The high-octane, multi-faceted island city of Hong
Kong is the perfect destination for a quick and impromptu summer vacation,
offering you a plethora of things to do, see and yes…eat!
By Raul Dias
Old,
but still brand, sparkling new. Endearingly traditional, yet startlingly modern.
Fast-paced, while still limping along with an unhurried dignity.
To most people, Hong Kong may seem as though it inhabits myriad parallel dimensions. A place where several worlds collide in synchronistic harmony. So, yes, it wouldn’t be too far from the truth to say, that if Hong Kong were to be a person, it’d be accused of having a split personality.
But it is this very dichotomous nature that makes it so very fascinating for visitors.
While it has been exactly 20 years since this autonomous, Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China was handed back by the British, Hong Kong has remained pretty much the same over the last two decades. Yes, it still is one of the world’s most densely populated places, ranking number four on the list. And yes, it still is the sparkling jewel of the Pearl River Delta in the South China Sea that has something for just about everybody…
To most people, Hong Kong may seem as though it inhabits myriad parallel dimensions. A place where several worlds collide in synchronistic harmony. So, yes, it wouldn’t be too far from the truth to say, that if Hong Kong were to be a person, it’d be accused of having a split personality.
But it is this very dichotomous nature that makes it so very fascinating for visitors.
While it has been exactly 20 years since this autonomous, Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China was handed back by the British, Hong Kong has remained pretty much the same over the last two decades. Yes, it still is one of the world’s most densely populated places, ranking number four on the list. And yes, it still is the sparkling jewel of the Pearl River Delta in the South China Sea that has something for just about everybody…
ATTRACTIONS
NEAR AND FAR
A true Hong Kong icon, The Peak or to use its proper name, Victoria Peak offers a stunning panoramic view across the city with its Sky Terrace 428 standing at 428 meters above sea level, making it a scenic spot you won’t want to leave out of your itinerary. Getting to the peak involves a 15 minutes’ ride by the Peak Tram which is one of the world’s oldest and most famous funicular railways, rising to about 1,300 feet.
A misnomer if there ever was one, the New Territories—an hour out of the main Hong Kong city limits—may not be new, but hold promise of a great number of attractions. Prime among these is the Che Kung Temple in the Sha Tin neighbourhood where people go to seek a year full of good luck and fortune. Trudge up the path to score some karmic goodwill at the Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree where locals and tourists alike aim at throwing joss paper as high up into the tree’s branches as they can, to get their wishes fulfilled.
Equally mystical and a must-do is a visit to Big Buddha at the Po Lin Monastery on nearby Lantau Island. A short ride in the revolving Ngong Ping 360 cable car deposits you at the foot of the 34-meter tall bronze statue of the Buddha. Once at the top, besides ogling at the view of Hong Kong harbor, you can indulge in nature walks or learn a little bit about Buddhism from the monks.
A true Hong Kong icon, The Peak or to use its proper name, Victoria Peak offers a stunning panoramic view across the city with its Sky Terrace 428 standing at 428 meters above sea level, making it a scenic spot you won’t want to leave out of your itinerary. Getting to the peak involves a 15 minutes’ ride by the Peak Tram which is one of the world’s oldest and most famous funicular railways, rising to about 1,300 feet.
A misnomer if there ever was one, the New Territories—an hour out of the main Hong Kong city limits—may not be new, but hold promise of a great number of attractions. Prime among these is the Che Kung Temple in the Sha Tin neighbourhood where people go to seek a year full of good luck and fortune. Trudge up the path to score some karmic goodwill at the Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree where locals and tourists alike aim at throwing joss paper as high up into the tree’s branches as they can, to get their wishes fulfilled.
Equally mystical and a must-do is a visit to Big Buddha at the Po Lin Monastery on nearby Lantau Island. A short ride in the revolving Ngong Ping 360 cable car deposits you at the foot of the 34-meter tall bronze statue of the Buddha. Once at the top, besides ogling at the view of Hong Kong harbor, you can indulge in nature walks or learn a little bit about Buddhism from the monks.
OF
DIM SUMS, SHOPPING AND MORE
One of the best, and in our opinion, the ONLY way to kick start your edible innings in Kong Kong is to fuel up just like the city’s denizens do—with a belly-busting dim sum lunch, simply called yum cha! Meaning to ‘touch the heart’ dim sum joints are ubiquitous and can be found around almost every street corner in this fascinating city.
But for a truly memorable experience chowing down on wonders like the delicate siu mai and the silken shrimp har gau, head to the Sun Tung Lok restaurant in the Tsim Sha Tsui neighbourhood of Kowloon. This nondescript eatery was the first non-hotel restaurant and the second Chinese place in Hong Kong to receive three Michelin stars out of which is currently retains two. Don’t forget to round off your dim sum feast with a tall glass of iced oolong tea with a squirt of lemon and honey.
Still in the Kowloon side of Hong Kong, indulge in some retail therapy. And there truly is no dearth of shopping hot spots to cruise here in Kowloon, particularly the three famous Mong Kok markets. Legendary for its silks and jewellery, Stanley Market is a close rival to the Ladies’ Market where you can bargain for some great buys in the clothing and cosmetics’ areas. For antiques bargain your way through Cat Street. But for a real up-market shopping experience, head to PMQ. This former, superbly restored police housing block is home to around 100 design and creative pop-up enterprises in a revitalised historical site in the Central area of the city.
Peckish after all that shopping? Well, then try some succulent roast goose at Tai Hing in Mongkok or perhaps some char siu-filled rice noodle rolls called cheung fun from one of the many cart vendors that line the Sham Shui Po neighbourhood.
