As the new autumn semester kicked off on Monday, the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Guangdong province, launched a special cross-border student shuttle service between Hengqin and Macao Special Administrative Region.

Meanwhile, a new convenient customs clearance model — "inspection on board, no need to get off for customs clearance" —is being trialed for cross-border students.

The new model further optimizes the commuting experience of cross-border students and helps reduce the burden of transportation for parents, said a statement released by the zone on Monday.

The cross-border student shuttle service is an important practical achievement of deepening cooperation between the governments of Hengqin and Macao, the statement said.

During the trial operation period, the shuttle service will mainly serve Macao students from grade four of primary school to grade three of senior high school who are Chinese Macao permanent residents with travel permits to the mainland, it said.

During the trial operation, six routes will run in the morning and two in the afternoon, with 17 stops in Macao and six in Hengqin included, the statement added.

A first batch of 65 students had registered to take the cross-border shuttle bus service on the first day, said the statement.

The remaining seats will be open for students to book online in mid-October, with registration planned to be available before each semester going forward, it said.

Authorities from Hengqin and Macao have promised continuous efforts to enhance the level of customs clearance facilitation, deepen the connection of rule convergence mechanisms between the two locations and create a more convenient and efficient cross-border living experience for residents, it added.