By LI Rujia

The reopening of the border between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong has sparked a surge in Hong Kong residents visiting Shenzhen for shopping and leisure. Meituan data reveals that online orders for dining, entertainment, and leisure by Hong Kong consumers in Shenzhen have increased by over 400 percent in July compared to January when people were still limited from crossing the border because of Covid-19.

Since the beginning of July, over 7.2 million Hong Kong residents traveled to nearby cities like Zhuhai and Shenzhen and spent nearly HK$5 billion (about US$640 million). Just over 5 million mainland travelers headed in the opposite direction.

Hong Kong residents are drawn by low prices and easy transit links. Many Hong Kong visitors find that Shenzhen’s prices are often less than half of what they pay back home, and the city offers a wide range of entertainment options, from go-karting to trampoline parks.

High-speed trains between Hong Kong and Shenzhen make for a 14-minute journey from West Kowloon to Futian in Shenzhen.

A new Hong Kong vehicle policy has led to a record number of travelers driving across the border.