Hong Kong’s Cheung Chau has emerged as a quiet haven for mainland Chinese visitors who want to avoid the city’s crowded urban neighbourhoods during the National Day holidays.

Hundreds of tourists headed to the outlying island on Thursday morning, the second day of the mainland’s “golden week” break. They were among the 1.5 million visitors from across the border expected in the city during the eight-day holiday period.

Donning sunglasses, floppy hats and sun protection clothing, the mainland tourists spent the ferry ride to the island posing for selfies against Hong Kong’s iconic skyline beneath sunny blue skies.

While the area near Cheung Chau Pier was packed when tour groups, families and couples alighted from the ferry, the crowds quickly dispersed.

Many visitors stopped to buy snacks such as frozen watermelon and fish balls, or headed towards holiday homes or Tung Wan Beach.

Tourists who spoke to the Post said they enjoyed Cheung Chau’s relative tranquillity and relaxed, slow-paced atmosphere, compared with the hustle and bustle of popular tourist neighbourhoods such as Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui.