Mainland tourists flock to HK for Golden Week

The week-long mainland National Day holiday brings a massive influx of cross-border tourists to Hong Kong, with some of them planning to stay overnight.

On the first day of the National Day Golden Week, Mong Kok is packed with visitors, streets are turning into popular photo spots for tourists from the mainland.

Some visitors say they have come straight from Disneyland to explore the area, with local cafes, or cha chaan tang, being a must-do on their list.

Ms. Liu says she finds this place on Xiaohongshu.

Many people come here for the pineapple buns.

Hong Kong is also known as a shopping paradise.

Many tourists are spending big in Causeway Bay, bagging items ranging from facial masks to cosmetics.

Ms Hu from Shenzhen says she spent 5000 dollars buying clothes, medicine and health supplements.

Earlier, Shenzhen Bay Port was already packed with people in the morning.

Mainland tourists lined up for cross-border buses, with queues extending near the arrival hall entrance.

Many were from the Greater Bay Area, visiting Hong Kong on the first day of the Golden Week just to get a headstart.

Mr. Huang from Guangzhou, planned to stay for two days after watching the fireworks.

He mentioned he is traveling on a budget of around six to seven hundred dollars.

Mrs. Lai planned to stay overnight with a budget of over 2,000 dollars.

Mr. Lai added that hotel rates under 1,000 dollars a night are acceptable to them.

The Immigration Department expects 7.44 million trips will be made through various control points during the golden week, including 1.29 million mainland visitors.

According to the 12306 website, same-day trains to Hong Kong from cities like Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Guangzhou are already sold out.