[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”A Gentleman\u2019s Game” subhead=”The Rise of the Airsoft Tourism in Hong Kong” header_fullscreen=”on” background_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.54)” admin_label=”Title” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Lato|700|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”42px” title_line_height=”1.5em” subhead_font=”Lato||||||||” subhead_text_align=”center” subhead_font_size=”26px” background_image=”https:\/\/jmsc6110a.com\/capstone2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DSC2159-2-scaled.jpg” parallax=”on” title_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ content_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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by Yang Yihua<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” min_height=”1266px” custom_padding=”||17px|||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”|150px|7px|150px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Z<\/span>eng Chaoqun laid his rifle flat on the grass, then leaned his body slowly against a junk car. The golden sunlight of a late Saturday afternoon in January cut through the shattered side window, making his thickly bearded face shine.<\/p>\n Behind Zeng, dozens of veteran airsoft players in full tactical gear, carrying various replica guns, were deep in battle. On a 1.7 million square foot battlefield, deep in Tai Lam country park\u2014 about one and a half times the size of Victoria Park\u2014they worked in tight squads. Some pushed towards the enemy base, others lay on the ground and sent relentless streams of plastic pellets downrange.<\/p>\n Stray bullets pinged off Zeng’s cover, dimpling the car’s bodywork. But he didn’t raise his rifle to fight back. Instead, he glanced at the battle raging ahead. His goggles were fogged by condensation, and a flicker of reluctance crossed the eyes of this 37-year-old man. Just a few hours later he would head back from the Gulf War Area, the biggest wargame facility in Hong Kong, to his home city of Changsha in Hunan. But until then, he intended to enjoy every last minute of his once-a-year airsoft trip.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/jmsc6110a.com\/capstone2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/\u56fe\u72471.png” title_text=”gungame1″ admin_label=” Image 1″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”28px|||0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-10px|0px|21px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”|4px||0px||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In an outdoor wargame held on January 10, more than 30 players from mainland China and Hong Kong pose with their favorite military costumes. (Credit: Isco Zhang)<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”off|off|on” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” min_height=”1266px” custom_padding=”||17px|||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”|0px|7px|0px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Z<\/span>eng Chaoqun laid his rifle flat on the grass, then leaned his body slowly against a junk car. The golden sunlight of a late Saturday afternoon in January cut through the shattered side window, making his thickly bearded face shine.<\/p>\n Behind Zeng, dozens of veteran airsoft players in full tactical gear, carrying various replica guns, were deep in battle. On a 1.7 million square foot battlefield, deep in Tai Lam country park\u2014 about one and a half times the size of Victoria Park\u2014they worked in tight squads. Some pushed towards the enemy base, others lay on the ground and sent relentless streams of plastic pellets downrange.<\/p>\n Stray bullets pinged off Zeng’s cover, dimpling the car’s bodywork. But he didn’t raise his rifle to fight back. Instead, he glanced at the battle raging ahead. His goggles were fogged by condensation, and a flicker of reluctance crossed the eyes of this 37-year-old man. Just a few hours later he would head back from the Gulf War Area, the biggest wargame facility in Hong Kong, to his home city of Changsha in Hunan. But until then, he intended to enjoy every last minute of his once-a-year airsoft trip.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/jmsc6110a.com\/capstone2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/\u56fe\u72471.png” title_text=”gungame1″ admin_label=” Image 1″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”28px|||0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-10px|0px|21px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”|4px||0px||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In an outdoor wargame held on January 10, more than 30 players from mainland China and Hong Kong pose with their favorite military costumes. (Credit: Isco Zhang)<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Border-Crossing Airsoft Tourism” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” min_height=”606px” height=”100px” max_height=”100px” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Border-Crossing Tourism” background_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.54)” admin_label=”subtitle put here” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Lato|700|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”44px” title_line_height=”1.7em” content_font_size=”1px” subhead_font_size=”1px” background_image=”https:\/\/jmsc6110a.com\/capstone2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DSC2186-1024×683.jpg” parallax=”on” min_height=”607px” custom_padding=”227px||||false|false” title_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ content_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|150px||150px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In Hong Kong, tourism is in recovery mode after the coronavirus pandemic. In 2025, nearly 38 million visitors came to Hong Kong, an increase of 11% compared to 2024. But this growth encompasses mainland visitors who aren’t just shopping or ticking off landmarks. Some are turning their attention to niche subcultures that are hard to find back home.