2 h. ago ‘Marvellous achievement’: Hongkongers flock to see Chinese warship Shandong

Hundreds of residents and tourists lined Hong Kong's waterfronts on Thursday morning to catch a glimpse of the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong and its accompanying strike group entering local waters. Crowds packed the esplanade at the South Horizons private residential estate in Hong Kong Island’s Southern district, with many setting up cameras to get pictures of the passing warships. The Shandong was spotted near Lamma Island at 7.17am and is the first Chinese carrier to call at Hong Kong...

Events

9 h. ago Hong Kong tourists undeterred by prediction that quake will hit Japan on July 5

Hong Kong travel agencies have not recorded widespread cancellations of Japan-bound tour groups for the coming weekend, despite a manga artist’s widely discussed prediction that a mega-earthquake will hit the country on Saturday. But some business insiders suggested the number of tours this summer was expected to fall by half compared with last year. The Japan National Tourism Organisation reported that only 193,100 visitors from Hong Kong were recorded coming to the country in May, down by 11.2...

Events

28 h. ago Indonesian tourist arrested at Hong Kong’s The Peak after tumbler hits woman

An Indonesian tourist who was sightseeing at The Peak in Hong Kong has been arrested after a tumbler fell out of his backpack and hit another visitor walking below. Police said they received a report at 12.16pm on Wednesday that a mainland Chinese woman had been hit by an unknown object at The Peak Tower and reported injuries to her head. “A man standing on the floor above was sightseeing. He had put his backpack on a fence, but his tumbler fell out from a side pocket, falling to the floor below...

Events

54 h. ago Hong Kong residents and tourists revel in handover anniversary festivities

From free museum visits and tram rides to discounted meals and fun runs, residents and tourists took full advantage of offers by thousands of businesses, braving the frequent showers to revel in the celebrations of the city’s 28th anniversary of its handover to Beijing. Rows of bright red national and Hong Kong flags adorned the streets and tourist attractions on Tuesday, as around 3,800 restaurants offered special discounts, hoping to attract diners and boost spending. A parade of about 30...

Politics

54 h. ago From free rides and museum visits to cheap meals, Hong Kong laps up July 1 deals

From free museum visits and tram rides to discounted meals and fun runs, residents and tourists took full advantage of offers by thousands of businesses, braving the frequent showers to revel in the celebrations of the city’s 28th anniversary of its handover to Beijing. Rows of bright red national and Hong Kong flags adorned the streets and tourist attractions on Tuesday, as around 3,800 restaurants offered special discounts, hoping to attract diners and boost spending. A parade of about 30...

Politics

1 week ago What is the ‘Hong Kong Summer Viva’ campaign? And what deals are on offer?

Hong Kong is launching a summer campaign to electrify spending among tourists and locals on Monday, with the promotional effort offering perks and discounts on goods and services ranging from transport to theme parks. The effort has seen the Tourism Board team up with theme park operators, retailers and transport providers to launch the “Hong Kong Summer Viva” drive. Here is what you need to know. 1. What is the Hong Kong Summer Viva campaign? The campaign is being spearheaded by the board to...

Politics

1 week ago Mainland tourists imagine they see magic of Japan in Hong Kong’s satellite towns

Tuen Mun, a satellite town located in the northwestern part of the New Territories, has become an improbably popular destination among tourists after it was dubbed Hong Kong’s version of Japan, with similarities to cities such as Sapporo. Users of Chinese social media platform RedNote have been sharing various tips on how travellers can capture pictures of the above-ground Light Rail trains running through the town and create scenes that could double for a Hokkaido cityscape. Vicky Chong...

Politics

1 week ago Kyoto in Hong Kong? The towns drawing mainlanders with their ‘Japanese’ charms

A waterfront town in northwestern Hong Kong has improbably become a hit with mainland Chinese tourists who say its charming neighbourhoods remind them of picturesque cities in Japan, such as Sapporo. Users of Chinese social media platform RedNote have been sharing various tips on how travellers can capture pictures of the above-ground Light Rail trains running through Tuen Mun and create scenes that could double for a Hokkaido cityscape. Vicky Chong Ting-ting, a 27-year-old tourist from mainland...

