Thousands of Hong Kong residents crossed into Shenzhen on National Day, taking advantage of lower prices, diverse leisure options, and unique local products such as oversized egg tarts. According to the Immigration Department, by 9 p.m. on Monday, around 238,112 people had departed Hong Kong, while the city received approximately 269,567 visitors from mainland China.

At the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point, large groups of Hongkongers gathered early in the morning to travel northward, coinciding with mainland visitors heading into Hong Kong to mark the beginning of their National Day “golden week” holiday.

Among the travelers to Shenzhen was 58-year-old retiree Lina Li, who visits the city twice a month for both shopping and personal care services. Li said she planned to spend over HK$1,000 on food, massages, and a head spa session—all booked in advance. She noted that massages in Shenzhen can cost about HK$300, compared to over HK$700 in Hong Kong, while head spa treatments are available for around HK$100, a deal she described as uncommon in her home city. Li also brought a trolley with her to carry various baked goods and groceries she intended to purchase.

Another Hong Kong family, led by resident Rose Crut, took a day trip to Shenzhen’s Futian district with their two sons, who had school the following day. Arriving around 11 a.m., the family planned to have lunch at a shopping center near the checkpoint before visiting Costco in the Longhua district. Crut praised Shenzhen as an ideal destination for family outings, highlighting its wide range of activities and convenient shopping options. The family carried a large suitcase and budgeted roughly HK$2,000 for their purchases.

Some visitors traveled to Shenzhen in part for special events during the extended holiday. A woman surnamed Chiu, who had stayed overnight at the Hilton Hotel in Futian with friends, said the group was celebrating the holiday by shopping and dining at local malls. One of her companions was especially interested in the Shenzhen International Auto Show, ongoing until Monday at the nearby Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Centre. Chiu indicated she did not have a fixed spending limit and intended to buy freely.

Busy scenes were observed at a shopping center linked to Futian’s Exhibition Centre railway station, where crowds flowed through stores and restaurants. Shoppers wheeled suitcases and trolleys while queueing for massage parlors and eateries, including bakeries famous for their 60-centimeter-long egg tarts. A bakery worker named Chen reported that most customers purchasing the oversized egg tarts were from Hong Kong, drawn by the novelty. Another outlet said it had been baking these tarts nonstop, selling hundreds of boxes by mid-afternoon.

Also among the visitors was a Hong Kong bank employee surnamed Choi, who brought her mother and son for an extended weekend in Shenzhen. She noted the hot weather in Hong Kong and a preference to avoid familiar local attractions such as Disney and Ocean Park despite ongoing promotions at home.

The steady flow of Hong Kong residents into Shenzhen during the National Day holiday underscores the appeal of cross-border travel for both practical shopping and leisure pursuits amid the variety of offerings just across the border.