In pictures: crossing the Hong Kong-mainland China border through the decades
Discover how Hong Kong-mainland border crossings transformed from slow, queue-filled journeys in the 1970s to today’s seamless high-speed rail trips
Weekend trips across the border with mainland China now feel almost effortless. Hongkongers glide across for cheaper meals out, guilt-free shopping and a range of leisure activities, drawn in part by the ease and value-for-money of a foray into Guangdong province.
A generation ago, the journey represented a different story. Those bound for the mainland often relied on the slow (by today’s standards) Kowloon-Canton Railway, enduring long hours in queues before they could cross the border. Trips were often made for practical reasons; travellers carried with them bags heavy with luxuries and even daily necessities for relatives in a China that was still developing.