Hong Kong greets visitors with an iconic skyline, a renowned culinary scene, and lush, protected natural areas home to endangered birds and vibrant customs.
A sensory feast may be found in Hong Kong’s charming neighbourhoods and islands. You might be riding a vintage double-decker tram, cheering with the crowd at the city’s thoroughbred races, or just taking in the magnificent waterfront. Most tourists are unaware that more than 70% of Hong Kong is made up of mountains and vast national parks, some of which include geological and historical treasures. Take advantage of one of the world’s smoothest transportation networks to leave the city boundaries and spend the day exploring Song dynasty village, going on hikes on desolate islands, or kayaking through sea arches formed by volcanic eruptions.
Whether the delicacy in the pot is Cantonese, Sichuanese, Japanese, or French, the city that worships the God of Cookery, one of the world’s top culinary centres, has numerous demons in the kitchen. Whatever your gastronomic desires, Hong Kong will find a way to satisfy them due to the city’s great love of food and its extensive culinary repertory. The solution might come in the form of a bowl of wonton noodles, freshly steamed dim sum, a warm pineapple bun slathered in butter, a pair of the sweetest prawns or the latest celebrity chef’s inventions.
The sheer diversity of goods in Hong Kong’s shops is mind-boggling, ranging from off-the-rack Chinese dresses to handmade specialty knives (and vice versa). A similarly impressive variety of locations cater to every need, whim, and budget with a “can do” attitude: glitzy malls where the wealthy shop, chic side-street boutiques and vintage dens where fashionistas find their treasures, nerdy gadget bazaars, and a mix of markets where you can haggle to your heart’s content. Prices are often appealing to visitors because there is no sales tax in the city.
Underneath the glass and steel of Hong Kong’s business character lies a dynamic cultural landscape where its Chinese heritage, colonial links, and the contributions of its homegrown talent become entwined. Here, you can participate in dawn taichi, read a local poet’s couplets to the beat of a dragon boat, or spend time dissecting art at one of the many contemporary galleries. Aside from the countless performances held all year long in the city’s numerous museums and symphony halls, culture can also refer to indie music by the port or Chinese opera in a bamboo theatre.