Nansha sees holiday travel boom as Hong Kong visitors surge

Passenger flows at Nansha Passenger Port surged to more than four times the daily average on April 4 as travelers from Hong Kong arrived for tomb-sweeping, family visits and short breaks on the first day of the Qingming Festival.

Hong Kong travelers take a ferry to Nansha during the Qingming Festival holiday. [Photo/WeChat account: nanshafabu]

The increase highlighted Nansha's growing role as a convenient gateway between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland. Many travelers said the sea route was fast and hassle-free, with ferry trips taking one to one and a half hours, and border clearance remaining smooth despite the holiday rush.

Some passengers were returning to Nansha to pay respects to their ancestors, while others joined tour groups or planned leisure trips on the mainland. Regular visitors also chose Nansha for activities such as golf and dining, saying the ferry service was often more reliable than cross-border road travel.

To cope with the holiday rush, immigration authorities in Nansha deployed more officers, kept all inspection channels open and provided assistance at waiting areas and key checkpoints. Officials also helped travelers fill in electronic arrival cards and supported elderly passengers, children and pregnant women.

With transport links continuing to improve and tourism offerings expanding, Nansha is becoming an increasingly popular short-haul destination for Hong Kong residents.