Hong Kong it is!

A great blend of the exotic east and the glitzy west, Hong Kong puts on a spectacular show for the traveler. Here’s a quick guide to this pulsating city


By Raul Dias


Stay: If there ever was a place that had the most number of good quality accommodation, catering to almost every budget and all concentrated in a tiny area, then that place would be Hong Kong. From modest guesthouses and youth hostels you will be thoroughly spoilt for choice. The Bridal Tea House in Aberdeen (+852 2553 8299) is one such example of a hotel property that offers elegant accommodation at a very affordable price with rooms starting at HK$58. But slap bang in the middle of bustling Kowloon is the B P International Hotel that is less than a kilometer to the business district, shopping centres and the city’s must-see attractions such as the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the International Commerce Centre and the Clock Tower. With room rates beginning at HK$110, this isn’t one of the cheapest hotels. But trust us—it is one of the best! (www.bpih.com.hk; +852 2378 7665).


Eat: Food is everywhere in Hong Kong, and that’s a good thing because it is all so good that you will attempt to eat your own weight in dim sum each day. With the awesome variety of street food available, Hong Kong is the uncrowned street food capital of the world. From the narrow lanes of Kowloon’s Tsim Sha Tsui area where all your senses will be assaulted with the arresting aroma of grilled eel and octopus to the street-side eateries of Mongkok serving up bowls of chicken feet and tripe soup, you will find it all. For the adventurous eater in you, make it a point to visit the Temple Street Night Market where a cornucopia of weird eats like the super stinky tofu, stewed duck’s tongues and pig snout soup await you. A delicacy among true-blue Hong Kongers is roasted pigeon and if you are up to it you should make a bee-line for the Tai Ping Koon market that has the best roasted pigeon in all of Hong Kong. But going to Hong Kong and missing out on steamed goose is sacrilegious. Wellington Street’s legendary Yue Kee, probably the most famous Cantonese restaurant in Hong Kong serves up a mean steamed goose that is edible poetry. Don’t miss it!

Round off your meal with a mango pancake—a typically Cantonese dessert at the Gaai Kei dessert restaurant on Kau Yuk Road in Yuen Long. Another must-eat in the dessert restaurants is sai mai lo or sago coconut pudding.


See: The number one tourist attraction for most visitors to Hong Kong over the years is the Victoria Peak—the best place from which to admire the lights of this Oriental Pearl. Peak Tower with its famous wok-like architecture stands at the exit of the Peak Tram station. The amazing Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium, the exciting Peak Explorer Motion Simulator, and relaxing terraces and restaurants are among the favourite stops at this entertainment center. Another favorite attraction is the Madame Tussaud Wax Museum with figures of celebrities including local movie star Jackie Chan. Additionally, on the northern hillside of the Peak, you can see the Zoological and Botanical Garden.

The Avenue of Stars which is located at the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade is another one of Hong Kong’s must visit places. Built to pay tribute to the outstanding professionals of Hong Kong’s film industry as an answer to the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Avenue of Stars comes alive at night when hoards of locals and tourists alike try to hunt the hand and foot imprints of their favourite stars like the legendary Bruce Lee and Karen Mok.

For the child in you, you must spend at least a day at the Hong Kong Disneyland resort that has two hotels besides the four lands of fantasy, adventure, space and Americana. All the typically Disney attractions and rides are replicated here with a decidedly oriental twist, making this theme park a one-of-its-kind place to lose yourself in.

Travel Tip: Make sure you have at least a Saturday or a Sunday night factored into your Hong Kong trip. Because starting after sunset some of the city skyscrapers puts on a spectacular weekend laser light show that you will not forget. This spectacular multimedia display, named the “World’s Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show” by the Guinness Book of World Records, involves 44 key buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbour. The show creates an all-round vision of coloured lights, laser beams and searchlights performing a stunning, unforgettable spectacle synchronized to music and narration that celebrates the energy, spirit and diversity of Hong Kong.

