Hongkongers surged across the border on Wednesday for a wider range of dining, shopping and family leisure options, seeking a short getaway on the public holiday marking the 29th anniversary of the city’s return to China.
Major border checkpoints, including the West Kowloon terminus and Shenzhen Bay, were packed with holidaymakers carrying luggage, shopping bags and foldable carts as they headed to mainland China on Wednesday morning.
Lawyer Edward Wong, 32, left Hong Kong for Dongguan in the neighbouring Guangdong province via the West Kowloon high-speed rail terminus to visit a friend.
He said he planned to try Dongguan’s famed roast goose rice noodles and spend time there before returning to Hong Kong later that night.
Wong added that Hong Kong eateries, which often required table sharing and imposed dining time limits, were less competitive than their mainland counterparts.
“Restaurants on the mainland are more spacious and offer better service,” he said.
Simon Chiu, a 66-year-old retiree, headed to Shantou in Guangdong with his wife to join a group of friends for a short getaway.
They planned to stay for one night, tasting local delicacies and visiting historical and cultural museums before returning, he said.
Chiu said Hong Kong’s dining scene lacked fresh ideas and creativity while the mainland offered better value for money.
“Most importantly, many of our friends have headed north during the holidays, so we would be the only ones staying behind if we remained in the city,” he said.
Maggie Tsang, 42, headed to Shenzhen with her husband, two children and another family for a half-day trip. The accounting employee set aside around HK$1,000 (US$127.50) for food and children’s game parades, ball pits and facilities at shopping centres in the Futian district.
She said playgrounds and child facilities on the mainland cost about half as much as those in Hong Kong.
“It is also much more affordable as we are travelling with another family, splitting all the bills with us,” Tsang said.
Hongkongers also flocked to popular shopping centres in Shenzhen for food, bargains and family leisure activities.
At Kaledo, a lifestyle and retail complex in Shenzhen’s Nanshan district, Sally Lau spent the day with her colleagues, budgeting HK$1,000 for a day out.
The 50-year-old beautician said the wider variety of food and shopping options was a bigger draw than the discounts offered in Hong Kong.
“You get discounts in Hong Kong, but the choice is limited. Here, even the yogurt brands are more varied and cheaper, and some restaurants serve dishes you can’t find back home,” she said.
Lau said she frequently travelled to Shenzhen for massage and beauty treatments, and she also planned to stop by Zzer, a 2,000 sq ft second-hand luxury shop.
Raymond Yeung, a 48‑year‑old technician, was at the shopping centre with his family, including his 12‑year‑old daughter, and they planned to visit the underground skatepark.
He said that while the family would still use July 1 discounts at home, Shenzhen offered more options for family activities.
“You have more space in Shenzhen to play, and there’s more greenery too,” he said.
