Hong Kong Residents Flock to Shenzhen During Easter Break
As the Easter holiday unfolded, a significant number of Hong Kong residents made their way across the border into Shenzhen, drawn by a wide array of shopping, dining, and entertainment options. The bustling city on the mainland offered not only affordable prices but also unique cultural experiences that many found appealing.
Increased Travel Amid Weather Concerns
Despite the forecast of heavy rain, many travelers still chose to cross into Shenzhen. They cited the mainland’s broader selection of shopping centers and restaurants as key attractions. Additionally, some noted that Shenzhen boasted fresh cultural and leisure complexes that were less common in Hong Kong.
According to immigration statistics released on Saturday, 532,023 residents had departed Hong Kong by 9 p.m., with 405,805 leaving via land border checkpoints and another 65,518 using the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.
New Attractions in Shenzhen
One of the popular spots for visitors is the Shenzhen Science and Technology Museum, a futuristic landmark located in the Guangming district. Opened in May last year, the museum features a spaceship-shaped design and spans a total floor area of about 128,300 square meters.
Tennis coach Patrick Lam Chun-pan, 40, and his wife brought their two daughters, aged nine and eight, to the museum. He learned about the new attraction through the mainland social media platform RedNote and decided to take his children to explore. His daughters were particularly fascinated by the robotic dogs on display.
“This museum is magnificent,” he said. “We spent 2 1/2 hours inside, but we still did not cover all the things on display. We will be back again.”
He added: “Shenzhen is not only good for shopping and dining, but also offers a diversity of other attractions.”
Educational Visits and Cultural Exploration
Housewife Teresa Lau took her parents and her 12-year-old daughter, a Form One pupil, to the museum as part of a two-day trip to Shenzhen. She often brings her daughter across the border to visit various museums to broaden her horizons. She mentioned that they had previously visited the Shenzhen Museum.
Shopping and Dining in Shenzhen
Hongkongers also flocked to popular shopping centers for food and bargains. Grace Chu and four friends visited Coco Park shopping center in Shenzhen’s Futian district to watch the newly released film Game of Identity and enjoy the dining options available there.
The 32-year-old bank employee said they crossed the border to watch the movie, which was not screened in Hong Kong. She also highlighted that Shenzhen offered more affordable hotpot options and unique eateries not found in Hong Kong.
Chu also mentioned that they enjoyed massage services in Shenzhen the day before.
“We took advantage of the Easter break to enjoy the new movie and a wide range of dining choices here in Shenzhen,” she said.
Family Trips and Pop-Up Stores
At the same shopping center, clerk Alice Lo, 42, and her six-year-old daughter were shopping for merchandise from the animated musical urban fantasy film KPop Demon Hunters at a pop-up store.
Lo said she took her daughter on a three-day trip to Shenzhen, along with her sister, brother-in-law, and their two children. She was impressed by the city’s variety of malls, bookstores, and restaurants, trying different types of food such as burgers, Korean barbecues, and bubble teas.
“Shenzhen is close and convenient, offering things that we do not have in Hong Kong,” she said.
Yana Yan Chi, a staff member working at the pop-up store, noted that the number of Hongkongers visiting the store more than doubled on the first day of the Easter break, reaching about 100 people.
“There is a sharp increase in people from Hong Kong coming here to shop for goods,” she said.
Holiday Trends and Tourism Outlook
Hong Kong residents are enjoying a five-day Easter holiday this year, coinciding with the Ching Ming Festival, which falls on Sunday. On Friday, 709,837 residents left Hong Kong, while the city welcomed 76,709 mainland visitors and 44,208 from elsewhere.
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui mentioned during a radio show that she expected some mainland visitors during their three-day Ching Ming Festival break between Saturday and Monday. She also highlighted that the city anticipated 1 million visitors during the “golden week” holiday between May 1 and 5.
Citing observations from the hotel industry, she stated that the occupancy rate during the golden week holiday is expected to reach over 90 per cent on average. Law added that geopolitical tensions have reinforced Hong Kong as a safe, fun, and convenient destination, with no impact on long-haul arrivals due to the war in the Middle East.
Hong Kong’s visitor numbers increased by 17 per cent to 14.31 million in the first three months of the year.
