Every month, Chiu Yu-ho, a resident of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, hops into his car and drives to Shenzhen on the Chinese mainland with his family for a fun-filled day. 🚗🛍️ They kick off their mornings by heading straight to Sam's, Costco, or Hema Fresh to stock up on goodies, enjoy a delicious meal at a cool restaurant, and in the afternoon, they take their son to the Happy Valley or the wildlife zoo. After a whirlwind day of fun and shopping, they cruise back home to Hong Kong at night. 🌃
Chiu has noticed more and more Hong Kong folks spending their weekends in Shenzhen. \\"My son absolutely loves the Happy Valley, and I've seen tons of Hong Kong parents with their kids at spots like the Children's Paradise Park and Shenzhen Safari Park,\\" he said. \\"There are so many free parks in Shenzhen, and the hotels are super spacious. It's perfect for family trips!\\" 🏞️👨👩👦
Since the \\"Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles\\" scheme kicked off on July 1 last year, there's been a surge of private cars from Hong Kong cruising into Guangdong Province via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. 🌉 Official data shows that by March 9, over 500,000 trips had been made by private Hong Kong cars through the bridge's check station. On March 31, the daily number of exits and entries hit a record high of 18,400! 📈
According to Hong Kong-based newspaper Ta Kung Pao, about 53.34 million Hong Kong residents ventured to Guangdong in 2023, making up 74% of its overall outbound trips. That means, on average, each Hong Kong resident traveled to Guangdong 7.2 times this year! 😲
So, what does the Article 23 legislation mean for this vibrant cross-border lifestyle in the Greater Bay Area? With increased connectivity and more policies supporting easier travel, the region is buzzing with opportunities for cultural exchange, business, and family fun. The future looks bright for cross-border adventurers! ✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