<\/p>\n Airsoft is one of them. The sport came out of the model gun industry in Japan in the 1970s. At the time, these realistic-looking weapons were non-functional, and mostly used as action movie props or collectibles for display, until replicas that fired 6mm plastic pellets (BBs) were launched in the 1980s. Replica technology then grew rapidly from the 2000s to 2010s, led by electric-powered and motor-driven Airsoft Electric Guns (AEGs). The market has since evolved toward Gas Blowback (GBB) guns that simulate the recoil of real firearms and far more realistic internal designs.<\/p>\n Wargaming has grown in parallel with airsoft technology. This hobby grew out of simulating combat drills used in military training programs worldwide, pitting players against one another with airsoft guns and requiring tactical skills.<\/p>\n At Hong Kong wargame facilities, players typically get into teams of 10 to 20 players, and play rounds of 5 to 10 minutes each. An entire session might be 4 hours long. Some games involve special rules like capture the flag, which requires players to steal the opposite team\u2019s \u00a0flag and carry it to certain checkpoints.<\/p>\n Regardless of the game mode, all players follow the rule of \u201cone-hit-out.\u201d This means that when players are shot with a BB\u2014which hits hard enough to leave a red spot when hitting human skin\u2014they have to go back to their team\u2019s base and wait for the next game. But in most wargames, there are no sensors that flag when a participant has been hit, so whether a player has been struck by a bullet counts largely depends on each player’s honesty and sportsmanship. That is why enthusiasts often call wargaming a “gentleman’s game.”<\/p>\n In recent years, Hong Kong\u2019s advanced airsoft ecosystem\u2014with over 2 decades of commercial wargame field development\u2014has become a draw for travelling hobbyists, and the single largest group of visitors are from mainland China.<\/p>\n Due to public safety concerns, mainland China began enforcing strict controls on realistic model guns ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games. From then on, mainland manufacturers have developed alternatives: low-powered, AEG-based replicas that shoot less painful gel balls, as well as laser tag guns. But these substitutes fall short of mainstream Hong Kong airsoft products in both realism and reliability.<\/p>\n Additionally, the mainland authorities’ long-standing lack of transparency around replica gun policy leaves the gel blaster community under a constant shadow of confiscation or even imprisonment. Therefore, mainland enthusiasts have become increasingly integrated into Hong Kong’s airsoft scene, hoping that short trips will give them access to a more open and immersive airsoft culture than anything available on the mainland.<\/p>\n As a veteran gel blaster player, Zeng’s fascination with replica firearms started in middle school in the early 2000s. He was attracted by the classic war film Enemy at the Gates<\/i><\/em>\u00a0and began scouring airsoft forums for information about the weapons it featured. \u201cFor a 12-year-old boy, guns and military gear held an irresistible appeal,\u201d said Zeng.<\/p>\n But a few years later, the tightening regulations on airsoft in mainland China and the pressures of working life forced him to shelve the hobby. After he had settled into his career as a property agent for 10 years, he decided to rebuild his passion. Over the years, he has co-organized large-scale laser-tag military simulation events (also called milsim)\u2014essentially spending one to two days in realistic battlegrounds\u2014in Hunan, with turnouts of 300 players.<\/p>\n However, nothing excites him more than his annual trip to Hong Kong for an authentic outdoor wargame, a ritual he started in 2023. He even stores a full set of gear, including helmets and several replica guns, at a local friend’s home, only for the once-a-year taste of the local airsoft scene. Returning for this year\u2019s trip, Zeng said, made him feel like \u201ca fish returned to water.\u201d<\/p>\n Hobby-driven tourists like Zeng have been making their cultural trips for the past decade, but many of them ventured no further than Kwong Wah Street in Mong Kok, also known as “Gun Street” because it\u2019s long been home to more than 20 airsoft shops. But anyone who wanted to actually experience shooting these replicas had to either draw on their own knowledge of Hong Kong\u2019s niche airsoft culture or rely on the help of local friends, which was a huge barrier for visitors.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”off|off|on” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|0px||0px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In Hong Kong, tourism is in recovery mode after the coronavirus pandemic. In 2025, nearly 38 million visitors came to Hong Kong, an increase of 11% compared to 2024. But this growth encompasses mainland visitors who aren’t just shopping or ticking off landmarks. Some are turning their attention to niche subcultures that are hard to find back home.