Can Hong Kong showcase its ‘soul’ to lure mainland Chinese tourists? Shopping makes way for retro milk tea, old districts as local leisure shines

Tourist Lydia Shen stood in line at well-known Hong Kong cafe Lan Fong Yuen and ordered its famous milk tea, French toast, a pork chop sandwich and instant noodles.

“I read about this place on Xiaohongshu,” said the 37-year-old businesswoman from Zhejiang province.