East and West collide with intoxicating appeal for visitors to Hong Kong, one of the world’s top global cities for its economic and cultural influence.
The relatively small Hong Kong Island has huge global impact. Until recently a British colony, Hong Kong became an important financial centre in the 1950s, drawing workers from around the world. Experience a truly multicultural city created by the intriguing mix of Cantonese locals, British residents, Western expats, and mainland Chinese.
Things to do in Hong Kong
See this cultural coexistence when you visit Hong Kong and view contrasting architectural styles. Man Mo Temple is a beautiful 1880s Taoist shrine. In contrast, the landmark Bank of China high-rise symbolises Hong Kong’s late 1900s financial heyday.
Hong Kong has extensive shopping, dining, nightlife and cultural attractions. For something different, try urban hiking, with spectacular views from the island’s mountains, including Jardine’s Lookout and Dragon’s Back. On clear days, ride the funicular Peak Tram to Victoria Peak for panoramic sunset views of Hong Kong and Kowloon. Follow the flat Lugard Road track to watch Hong Kong Harbour’s busy boat traffic. Then walk down the serpentine path returning to Central.
Journeys to Lantau Island for the Ngong Ping 360 cable car, the Big Buddha statue or Hong Kong Disneyland are popular day trips. Ride a fast ferry to Macau for high-end casinos or a train to New Territories to glimpse the People’s Republic of China. Very close, Kowloon-side neighbourhoods offer even more attractions.
Hong Kong dining
Savour dim sum when you visit Hong Kong. Small bites of dumplings, buns, egg rolls and desserts are steamed and served in bamboo baskets. Order your favourites by name otherwise, just point at photos on a menu or ask servers pushing carts through restaurants to show you their offerings. Chicken feet are surprisingly popular.
You can also eat dim sum for breakfast with hot tea, often at tables shared with businesspeople before heading to work. At breakfast, it’s called yum cha often the same dumplings are just as delicious but considerably less expensive at these morning meals. Tip the lid on your teapot to request water refills and tap two fingers on the table to say thank you.
Another affordable dining option when you visit Hong Kong are dai pai dongs (DPD), open-air street cafés, Hong Kong’s version of food carts. Order noodles or bean desserts and slurp away. If you’re an adventurous eater, warm your blood with snake soup in fall and winter. Central and Stanley are excellent spots for DPDs. Try egg waffles, small sheets of cooked batter puffs with mochi, black sesame or red bean paste, chocolate or strawberry flavours. Ride a ferry from Aberdeen or Central to Lamma Island and choose from many seafood restaurants behind the pier.
The Michelin Guide lists about 200 restaurants in Hong Kong, so you can experience fine dining across the city at a range of price points. Have steak or roast if you must, or branch out into exceptional seafood, duck and other Cantonese and Chinese specialities. Enjoy at least one full Chinese banquet, starting with fried peanuts, eaten with chopsticks, of course. Continue through eight pork, chicken and varied seafood dishes along with seasonal vegetables. End with rice or noodles and a dessert, often as simple as watermelon.
Hong Kong shopping
High-end air-conditioned malls such as Causeway Bay’s Times Square, Central’s Pacific Mall and Kowloon-side malls offer the latest fashion trends for all types of travellers. Western Market, in an historical Edwardian building, features food and art items. Buy fabric here to bring to a Kowloon tailor for a bespoke garment. Explore the Wan Chai Wet Market to experience the Hongkongese way of buying fresh fish and produce at open-air stalls.
For unique shopping, visit Hong Kong’s lanes. Causeway Bay and Central have very narrow alleyways lined with semi-permanent pop-up stalls selling trinkets, clothing and crafts. Stanley Market on the island’s southern side is a virtual rabbit warren for the uninitiated. Purchase anything from embroidered silk blouses to high-quality winter ski wear if you know which shops to visit. Have your name, represented by Chinese characters, engraved in colourful calligraphy. Purchase affordable gifts symbolising Hong Kong to bring home to friends.
Hong Kong nightlife
Lan Kwai Fong, uphill from Central station, is where most tourists and expats head for nightlife when they first visit Hong Kong. This square of streets, including D’Aguilar and Wellington, has numerous bars, often with open-air façades and revelry spilling onto the road. Enjoy cocktails in more elegant settings from rooftop bars and restaurants high in hotel and office towers overlooking the harbour.
Sample unique evening entertainment during your Hong Kong visit, such as Cantonese opera at the Sunbeam Theatre. During summer, enjoy the Chinese Opera Festival at Victoria Park and other venues. Bring friends to sing karaoke in Wan Chai expect a mix of Cantopop, Chinese and English songs. See rising stars of theatre, music and dance at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts Lyric Theatre in Wan Chai or cross to Kowloon for orchestra, ballet and musical theatre at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
Around Christmas and Chinese New Year, Hong Kong and Kowloon produce spectacular animated light displays on the city’s tall towers. Watch fireworks and lion dances. Catch several movies during the Hong Kong International Film Festival in spring.
Getting to and around Hong Kong
Fly to Hong Kong International Airport, with fast train service to Hong Kong and Kowloon. The city is considered exceptionally safe, especially because of the region’s gun restrictions. The greatest safety concern comes from traffic on often-congested streets and subways. English is spoken at most spots tourists visit, but learn a few words of Cantonese or Mandarin to impress locals.
When you visit Hong Kong, you’ll realise transportation is a form of entertainment. Ride the Star Ferry between the island and Kowloon, marvelling at high-rises on both sides of the harbour. Notice interesting boat traffic, from cruise ships and high-speed catamaran ferries to the tourist-focused red-sailed junk symbolising the city’s past.
On land, ride the number six double-decker bus from Central to Stanley. Sit at the front on the second level, with the bus swerving seemingly inches from others making the return trip. As you pass The Repulse Bay, note this former hotel’s large opening, created to allow a dragon to descend unimpeded from the mountain to Repulse Bay.
Public transportation including these buses, trams, ferries, and the extensive MTR subway network allow you to travel all around the island conveniently, using an Octopus card. Red-and-white taxis are ever-present too. If you must drive, appreciate that Hong Kong has a “keep left” rule from its many years as a British territory.
