Hong Kong receives influx of inland holidaymakers

From tech-driven interactions to coastal and mountain hiking and in-depth sightseeing, Hong Kong tourism is being revitalized with fresh ideas during the five-day May Day holiday.

The May Day holiday, running from May 1 to 5, is typically one of the busiest travel periods of the year. During this time, millions of Chinese travelers hit the road to visit family, explore domestic destinations, or venture abroad.

The Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government estimated that about 980,000 mainland tourists will visit Hong Kong during the holiday, a year-on-year increase of around 7 percent.

During the five-day holiday, many shopping malls in Hong Kong offer special promotions. A mall in Sha Tin has transformed its pop-up store into an immersive "coffee farm," gathering lifestyle goods and creative items in one place, with long queues forming at the entrance. Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay are equally bustling, with jewelry shops and trendy brand stores seeing long lines of customers.

A full slate of concerts and exhibitions displays Hong Kong's position as a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures.

At the former Yau Ma Tei police station, tourists pose for photos. The ongoing "Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey" exhibition allows visitors to step inside the historical building and relive classic scenes from Hong Kong police dramas.

New experiences such as hiking, seaside trips and self-driving tours are rapidly broadening Hong Kong's tourism appeal. According to industry observers, more people are focusing on Hong Kong's unique natural scenery and geological features, doubling the scale of eco-tourism from last year.

On the first day of the May Day holiday, direct buses from the Liantang Port/Heung Yuen Wai boundary control point at Hong Kong-Shenzhen boundary to the start of Hong Kong's MacLehose Trail were nearly full. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of the HKSAR government reported heavy crowds at the east dam of High Island Reservoir.

The rise of eco-tourism has boosted surrounding businesses. Seafood restaurants near a pier in Sai Kung are packed, and their holiday turnover is expected to rise by 30 percent from normal days.

With Hong Kong's Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles scheme, self-driving tours from Guangdong have gained popularity. A drive from Guangzhou to downtown Hong Kong now takes only about 90 minutes.

Meanwhile, according to a proposal from a member of the HKSAR Legislative Council, the city is expected to further improve cross-border transport connections, introducing Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area travel passes, and jointly promote tourism with neighboring cities to enhance the overall appeal of regional tourism.

Hong Kong receives influx of inland holidaymakers

Boosted by advanced medical technologies and improved administrative support, China is emerging as a major global hub for cross-border medical travel, adding a new bright spot to China's service-trade exports.

The trend is clearly evident in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, which has established itself as a key destination for international cancer treatment, drawing an increasing number of overseas patients seeking advanced, minimally-invasive care.

According to the 2025 report from China's National Health Commission, key foreign-oriented hospitals in China received 1.28 million international patients, marking a 73.6-percent increase over a three-year period.

Peng Xiaochi, a specialist physician, has witnessed a sharp rise in foreign patients over the past decade, mostly from Southeast Asia. Among them is Ronald, a patient from Indonesia seeking treatment for conditions that yielded few viable options at home.

"We combined interventional therapy and cryoablation. Phase-one results were positive," said Peng.

The personalized approach has earned high praise from Ronald, who recounted his healthcare journey.

"Yeah, the treatment is very good and very nice. The doctors are very kindful. And yeah, they helped me very good. And last week I get my first treatment, which was a little bit painful, but yeah, okay, that's normal. It's for a few days and now it's becoming a little bit better. So we will go on for the next week," said Ronald.

A sense of relief was shared by Ronald's family.

"The conditions here are great. I feel reassured seeing him get treatment here," said a family member.

Ronald's story mirrors a broader trend. For overseas patients who find few viable treatment options at home, hospitals in Guangzhou offer reliable, minimally-invasive alternatives, according to local physicians.

"Surgery went perfectly. Lesions are fully addressed," said Yang Zhiguo, an attending physician.

Ronald left the hospital about one month after his procedure, which followed new international medical policies introduced in Guangzhou on April 29 to bolster services for overseas patients.

The city announced 12 supportive measures and launched an international medical tourism service center, providing comprehensive, end-to-end assistance that includes visa support, remote pre-consultations, and streamlined cross-border payments.

Wang Wensheng, president of human resources and travel service provider Sunbright Group, said the city's new policies streamline the medical journey.

"From pre-arrival assessment to post-discharge cross-border follow-up, patients are freed from cumbersome paperwork," said Wang.

China sees rising influx of overseas patients for medical treatment