Hong Kong’s border network moved back into pre-pandemic territory on 25 December, processing 1.25 million passenger movements in just 24 hours, according to Immigration Department figures released on Saturday. The Lo Wu rail checkpoint alone handled more than 280,000 travellers, while Lok Ma Chau Spur Line and Shenzhen Bay each exceeded the 150,000-passenger mark. Arrivals totalled 457,000—83,000 of whom were mainland visitors—while 795,000 departures were driven largely by Hong Kong residents heading north for shopping, entertainment and cheaper flights via Shenzhen airports.
The one-day surge is the highest since all pandemic curbs were lifted in early 2024 and signals that the Guangdong–Hong Kong travel corridor is once again operating at near-full capacity. Transport analysts note that Christmas was never traditionally a peak for cross-border travel; pent-up demand, a favourable renminbi exchange rate and Shenzhen’s late-night dining scene have changed that dynamic. Retailers on both sides benefited: duty-free operators at Lo Wu reported sales 18 percent above 2019 levels, while Hong Kong Island hotels said last-minute mainland bookings lifted city-wide occupancy by two points.
For corporate mobility teams the numbers are more than a curiosity. Same-day business trips to factories and R&D centres in the Greater Bay Area are once again viable, but queuing times lengthened to 70 minutes at Lo Wu during the evening peak. HR managers may need to build buffer time into client meetings and ensure that travellers register for the Immigration Department’s new “Smart Travel” dashboard, which publishes real-time wait times and e-Channel availability.
![Record 1.25 Million Border Crossings on Christmas Day Underscore Hong Kong-Mainland Re-integration]()
For those planning cross-border itineraries, managing the correct entry documents is just as critical as booking the right train slot. VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) lets travellers and mobility teams arrange Chinese mainland visas, Hong Kong employment permits and invitation letters entirely online, with door-to-door courier options and real-time status tracking, freeing businesses to concentrate on the commercial side of the trip.
Travel-management companies expect the momentum to continue into January’s “Golden Week” holidays, forecasting as many as 14 million passenger movements between 28 January and 9 February. Officials are studying whether holiday-only extended opening hours should become permanent at Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau. Businesses that rotate staff between Hong Kong and Shenzhen may wish to update travel policies to cover e-Channel enrolment fees and cross-border medical insurance, as higher volumes inevitably raise exposure to delays and medical contingencies.
Looking further ahead, the surge strengthens the case for additional rail slots on the West Kowloon–Shenzhen North corridor and for 24-hour operation at more checkpoints. Immigration sources hinted that a pilot overnight schedule at Lok Ma Chau Spur Line could be trialled over Lunar New Year if Christmas traffic remains orderly. For companies with plants in Dongguan or Foshan, that would translate into shorter journey times and greater scheduling flexibility for shift workers.
The one-day surge is the highest since all pandemic curbs were lifted in early 2024 and signals that the Guangdong–Hong Kong travel corridor is once again operating at near-full capacity. Transport analysts note that Christmas was never traditionally a peak for cross-border travel; pent-up demand, a favourable renminbi exchange rate and Shenzhen’s late-night dining scene have changed that dynamic. Retailers on both sides benefited: duty-free operators at Lo Wu reported sales 18 percent above 2019 levels, while Hong Kong Island hotels said last-minute mainland bookings lifted city-wide occupancy by two points.
For corporate mobility teams the numbers are more than a curiosity. Same-day business trips to factories and R&D centres in the Greater Bay Area are once again viable, but queuing times lengthened to 70 minutes at Lo Wu during the evening peak. HR managers may need to build buffer time into client meetings and ensure that travellers register for the Immigration Department’s new “Smart Travel” dashboard, which publishes real-time wait times and e-Channel availability.
For those planning cross-border itineraries, managing the correct entry documents is just as critical as booking the right train slot. VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) lets travellers and mobility teams arrange Chinese mainland visas, Hong Kong employment permits and invitation letters entirely online, with door-to-door courier options and real-time status tracking, freeing businesses to concentrate on the commercial side of the trip.
Travel-management companies expect the momentum to continue into January’s “Golden Week” holidays, forecasting as many as 14 million passenger movements between 28 January and 9 February. Officials are studying whether holiday-only extended opening hours should become permanent at Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau. Businesses that rotate staff between Hong Kong and Shenzhen may wish to update travel policies to cover e-Channel enrolment fees and cross-border medical insurance, as higher volumes inevitably raise exposure to delays and medical contingencies.
Looking further ahead, the surge strengthens the case for additional rail slots on the West Kowloon–Shenzhen North corridor and for 24-hour operation at more checkpoints. Immigration sources hinted that a pilot overnight schedule at Lok Ma Chau Spur Line could be trialled over Lunar New Year if Christmas traffic remains orderly. For companies with plants in Dongguan or Foshan, that would translate into shorter journey times and greater scheduling flexibility for shift workers.