Wash it all down with the bizarre-sounding, but divine-tasting hot Coca-Cola with ginger and lemon, best had at one of the city’s many cha chaan tengs as the local tea shops are called here. Finish off your meal with a few unsung heroes of Cantonese cuisine—desserts! Take your pick from the elaborate glutinous rice-based deep-fried sweet called nian gao from Guangdong to the simpler, but startlingly good quivering almond jelly studded with fresh fruit cubes.
One of the best, and in our opinion, the ONLY way to kick start your edible innings in Kong Kong is to fuel up just like the city’s denizens do—with a belly-busting dim sum lunch, simply called yum cha! Meaning to ‘touch the heart’ dim sum joints are ubiquitous and can be found around almost every street corner in this fascinating city.
But for a truly memorable experience chowing down on wonders like the delicate siu mai and the silken shrimp har gau, head to the Sun Tung Lok restaurant in the Tsim Sha Tsui neighbourhood of Kowloon. This nondescript eatery was the first non-hotel restaurant and the second Chinese place in Hong Kong to receive three Michelin stars out of which is currently retains two. Don’t forget to round off your dim sum feast with a tall glass of iced oolong tea with a squirt of lemon and honey.
Still in the Kowloon side of Hong Kong, indulge in some retail therapy. And there truly is no dearth of shopping hot spots to cruise here in Kowloon, particularly the three famous Mong Kok markets. Legendary for its silks and jewellery, Stanley Market is a close rival to the Ladies’ Market where you can bargain for some great buys in the clothing and cosmetics’ areas. For antiques bargain your way through Cat Street. But for a real up-market shopping experience, head to PMQ. This former, superbly restored police housing block is home to around 100 design and creative pop-up enterprises in a revitalised historical site in the Central area of the city.
Peckish after all that shopping? Well, then try some succulent roast goose at Tai Hing in Mongkok or perhaps some char siu-filled rice noodle rolls called cheung fun from one of the many cart vendors that line the Sham Shui Po neighbourhood.
Wash it all down with the bizarre-sounding, but divine-tasting hot Coca-Cola with ginger and lemon, best had at one of the city’s many cha chaan tengs as the local tea shops are called here. Finish off your meal with a few unsung heroes of Cantonese cuisine—desserts! Take your pick from the elaborate glutinous rice-based deep-fried sweet called nian gao from Guangdong to the simpler, but startlingly good quivering almond jelly studded with fresh fruit cubes.
SUNDOWNERS
AND CURTAIN CALLS
Perfect for a sundowner, head to Club Feather Boa in trendy SoHo. This former antiques store is legendary for its bohemian vibe and eclectic crowd and is one of the best places on the island to knock back a well-made pre-dinner drink. For a fine dining Cantonese dinner experience, make sure you have your reservations on at the posh, Shanghai-style China Club in Central that is famous for serving the best braised abalone in town along with its retro chic décor and vibe.
It’s now time for some vertical action! Having opened in late 2014, the 60 metres-high Hong Kong Observation Wheel is the city’s most coveted ride. Located on the Central Harbourfront, the wheel is the perfect place to see the daily 8pm start of the Symphony of Lights sound and light show at the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront on the Avenue of Stars.
For another ‘up-in-the-clouds’ moment, head up to Sky100. This 360-degree indoor observation deck on the 100th floor of the International Commerce Centre—that is also the tallest building in the city with 118 floors—in Kowloon is another new city attraction that promises to have you spellbound.
That is, if Hong Kong hasn’t done its number on you already!
Perfect for a sundowner, head to Club Feather Boa in trendy SoHo. This former antiques store is legendary for its bohemian vibe and eclectic crowd and is one of the best places on the island to knock back a well-made pre-dinner drink. For a fine dining Cantonese dinner experience, make sure you have your reservations on at the posh, Shanghai-style China Club in Central that is famous for serving the best braised abalone in town along with its retro chic décor and vibe.
It’s now time for some vertical action! Having opened in late 2014, the 60 metres-high Hong Kong Observation Wheel is the city’s most coveted ride. Located on the Central Harbourfront, the wheel is the perfect place to see the daily 8pm start of the Symphony of Lights sound and light show at the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront on the Avenue of Stars.
For another ‘up-in-the-clouds’ moment, head up to Sky100. This 360-degree indoor observation deck on the 100th floor of the International Commerce Centre—that is also the tallest building in the city with 118 floors—in Kowloon is another new city attraction that promises to have you spellbound.
That is, if Hong Kong hasn’t done its number on you already!
Fancy
a dan tat?
The perfectly scrumptious egg custard tart or dan tat as it is called in Hong Kong has had a very long and curious journey around the world before becoming one of the city’s most famous tea-time treats. While the current Hong Kong iteration is an adaptation of the pastel de nata, a popular snack in Macau, the latter is itself a colonial era derivative of the famous Portuguese pastéis de Belém of Belém, in Lisbon. These were created in the 17th century by French Catholic monks, from the egg yolks that remained after the whites were used for starching the priests’ habits!
The perfectly scrumptious egg custard tart or dan tat as it is called in Hong Kong has had a very long and curious journey around the world before becoming one of the city’s most famous tea-time treats. While the current Hong Kong iteration is an adaptation of the pastel de nata, a popular snack in Macau, the latter is itself a colonial era derivative of the famous Portuguese pastéis de Belém of Belém, in Lisbon. These were created in the 17th century by French Catholic monks, from the egg yolks that remained after the whites were used for starching the priests’ habits!
(An edited version of this article first appeared in the May 2017 issue of Jetwings Domestic in-flight magazine of Jet Airwayshttp://www.jetairways.com/EN/IN/jetexperience/magazines.aspx)
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