Mainland Tourists Flood Hong Kong via High-Speed Rail for Golden Week
Thestandard · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Large crowds of mainland tourists arrived in Hong Kong via the West Kowloon high-speed railway station on Saturday afternoon, kicking off the combined Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day Golden Week holidays . The station terminal was packed with arriving passengers, including multi-generational families and young travelers embarking on city excursions ranging from quick day trips to multi-day itineraries .
Key Points
- West Kowloon high-speed railway station saw packed arrivals on Saturday, with multi-generational families and young travelers entering Hong Kong for Golden Week
- A Beijing couple surnamed Fan and Liu planned a four-day, three-night stay, with Liu wearing traditional qipao specifically for landmark photos
- Their itinerary included Victoria Peak via the Peak Tram, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Victoria Park to view festive lantern displays
- Fan noted Hong Kong's absence of sales tax makes branded apparel, skincare, and pharmaceuticals reasonably priced and dependable in quality
- First-time visitors from Guangzhou took advantage of the short rail journey for single-day excursions guided by social media recommendations
Why It Matters
The influx of mainland visitors during Golden Week signals a robust recovery in cross-border tourism following years of pandemic-related travel restrictions . For Hong Kong's retail and hospitality sectors, the holiday period represents a critical revenue window as consumers from the mainland seek tax-free shopping and cultural experiences .
The influx of mainland visitors during Golden Week signals a robust recovery in cross-border tourism following years of pandemic-related travel restrictions . For Hong Kong's retail and hospitality sectors, the holiday period represents a critical revenue window as consumers from the mainland seek tax-free shopping and cultural experiences .