In 1984, Zhongshan Port has been approved by the State Council as a first-class port for foreign trade. In February 1985, the maiden voyage of the Zhongshan to Hong Kong passenger ferry route was launched. At that time, the passenger throughput of Zhongshan Port ranked second in the province. Nowadays, as the old Zhongshan Passenger Port, which has served the people of Zhongshan for 40 years, is about to cease operations.