Living in the vibrant Hong Kong Special Administrative Region means having easy access to the bustling Shenzhen on the Chinese mainland. Every month, Chiu Yu-ho and his family take advantage of this proximity, driving to Shenzhen for a day filled with shopping, dining, and fun activities.
Their typical trip starts with a morning spree at popular stores like Sam's, Costco, or Hema Fresh, where they stock up on essentials and treats. After filling their bags, the family enjoys a delicious meal at a nice restaurant before heading out to explore Shenzhen's fantastic attractions. In the afternoon, they take their son to places like Happy Valley or the Shenzhen Safari Park, providing memorable experiences for the whole family.
Chiu has noticed a trend: more Hong Kong parents are bringing their kids to enjoy Shenzhen's free parks and spacious hotels, making it an ideal destination for family travel. \"There are a lot of free parks in Shenzhen and hotels here are very spacious. It's very suitable for family travel,\" he shares.
Since the launch of the \"Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles\" scheme on July 1 last year, there's been a surge in private cars from Hong Kong crossing into Guangdong Province via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Official data reveals that by March 9, over 500,000 trips had been made by private Hong Kong cars through the bridge. On March 31, the daily number of exits and entries at the bridge check station hit a record high of 18,400.
According to Hong Kong-based newspaper Ta Kung Pao, approximately 53.34 million Hong Kong residents traveled to Guangdong in 2023, accounting for 74% of all outbound trips. This means the average Hong Kong resident makes around 7.2 trips to Guangdong each year, highlighting the strong ties and growing popularity of the Greater Bay Area as a go-to destination for both leisure and business.
