Feature: Chinese mainlanders travel southward for Spring Festival

Long lines formed at a busy border station on Monday as a great number of the Chinese mainland tourists traveled southward to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival in Hong Kong, a special administrative region that will mark the occasion with a unique fusion of modern fun and ancient customs.

"We are here not just for shopping, but mainly for experiencing Hong Kong's unique culture," said Chen Yu, a 33-year-old newly-wed teacher who came from Beijing with his wife.

In his eyes, Hong Kong does not just boast numerous luxury brand stores, but is actually home to various cultures.

"We're extremely looking forward to the upcoming Lunar New Year activities, such as night parade and giant fireworks. I'm sure we' ll have fun here," Chen said.

Chen was just one of those mainlanders traveling to Hong Kong to have a special Lunar New Year holiday.

According to data from Hong Kong's Immigration Department, around 7.88 million passengers will pass through Hong Kong's control points during the Lunar New Year festive period from February 17 to 25, up 7.7 percent year on year.

About 72.4 percent or around 5.7 million passengers are expected to pass through land boundary control points.

In order to woo more tourists, Hong Kong will hold a series of festival activities during the Lunar New Year.

Tourists may squeeze into crowded temples to pray for good fortune, browse festive markets selling auspicious foods and blooms, and photograph the shock-red lanterns that adorn the city.

They may also watch a fabulous parade of international and local performers, a stunning fireworks show over the Victoria Harbor, and heart-pounding action at the race track.

"I'll definitely go to the horse races. I'm already feeling excited," said Alex Wong, a college student who traveled from Shanghai with his parents.

Horse race is one of the best-loved events of the entire New Year's celebrations. Some 100,000 excited fans will crowd into Sha Tin Racecourse on the third day of the Spring Festival holiday.

There will be a grand opening show, a featured lion dance, and a variety of cultural performances and entertainment. Professional jockeys will cheer the fans with messages for good luck.

"The Lunar New Year here gets a makeover that is uniquely Hong Kong. A blend of modern fun and ancient customs will present visitors an unforgettable experience," said Becky Ip, deputy executive director of Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Because of its uniqueness, Hong Kong's Lunar New Year celebration was recently listed by Forbes as one of the world's 10 best festival extravaganzas, along with Germany's Oktoberfest and Brazil's Carnival.

Besides festival activities, delicious food is another appeal to mainland tourists. As a culinary capital of Asia, Hong Kong boasts various delicacies in the local or from overseas. The region is influenced by western countries and some of the food here combine the flavors of Chinese cuisine and western cuisine.

"I always have a good time in Hong Kong as there are so much nice food here," said Alex Wong, adding that his waistline expanded each time he returned to home.

"Hong Kong is not just a shopping Mecca. It has many sides to its complex personality. We hope that tourists could explore them and get a taste of local life," Ip noted. Endi