The Huanggang Port, the world's largest land port and the only 24-hour passenger link between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, has officially opened. The port features an innovative vertical passenger flow design, fully equipped with 184 elevators and escalators exclusively provided by Finnish company KONE. This people flow solution aims to reduce transit times from 30 minutes to just 5 minutes for up to 300,000 daily passengers. The port's design breaks away from traditional horizontal border-crossing layouts.
KONE supplied all 184 units, including 102 elevators equipped with regenerative drive technology and 82 escalators. The escalators have a maximum rise of 19.2 meters, while the elevators can accommodate loads of up to 12 tons. This solution supports the port's daily capacity of 300,000 passengers, significantly reducing walking distances and waiting times, and relieving traffic congestion, especially during peak periods.
The port demands utmost equipment reliability as it operates 24/7. KONE's 24/7 connected services continuously monitor all units, leveraging real-time data and AI technology to identify potential risks in advance. This digital solution enables seamless, round-the-clock operations. During pre-opening drills, all KONE equipment successfully passed a 20,000-person Shenzhen-Hong Kong boundary-crossing pressure test.
KONE completed the installation and commissioning of all 184 units in just one year, navigating different regulations in Hong Kong and Shenzhen within a complex cross-border environment. The company aims to integrate elevator and escalator data with building systems to drive passenger flow analysis, operational planning, and resource optimization.
According to Eric Xie, Senior Vice President of KONE Bay Region and Managing Director of KONE Hong Kong, KONE has optimized its strategic setup in the region by closely integrating its Hong Kong and Shenzhen services. This investment strengthens the supply chain and accelerates the delivery speed of elevator and escalator parts.
KONE's capabilities in cross-border project execution were reflected in the successful completion of the Huanggang Port project. The company remains committed to supporting public infrastructure, commercial developments, and rail transit projects, contributing to the region's ongoing development. KONE's purpose is to shape the future of cities, moving two billion people every day with smart and sustainable People Flow.
At the end of 2025, KONE had annual sales of EUR 11.2 billion and over 60,000 employees in close to 70 countries. The company's commitment to delivering complex cross-border projects like the Huanggang Port project demonstrates its expertise in providing seamless people flow solutions.
Key points
- KONE supplied 184 elevators and escalators to Huanggang Port.
- The port features a vertical flow design to reduce transit times.
- KONE's 24/7 connected services enable predictive maintenance for seamless operations.
