearl River estuary, with a bridge deck elevation of 91 meters above sea level, and a net navigation clearance of 76.5 meters.

2.2.1 The World's Highest Bridge Deck Sea Bridge: The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge has a bridge deck elevation of 91 meters above sea level, making it the world's highest bridge deck sea bridge.

2.2.2 The World's Highest Navigation Clearance Sea Bridge: The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge has a net navigation clearance of 76.5 meters, making it the world's highest navigation clearance sea bridge.

2.2.3 The World's Largest Sea Suspension Bridge Anchorage: The anchorages of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge are the world's largest sea suspension bridge anchorages, with a single anchorage concrete volume of 344,000 cubic meters.

2.2.4 The World's Highest Wind Resistance Test Wind Speed for a Suspension Bridge: The wind resistance test wind speed for the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge reaches 87.3 meters per second, capable of withstanding Category 14 winds, making it the highest wind resistance test wind speed for a suspension bridge worldwide.

2.2.5 The World's Largest Cross-Border Full Offshore Sea Steel Box Girder Suspension Bridge: The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge has a main span of 1666 meters, making it the world's largest cross-border full offshore sea steel box girder suspension bridge. It's also the bridge with the largest volume of steel bridge deck hot-mix epoxy asphalt paving worldwide, covering an area of 378,800 square meters.

2.3 Artificial Islands: Connecting Land and Sea, Creating Space

The construction of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel also includes the East and West artificial islands. These two islands are integral parts of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel, providing crucial support for the connection of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Tunnel and the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge.

2.3.1 West Artificial Island: The West Artificial Island is located in the middle of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel, covering an area of 137,000 square meters, equivalent to 19 football fields. It acts as the "land" where the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Tunnel emerges from the sea, preventing seawater from backflow.

2.3.2 East Artificial Island: The East Artificial Island is the eastern entrance of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel, connecting the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Tunnel to land transportation. It's not only a vital node of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan

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