Advertisement
Advertisement
TOPIC

Golden week

Golden week
The Chinese "golden week" refers either of the two week-long holidays around National Day on October 1, and the lunar calendar Spring Festival which usually falls in January or February of each year. Tens of millions of Chinese travel by air, train and road to family reunions, vacations or shopping centres during these holidays.
Tourists visit High Island Reservoir East Dam, a cornerstone of Hong Kong’s Unesco Global Geopark, in Sai Kung on May 1. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong tourism

Opinion | Hong Kong’s tourism rebound needs new measures of success

Rather than count footfall and events, the city should focus on spending and impact, plan district tourism seriously and work on new assumptions.

Hong Kong environmental issues

Visitor quotas needed to protect country parks, 4 trails challenge founder says

4
China travel

Fuel shocks, thin margins: why China’s airlines should ‘heed Spirit’s mistakes’

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong draws over 1 million mainland ‘golden week’ visitors but spending lags

Authorities say shopping centres and catering sector reported growth, but industry leaders flag inconsistent spending.

Shoppers at a jewellery shop on Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui on the first day of mainland China’s “golden week” Labour Day holiday. Photo: Jelly Tse
China travel

China’s record travel volume meets cautious spending in May Day holiday surge

Thousands of domestic train services added on last day of ‘golden week’ to meet record demand, and high energy costs affect consumer spending.

videocam
Hong Kong environmental issues

Editorial | Hong Kong needs to better protect its natural assets from tourists

Without stronger measures that address risks all year round, the city could lose the natural heritage it seeks to showcase.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Hong Kong economy

‘Golden week’: Hong Kong draws more mainland Chinese visitors but spending uneven

Total visitor arrivals, including overseas travellers, reached 854,929 over first three days of Labour Day holiday, also slightly up from last year’s 803,612.

7
Mainland Chinese tourists pack Sai Kung’s renowned seafood restaurants. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong society

Green group warns of disturbance to uninhabited island known for breeding seabirds

Green Hope Hong Kong says several people landed on island near Po Toi Island and warns birds may abandon nests if disturbed.

Accidents and personal safety

Driver arrested after wife killed in crash at Hong Kong border checkpoint

Vehicle rammed into cones and kiosk before turning sideways on Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, police say.

Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong

‘Nowhere to go’: helpers pushed out of parks spend day off in tents at bus terminus

Helpers in Hong Kong describe difficulty of finding places they can gather after some online posts suggested visitors were setting up tents.

66
Helpers gather at the Lohas Park Station Public Transport Interchange. Some said they were usually forced to leave other public spaces when they gathered in groups on their day off. Photo: Elson Li
Hong Kong environmental issues

Opinion | It’s not ecotourism if it risks damaging Hong Kong’s natural assets

Authorities need to shift ecotourism management strategies to avoid it becoming part of the problem it was meant to solve.

videocam
A man crosses a hazard warning boundary after taking pictures near the edge of a cliff on the way to the Po Pin Chau Viewing Platform at High Island Reservoir’s East Dam on January 3. Photo: Elson Li
Hong Kong tourism

How unlicensed mainland Chinese tour groups cash in on Hong Kong campsites

Unlicensed guide admits to regularly crossing border as tourist for illegal work, while another insists 30-member group ‘just friends’.

6
Hong Kong environmental issues

300 verbal warnings issued to Sharp Island visitors on Labour Day

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department also says number of visitors to island on Saturday had ‘exceeded expectations’.

15
Hong Kong tourism

‘Golden week’ begins with bang in Hong Kong, but restaurants’ gains ‘limited’

City records 13 per cent increase in mainland Chinese visitors on first day of holiday, but more prudent spending is affecting restaurants.

13
Tourists visit the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront on the first day of mainland China’s “golden week” Labour Day holiday. Photo: Jelly Tse
Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong taxi driver arrested for dangerous driving, hitting speeds of 160km/h

Undercover officers intercept driver, 31, after he completed 42km trip from Sai Kung Country Park to border checkpoint in about 30 mins.

5
Taxi vehicles seized by police. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong tourism

Hong Kong’s East Dam draws thousands for ‘golden week’ as entry fee floated

Tourists opt for ecotourism over traditional shopping after Unesco geopark receives widespread publicity on mainland Chinese social media.

Hong Kong tourism

Labour Day: Hong Kong records 242,000 trips by mainland Chinese visitors so far

Many visitors head to countryside for scenic views, while others opt for ‘city walks’ to explore picturesque locales.

9
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Banking & finance

Gold, cruises and Dior: Hong Kong lenders aim to entice mainland China visitors

With 980,000 visitors from the mainland expected during golden week, Hong Kong lenders line up incentives to capture wealthy customers.

Mainland tourists flock to Tsim Sha Tsui during the Golden Week holiday on May 3, 2025. Photo: Nora Tam
Hong Kong economy

Yacht tourists, hikers drive ‘golden week’ optimism for Hong Kong eateries

Industry leader says 5 per cent year-on-year increase in business expected, adding that operators have ramped up manpower to cope with influx.

Hong Kong environmental issues

Video | Sharp Island patrols boosted for China’s “golden week”

Authorities will step up security as 1,000 visitors are expected in the area each day during the holiday.

Hong Kong economy

Editorial | Ahead of Labour Day, a sensible tweak to Hong Kong’s tourism strategy

While mainland arrivals are still down from their heyday, the tourism strategy is pivoting from pursuing numbers to seeking higher value.

Tourists gather around a retro display at a supermarket near the old Yau Ma Tei police station on February 22. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong environmental issues

Hong Kong to block off parts of Sharp Island shore to protect corals over break

Authorities expect 1,000 visitors in the area each day during the coming Labour Day ‘golden week’ holiday.

videocam
Staff will also be deployed to monitor the sea off Sharp Island. Photo: Karma Lo
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong boosts e-cigarette ban awareness in mainland China before ‘golden week’

Authorities ramp up promotion and enforcement before public possession ban on alternative smoking products begins on April 30.

Hong Kong tourism

Editorial | Hong Kong’s natural heritage needs preserving amid holiday crush

If Hong Kong can enforce standards without closing its doors, it can serve as a role model of how to treasure visitors and the environment.

Hong Kong tourism

Mainland Chinese to make 980,000 inbound trips to Hong Kong for Labour Day break

Estimate from Immigration Department represents 7 per cent increase from last year’s holiday.

Tourists arrive in Hong Kong via the West Kowloon high-speed rail terminus. Photo: May Tse
Hong Kong tourism

Cheap tours blamed for coerced shopping in Hong Kong: tourism experts

Industry also called on authorities to step up random inspections during coming Labour Day ‘golden week’ holiday.

Visitors at the Victoria Harbour waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong environmental issues

Hong Kong to test new campsite booking system amid overcrowding, litter concerns

Authorities also reveal 32 people had been prosecuted for offences in Sai Kung’s country parks over Chinese New Year holiday.

Hong Kong environmental issues

Editorial | Hong Kong wants ecotourism, not overtourism

After incidents of overcrowding at beach campsites during recent holidays, it is encouraging that the authorities are considering a booking system and fees.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement