Ding Dong ", Hong Kong student Wu Zhouyu's phone popped up a logistics message, reminding her that the mainland" internet celebrity "snacks she bought on Pinduoduo two days ago have arrived at the school's express locker. This is already the 12th package she received during this year's 618 shopping festival. Nowadays, buying things is as convenient as ordering takeout, with prices cheaper than local ones and free shipping. In recent years, as mainland e-commerce platforms accelerate their expansion into overseas markets, more and more Hong Kong citizens have opened up a new era of cross-border online shopping. This new way of consumption not only allows Hong Kong citizens to enjoy richer goods and more affordable prices, but also further deepens the economic and trade exchanges between Hong Kong and the mainland, becoming an important link in promoting economic integration and people to people connectivity in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area. From "freight is more expensive than goods" to "everything can be searched", a long queue formed at the Cainiao Station in Hung Hom Shopping Mall, Hong Kong in the evening. Holding a box of tissues that she had just received, Hong Kong resident Ms. Wang excitedly told reporters, "I bought it on Pinduoduo for over 20 yuan, which is two-thirds cheaper than in Hong Kong." She specifically mentioned that compared to the previous policy of "shipping more than goods," the free shipping policy now requires her to place orders two or three times a week. Purchasing daily necessities through mainland e-commerce platforms like Ms. Wang has become a new norm for many households in Hong Kong. Since Taobao launched the "Free Shipping to Hong Kong for orders over 99 RMB" campaign in October last year, Pinduoduo's "Free Shipping for All Products" and JD's "Free Shipping for Self Operated Home Appliances" have followed suit, changing the shopping habits of some Hong Kong people. The iPhone purchased on JD.com during the 618 shopping festival was about HKD 1700 cheaper than the official Hong Kong website. ”Mr. Zhao, a Hong Kong citizen, admitted that such a price difference is extremely attractive. According to express delivery staff, whenever there is a major promotion on mainland e-commerce platforms, the volume of packages in Hong Kong surges, and self pickup points in various districts are frequently overcrowded, making it even more difficult to find self pickup lockers. This trend has even driven many Hong Kong people who have never shopped online to start trying new things online. With the increasing attractiveness of mainland e-commerce platforms, Hong Kong people's online shopping categories have upgraded from clothing and small commodities to large household appliances and furniture. The elliptical machine bought on Taobao is half cheaper than Hong Kong due to the '618' promotion with full discounts. ”Ms. Chen is struggling to carry a cardboard box that is half a person tall. She wiped her sweat and smiled, "I really didn't dare to buy such a large piece of fitness equipment online before." From "only seeking low prices" to "valuing service," "in the past, high shipping costs were the biggest obstacle to cross-border online shopping. ”Hong Kong Legislative Council member Zhang Xinyu pointed out that the prices of daily necessities in Hong Kong are generally higher than those in mainland China, and the free shipping policy directly flattens the cost of cross-border shopping to the level of mainland China, causing price sensitive consumers to quickly turn to mainland e-commerce platforms. In order to enhance consumer trust, mainland e-commerce platforms have set up offline experience stores in Hong Kong, not only displaying popular products, but also providing "offline trial and online ordering" services, attracting a large number of Hong Kong citizens to participate. The consumption model of experiencing before purchasing is more in line with the shopping habits of Hong Kong consumers. ”Liang Sifan, Chief Operating Officer of Taobao Furniture Store, stated that this not only diverts traffic for online platforms, but also fills the gap of cross-border online shopping that cannot be experienced in person, forming a consumption loop of online and offline linkage. At the same time, mainland e-commerce platforms, relying on their own logistics networks, have launched a "30 day return and 180 day replacement" service in Hong Kong, further enhancing the consumer confidence of Hong Kong people and successfully entering the high-end home appliance market. I didn't expect online shopping to be so hassle free for everyone. ”Ms. Li, a resident of Sha Tin, praised repeatedly. The washing and drying all-in-one machine she purchased on JD.com was delivered in just three days and also provided free installation services. Efficient, convenient, and the experience is no less than that of physical stores. The "local return" service has also become a new highlight, significantly reducing the cross-border after-sales threshold. Hong Kong financial analyst Han Jundong said that mainland e-commerce platforms are shifting from the initial "free shipping+low price" competition to a comprehensive service of "logistics+after-sales+experience", further eliminating Hong Kong consumers' concerns about cross-border online shopping and promoting the continuous development of cross-border online shopping. In recent years, mainland life service platforms have accelerated their expansion into the Hong Kong market, shifting from being "consumption driven" to "people to people connectivity". In 2023, Keeta, a food delivery platform under Meituan, quickly opened up the market after its launch in Hong Kong and gained 44% market share within a year. Gaode, Didi and other travel platforms have also entered the market, providing Hong Kong citizens with more diverse and affordable travel options. "Young people in Hong Kong use Taobao to shop, Tiktok to play, and Meituan to take away. Their consumption habits are getting closer to the mainland. ”Guo Wanda, Executive Vice President of China (Shenzhen) Institute of Comprehensive Development, pointed out that the popularity of e-commerce and lifestyle service platforms in Hong Kong is invisibly narrowing the psychological distance between Hong Kong and mainland people. Faced with the new situation, local enterprises in Hong Kong are also taking active actions. HKTMall, a local e-commerce platform, has optimized its services and introduced hundreds of mainland merchants; Hongkong Post has continuously improved its logistics network and expanded its self promotion point. Its Tiktok account jointly operated with China Post Hong Kong has become a new channel to promote Hong Kong products. Hong Kong should fully leverage its internationalization and professional service advantages to create a super hub for mainland brands to go global. ”Jiang Guorong, Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong China Financial Association, stated that Hong Kong is fully capable of becoming a "super contact" for mainland brands going global. Nowadays, in the process of restructuring the consumption landscape in Hong Kong, it is undergoing a transformation from a traditional "shopping paradise" to a "cross-border hub". With the deepening of infrastructure connectivity, a more dynamic and efficient new pattern of regional consumption will inject strong momentum into the economic development of the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area, "said Jiang Guorong. (New Society)