Like many Shenzhen citizens, expatriates have plans for the coming May Day holidays, including traveling, shopping, exercising, or having a romantic night at hotel.

"I'm going to Shenzhen to celebrate my birthday. We will probably choose a hotel and stay for a night," said Michael Lees, a teacher with Shekou International School.

Muls Sun, a Belgian businessman, said he would stay at home as he was a frequent traveler in his work. "I will go swimming or to parks with my daughter. She will be happy to do this," said Sun.

Among the more than 250 expat families in the Jingshan Villas, few planned to return their home countries, said Xiao Yong, a staff with the management office.

Instead, some would go to Hong Kong for shopping while many would stay in the city, Xiao said.

Most of the 28 Canadian teachers in Shenzhen (Nanshan) Concord College of Sino-Canada have big travel plans for the May Day holidays. About half will take overseas tours to countries such as Thailand and the Philippines, while another half are interested in popular Chinese tourist destinations like Hainan, Guilin and Yunnan.

Only a few teachers will stay in Shenzhen spending the holiday mostly reading and shopping, said Vincent Pang, executive director of the school.

However, foreign teachers at Shenzhen Polytechnic have other plans. The school has some 30 expat teachers from different countries. According to a Chinese teacher working with its foreign affairs office, most of the foreigners will stay in the city to have a good rest. He said as far as he knew, only one teacher would leave the country during the holiday.

(Shenzhen Daily April 30, 2004)