Politics

2 w. ago 20% tourist spike in May as Hong Kong welcomed more than 4 million visitors

Hong Kong welcomed more than 4 million visitors in May, marking a 20 per cent year-on-year increase, with authorities attributing the surge to the Labour Day “golden week” holiday. According to provisional figures released by the Tourism Board on Monday, more than 3.1 million of the total visitors in May were from mainland China, representing a 19 per cent rise from last year. The number of non-mainland tourists also increased significantly, by 24 per cent from last May, reaching 955,345. Of...

Politics

2 w. ago 20% tourist spike in May as more than 4 million visit Hong Kong

Hong Kong welcomed more than 4 million visitors in May, a 20 per cent year-on-year increase, with authorities attributing the surge to the Labour Day “golden week” holiday. According to provisional figures released by the Tourism Board on Monday, more than 3.1 million of the visitors in May were from mainland China, a 19 per cent rise from last year. The number of non-mainland tourists also increased by 24 per cent from May last year to 955,345. Of these, 56.2 per cent were short-haul...

Politics

2 w. ago ‘Uncertain future’ for US, Hong Kong MTR’s allure: 5 weekend reads

We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. ‘Setting sun’: on Trump’s parade day, Chinese media see a US in decline 2. Why are mainland Chinese tourists posing in front of MTR stations in Hong Kong? 3. China’s extreme heat shield breaks thermal limit on hypersonic flight 4. After the ceasefire, leaders of India and Pakistan seek cover...

Politics

2 w. ago Group tour prices from Hong Kong drop 10% as tourists opt for alternatives to Japan

Hong Kong travel agencies have launched cheaper outbound group tours this summer, driven by increased flight capacity amid a shift in tourists’ preference away from Japan due to increased earthquake concerns. Several tour operators have reported that prices for their summer group tours are either lower or have remained stable, adding that popular destinations include South Korea, Vietnam and cities in western mainland China. “Compared to last year, we see more than a 10 per cent drop in prices...

Politics

2 w. ago Hong Kong’s 1980s nightlife culture dazzles again at old Club Bboss site

More than a decade after Club Bboss was closed, a new nightspot has launched on the same site where the once-glamorous establishment operated for 28 years, with the goal of attracting tourists and young revellers eager for a glimpse of Hong Kong’s 1980s clubbing heyday. The new spot – known as Big Boss Generation (BBG) – opened for business on Saturday in the old club’s 56,000 sq ft site at the New Mandarin Plaza in Tsim Sha Tsui East. It will use the former occupant’s old Chinese name, which...

Economics

2 w. ago Why are mainland Chinese tourists posing in front of MTR stations in Hong Kong?

Surrounded by a stream of passengers on an MTR platform in Hong Kong on a regular weekday, a couple paused to pose for photos next to a station sign to mark their journey. “We took photos at most of the metro stations we visited, just to record our metro route,” said Arale, a 36-year-old tourist who was visiting the city with his wife, Qing, 37, for the first time. Recording such a visual diary is part of a popular trend on Chinese social media in which people travel around Hong Kong to take...

Politics

3 w. ago WeChat Pay records fourfold rise in mainland tourist taxi payments in Hong Kong

WeChat Pay Hong Kong has recorded a fourfold increase in mainland Chinese tourist payments for taxi services in the city from last year and growing usage among locals and visitors alike, according to parent company Tencent. Vice-President of Tencent Financial Technology Daniel Hong Danyi said on Thursday that the number of transactions from mainland tourists paying for taxi fares through WeChat Pay had seen a fourfold increase year on year. “We saw that previously, many mainland tourists coming...

Economics

3 w. ago What are Hong Kong’s best deals, discounts for this year’s July 1 celebrations?

Hong Kong residents and tourists will be able to enjoy plenty of discounts, giveaways and other deals when the city celebrates the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule on July 1. From Star Ferry fares to must-see museums, the Post gives a rundown of what the city has to offer for the occasion. Free transport Commuters will have a chance to win one of the 71,000 MTR tickets available in a raffle being held on July 1 via the rail operator’s mobile app. The tickets are valid until January...

Politics