HK residents explore service offerings in SZ's office hubs

Dental clinics, nail salons, and spas, discreetly nestled in office buildings, are becoming increasingly popular destinations for Hong Kong residents drawn to Shenzhen by lower prices, more choices, better services, and convenient transportation.

A woman from Hong Kong enjoys a manicure at a nail salon in Luohu in this undated file photo. Shenzhen Evening News

Last week, at 9:30 a.m., a line of Hong Kong customers was forming at a dental clinic in an office building near the Gangxia Metro station in Futian District prior to its opening, as reported by the Securities Times on Tuesday. The clinic has established a specialized consultation channel for Hong Kong patients, and the receptionists are adept at conversing with clients in Cantonese, the language spoken in Hong Kong.

Staff noted that most of their clientele are Hong Kong residents, often arriving in groups and referred by previous patients, who are drawn by the clinic's cost-effective dental treatments.

The 30-story building is teeming with businesses offering hairdressing, spa services, and massages. It primarily caters to Hong Kong customers on weekdays, with an even larger influx on weekends. Due to regular engagement with Hong Kong patrons, the staff speak Mandarin with a distinct Hong Kong accent, according to the report.

Seeing a doctor in a Hong Kong public hospital is difficult for many of the city's residents. The excessive burden on medical resources means lengthy waiting periods and unsatisfactory experiences for many of Hong Kong's 7.5 million inhabitants.

One elderly woman shared that a treatment, which would have required a three-week wait and cost HK$8,000 (US$1,096) was performed immediately at a Shenzhen dental clinic without an appointment for just 1,000 yuan.

Shenzhen's dental clinics offer competitive prices, with a regular cleaning costing around 300 yuan — significantly less than the approximately 1,000 yuan charged in Hong Kong for the same service. Even when factoring in travel expenses, many patients find that seeking dental care in Shenzhen remains more cost-effective.

In light of such significant differences in cost, accessibility, and efficiency, it is clear why Hong Kong residents travel to Shenzhen for dental care— a trend that is likely to continue in the years to come, according to a South China Morning Post article in July.

Shoppers walk into the bustling Link Central Walk in Futian District on Dec. 7. Xinhua

Shenzhen, ranked third by GDP among Chinese mainland cities, has never been synonymous with affordability for mainlanders. However, when compared to the significantly higher cost of living in densely populated Hong Kong, Shenzhen emerges as a remarkably cost-effective destination for various goods and services. 

In total, more than 53 million cross-border trips were made by Hong Kong residents last year, according to Hong Kong's Immigration Department.