As an Asian metropolitan city, the traveling experience to Hong Kong is like no other! East meets West in this city of great contrasts. From shopping, food and entertainment to nature and heritage, Hong Kong offers an extraordinary experience.
Hong Kong had a 150-year-long colonial history with its Chinese roots and current status as one of the special administrative regions of China. This fact permeates its architectural styles and traditions (Chinese and Western) and the very fabric of life in Hong Kong. Therefore, in this city of contrasts, it may not be surprising that most nature activities can be reached within one hour of urban areas. You can hike up hills and mountainsides in nature reserves or walk on sandy beaches since beautiful natural scenery is easily accessible. As a matter of fact, almost 70% of the territory’s land mass is made up of forests, rural mountains, and outlying islands that made up the unique scenery of Hong Kong among all other metropolitan cities in the world.
Hong Kong offers many marvellous attractions such as Stanley, Victoria Harbour, the Peak, Ocean Park Theme Park, Lamma Island, Disneyland, Tai O the fish village and cable car rides with breathtaking views. Rickshaw Sightseeing Buses are one of the many ways to see the city. Guided tours and self-guided walks are also available.
Hong Kong is a Shangri-La for food lovers. It especially bridges the gap between oriental and western cuisine. With over 10,000 restaurants, Hong Kong is a gourmet spotlight. Although it is boasting some of the best Cantonese-style cuisines in the world, Hong Kong also offers outstanding restaurants highlighting other regional cuisines of China. There are also excellent Japanese, Thai, Korean, French, Italian and Spanish restaurants, among others.
All goods, except for tobacco and alcohol, are tax-free, so a visit to Hong Kong is imperfect without some shopping! From high-end fashion, shoes, bags and authentic Chinese gifts to electronics or cosmetics, you can find all of these in Hong Kong. Local markets include the Ladies’ Market and the Bird Market in Kowloon. Chinese wet markets which offer local produce, fish, and meat may also be interesting sights. Most of the shopping centers/malls are air-conditioned which offers a welcome respite from the heat, and most shopping centers have websites with store directories and floor maps if you are looking for specific types of goods.