Many Asian cities claim to be where East meets West, the former British Crown Colony is probably the closest the world comes to the genuine article.
Scratch the cosmopolitan, high-tech surface and you’ll discover vestiges of ancient China in Hong Kong’s culture. Residents invariably live in two worlds: skyscrapers and enormous shopping malls adjoin narrow alleys crowded with traditional vendors’ stalls. Business people use mobile ‘phones to consult fortune-tellers before making important decisions. Only a few kilometres away, farmers in sleepy walled villages in the New Territories tend their crops as they have for generations.
Geographically speaking, there are many levels to Hong Kong. Victoria Peak, on Hong Kong Island, is where mansions of the super-rich look out over the high-rise apartments of the merely affluent. Farther down the mountain are old tenements and lastly, living on the water are Hong Kong’s boat people.
Across the harbour on the mainland are Kowloon and the suburban New Territories, which were once Hong Kong’s vegetable garden and now host Hong Kong Disneyland.
Nowadays, Hong Kong has become a popular shopping destination for mainland Chinese visitors on a weekend jaunt or en route to or from Southeast Asia.
When to travel to Hong Kong
Hong Kong sits in range of the South China Seas typhoon alley and these occur in summer and early autumn. In winter and early spring, the climate can be mild and fresh but, in May, the ever-present humidity skyrockets and summer is both hot and frequently wet.
Advisor tips for Hong Kong
Hotels
Peninsula Hong Kong
In a word - “Spectacular”- Rooms are large and beautifully decorated, service is impeccable and being collected from the airport in a Rolls Royce made the stay all the more special. – Maria
Restaurants
Tokoro –Langham Place Hong Kong
Amazing food and if you are lucky enough to eat in the private dining you are able to see your meal being prepared on a large screen tv. - Renos
Bars
Portal –Langham Place –Hong Kong
Funky bar with a mixture of business and pleasure – they have complimentary broadband available. - Renos
Must Do Experiences
High Tea at the Peninsula in Hong Kong
Located in the lobby area with live String band – this popular (must book in advance) past time is available every day and the experience will leave memories. The choices of tea and food are second to none. - Julie