<\/p>\n Airsoft is one of them. The sport came out of the model gun industry in Japan in the 1970s. At the time, these realistic-looking weapons were non-functional, and mostly used as action movie props or collectibles for display, until replicas that fired 6mm plastic pellets (BBs) were launched in the 1980s. Replica technology then grew rapidly from the 2000s to 2010s, led by electric-powered and motor-driven Airsoft Electric Guns (AEGs). The market has since evolved toward Gas Blowback (GBB) guns that simulate the recoil of real firearms and far more realistic internal designs.<\/p>\n Wargaming has grown in parallel with airsoft technology. This hobby grew out of simulating combat drills used in military training programs worldwide, pitting players against one another with airsoft guns and requiring tactical skills.<\/p>\n At Hong Kong wargame facilities, players typically get into teams of 10 to 20 players, and play rounds of 5 to 10 minutes each. An entire session might be 4 hours long. Some games involve special rules like capture the flag, which requires players to steal the opposite team\u2019s \u00a0flag and carry it to certain checkpoints.<\/p>\n Regardless of the game mode, all players follow the rule of \u201cone-hit-out.\u201d This means that when players are shot with a BB\u2014which hits hard enough to leave a red spot when hitting human skin\u2014they have to go back to their team\u2019s base and wait for the next game. But in most wargames, there are no sensors that flag when a participant has been hit, so whether a player has been struck by a bullet counts largely depends on each player’s honesty and sportsmanship. That is why enthusiasts often call wargaming a “gentleman’s game.”<\/p>\n In recent years, Hong Kong\u2019s advanced airsoft ecosystem\u2014with over 2 decades of commercial wargame field development\u2014has become a draw for travelling hobbyists, and the single largest group of visitors are from mainland China.<\/p>\n Due to public safety concerns, mainland China began enforcing strict controls on realistic model guns ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games. From then on, mainland manufacturers have developed alternatives: low-powered, AEG-based replicas that shoot less painful gel balls, as well as laser tag guns. But these substitutes fall short of mainstream Hong Kong airsoft products in both realism and reliability.<\/p>\n Additionally, the mainland authorities’ long-standing lack of transparency around replica gun policy leaves the gel blaster community under a constant shadow of confiscation or even imprisonment. Therefore, mainland enthusiasts have become increasingly integrated into Hong Kong’s airsoft scene, hoping that short trips will give them access to a more open and immersive airsoft culture than anything available on the mainland.<\/p>\n As a veteran gel blaster player, Zeng’s fascination with replica firearms started in middle school in the early 2000s. He was attracted by the classic war film Enemy at the Gates<\/i><\/em>\u00a0and began scouring airsoft forums for information about the weapons it featured. \u201cFor a 12-year-old boy, guns and military gear held an irresistible appeal,\u201d said Zeng.<\/p>\n But a few years later, the tightening regulations on airsoft in mainland China and the pressures of working life forced him to shelve the hobby. After he had settled into his career as a property agent for 10 years, he decided to rebuild his passion. Over the years, he has co-organized large-scale laser-tag military simulation events (also called milsim)\u2014essentially spending one to two days in realistic battlegrounds\u2014in Hunan, with turnouts of 300 players.<\/p>\n However, nothing excites him more than his annual trip to Hong Kong for an authentic outdoor wargame, a ritual he started in 2023. He even stores a full set of gear, including helmets and several replica guns, at a local friend’s home, only for the once-a-year taste of the local airsoft scene. Returning for this year\u2019s trip, Zeng said, made him feel like \u201ca fish returned to water.\u201d<\/p>\n Hobby-driven tourists like Zeng have been making their cultural trips for the past decade, but many of them ventured no further than Kwong Wah Street in Mong Kok, also known as “Gun Street” because it\u2019s long been home to more than 20 airsoft shops. But anyone who wanted to actually experience shooting these replicas had to either draw on their own knowledge of Hong Kong\u2019s niche airsoft culture or rely on the help of local friends, which was a huge barrier for visitors.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Shooting Ranges Open the Door” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” min_height=”606px” height=”100px” max_height=”100px” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Shooting Ranges Open the Door” background_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.54)” admin_label=”subtitle put here” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Lato|700|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”44px” title_line_height=”1.7em” content_font_size=”1px” subhead_font_size=”1px” background_image=”https:\/\/jmsc6110a.com\/capstone2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DSC2107-1024×683.jpg” parallax=”on” min_height=”607px” custom_padding=”227px||||false|false” title_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ content_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_padding=”|||7px||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”420.4px” custom_padding=”32px|150px||150px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Things began to change last June, when Ember Tactic, the city’s first indoor airsoft venue catering specifically to mainland tourists, opened in Kwai Chung. Its arrival signaled that airsoft tourism in Hong Kong had reached a brand-new phase.