This article examines the evolving concept of Hong Kong as an education hub, with a focus on the influence of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) strategy on higher education development. It begins by reviewing the impacts of the policy of developing Hong Kong into an education hub on the city's educational landscape and global competitiveness. Subsequently, the article investigates the GBA's role as a subnational higher education region, highlighting the heightened strategic cooperation between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland in the higher education arena. The cases of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Guangzhou are examined as examples of cross-border education in the GBA, shedding light on their role in fostering research collaboration and knowledge exchange. The article reimagines the notion of an education hub, underscoring Hong Kong's transition from a gateway to a radiator , and discusses the implications of this shift for the city's global and national positioning. Through this analysis, the article examines the dynamics and future prospects of education hub in Hong Kong, particularly within the context of emphasising integration with the Chinese Mainland. • Reviewing Hong Kong's education hub policies, strategies, and outcomes. • Revealing China's the Greater Bay Area as a subnational higher education region and its implications for Hong Kong's position in the global and national higher education landscape. • Introducing and coining the term "radiator" as a conceptual representation of Hong Kong's repositioning. Copyright © 2023 Elsevier.