During the summer season, a large number of mainland tourists flock to Hong Kong, and the streets and alleys are crowded with people. According to data from the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, except for a few days affected by "black rain" weather, the number of mainland tourists visiting Hong Kong has significantly increased on weekends in recent weeks. This past weekend, the heat has only increased. On the 9th, nearly 205000 mainland tourists entered Hong Kong through various ports, setting a new high since May 2nd this year; On the 10th, there were still nearly 177000 mainland tourists visiting. Popular attractions such as Victoria Harbour Ferris Wheel, Victoria Peak, Central Street, Mong Kok Market... are crowded with people, and during peak hours, there are long queues at many check-in points and internet famous restaurants. On the 10th, both sides of Victoria Harbour, Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront were filled with mainland tourists chasing after the sunset and waiting for the night view. Many people choose to take the Star Ferry to travel back and forth between the two sides, and from afternoon to evening, the queue waiting for the boat is bustling. The reporter saw a crowd of tourists on the Avenue of Stars, holding up their phones or setting up camera stands, all gazing towards the direction of the sunset and capturing the beauty. In the evening, some sections of the road have implemented diversion measures to ensure smooth traffic flow. On weekend mornings, a large number of mainland tour groups arrived at the Liantang/Xiangyuanwei Port by tourist bus, waiting for customs clearance. At 7:30 pm on the 10th, while taking the MTR at Tsim Sha Tsui East Station, the reporter and friends only managed to squeeze onto the second train smoothly. This wave of going to Hong Kong cannot be separated from the "blessing" of exciting events. Internationally renowned singers took turns to perform at the Hong Kong Coliseum and AsiaWorld Expo, with each venue packed to capacity; The popular anime themed exhibition at Tsim Sha Tsui Pier is filled with young people taking photos and checking in. Nearby tea restaurants, sugar shops, and snack stalls have also become popular destinations for tourists. Hong Kong during the summer can be called the 'Grand Exhibition Garden'. At the end of July, the "Hong Kong Football Festival 2025" came to a successful conclusion at Kai Tak Sports Park; In August, events such as the Hong Kong Trade Development Council Food Expo and the PPA Asian Professional Pickball Tour Hong Kong Open are about to take place. Since its opening in March, the main venue of Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong has hosted 27 events, attracting over a million spectators. The impressive performance of the cultural and tourism market is effectively promoting the recovery of consumption. Data shows that in the first half of 2025, there will be approximately 24 million visitors to Hong Kong, a year-on-year increase of 12%. Among them, there will be approximately 17.8 million mainland visitors, a year-on-year increase of 10%; The estimated total retail sales value for May is HKD 31.32 billion, a year-on-year increase of 2.4%, which is better than market expectations. On weekdays in Causeway Bay, after 8:30 pm, there is still a long queue outside a popular dessert shop. The small shop is crowded with diners, including mainland and foreign tourists, to experience the "sugar water culture" of Hong Kong at night. The shop assistants shuttle and respond to tourists in fluent Mandarin. The store offers the latest promotional activities such as Dianping group buying and Xiaohongshu collection check-in, and also supports multiple mobile payment methods. After 8 pm on the 10th, a Thai restaurant in Yau Tsim Mong District, Kowloon was still fully booked. The boss can easily switch between Cantonese, Mandarin, and English among the diners. This is our third time in Hong Kong. Previously, we mainly went for a stroll in the city. This time, the theme is hiking and exhibitions. ”Miss Yang, a post-95s from Chongqing, said that the weather is very hot, but taking photos on sunny days is very impressive. On the way to the mountains, she encountered many mainland tourists. The Director General of the Hong Kong Tourism Promotion Association, Cui Dingbang, stated that the biggest highlight of Hong Kong tourism this summer is cultural and tourism programs, such as more diverse concerts than last year, various cultural IPs appearing one after another, and cross-border cooperation between the tourism industry and bus companies to launch projects. The rich variety of Hong Kong events attracts more and more tourists. The Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Paul Chan, stated that recent events have added a lively atmosphere to society. The large number of citizens and tourists participating in these events not only boosted consumption, but also showcased Hong Kong's vibrant image as the "capital of events" both domestically and internationally, injecting new momentum into the tourism industry. At present, the local tourism, retail, and catering industries are actively innovating and seeking change. The SAR government, public institutions, and the business community are also working together to transform the flow of people brought by major events into economic benefits. (New Society)