Thousands of tourists have flocked to Hong Kong's East Dam to witness its unique volcanic rock columns during the Labour Day "golden week" holiday. The surge in visitors has led a lawmaker to propose an entrance fee to help maintain the UNESCO global geopark. This trend reflects a shift from traditional shopping to ecotourism, fueled by social media promotions of the city's natural attractions.

Thousands of visitors have flocked to Hong Kong’s East Dam to view its rare volcanic rock columns at the start of the five-day Labour Day “golden week” holiday, prompting a lawmaker to suggest charging an entrance fee to maintain the Unesco global geopark. Drawn by the city’s natural scenery and well-established hiking trails heavily promoted on mainland Chinese social media, many tourists are increasingly trading traditional shopping sprees for ecotourism at East Dam of the High Island...