Once-sealed Hong Kong border zone finds new life as tourist spot

Sha Tau Kok underscores city's integration with China since 2020 security law

Chung Ying Street, which runs along the border between Sha Tau Kok and Shenzhen, is restricted but can be glimpsed from outside. (Photo by Kensaku Ihara)

KENSAKU IHARA

May 5, 2025 12:40 JST

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong's Sha Tau Kok area, once a buffer zone to block illegal immigration from China, is transforming as it opens up to visitors, becoming both a tourist spot and a site for integration with the mainland.

The area at Hong Kong's northeastern edge, which takes two hours to reach from central Hong Kong Island by train and bus, is home to about 4,000 people. I visited recently after receiving a media permit from Hong Kong police. Entrance to the area was controlled at a checkpoint, where each visitor's permits and identification were examined.