Two mainland Chinese backpackers have shared a harrowing account of their overnight stay at a Hong Kong McDonald's during the Labour Day holiday, describing encounters with strangers and unsettling moments that left them with lingering fear.

The women, who posted about their experience on Xiaohongshu, originally planned a two-day trip to Hong Kong, including an early-morning ferry to Cheung Chau for a sunrise view.

The women posted about their experience on Xiaohongshu.

To save time on border crossings, they decided to stay overnight at a McDonald's in Central instead of returning to their booked hotel in Shenzhen.

Their ordeal began even before reaching the fast food outlet. Navigating dimly lit backstreets near Central, they grew increasingly uneasy upon noticing "foreigners peering out" along the nearly deserted streets. The unsettling walk forced them to abandon their planned route and take a longer detour via main roads.

Upon finally arriving at the McDonald's at around 11pm., they found it packed with holidaymakers, which initially provided them with some comfort.

Inside, they experienced mixed interactions - from a kind elderly Hong Kong woman who shared recommendations of Macanese snacks to an intrusive mainland man whose persistent personal questions and suspicious behavior made them deeply uncomfortable.

The true test came when they left at 3.30am to catch their ferry. Walking through Lan Kwai Fong's bar district, they endured what they called "the most intense part" of their night - a gauntlet of drunken foreigners whose "invasive, provocative stares" left them terrified despite their conservative clothing. Only upon reaching the ferry pier and seeing other travelers did they finally feel safe, the woman wrote.

Their cautionary tale has drawn polarized reactions online. Many have questioned the logic of such extreme budget travel, with comments like "Why not just stay home?" and "How do you tolerate not showering?"

More sympathetic readers suggested alternatives like 24-hour foot massage parlors or karaoke lounges. Many emphasized the importance of proper planning, noting that affordable, clean accommodations do exist.

The travelers concluded their post with stark warnings against overnight stays at fast food outlets, particularly for women traveling alone. They stressed that while they emerged physically unharmed, the psychological impact of their experience was profound and lingering.

(Marco Lam)

Mainland backpackers' overnight McDonald's stay in HK goes viral