Macau experienced widespread late-night transport congestion following New Year’s Eve fireworks celebrations, as large crowds departing event areas after midnight overwhelmed public transport systems and pedestrian routes across the city, particularly in Cotai.
The fireworks display, held shortly after midnight on January 1st, attracted thousands of residents and visitors, with many spectators gathering along the Cotai Strip and around the Parisian’s Eiffel Tower replica. While the display itself lasted only several minutes, the simultaneous dispersal of crowds placed heavy pressure on surrounding roads, transport interchanges, and border crossings during the early hours of the morning.
According to data released by the Public Security Police Force, total cross-border movements on December 31st reached 760,363, including more than 180,000 inbound visitors. The high volume of arrivals, combined with concentrated post-countdown crowd movements, contributed to congestion that persisted well beyond midnight.
Accounts shared on mainland Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu described long delays and severe overcrowding along pedestrian corridors and near bus stops, light rail stations, and taxi queues. Several users reported being unable to move for extended periods, while others cited confusion caused by unclear directional signage or a lack of on-site guidance. Some posts warned that dense crowds raised concerns about personal safety during dispersal.
In addition to affecting same-day visitors attempting to leave event areas, the congestion also disrupted movement for tourists staying overnight in Macau. Several online posts said that even visitors whose hotels were located within Cotai or nearby districts were unable to return to their accommodations for extended periods after the fireworks ended. Some users reported spending two to three hours attempting to travel short distances back to hotels in the same area, citing overcrowded pedestrian routes, unavailable taxis, and limited late-night public transport options.
Transport difficulties were further compounded by reported disruptions to app-based taxi services. Multiple users heard by AGB said ride-hailing platforms repeatedly displayed “system busy” messages or failed to connect passengers with drivers during peak demand, which they attributed to excessive traffic volumes. As a result, some travellers abandoned app bookings and joined already congested public transport queues.
Late-night public bus capacity was also cited as insufficient by online commentators, with some users claiming they waited several hours before boarding a bus or securing a taxi. Other photos circulating on social media showed prolonged queues at the Hengqin border checkpoint and nearby light rail stations, with some travellers remaining on site until early morning before completing their journeys.
The situation triggered extensive discussion online, with many commentators questioning whether transport planning and crowd-management measures were adequate for a large-scale festive event. Suggestions included stronger crowd-flow separation, clearer exit zoning, additional temporary transport services, and improved real-time coordination to ease congestion during future peak periods.
