Hong Kong's New Booking System Survives First Test as 1,000 Hikers Storm Po Pin Chau
More than 1,000 visitors rushed to Po Pin Chau on Friday morning, testing Hong Kong's new real-name reservation system for the first time during a major holiday.
The surge came as mainland Chinese tourists began arriving for the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, with many saying they discovered the geological site through social media and wanted to see its famous hexagonal rock columns.
More than 1,000 visitors rushed to Po Pin Chau, one of Hong Kong's most popular geological attractions, on Friday morning as the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday began [249679]. The surge put a new real-name reservation system through its first major holiday test [249679].
Under clear skies and hot weather, crowds streamed toward the Po Pin Chau section of the High Island Geo Trail in Sai Kung [249679]. The visitors arrived as mainland Chinese tourists began entering Hong Kong for the long weekend [249679].
Many mainland visitors said they had discovered the site through social media and wanted to see its famous hexagonal rock columns [249679]. The new booking system requires visitors to reserve a time slot in advance using their real names [249679].
The growing interest in Hong Kong's outdoor attractions reflects a broader shift in the city's tourism market. Chinese tourists are increasingly trading shopping bags for hiking boots, with a growing number visiting the city's hiking trails instead of its luxury stores as spending slows [247079].
Hong Kong has more than 100 hiking routes, from easy coastal walks to steep mountain climbs, offering sea views, forests, and quiet beaches — all within reach of a dense city [247079]. For tourists, the appeal is simple: lower costs and new experiences [247079].
The trend worries retailers. Luxury sales have weakened as fewer tourists spend big on goods, and hotels and shops that once depended on high spending now face a quieter market [247079].
Looking ahead, Hong Kong expects about 1.29 million travelers from mainland China during the National Day "golden week" holiday, which runs from October 1 to 7 [248366]. Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, the city's second-highest official, led a meeting with government departments on Wednesday to review holiday preparations [248366].
Authorities plan to increase crowd management and tighten oversight of tour agencies and retail shops during the busy period [248366].