Against the familiar backdrop of endless queues snaking through border crossings, images of empty halls and idle e-channels stunned social media on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
The conversation began as several users shared real-time updates about the unusually low traffic at various border control points yesterday.
One user, passing through the Lo Wu Control Point around 8am, shared a photo of the usually bustling e-channel gates standing almost completely empty, with only a handful of travelers in sight.
“Not a single person was at the Lo Wu Control Point departure hall on the first morning of the Lunar New Year" he wrote.
The post quickly drew a flurry of skepticism and debate online, with some questioning the authenticity of the photo, noting that the train they took was "completely packed."
One commenter countered with a high-angle photo of a station hall, showing it crammed with a sea of travelers, captioned: "All border crossings are packed."
Another shared an image from Lok Ma Chau Station, depicting a long queue along a moving walkway, with many people dragging suitcases.
Several even humorously asked the poster, "How long did you have to stand there waiting to take that shot?"
However, those who experienced the "empty border" quickly responded, sharing images from Futian Port, Shenzhen Bay Port, and Heung Yuen Wai Port showing the nearly deserted waiting areas.
The contrasting reports extended beyond the checkpoints, as one online user shared a photo from Pingshan, showing a wide, empty road where the only "pedestrian" was an autonomous cleaning robot.
Some even pointed out there were no delays at the borders amid the busy Shenzhen’s shopping malls, completely overturning the holiday crowding expectations.
Where did the crowds go?
The lively online debate over the quiet borders prompted various explanations, with many believing that most travelers had already returned to their hometowns days earlier to celebrate the New Year.
Others noted that a low turnout on New Year's Day is typical, with the real holiday rush likely coming on the third or fourth day as the holiday winds down.
Some suggested the real crowd was gathered at Hong Kong International Airport, sharing images of packed departure halls filled with people opting for flights abroad during the long holiday.
Starting the journey during off-peak times
The discussion also touched on the quiet streets in Shenzhen, with several pointing out that locals return to their hometowns during the Spring Festival holiday.
While concerns over closed restaurants and empty malls were raised, experienced travelers noted that large commercial centers like Coco Park and UpperHills in Futian remain open for business.
They also encouraged others to avoid the crowds by traveling on the first day. "Off-peak travel is what smart people do," one declared.
According to the Immigration Department, over 722,000 people crossed the border through various control points as of 9pm on the first day of the Lunar New Year (Feb 17).
Among the approximately 456,000 departures, around 340,000 were Hong Kong residents, with the Lo Wu Control Point recording the highest number of residents leaving the city.
