Will Huanggang Port opening boost spending at Shenzhen’s border retail shops?
Retail businesses in Shenzhen are gearing up for the imminent opening of the revamped Huanggang Port at the border Hong Kong shares with mainland China, but some fear the area still lacks commercial appeal to make travellers stay. After six years of redevelopment, the expanded checkpoint is due to open on October 12, according to a source. It will adopt the “joint inspection” model for…
Retail businesses in Shenzhen are preparing for the imminent opening of the revamped Huanggang Port at the border with Hong Kong, but some are concerned the area still lacks commercial appeal to make travellers want to stay. Six years after redevelopment, the expanded checkpoint is set to open on October 12, reducing the clearance time from around 30 minutes to just five minutes under the new "joint inspection" model.
The port will initially handle 100,000 passenger trips a day, with capacity potentially increasing to 300,000 in the future.
Several retail sectors have opened branches near the new facility in anticipation of increased traffic. Bosen Dental clinic, for example, opened a new branch across from the new facility in August, noting that Hong Kong residents are their primary customer base. Lawson, a convenience store chain, also opened a branch nearby, targeting Hong Kong customers sending parcels across the border. Two restaurants opened near the new building in August, expecting a surge in customers from across the border.
The 7-Eleven at the Huanggang Checkpoint station, managed by Zhou Qunhui, is particularly optimistic about the opening. She mentions plans to install new equipment and prepare popular foods and products to attract Hong Kong customers. However, some retail employees are skeptical about the impact of faster clearance and larger crowds on spending.
They argue that the area still lacks commercialization, and without enough choices for entertainment, such as food, drinks, and massages, the new crossing may not bring in more guests or encourage travellers to stay longer.
A manager of a hotel located about a 10-minute walk from Huanggang Port confirms that hotels in the area are struggling due to the region's declining attractiveness. They argue that unless there are additional commercial amenities, such as a night market or shopping center, the area will continue to struggle despite the new border crossing's convenience.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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