<\/p>\n Cheng Li stood with his back to a pair of targets in the shapes of human upper body silhouettes, concentrating as he checked whether the bolt of his HK416 GBB assault rifle was feeding pellets smoothly. As the buzzer sounded, he spun around, aimed, and squeezed the trigger in one motion. Both targets dropped. For him, it was just another routine drill at Ember Tactic.<\/p>\n Beyond offering a standard indoor wargame arena, Ember is the first venue in Hong Kong to provide a shooting range with rental services for over a hundred Gas Blowback models from different brands, giving enthusiasts a wide selection to try. To match the language preference of mainland customers, all of the staff are required to speak Mandarin.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/jmsc6110a.com\/capstone2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/\u56fe\u72472.png” alt=”Allen Lui (middle) introducing one of the signature items for mainland tourists, the E&L 191 gas blowback rifle, a replica of China\u2019s PLA\u2019s latest standard-issue weapon. Credit: Yang Yihua” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|150px||150px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-10px|150px||150px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Allen Lui (middle) introducing one of the signature items for mainland tourists, the E&L 191 gas blowback rifle, a replica of China\u2019s PLA\u2019s latest standard-issue weapon. (Credit: Stark Yang)<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”420.4px” custom_padding=”32px|150px||150px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ width=”100%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|142px||-10px||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The strategy has clearly struck a chord with mainland hobbyists. According to the owner Allen Lui, Ember has averaged around 100 mainland visitors a month over the past year. For summer and winter holidays, that figure doubles or even triples. The vast majority of visitors are students and young adult gel blaster players who come specifically to feel the realistic blowback recoil that electric gel blasters simply cannot match.<\/p>\n As a PhD student in engineering at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Cheng’s greatest hobby outside the lab is collecting high-end model guns. Inspired by action and military films since childhood in Fujian, he stumbled upon Hong Kong’s airsoft culture while pursuing his master’s degree in 2023 and has been, in his words, \u201con a road of no return\u201d.<\/p>\n Today Cheng is not only a regular presence at Ember, he is also a premium customer at Bang Bang Airsoft, a specialist local retailer on Kwong Wah Street, and has even advised the store on its development: A small target range with a sensor screen which can give instant feedback, recently added inside the shop was originally inspired by his suggestion.<\/p>\n The minimum cost of the shooting experience service is HK$100 per time and offers replicas from pistols to rifles. Bang Bang now sees a steady five to ten walk-in visitors a day for its shooting experience, making it a significant revenue stream alongside regular airsoft sales.<\/p>\n For Larion de Almeida, introducing shooting ranges is just the first step in making Hong Kong attractive to airsoft tourists. This award-winning local marketing consultant is also a veteran airsoft player with more than 30 years of wargaming experience, and the co-founder of Umbrella Airsoft, one of the largest wargame teams in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”40%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/jmsc6110a.com\/capstone2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/\u56fe\u72473.png” alt=”Allen Lui (middle) introducing one of the signature items for mainland tourists, the E&L 191 gas blowback rifle, a replica of China\u2019s PLA\u2019s latest standard-issue weapon. Credit: Yang Yihua” title_text=”\u56fe\u72473″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|0px||0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-10px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||7px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Larion de Almeida\u2019s iconic wargame loadout\u2014the gear he carries into battle\u2014was inspired by Leon S. Kennedy, one of the main characters of the famous horror video game Resident Evil. (Credit: Larion de Almeida)<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”420.4px” custom_padding=”32px|150px||150px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ width=”100%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|142px||-10px||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In his view, the real key to unlocking its commercial value is encouraging visitors to go beyond target practice and try actual wargames. “The core of wargaming is instant positive feedback,\u201d he said. \u201cThe rush you get from hitting someone with BBs is something no video game can match.