bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

knowledgeQuestion

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Oscar Liu

Crowds built up at Hong Kong’s busiest border checkpoint, Lo Wu, on Sunday afternoon following a three-day long weekend, with many residents bringing back delicacies such as hairy crabs and consumer goods.
Tens of thousands were making their way back to Hong Kong from tomb sweeping across the border, short breaks and shopping in Shenzhen, after a net outflow of 416,709 trips was recorded from Thursday, the eve of the Chung Yeung Festival, to Saturday.
The Immigration Department said the number of trips was similar to the corresponding period last year, where a net outflow of 428,903 was logged between October 20 and 22.
Many of those returning on Sunday were carrying luggage, with some enticed along the way by vendors hawking hairy crabs at 100 yuan (US$57) for four.

Jennifer Wong, 45, owner of a yoga studio in Fo Tan, bought eight crabs on the way home with her husband, spending about HK$5,000 for their weekend getaway, which included a two-night stay at the Ritz-Carlton Shenzhen.
“We just wanted a staycation at a nice hotel and I happened to book a room at 1,200 yuan a night. We just went to enjoy spas and massages while indulging ourselves in some good hotpot and Japanese restaurants,” Wong said.
The couple also spent 320 yuan on four pairs of glasses, frames and lenses included.
“It is way more relaxing than spending time in Hong Kong. Everything is so affordable. And I don’t mind spending a bit more time at the border before going home,” she said.
School administrative worker Alison Wu, 28, arrived in Shenzhen on Thursday night with five colleagues to enjoy the long weekend. They ate street food and went kart racing.
“We ended our trip at the Sam’s Club buying a lot of snacks, filling a big carton box for just 300 yuan. I think it will last us for two weeks,” Wu said.
She said the group spent about HK$5,000 on entertainment, hotels and a night market which had seafood and hotpot restaurants.
“We talked about going to Taiwan for the weekend as the flights were not very expensive. But airport procedures would take up more time, so we decided unanimously to go to Shenzhen where things are equally cheap and fun,” she said.
Truck driver Chan Chi-yung, 57, and his family of four arrived at the checkpoint at 3.50pm to avoid the crowds he knew would build up in the evening.
“We have been going to Shenzhen every year for the Chung Yeung Festival since the border reopened. We know the drill. Leave early to avoid being stuck in a queue at the checkpoint,” Chan said.
He took the opportunity to see relatives across the border and visit his grandmother’s grave in Longgang in northeastern Shenzhen.
The Chung Yeung Festival is a public holiday and traditional festival in Hong Kong in which residents pay their respects to deceased relatives at their graves.
Housewife Cheng Yuk-chun, 62, and her elder also crossed the border to Shenzhen for the weekend and spent under HK2,500, mainly on massages and food.
“We were just here to eat and get massages and manicures. We didn’t even book a hotel for both nights because spending over 300 yuan per person at the massage place allowed us to stay in a room overnight,” Cheung said.
“Mainland tourists like to have in-depth experience tours in Hong Kong, but my preferred way is to go [in the opposite direction] to Shenzhen and spend less,” she added, holding four boxes of shredded chicken that she had bought for 152 yuan.
Additional reporting by Fiona Sun


Retired officers can rejoin Hong Kong police as part-timers under scheme to tackle staff crunch

Octopus records HK$100 million worth of transactions by tourists over National Day break

Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo set to visit Hong Kong for opening of pop-up museum

Hong Kong SMEs’ loan defaults balloon to HK$14.72 billion burden on government

Hong Kong economy

Crowds build up at Hong Kong border crossing as 3-day long weekend ends

Travellers arrive at Lo Wu from mainland China on Sunday. Photo: Oscar Liu

Travellers head to Hong Kong from Shenzhen on Sunday. Photo: May Tse

Hong Kong faces ‘challenge’ to hit projected figure of 46 million visitors: tourism sector

Visitors take pictures in Tsim Sha Tsui during the National Day “golden week” holidays. Photo: Nora Tam

Tourists in the Sha Tau Kok area on New Year’s Day. Up to 2,300 people per day are allowed to visit Sha Tau Kok with police-issued passes, but Chung Ying Street is closed to visitors. Photo: May Tse

Hong Kong’s John Lee pledges more film-inspired tourism projects to champion local culture

The exhibition at Hong Kong airport captures the unique character of the Kowloon Walled City, organisers have said. Photo: Sam Tsang

Chief Executive John Lee (centre) has praised the film for preserving the history of the Kowloon Walled City. Photo: May Tse

Designers have focused on faithfully recreating details such as the enclave’s crowded streets and overhanging cables. Photo: May Tse

News

Hong Kong

Tens of thousands are making their way back to Hong Kong from tomb sweeping across the border, short breaks and shopping


Tens of thousands are making their way back to Hong Kong from tomb sweeping across the border, short breaks and shopping.


Hong Kong tourism

Shenzhen