State media says Osaka, Seoul and Kuala Lumpur also popular, while tourism insiders highlight Hong Kong’s ease of access as an advantage.

Chinese tourists are expected to take longer trips than last year during the Golden Week holiday that kicks off on Tuesday, but that will not necessarily lead to a bump in spending, travel industry experts said.

Bookings for overseas flights and hotels have spiked from last year's holiday week, with international flight reservations doubling and Europe showing some of the the biggest growth

Mainland Chinese early birds have flocked to Hong Kong ahead of the National Day “golden week” holiday to avoid crowds expected during the break next week. Many tourists were seen crossing the city’s land checkpoints on Saturday morning, while some descended to selfie hotspots, such as the University of Hong Kong (HKU).