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Golden week

Golden week
The Chinese "golden week" refers either of the two week-long holidays around National Day on October 1, and the lunar calendar Spring Festival which usually falls in January or February of each year. Tens of millions of Chinese travel by air, train and road to family reunions, vacations or shopping centres during these holidays.
Visitors take photos of the ancient Sword of Goujian at the Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan, in central China’s Hubei Province, on May 17, 2026. An airport notice at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport warning not to hand-carry replicas of the sword on board planes has gone viral on Chinese social media. Photo: Xinhua
Chinese culture

How China’s ‘Excalibur of the East’ souvenir swords sparked airport warning

Tourists with replicas of the ancient Sword of Goujian, from the Hubei Provincial Museum, were told not to hand-carry them onto planes.

Hong Kong tourism

Opinion | Hong Kong’s tourism rebound needs new measures of success

Hong Kong environmental issues

Visitor quotas needed to protect country parks, 4 trails challenge founder says

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China travel

Fuel shocks, thin margins: why China’s airlines should ‘heed Spirit’s mistakes’

Demise of US budget carrier seen as a warning sign of how turbulent it could get for China’s airlines with fragile bottom lines.

Spirit Airlines jets sit on a tarmac in the US state of Florida on Sunday after the company ceased operations. Photo: EPA
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong draws over 1 million mainland ‘golden week’ visitors but spending lags

Authorities say shopping centres and catering sector reported growth, but industry leaders flag inconsistent spending.

China travel

China’s record travel volume meets cautious spending in May Day holiday surge

Thousands of domestic train services added on last day of ‘golden week’ to meet record demand, and high energy costs affect consumer spending.

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Hong Kong environmental issues

Editorial | Hong Kong needs to better protect its natural assets from tourists

Without stronger measures that address risks all year round, the city could lose the natural heritage it seeks to showcase.

Mainland tourists enjoy hot pot at Ham Tin Wan, Sai Kung East Country Park, part of the Hong Kong Unesco Global Geopark, on May 2. Photo: Edmond So
Hong Kong economy

‘Golden week’: Hong Kong draws more mainland Chinese visitors but spending uneven

Total visitor arrivals, including overseas travellers, reached 854,929 over first three days of Labour Day holiday, also slightly up from last year’s 803,612.

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Hong Kong society

Green group warns of disturbance to uninhabited island known for breeding seabirds

Green Hope Hong Kong says several people landed on island near Po Toi Island and warns birds may abandon nests if disturbed.

Accidents and personal safety

Driver arrested after wife killed in crash at Hong Kong border checkpoint

Vehicle rammed into cones and kiosk before turning sideways on Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, police say.

Firefighters rescued the couple, both in their sixties, who were trapped inside the vehicle. Photo: Handout
Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong

‘Nowhere to go’: helpers pushed out of parks spend day off in tents at bus terminus

Helpers in Hong Kong describe difficulty of finding places they can gather after some online posts suggested visitors were setting up tents.

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Helpers gather at the Lohas Park Station Public Transport Interchange. Some said they were usually forced to leave other public spaces when they gathered in groups on their day off. Photo: Elson Li
Hong Kong environmental issues

Opinion | It’s not ecotourism if it risks damaging Hong Kong’s natural assets

Authorities need to shift ecotourism management strategies to avoid it becoming part of the problem it was meant to solve.

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Hong Kong tourism

How unlicensed mainland Chinese tour groups cash in on Hong Kong campsites

Unlicensed guide admits to regularly crossing border as tourist for illegal work, while another insists 30-member group ‘just friends’.

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Hong Kong environmental issues

300 verbal warnings issued to Sharp Island visitors on Labour Day

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department also says number of visitors to island on Saturday had ‘exceeded expectations’.

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Visitors flock to Sharp Island in Sai Kung on the first day of mainland China’s Labour Day holiday. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong tourism

‘Golden week’ begins with bang in Hong Kong, but restaurants’ gains ‘limited’

City records 13 per cent increase in mainland Chinese visitors on first day of holiday, but more prudent spending is affecting restaurants.

