Mid-autumn travel rush to HK begins, expecting 5% rise in visitor no.

Today marks the Mid-Autumn Festival with the mainland having a three-day holiday.

Many tourists have planned an early trip to Hong Kong.

Earlier this morning at West Kowloon High-Speed Rail Station, droves of holidaymakers from up north arrived in Hong Kong for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Most train tickets between Hong Kong and Beijing West, Shenzhen and Futian have been sold out.

This traveller from Shenzhen says she is looking forward to seeing the lantern displays near Victoria Harbour but notes she's only making a day trip as staying at a hotel here is too costly.

The mainland's Mid-Autumn Festival entails a three-day holiday, with next Thursday marking the start of the National Day Golden Week holiday.

The Immigration Department expects that during Golden Week, about 1.29 million mainland tourists will visit Hong Kong, marking a hike of about 5% year-on-year.

Tourism sector representative Timothy Chui says the Golden Week travel rush has "sort of" begun with the droves of visitors snapping up high speed rail tickets, noting how the Victoria Park lantern displays extended its end date.

While most Hong Kong's salarymen have to work during the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, some tried to make an early trip up north to visit their relatives.

The Transport Department reminds that during the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday in mainland China, Sunday afternoon to evening will mark the peak return trips to Hong Kong, urging citizens to plan their trips early and avoid travelling during peak hours.