\u201d.<\/p>\n But for de Almeida, rethinking the rules of wargames is also a necessary step to attract tourists. The traditional \u201cone-hit-out\u201d rule is “way too frustrating” for beginners who have never played before, he said, as it wastes too much of their time sitting on the sidelines waiting for the next round.<\/p>\n Drawing on his own youthful obsession with the video game Call of Duty,<\/i><\/em>\u00a0he suggests an \u201cunlimited-respawn\u201d mechanic to lower the cost of failure for beginners\u2014in other words, players who are hit with a BB don\u2019t need to leave the field and wait for the next round, but can walk back to a specific location before rejoining the battle. Organizers could even weave in narrative-driven scenarios inspired by live-action role-playing games like \u201cScript Murder,\u201da murder mystery format which is popular on the mainland.<\/p>\n “But personally, I’d definitely prioritize gel blaster players as the target audience,” de Almeida said.<\/p>\n Mainland gel blaster players, he explained, already have plenty of indoor and outdoor wargame experience. The game flow and one-hit-out rules are largely the same on both sides of the border, so this group adapts to local wargames far more easily. And many gel blaster players want nothing more than realistic recoils airsoft provides.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”off|off|on” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_padding=”|||7px||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”420.4px” custom_padding=”32px|0px||0px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Things began to change last June, when Ember Tactic, the city’s first indoor airsoft venue catering specifically to mainland tourists, opened in Kwai Chung. Its arrival signaled that airsoft tourism in Hong Kong had reached a brand-new phase.<\/p>\n Cheng Li stood with his back to a pair of targets in the shapes of human upper body silhouettes, concentrating as he checked whether the bolt of his HK416 GBB assault rifle was feeding pellets smoothly. As the buzzer sounded, he spun around, aimed, and squeezed the trigger in one motion. Both targets dropped. For him, it was just another routine drill at Ember Tactic.<\/p>\n Beyond offering a standard indoor wargame arena, Ember is the first venue in Hong Kong to provide a shooting range with rental services for over a hundred Gas Blowback models from different brands, giving enthusiasts a wide selection to try. To match the language preference of mainland customers, all of the staff are required to speak Mandarin.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/jmsc6110a.com\/capstone2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/\u56fe\u72472.png” alt=”Allen Lui (middle) introducing one of the signature items for mainland tourists, the E&L 191 gas blowback rifle, a replica of China\u2019s PLA\u2019s latest standard-issue weapon. Credit: Yang Yihua” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|0px||0px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-10px|0px||0px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Allen Lui (middle) introducing one of the signature items for mainland tourists, the E&L 191 gas blowback rifle, a replica of China\u2019s PLA\u2019s latest standard-issue weapon. (Credit: Stark Yang)<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”420.4px” custom_padding=”32px|0px||0px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ width=”100%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|0px||0px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The strategy has clearly struck a chord with mainland hobbyists. According to the owner Allen Lui, Ember has averaged around 100 mainland visitors a month over the past year. For summer and winter holidays, that figure doubles or even triples. The vast majority of visitors are students and young adult gel blaster players who come specifically to feel the realistic blowback recoil that electric gel blasters simply cannot match.<\/p>\n As a PhD student in engineering at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Cheng’s greatest hobby outside the lab is collecting high-end model guns. Inspired by action and military films since childhood in Fujian, he stumbled upon Hong Kong’s airsoft culture while pursuing his master’s degree in 2023 and has been, in his words, \u201con a road of no return\u201d.<\/p>\n Today Cheng is not only a regular presence at Ember, he is also a premium customer at Bang Bang Airsoft, a specialist local retailer on Kwong Wah Street, and has even advised the store on its development: A small target range with a sensor screen which can give instant feedback, recently added inside the shop was originally inspired by his suggestion.<\/p>\n The minimum cost of the shooting experience service is HK$100 per time and offers replicas from pistols to rifles. Bang Bang now sees a steady five to ten walk-in visitors a day for its shooting experience, making it a significant revenue stream alongside regular airsoft sales.