Hong Kong welcomed a post-pandemic record number of mainland Chinese visitors during the Labour Day Golden Week, but many travelers, constrained by tight budgets, resorted to unconventional measures to manage the city’s high costs, including spending nights in fast-food restaurants.
Images shared on social media captured groups of travelers with luggage crowding a Mong Kok fast-food outlet, occupying tables and leaving little room for regular customers. The visitors, surrounded by food and outside beverages, sparked criticism from online communities who lamented the disruption to local dining spaces.
The influx, peaking over the May 1-5 holiday period, underscored Hong Kong’s enduring appeal as a travel destination for mainland tourists eager to explore landmarks like Victoria Peak and the Avenue of Stars. However, soaring accommodation costs—averaging HK$7,000 ($900 USD) per night, according to one traveler—pushed many to forgo hotels entirely.
A mainland student, who arrived Saturday, May 3, told reporters in Tsim Sha Tsui that he planned to visit key attractions but opted to rest at a nearby fast-food restaurant instead of booking a room, as he was returning home the following day. “It’s just one night, so I’ll manage,” he said, seated among his belongings.
Similarly, a woman from Chongqing cited the prohibitive cost of hotels as her reason for spending the night in a fast-food outlet. “I love Hong Kong, but the prices are too much,” she said, explaining her decision to prioritize sightseeing over accommodation.
Another visitor from Guangzhou, arriving without a booked room, was candid about his plans: “If I can’t find somewhere affordable, I’ll just sleep at McDonald’s.”
The trend highlights the economic pressures facing some mainland tourists, despite the relaxation of pandemic-era travel restrictions and Hong Kong’s efforts to revive its tourism sector. Local businesses, while benefiting from the surge in arrivals, now face the challenge of balancing visitor influx with the needs of regular patrons.
City officials have yet to comment on the phenomenon, but the images of packed fast-food restaurants have fueled debates online about tourism’s impact on Hong Kong’s public spaces. As the city continues to recover its status as a global travel hub, the Golden Week crowds signal both opportunity and strain.
