Hong Kong residents were excited to celebrate the Double-Ninth Festival by traveling to the mainland for a long weekend holiday. Many residents were seen queuing for buses to Heung Yuen Wai Control Point at Fanling, eager to explore new places and enjoy some time off.
One resident, Mr. Wong, mentioned that he planned to explore Liantang and would return the same day. On the other hand, Ms. Yip shared that she travels to Shenzhen every month and was looking forward to having some fun and hotpot with her mom. She emphasized the importance of taking a break from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong by visiting other places.
To accommodate the influx of travelers, special transport arrangements were made. The transport department advised those heading towards Zhuhai or Macau to plan their journeys ahead of time due to the increased waiting times at the vehicle clearance plaza towards Zhuhai direction at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. At West Kowloon station, the public was reminded to allow enough time for immigration procedures.
The police recommended using different ports to enter the mainland to avoid long waiting times at the Shenzhen Bay Port. Additionally, MTR announced that train services would be strengthened during the long weekend, with reduced waiting times on the East Rail Line and Island Line to facilitate smoother travel.
According to the Immigration Department, more than 570,000 people left the city on Thursday, with around 480,000 of them being Hong Kong residents. This significant increase in travelers highlighted the popularity of spending the holiday weekend exploring new destinations and taking a break from the daily routine.
As residents enjoyed their holiday escape to the mainland, the festive spirit of the Double-Ninth Festival was evident in the air. The opportunity to relax, explore, and create new memories with loved ones made the long weekend a memorable experience for many Hong Kong residents.