<\/p>\n For Larion de Almeida, introducing shooting ranges is just the first step in making Hong Kong attractive to airsoft tourists. This award-winning local marketing consultant is also a veteran airsoft player with more than 30 years of wargaming experience, and the co-founder of Umbrella Airsoft, one of the largest wargame teams in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”87%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/jmsc6110a.com\/capstone2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/\u56fe\u72473.png” alt=”Allen Lui (middle) introducing one of the signature items for mainland tourists, the E&L 191 gas blowback rifle, a replica of China\u2019s PLA\u2019s latest standard-issue weapon. Credit: Yang Yihua” title_text=”\u56fe\u72473″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|0px||0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-10px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||7px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Larion de Almeida\u2019s iconic wargame loadout\u2014the gear he carries into battle\u2014was inspired by Leon S. Kennedy, one of the main characters of the famous horror video game Resident Evil. (Credit: Larion de Almeida)<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”420.4px” custom_padding=”32px|0px||0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ width=”100%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|142px||-10px||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In his view, the real key to unlocking its commercial value is encouraging visitors to go beyond target practice and try actual wargames. “The core of wargaming is instant positive feedback,\u201d he said. \u201cThe rush you get from hitting someone with BBs is something no video game can match.\u201d.<\/p>\n But for de Almeida, rethinking the rules of wargames is also a necessary step to attract tourists. The traditional \u201cone-hit-out\u201d rule is “way too frustrating” for beginners who have never played before, he said, as it wastes too much of their time sitting on the sidelines waiting for the next round.<\/p>\n Drawing on his own youthful obsession with the video game Call of Duty,<\/i><\/em>\u00a0he suggests an \u201cunlimited-respawn\u201d mechanic to lower the cost of failure for beginners\u2014in other words, players who are hit with a BB don\u2019t need to leave the field and wait for the next round, but can walk back to a specific location before rejoining the battle. Organizers could even weave in narrative-driven scenarios inspired by live-action role-playing games like \u201cScript Murder,\u201da murder mystery format which is popular on the mainland.<\/p>\n “But personally, I’d definitely prioritize gel blaster players as the target audience,” de Almeida said.<\/p>\n Mainland gel blaster players, he explained, already have plenty of indoor and outdoor wargame experience. The game flow and one-hit-out rules are largely the same on both sides of the border, so this group adapts to local wargames far more easily. And many gel blaster players want nothing more than realistic recoils airsoft provides.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Vlogs, Venues and the Border Advantage” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” min_height=”606px” height=”100px” max_height=”100px” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Vlogs, Venues and the Border Advantage” background_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.54)” admin_label=”subtitle put here” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Lato|700|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”44px” title_line_height=”1.7em” content_font_size=”1px” subhead_font_size=”1px” background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https:\/\/jmsc6110a.com\/capstone2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DSC1902-1024×683.jpg” parallax=”on” min_height=”607px” custom_padding=”227px||||false|false” title_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ content_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_padding=”||55px|7px||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”420.4px” custom_padding=”32px|150px||150px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Chen Guanlin might be exactly the kind of airsoft tourist that de Almeida would like to see in the local scene.<\/p>\n The 16-year-old gel blaster enthusiast from Wuhan has 16,000 followers on Douyin. Just before the Lunar New Year holiday, he traveled to Hong Kong alone and went to Landing Zone, the Kwun Tong-based largest indoor wargame venue in the city, where he joined local players for a public game. This walk-in format has gained popularity in recent years, challenging players to collaborate with random teammates.<\/p>\n As a first-timer in Hong Kong, Chen was not scared by the “hellish playing environment” of a public game, he told me. Instead, he documented the cross-cultural challenge in his vlog and posted it on Douyin and Bilibili.<\/p>\n In the video, he handles airsoft guns lent by local players at the range, praises the Gas Blowback engineering, weaves through a maze of barricades, and duels with another player, each trying to eliminate each other in a limited time with only a limited number of pellets. They end the battle with an appreciative high-five.<\/p>\n Chen’s vlog represents another way that once-niche wargames have reached the consciousness of mainland players who may have never tried it before, with his detailed reviews from shooting range experience to actual wargaming. He is far from the only mainland-based wargame vlogger but his first Hong Kong video has racked up over a million views and thousands of comments in Douyin and Bilibili, with many mainland players expressing a longing to have airsoft trips to Hong Kong themselves.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|150px||150px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n