Hongkongers hunt for roast chicken, laundry detergent and other bargains at US warehouse store in Shenzhen

Hong Kong residents are increasingly crossing the border to Shenzhen, China, in search of bargains on items such as roast chickens, laundry detergents, and bulk orders of tissue paper. They are utilizing cross-border buses and enrolling in shopping tours to visit Sam’s Club, a US warehouse supermarket. The shoppers expressed their satisfaction with the spacious venue and the low-priced products available. One shopper stated, 'You will feel happy about spending money here.

Sam’s Club, a membership-only chain of warehouse stores owned by US supermarket giant Walmart, first opened its doors in mainland China in Shenzhen in 1996. Today, the brand boasts 44 outlets in 25 cities across the country. Albert Lam Cheuk, a Hong Kong resident in his 50s, was seen filling his trolley with decorations and snacks for the upcoming Lunar New Year, including a festive dragon-style lantern priced at about 90 yuan (HK$99). He mentioned that many of the items he purchased were recommended by various YouTubers, adding, 'You will feel you are making good use of your money when you shop here.

This shopping trip marked the second time Lam and his wife had taken a direct cross-border bus from Tuen Mun to the warehouse store. Others opted to join a tour group offering Hong Kong residents a weekend trip to the north to shop at the outlet. This trend reflects an increase in city residents heading to the mainland for shopping, driven by a wider range of retail choices and a stronger Hong Kong dollar against the yuan. Over the weekend, Hong Kong travel agent EGL Tours organized a trip for a group of 80 bargain hunters, aged between 60 and 70, to Sam’s Club. The trip also included visits to popular sights in Dongguan. The shoppers were each charged HK$459 to HK$559, with the fees covering transport, food and hotel accommodation, as well as a two-person Sam’s Club membership card worth 260 yuan.