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Hong Kong
The English have taken their Union Jack and gone home, but they’ve left behind more than their language in Hong Kong. They’ve also left a love of afternoon scones, a fleet of double-decker buses, and a free-market economy. China’s most accessible city is the best place outside of the Forbidden City to pick up a Ming vase, and perhaps a better place than even Tokyo to purchase electronics. It’s also a thoroughly Chinese city, with all the Buddhist temples, narrow alleyways, and exotic sights and smells you would expect from one of the Middle Kingdom’s biggest cities.
Activities and Attractions:
Hong Kong is a visually stunning city, so it’s good to start by viewing the sights. Take a tram up to the 1,750-foot Victoria peak, with views of the mainland and the South China Sea. Try to arrive at dusk when you can see the sun set and the lights of Hong Kong come up.
For another exciting view, take the Star Ferry from Hong Kong Island to the Kowloon Peninsula, which is attached to the Chinese mainland but still very much a part of Greater Hong Kong. The ferries dodge both traditional fishing boats and massive container ships in a trip that takes only five minutes but seems to span centuries. Finally, be sure to visit the Big Buddha on Lantau Island. The 100-foot-tall deity has to be seen to be believed.
Once you’re on the Kowloon side of Victoria Harbour, you’ll want to do some shopping. The Tsim Sha Tsui neighborhood is Asia’s electronics superstore. You’ll find a huge selection of cameras, camcorders, and audio equipment in the shops that line Nathan Road.
For antiques, head back to Hong Kong Island’s Hollywood Road. Here you can find authentic, high-quality porcelain, jade, silk, cloisonné, pearls, and more. Hong Kong is also one of the best places in the world to splurge on a custom-made men’s or women’s suit. Tailor shops dot Tsim Sha Tsui and the Central district on Hong Kong Island. Your hotel may even have a tailor shop on site. If you’ve got five days or more, you can leave Hong Kong with the best-fitting suit you’ve ever had.
A legacy of Hong Kong’s cross-cultural past is its dining scene, one of the best in Asia. The English contributed a tradition of afternoon tea, still a revered ritual at the city’s luxury hotels. You can also find first-class Indian food, and any East-Asian cuisine you might happen to be in the mood for. Don’t leave without getting your fill of dim sum, a southern Chinese specialty. Originally a snack food, the tiny plates of fried and steamed morsels are often eaten for breakfast or brunch. But they’re a treat any time of day.
Insider Tip:
Tipping is not widely practiced (yet) in Mainland China, but waiters and taxi drivers in Hong Kong have come to expect gratuities. In a bar or casual restaurant, leave the small change. In a more formal dining establishment, leave five to ten percent of the bill. Round up taxi fares to the nearest Hong Kong dollar. Bellhops appreciate a small tip, also. Ten to twenty Hong Kong dollars (about US$1.30-US$2.60) should do it.
-Exclusively for Perfect Escapes by Nicole Clausing |
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