
AI-generated summary
Hong Kong's tourism sector has been recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with visitor numbers still below pre-pandemic levels in recent months. The National Day golden week is a major travel period in China that typically boosts tourism in Hong Kong.
Mainland Chinese visitor arrivals in Hong Kong during the first two days of the National Day “golden week” surpassed the pre-pandemic total for the same period in 2018, as the tourism chief expressed confidence that the city would reach its annual target of 53.8 million visitors earlier than expected.
The city recorded 511,311 arrivals from the mainland on Thursday and Friday, according to Immigration Department figures, edging past the 508,578 recorded during the same period in 2018.
The first day of the holiday drew 277,304 mainland visitors, up from 247,626 on the opening day in 2018. The second day welcomed 234,007, compared with 260,952 that year.
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said on Saturday that mainland arrivals on the first day had surpassed the pre-pandemic high, with many visitors also arriving early for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Hong Kong will reach its annual target of 53.8 million visitors earlier than expected.
Likely · Within months
On the third day of the National Day holiday, passenger flows on roads, railways, civil aviation, and waterways across the country continued to operate at a high level. The railway is expected to carry 18.9 million passengers and operate 910 additional trains; the highway traffic volume will reach 62 million to 64 million vehicles; civil aviation is expected to transport 2.25 million passengers, with 18,019 guaranteed flights; the waterway passenger volume will reach 2.1 million, a year-on-year increase of 9.1%. Yixing High-speed Railway and Xikang High-speed Railway have become new choices, and ticket stubs can enjoy discounts across the chain.

The Farmers Association of Fanlu Township in Chiayi County held the "Youyoufanlu. Shiji Tea Village" Persimmon Festival, combining local persimmons and tea to launch innovative products such as dried fruits, tea-flavored meat buns, drinks and daily necessities, attracting tourists to try and purchase. The farmers' associations of Lucao Township and Xiluo Town provided free curry rice and pork rice. There was an endless stream of people at the scene. Participants appreciated the crispy persimmons and tea-flavored meat buns and expressed their willingness to visit again next year.
During the National Day holiday, various parts of China innovated and created immersive cultural activities based on natural landscapes, cultural museums and scenic spots, driving the cultural tourism market to continue to heat up. Places such as Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon in Changzhi, Shanxi, the Summer Palace in Beijing, Gumi Museum in Quzhou, Zhejiang, and Jizhou Kiln in Jizhou, Jiangxi are experiencing peak passenger flow.

During the National Day holiday, Tiananmen in Beijing, Gulangyu Island in Xiamen, Minqin in Gansu, Libo in Guizhou, Sanya in Hainan and other places welcomed a large flow of tourists. Tourists visited to bless the motherland and experience traditional culture and natural scenery; night light shows and fireworks displays in Shanghai, Tianjin, Wuhan, Nanchang, Hong Kong, Macau and other places were wonderfully staged, creating a strong festive atmosphere.
The first "Zimei Fish Season" in Liushi Town, Yueqing City, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province opened on October 1. The event featured "one fish, four meals" to promote plum fish delicacies, combined with cultural performances, leisure markets and other formats. It attracted nearly 10,000 tourists on the first day, aiming to create a special food and tourism economic destination during the National Day holiday.

As of 11:19 on October 2, the number of tourists received by the Yungang Grottoes Scenic Area in Datong, Shanxi Province in 2026 exceeded 5 million, 23 days earlier than last year. The scenic spot prepared Yungang exclusive cultural and creative gifts for lucky tourists, and launched rich cultural and tourism experiences such as Yungang Art Museum exhibitions and city wall light and shadow interpretations, attracting tourists from Wuxi, Jiangsu, Wuhan, Hubei and other places to check in.