"I am heading to Macao to meet my friends and will return home to Hengqin in the evening. This is my everyday life," said Vincent Lao, assistant to the CEO and Executive Director of Find Macau Technology Limited. This is also the daily life shared by a growing number of Macao youth who live, work, and run businesses in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
Since 2017, Lao has lived and worked in Hengqin, which he considers a hidden paradise. He has managed cultural and tourism projects that connect people between Macao and Hengqin. Today, he has formed a group of friends dedicated to the development of Hengqin across various fields.
A promising land for fresh entrepreneurs
Vincent Lao is a Macao native now working for Find Macau, a company specializing in cross-border cultural exchanges across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) through event management, digital marketing, and media outreach. But his connection to Hengqin goes back much further — to a high school trip about 26 years ago.
Back in 2000, Hengqin was still a quiet coastal fishing village, known mainly for its oysters and farm-style restaurants. Lao visited as a tourist and left with little more than a memory. He never imagined he would one day return as a builder.
That changed in 2017, when Find Macau began exploring opportunities in Hengqin. Lao accepted the position without hesitation, drawn by the island's growing potential. Over the following years, he watched Hengqin transform into a key cooperative platform within the GBA, with a better business environment, new residential facilities, and rising opportunities for Macao entrepreneurs.
Starting with Legend Ponto Square, which houses several "first-of-its-kind" facilities in Hengqin, Lao oversaw multiple development projects, including the first cinema and the first large-scale gym in Hengqin. He highlighted that the Legend Ponto Square project impressed him because cross-border life between Hengqin and Macao has become increasingly convenient, as the shopping mall is located very close to Hengqin Port, with an urban rail station built in.
Living and working in Hengqin as a Macao resident gave Lao firsthand insights into the challenges of cross-border life. That experience led him to help launch Find Hengqin, an information platform introduced in 2025. The platform helps Macao residents navigate daily life in Hengqin, from picking up parcels to using on-demand bus services. "We share many practical guides", Lao said.
For Lao, Hengqin is more than a place to settle down or do business. He sees it as a unique geographic and institutional buffer zone, the first stop for Macao-born youth seeking access to the Chinese mainland market. Tailored preferential policies lower the trial-and-error costs for young innovators, allowing them to test business models and expand across the GBA. And through Find Hengqin, he continues to promote Hengqin and make life easier for those who choose to call it home.
A growing friend circle in Hengqin
During his stay in Hengqin, Vincent Lao introduced this hidden paradise to his friends from Macao. Among them are Jimmy Zhu and Ryan Zheng, the co-founders of HEYHEY KOPITIAM restaurant. Their relocation from the former branch to the Macao New Neighbourhood reflects the appeal of a pleasant business environment, convenient transportation, and a steady flow of customers.
For Lao and his friends, gathering over food is a favorite way to connect. The conversations around the dining table range from customer targeting to memories of the old city. From there, they also discuss new projects and introduce more friends to the group. "We talk, and then more friends get interested," Lao said. So far, about 20 of his Macao friends have come to explore opportunities in Hengqin.
Music, too, builds bridges. Another longtime friend, Alan Chen, is a Macao singer-songwriter who performs at the annual Tianmu River Summer Music Festival. As Hengqin's facilities and support systems improve, Chen sees more opportunities for Macao artists to take the stage and bring a fresh urban energy to the island.
From settling in to being promotion ambassadors
Having witnessed Hengqin's rapid transformation over nine years, Vincent Lao and his friends recognize that Hengqin continues to develop in every aspect, including government efficiency. "For example, when applying for licenses, once we have all the required documents and have passed the inspection, the license can be issued in roughly two weeks," said Jimmy Zhu and Ryan Zheng. Lao himself has handled many Macao-related affairs, including renewing his Macao ID card, through the citizen service center in Hengqin.
These tangible benefits have turned Lao and his friends into natural advocates. Lao believes Hengqin serves as a place of growing opportunity for both locals and Macao residents, with improving policies and facilities for entrepreneurship, business, and daily life.
Looking ahead, Lao commented, "Hengqin and Macao will surely be highly complementary and closely connected. Macao can develop better under 'One Country, Two Systems', while Hengqin serves as a complementary platform."
Lao encourages more Macao residents with the same spirit to discover the potential in Hengqin and to help spread the word that this is a place where new dreams can take root. From his journey to theirs, the message remains the same.
Source | Nanfang News Network