SZ, HK, Macao unite to woo tourists

In September, Shenzhen’s Dongmen Pedestrian Street, Hong Kong’s Temple Street, and Macao’s Rua do Cunha will jointly host a food and culture carnival to mark the Mid-Autumn Festival (which falls on Oct. 6 this year), with synchronized events across the three cities. During the upcoming National Day holiday, travel agencies will offer a special itinerary that links the three streets so visitors can sample their distinct cultures in a single trip.

Shoppers stroll along Dongmen Pedestrian Street in Shenzhen, one of the city’s oldest commercial hubs. Photos from WeChat account "深圳商务” uless otherwise stated

The three streets are cultural and commercial landmarks in their respective cities. Dongmen in Shenzhen’s Luohu district, one of the city’s earliest and largest commercial hubs, has witnessed Shenzhen’s transformation from a fishing village into a modern metropolis. Rua do Cunha, formed in the late 19th century, is a pedestrian strip in Macao known for shops and restaurants that blend Chinese and Portuguese culinary and cultural influences. Temple Street, in Kowloon, is a famed open-air night market centered on the Tin Hau Temple and known for its late-night dining, fortune telling, and local commerce — an enduring emblem of traditional Hong Kong street life.

Crowds navigate the lively Rua do Cunha in Macao.

These initiatives build on earlier agreements. Earlier this month, Dongmen and Rua do Cunha signed a cooperation pact to establish regular communication and deepen collaboration in tourism promotion, cultural creativity, brand development, youth entrepreneurship, and smart commerce. Last July, Dongmen and Hong Kong’s Temple Street reached a similar agreement, which has since produced joint food festivals, group tours, sports events, and a livestreaming talent program for young people from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.

Shenzhen’s Dongmen Chamber of Commerce said the collaboration enables sharing of brand resources, product diversification, and the joint organization of large-scale events to stimulate consumption and promote cross-regional tourism products.

Visitors take in the buzz of Temple Street at night in Hong Kong. Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Tourism Board

Iun Ioc-va, chairman of the Industry and Commerce Federation of Islands of Macao, said the joint effort both enriches travelers’ experiences by allowing them to enjoy diverse activities and cultures in a single trip and boosts consumption in hotels, dining, retail, and other sectors. He added that coordinated promotion helps integrate resources and create a stronger market presence to attract more international visitors, making the GBA a more compelling global tourism destination.

To deepen cooperation, Iun proposed initiatives such as crossover pop-up stores to bring local specialties to other cities, youth maker markets showcasing innovative products, and a culinary festival featuring fusion dishes developed by invited chefs. He also urged the development of a mobile app that integrates merchant information, coupons, event calendars, and transport guides from the three regions to give tourists a convenient one-stop service.

Timothy Chui, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, said the collaboration will promote the exchange of goods, people, and services while enabling each region to retain its unique cultural traditions and commercial character.

Source: Shenzhen Daily