HKFP Lens: 1.4 million visitors flock to Hong Kong over China’s Golden Week holiday
Over 1.4 million tourists from across the Chinese mainland visited Hong Kong over the weeklong “Golden Week” holiday marking National Day, official statistics have shown. Gone are the days when mainland visitors were drawn to Hong Kong’s high-end shopping. Now, many are descending on once-sleepy neighbourhoods and scenic country parks to “check in” on social […]
Over 1.4 million tourists from mainland China flocked to Hong Kong during the country's "Golden Week" holiday, marking National Day, according to official statistics. The surge in visitors has shifted away from the city's high-end shopping destinations and towards more off-the-beaten-path locations and scenic country parks.
Tourists are increasingly using social media platforms like Xiaohongshu to discover and share their experiences in Hong Kong. One popular spot is Po Pin Chau trail in Sai Kung, an ecotourism site offering breathtaking views of the Po Pin Chau sea stack. On the day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, crowds gathered at the trail for the annual celebration.
However, the path has faced criticism due to the prevalence of overtourism. In a tragic incident last New Year's Eve, a mainland Chinese tourist fell to his death while taking photos from the viewing platform. This prompted authorities to introduce a booking system for the Po Pin Chau trail in an attempt to manage the influx of visitors. Despite these measures, environmental group Greenpeace has reported ongoing overcrowding at the site, citing issues such as soil erosion, damage to vegetation, and rampant littering.
Written by urgent.news from Hong Kong Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
