Festive events and promotions across Hong Kong marking the 29th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty have drawn large numbers of mainland tourists to major attractions and landmarks in the city.
Amid a sea of red national flags and celebratory banners on Wednesday, visitors told the South China Morning Post that they thoroughly enjoyed the perks on offer, including complimentary ferry rides, free museum admissions and an array of dining and retail discounts of up to 29 per cent.
Along the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade, crowds gathered to photograph the skyline and a parade of fishing boats. Among them was 62-year-old Cai Shujuan from Hubei province, who was visiting with her daughter.
She described the atmosphere as vibrant, adding: “We are very happy about the anniversary of Hong Kong’s return, because it means the city has returned to the embrace of the motherland.”
Tour groups packed the Tsim Sha Tsui ferry pier to take advantage of free rides while oil company Sinopec set up a booth to distribute souvenirs to passengers.
Tang Liye, a 50-year-old freelancer from Guangdong, said she enjoyed the ferry journey from Tsim Sha Tsui to Wan Chai, where she filmed videos of Victoria Harbour.