China mainland tourists in Hong Kong skip shopping for experiences

Visits to museums and theaters replace tour buses to shops

National Day fireworks returned to Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour for the first time in five years Oct. 1 attracting some 430,000 spectators, including many mainlanders. © Reuters

KENSAKU IHARA, Nikkei staff writer

October 11, 2023 04:58 JST

HONG KONG -- As mainland Chinese tourists return to Hong Kong in force, many are favoring experience-packed itineraries instead of shopping sprees on tour buses.

The city's West Kowloon Cultural District, a destination for museums and performance centers, was packed with mainland visitors Saturday during the National Day holiday.