Hong Kong is set to welcome 1.29 million mainland Chinese visitors over the National Day “golden week” break, fuelling questions online about what locals and tourists can do during the celebrations.
On popular mainland social media platform RedNote, many users have recommended a range of activities, such as visiting the countryside, exploring the Unesco Global Geopark in Sai Kung, cycling and watching fireworks.
To help tourists and locals alike, the South China Morning Post shares some of the most talked-about itinerary items.
1. Fireworks at Victoria Harbour
One of the most popular events being discussed is the National Day fireworks display along Victoria Harbour on October 1.
The 23-minute extravaganza will run under the theme “Eternal Radian” and see 31,888 pyrotechnic shells launched from nine firing points on three barges and six floating pontoons from 8pm. All for the tidy sum of about HK$18 million.
A RedNote user said he was particularly excited about the fourth and fifth sections of the display, referring to “Dreams in the Starry Galaxy,” set to the tune of Chinese singer Zhang Jie’s The Most Beautiful Sun, and “Love at Home” set to local Cantopop singer Joyce Cheng Yan-yee’s Embrace Love.
“The [fourth scene’s] starlight fireworks over Victoria Harbour feels like a reminder: those chasing their dreams are never alone,” the user wrote.
2. Retreat into nature on Po Pin Chau
Hong Kong also offers a chance to retreat into the country, with the Po Pin Chau section of the High Island Geo Trail in Sai Kung becoming a hotspot for hikers across the border.
“If you have one day for nature in Hong Kong, Po Pin Chau is a good place to go,” another RedNote user said, describing it as “a world-class geological wonder” with spectacular hexagonal rock columns.
To manage the flow of hikers, the government launched a trial reservation system in August via Klook’s website, app and WeChat mini-programme. The system caps the number of daily visitors at 2,000 on select dates.
According to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department’s website, the reservation system will be in place for the mainland’s seven-day National Day break.
The department said on Sunday that an average of 2,360 people made reservations each day during the Mid-Autumn Festival extended weekend, while the average daily number of visitors actually stood at about 1,170.
3. National Day Race Day
The Hong Kong Jockey Club will hold celebratory horse races at the Sha Tin racecourse on October 1, with free public enclosure entry to mark the occasion.
Gates open at 11am, with the first race scheduled for 1pm. The highlight is the HK$4.2 million (US$535,400) G3 National Day Cup Handicap, which will feature some of Hong Kong racing’s best sprinters – Raging Blizzard, Tomodachi Kokoroe and Beauty Waves.
The event’s opening ceremony will also feature “China’s three tenors” – Dai Yuqiang, Warren Mok and Wei Song – who will make their first-ever joint appearance to perform a selection of classic songs.
4. Extended Mid-Autumn lanterns show
Visitors arriving for National Day will also catch the tail end of the Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival 2026 at Victoria Park, with the popular intangible cultural heritage event extended by a week to October 4.
Themed “A Delightful Journey through the Lantern Garden”, this year's Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival features lanterns depicting local delicacies and a corridor of heart-shaped arches depicting scenes of daily life in Hong Kong.
The event also features paper-crafted lantern displays showing rabbits embracing a giant moon, and other scenes.
5. Cycling from Sha Tin to Tai Mei Tuk
The Sha Tin-to-Tai Mei Tuk cycling route is another golden week staple for outdoor enthusiasts.
One RedNote user recommended a roughly 22km (13.7-mile) route that starts near the Shing Mun River in Sha Tin and follows the cycle lane along the Tolo Harbour coastline, Pak Shek Kok and Tai Po Waterfront Park before ending at Tai Mei Tuk.
“The cycling path unfolds slowly, and when the weather is good, riding with the sea breeze is genuinely so relaxing,” the user said. “You can ride all the way to Tai Mei Tuk, and almost the whole way there is open scenery.” -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
