Hong Kong residents flocked to Shenzhen on Friday, drawn by ‘better service’ at restaurants and family-friendly attractions as the Labour Day “golden week” holiday began.

Affordability has also lured droves of Hongkongers across the border, with families budgeting about HK$1,000 (US$128) for a full day in the tech hub, covering restaurants, dental clinics, indoor amusement parks and ice-skating rinks.

Labour Day is a statutory public holiday in Hong Kong and marks the start of mainland China’s five-day holiday from May 1 to 5.

While about 980,000 mainland visitors are expected to enter Hong Kong via sea, land and air control points during the holiday, scores of residents packed trains bound for Shenzhen at Lok Wu and Lok Ma Chau stations.

At 10.30am, residents streamed through immigration checkpoints at Lok Ma Chau station, with queues clearing within minutes. By about 11am, Lo Wu station was packed as arrivals came in waves, many hurrying to beat the crowds and cross the border.

Financial worker Steven Kwan arrived at Lok Ma Chau station at about 9.40am with his wife, three children and mother for a day trip to Shenzhen.