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Tourists visit the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront on the first day of mainland China’s “golden week” Labour Day holiday. Photo: Jelly Tse
Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong taxi driver arrested for dangerous driving, hitting speeds of 160km/h

Undercover officers intercept driver, 31, after he completed 42km trip from Sai Kung Country Park to border checkpoint in about 30 mins.

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Hong Kong tourism

Hong Kong’s East Dam draws thousands for ‘golden week’ as entry fee floated

Tourists opt for ecotourism over traditional shopping after Unesco geopark receives widespread publicity on mainland Chinese social media.

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Hong Kong tourism

Labour Day: Hong Kong records 242,000 trips by mainland Chinese visitors so far

Many visitors head to countryside for scenic views, while others opt for ‘city walks’ to explore picturesque locales.

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Some early arrivals headed straight to the countryside after getting off at the West Kowloon rail terminus on Friday morning. Photo: Jelly Tse
Banking & finance

Gold, cruises and Dior: Hong Kong lenders aim to entice mainland China visitors

With 980,000 visitors from the mainland expected during golden week, Hong Kong lenders line up incentives to capture wealthy customers.

Hong Kong economy

Yacht tourists, hikers drive ‘golden week’ optimism for Hong Kong eateries

Industry leader says 5 per cent year-on-year increase in business expected, adding that operators have ramped up manpower to cope with influx.

Hong Kong environmental issues

Video | Sharp Island patrols boosted for China’s “golden week”

Authorities will step up security as 1,000 visitors are expected in the area each day during the holiday.

for video thumbnail // Snorkelling and kayaking guides will patrol nearshore waters of Sharp Island in Sai Kung to advise visitors to follow coral-friendly routes when entering and exiting the sea as visitor numbers for Hong Kong’s coastal eco-tourism are expected to rise from May, with more people taking part in snorkelling and kayaking. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has stepped up patrols, signage and joint operations at hotspots such as Sharp Island ahead of the May Day “Golden Week”, and is working with WWF-Hong Kong and activity guides to promote coral-friendly practices. Measures will remain in place during mainland holiday periods from May to October. 27APR26 SCMP / Karma Lo
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Hong Kong economy

Editorial | Ahead of Labour Day, a sensible tweak to Hong Kong’s tourism strategy

While mainland arrivals are still down from their heyday, the tourism strategy is pivoting from pursuing numbers to seeking higher value.

Tourists gather around a retro display at a supermarket near the old Yau Ma Tei police station on February 22. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong environmental issues

Hong Kong to block off parts of Sharp Island shore to protect corals over break

Authorities expect 1,000 visitors in the area each day during the coming Labour Day ‘golden week’ holiday.

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Hong Kong society

Hong Kong boosts e-cigarette ban awareness in mainland China before ‘golden week’

Authorities ramp up promotion and enforcement before public possession ban on alternative smoking products begins on April 30.

Hong Kong tourism

Editorial | Hong Kong’s natural heritage needs preserving amid holiday crush

If Hong Kong can enforce standards without closing its doors, it can serve as a role model of how to treasure visitors and the environment.

Visitors and tour groups take photos along the waterfront at the West Kowloon Cultural District in Tsim Sha Tsui on April 14. Photo: Karma Lo
Hong Kong tourism

Mainland Chinese to make 980,000 inbound trips to Hong Kong for Labour Day break

Estimate from Immigration Department represents 7 per cent increase from last year’s holiday.

Tourists arrive in Hong Kong via the West Kowloon high-speed rail terminus. Photo: May Tse
Hong Kong tourism

Cheap tours blamed for coerced shopping in Hong Kong: tourism experts

Industry also called on authorities to step up random inspections during coming Labour Day ‘golden week’ holiday.

Hong Kong environmental issues

Hong Kong to test new campsite booking system amid overcrowding, litter concerns

Authorities also reveal 32 people had been prosecuted for offences in Sai Kung’s country parks over Chinese New Year holiday.

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