Abby Wu, a 34-year-old who works in finance, went to the museum with her husband and their daughter, 8, along with family friends.

“We came here as it’s free and also to enjoy the celebratory mood,” she said, adding she had never seen such huge crowds at the venue before.

Some residents were scared away by the large crowds, including retired clerk Amy Lam.

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The 60-year-old, who had commuted by herself from her home in North Point to the arts hub on the MTR, said she had intended to visit the museum for the first time, but was surprised by the long queues.

“I came because of the free admission, but there are too many people and I will probably have to queue for hours before I can enter,” she said, before making her way back home.

Adult tickets for general admission to M+ and the Palace Museum normally cost HK$120 (US$15) and HK$50, respectively, and half price for children and elderly residents.

A spokeswoman for the West Kowloon Cultural District said more than 23,000 people had visited the M+ museum as of 6pm, when it closed. The average wait time was more than two hours.

The Palace Museum attracted more than 7,600 visitors, with the 3,500 free tickets earmarked for general admission all taken. It offered free access to seven thematic exhibitions centred on Chinese treasures.

Both museums saw a record number of visitors.

Crowds had filled the waterfront area near the museum, with some visitors decked out in hanfu, the traditional dress of China’s Han people.

Mandarin teacher Chen Xiaolan, 45, came in a costumed group of about 40 to take photos in front of the attraction. She said it was her second visit to the cultural institution.

“The free admission is good and can attract more people to view the precious Chinese relics,” she said.

Another visitor, Patti Lam, in her 50s who works in the medical sector, brought her parents with her.

She said although they had visited the Palace Museum before, the family was keen to see the collections again, especially with free entry for seven exhibitions. Lam also paid for two special exhibitions.

“More promotion and publicity should be carried out to let more people know about the events and avoid confusion,” she noted.

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Many visitors, including elderly residents, were left confused when told free admission still required reservation in advance. Some of them only took photos in front of the museum and left, while others paid for tickets.

Among them was a couple in their 60s who had travelled from their home in Sai Wan to the Palace Museum in the morning, hoping to see the collections of Chinese treasures for the first time.

The wife, who only gave her surname as Lee, said they were discouraged from visiting the museum previously by what they deemed as a high admission fee.

“We elderly people don’t know how to make a booking online, which is complicated,” she complained before going home in disappointment. “The free admission should be made to all Hong Kong residents with no such requirement of reservation.”

Special exhibitions at various public museums, including the Heritage Museum, Science Museum and Museum of Art are also free. Standard tickets to these venues typically cost between HK$10 and HK$20.

Charges are also being waived for permanent exhibitions at the Science Museum and Space Museum, except for Space Theatre shows.

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Elsewhere, Hongkongers kicked off their weekend with free tram and ferry rides.

Patrick Tsang, a 50-year-old driver who lives in Causeway Bay, boarded a tram to work at the Canal Road West station at about 7.30am.

Tsang said he commuted on trams daily and the free rides on Saturday could save him HK$6 in total. He added he planned to take the opportunity to travel around on trams after work.

“Free rides are good, which can save me money,” he said. “If I get off work early today and the weather is good, I’ll travel around on trams as it’s free.”

A one-way ride normally costs HK$3 for adults, while children and the elderly pay about half the price. Residents can enjoy free rides on the city’s trams from July 1 to 5.

Trips on Star Ferry’s Tsim Sha Tsui-Wan Chai route and the Central-Hung Hom service by Fortune Ferry were also free of charge on Saturday, along with water taxis connecting Tsim Sha Tsui East, Wan Chai, Central and West Kowloon.

Passengers whose birthdays fall on July 1 can take the Tuen Mun-Tung Chung-Sah Lo Wan-Tai O and North Point-Kwun Tong-Kai Tak ferry routes for free.

At the Wan Chai ferry pier at 8.30am, there were some 50 people waiting to catch a ride to Tsim Sha Tsui.

Among them is Peter Yang, who is 43 and works in the shipping industry. He took his nine-year-old daughter and his friend’s son, aged 12, out to experience the festive atmosphere on Saturday.

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Yang, who was clad in red to celebrate the handover anniversary, said he went out early with the children to watch groups singing near the pier and to take free ferry rides to enjoy the view of Victoria Harbour. He and the children saved a total of HK$14.3 as a result of the free rides.

“We are experiencing and enjoying the July 1 celebratory atmosphere,” said Yang, who is from mainland China and came to Hong Kong in 2020 on a talent scheme.

Apart from trams and ferries, free rides are also being offered on light rail trains and buses operated by the MTR Corporation, except for the latter operating along the East Rail line.

Other offers also include free entry to public leisure facilities, dining discounts at restaurants, promotional sales at shopping malls, as well as a series of community celebratory activities.

Additional reporting by Fiona Chow