Visit: Take a bit of a detour from your urban Hong Kong sojourn and commune with nature at its glorious best at Lantau Island. Located at the mouth of the Pearl River, this island is home not just to the Hong Kong international airport but also to the Po Lin Monastery that houses the 34 metre tall bronze statue of Buddha. Besides as the must-go destination for prayers, Po Lin Monastery is also a top destination for tourists to experience the natural and cultural side of Hong Kong. The Monastery was initially a small temple constructed by three Buddhists in 1924. Over the years, more structures have been added, such as the big temple and the world’s largest Big Buddha.
If you’re not much of a culture vulture you can participate in many outdoor activities in the island’s Wild Countryside Park such as hiking, camping, swimming, and fishing. Or you can have a barbecue in the mountains far from the hustle and bustle of the city. The most beautiful beaches in Hong Kong are scattered along Lantau’s southern coast in the area around Cheung Chau Island.
Travel Tip: The best way to get to Lantau Island is by the MTR. Take the MTR Tung Chung Line to Tung Chung Station (Hong Kong Station to Tung Chung Station takes approximately 35 minutes), then take New Lantau Bus No. 23 to Ngong Ping (approximately 50 minutes).

Must Do: After a potent dose of detoxification in the verdant hills of Lantau Island it’s now for some ‘retoxification’! And what better place than the decidedly bohemian party zone of Lan Kwai Fong or to use the trendy moniker LFK. The bars in this decadent district, that is nicknamed party central, are some of the best in Asia and night owls will find a plethora of locations that cater to all, from down and dirty pubs to the continent’s best nightclubs and trendy eating joints. A must visit in LFK is Dublin Jacks, the Sleek new Irish bar that is blessed with a wonderfully friendly atmosphere, thanks to a landlord who knows his clients by name. An extra attraction is ‘The Deck’ area, a spacey chill-out area at the back of the pub that overlooks Lan Kwai Fong below.

Travel Tip: Saunter down the cobblestone streets of LFK during the ‘Happy Hours’ of 4-7pm and you will find yourself great deals on drinks many of which are available at throw-away prices or for buy-on-get-one-free deals. Hic hic hurray all the way!




Shop: From antiques to electronics to clothes and accessories to bric-a-brac, Hong Kong conjures up a smorgasbord of shopping possibilities at prices that won’t put a dent in your bank balance. The Ladies Market at Tung Choi Street, Mongkok is probably Hong Kong’s most famous street market, and one of the best for visiting tourists to soak up the hustle and bustle of a Chinese market. Despite the name, the markets sells clothes for men and women and plenty of cheap Chinese curios, as well as being one of the locations for Hong Kong’s buzzing trade in copies and fakes. Another great place to shop is in the Causeway Bay area. Probably Hong Kong’s premier shopping area, just about every square inch of Causeway Bay is covered in malls, shops and neon advertising signs. If you’re looking for the manic Hong Kong shopping experience, this is it. The area is best known for its hip, independent fashion retailers, pitched around the Fashion Walk Area. You’ll also find SOGO, Hong Kong’s biggest and best department store. The shops and streets here buzz until past 10pm.

All you ‘Mall Rats’ out there will find the your very own heaven at the Harbour City mall in Kowloon. The city’s biggest mall, Harbour City is gargantuan; at over three kilometers long the mall boasts nearly 800 shops. The shops are a fairly standard selection, albeit an endless one of international and national brands. The complex also has two separate cinemas where you can catch the latest flicks.

Travel Tip: Bargaining in Hong Kong is not only accepted, it is encouraged. The thumb rule to follow here is to immediately cut the seller’s asking price to quarter and then to negotiate to up to half. But don’t forget to keep your cool, avoid being rude and to always smile.


And finally…

Make sure to make some time and indulge in a bit of R & R at Repulse Bay. Situated in the southern part of the Hong Kong Island, Repulse Bay is a good place where you can enjoy the natural beauty of the seashore and the bays. The beach stretches long with clear azure blue water gently lapping the seashore. Its sand is golden and soft. Not far from the Repulse Bay, there is the Deep Water Bay, Middle Bay and South Bay, which are all perfect bathing beaches.


Tai Chi for Free

If by the end of your tryst with Hong Kong you find your pockets a little lighter and you still want to indulge in a bit of Chinese culture, fear not. We have the perfect solution to this. Attend the free Tai Chi lesson and demonstration at the sculpture park by the Hong Kong Museum of Art that is sponsored by the Hong Kong Tourist Association. The class takes place every morning at 8am and if for an hour long. And don’t fret; you don’t even have to know Cantonese to take the class. Since the class is meant for tourists, Master William Ng who takes the class gives out instructions in English.

(First published in Yuva)