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 Chinese tourists flocked to Hong Kong during the weeklong "Golden Week" holiday in October 2026, as per official statistics. The influx of visitors marked a shift from previous preferences for high-end shopping to a focus on exploring the city's less touristy neighborhoods and natural attractions. Hong Kong's Po Pin Chau trail in Sai Kung, known for its dramatic sea stack views, saw a surge in popularity among these mainland tourists, who shared their experiences on social media platforms like Xiaohongshu.
One particularly notable visit occurred on the anniversary of China's founding, with many tourists hiking the Po Pin Chau trail. However, some tourists disregarded safety instructions by overstepping fences and ignoring warning signs to take photos, resulting in one tragic incident. A young man from mainland China fell to his death while capturing images from the viewing platform on New Year's Eve.
In response to concerns over overtourism, authorities introduced a booking system for the Po Pin Chau trail. Despite these measures, environmental group Greenpeace has reported that overcrowding persists, leading to issues such as soil erosion, damage to vegetation, and rampant littering at the site.
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.
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