Hong Kong Summer Festival kicks off with great fervor — two-day-one-night trips start from just HK$6,800

By Chi Binghui, compiled and reported

Planning a family trip abroad this summer? Why not consider nearby and fun-filled Hong Kong? From now until August 31, Hong Kong is hosting the “Hong Kong Summer Festival,” featuring events such as the Lan Kwai Fong Beer Festival, the Hong Kong Summer Pop Music Festival, and the Hong Kong Book Fair 2011, among others. Various malls and department stores have also launched summer discounts, while Disneyland and Ocean Park are offering summer-exclusive activities. Airlines are currently offering two-day-one-night Hong Kong free-and-easy trips starting from just HK$6,800, attracting visitors to shop and dine in Hong Kong.

Currently, discounts in Hong Kong have slashed prices to 50–70% off, with the lowest reaching 30% off in July. In addition to familiar spots like Harbour City and Park Lane Shopper's Boulevard, many new shopping malls have opened, such as K11, iSquare, The One, and DNA. A trip to Tsim Sha Tsui allows you to shop all your favorite Taiwanese brands—Zara, H&M, UNIQLO, Cotton On—in one go, plus there are off-price outlets, making Tsim Sha Tsui a top shopping destination.

During the summer holidays, theme parks also have new activities. Hong Kong Disneyland celebrates its fifth anniversary with the “Disney Paint the Night” parade, taking visitors 40 feet high to experience the wonder of “flying.” From June 10 to August 31, Disney's Pixar animation movie superstar Lightning McQueen from *Cars 2: The Video Game* will make his first appearance. Ocean Park Hong Kong launches “Summer Splash” from July 1 to August 28, featuring the brand-new “Rainforest” area, where you can embark on an exciting species adventure through thrilling rainforest rapids.

Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Taiwan Director Xu Weini stated that summer is the peak travel season for Taiwanese people going abroad, and the Hong Kong Tourism Board is very optimistic about Hong Kong’s tourism market this summer. Currently, airlines in the market are offering two-day-one-night Hong Kong free-and-easy packages starting from NT$6,800 to NT$7,600 (before tax), with options for travelers to extend their stay at an additional cost. There are over 40 hotels to choose from, a wide selection of flights, and no restrictions on return flights. In addition, nine travel agencies that have long-term partnerships with China Airlines are offering children the choice to enter either Hong Kong Ocean Park or Ngong Ping 360 free of charge. Moreover, during the promotional period, anyone who makes purchases with a Visa card can participate—every week, the top three people with the most Visa transactions in Hong Kong and who register first will receive a Visa prepaid card worth HK$10,000. Every Saturday, “flash mobs” will also appear at designated shopping malls, randomly selecting lucky customers who made purchases at the mall that day to receive a free HK$500 cash voucher. Maybe you’ll be the next lucky winner!