HK shoppers flocking north for bargains, fun and food

Bianca Lau travels from Hong Kong to Shenzhen in neighboring Guangdong province every two weeks, which she says has become a "fixed schedule" in her life.

She normally goes with two friends, has lunch at a restaurant in downtown Futian district, buys some food and daily necessities from a supermarket, and enjoys a leisurely afternoon tea before heading back to Hong Kong in the evening.

"I don't feel that I am traveling to another city. It only takes about an hour to get to Shenzhen," said Lau, who lives in Sha Tin, in Hong Kong's New Territories. A rich variety of products, reasonable prices and a different shopping experience are the biggest draws for the 36-year-old legal worker to "head north".

"Better cross-boundary transport and payment have also made the trip more pleasant," she said.

Since the full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland early last year, there has been a growing number of Hong Kong residents flocking to Shenzhen to dine, shop and enjoy the entertainment on offer. According to Hong Kong's Immigration Department, the city's residents made more than 53 million trips to the Chinese mainland last year.