Massive northbound crowds fill Shenzhen Bay Port for 3-day Buddha’s Birthday holiday

Large numbers of residents are heading to mainland China on Saturday marking the start of a 3-day-long weekend for Buddha’s Birthday, with many travelers reporting delays despite an orderly police presence at the border.

The Transport Department previously warned that a significant volume of citizens, visitors, and vehicles would likely use land crossings during this holiday period, recommending that all travelers utilize public transport for their journeys.

At the Shenzhen Bay Control Point this morning, crowds were thick with people of all ages heading north after arriving by bus, although the lines remained contained within the facility and did not extend outside.

Police have increased their presence to manage the heavy foot traffic, and officials noted that while northbound movement is intense, the number of travelers entering Hong Kong from the mainland remains relatively low.

Staff from local tour bus companies observed that the first day of any major holiday typically sees a surge in people crossing the border to visit family, enjoy entertainment, or spend money on dining and shopping in the mainland.

Among those traveling were a couplle surnamed Lee, who planned a 1-day trip to Xixiang to visit a mother and have dinner before returning to Hong Kong the same evening.

They mentioned that their bus journey was very crowded and that the immigration process took about 20 minutes longer than usual due to the holiday volume.

Another traveler, Leung, joined a 2-day tour to Guangzhou with a group of relatives specifically to watch a concert by Choo Mimi. While he usually prefers to spend his holidays and money in Hong Kong, the opportunity to attend a special event with a large group of family members prompted the decision to head north this weekend.

Authorities continue to monitor the border situation closely to ensure that the flow of travelers remains manageable and safe throughout the 3-day break.

𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗔𝗽𝗽 ↓