In Short
Hong Kong is simply dazzling. Experience the
distinctive blend of
East and West in this dynamic city. Feel the rush as you indulge in
shopping. Savour culinary delicacies. Open your senses to Hong Kong's
amazing skyline, bustling harbour and peaceful countryside. Hong Kong
is a sparkling city full of diversity and sophistication.
This tiny island has a huge history: from the
Opium wars, British
rule, and the emergence of Hong Kong as one of the economic tigers of
Asia, to the restoration of Chinese sovereignty. Despite its British
colonial past, Hong Kong has always stuck to its roots, and the culture
beneath the glitz is pure Chinese. All of Hong Kong's history is based
around Victoria Harbour, one of the world's great deep-sea ports and
the centre of an exciting hub of culture and nightlife.
Perched at the bottom of the Chinese mainland and
within whistling
distance of the city of Ghangzhou, Hong Kong had long been our window
into China. As the Chinese giant opens up, Hong Kong still serves as
the place where Asia meets the rest of the world, and it has grown into
one of the world 's great international cities.
With a reputation as being the 'Events Capital of
Asia', Hong Kong
hosts a festival, carnival, sporting event or business function at most
times of the year. Enjoy fantastic summer sales and savour great food
at the 2005 Hong Kong Shopping Festival, running this year from 25 June
to 31 August.
For more information about shopping in Hong Kong
visit DiscoverHongKong.com/australia
and find out where to shop, look for great buys, search for specialist
markets such as the jade and flower markets and much more.
Best Time to
Visit
The weather is best from October to December, with
clear skies and sunny days. Summer gets steamy from June to August.
The shoulder seasons of March to April and October
to November are best for great value travel deals.
Travelling in late January and February, around
Chinese New Year, requires considerable planning ahead but is worth the
effort.
Travel Tips
There is always something happening in Hong Kong so it is a great
idea to plan your trip around a festival or event
Things To See
& Do
Hong Kong is a rich fusion of the old and the new,
the traditional and the global, all delivered with a pulse.
Known as the Events Capital of Asia, Hong
Kong hosts a festival, carnival, sporting event or business function at
most times of the year. Here are just some.
The most significant traditional event for Chinese
people everywhere is Chinese New Year.
Scheduled according to the lunar calendar, it occurs in January or
February. Fireworks crackle and cascade through the night sky. Gifts of
newly printed money are presented in crisp red packets with the
traditional greeting: Kung Hei Fat Choy ('May you be lucky and
rich').
In Hong Kong, the Cheung Chau Bun Festival
in early May has
even more significance, placating the spirits of the former residents
of the island who, according to legend, were either killed by pirates
or died in a plague. Colourful towers of buns reach for the sky of the
island of Cheung Chau for people to feast on.
Internationally renowned is the Tuen Ng – the Dragon
Boat Festival
held in June. This mad race has a heritage going back to around 200BC,
but today attracts corporate sponsors and teams from around the world.
Everyone crowds around the harbour and in spectator boats, watching the
teams of men and (since 1971) women trash through the harbour in the
heavy wooden craft.
Each year in June to August, visitors
to Hong Kong can immerse
themselves in a frenzy of shopping fun highlighted by an amazing
selection of goods, superb quality service as well as late night dining
and shopping specials.
During this shopping extravaganza, many shops and
restaurants will
stay open until 10pm or later to welcome visitors. There are some
incredible prizes to be won during the 2005 Hong Kong Shopping Festival
Lucky Draw! Shop or dine at a Hong Kong Shopping Festival participating
merchant or restaurant and you may go home a winner. Shopping and
dining have always been exciting in Hong Kong and now the Lucky Draw
provides another amazing incentive for you to spend until you heart's
content.
All visitors to Hong Kong during the Hong Kong
Shopping
Festival will receive a Passport to Special Offers with exclusive
privileges and discounts for shopping and dining experiences during
this period.
Modern Hong Kong also hosts a number of
high-class, renowned arts festivals and sporting events.
Fans of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li will not
be surprised to hear that the Hong Kong Film Festival
is growing in international importance. Held in April, around 300 films
from around the world are shown during a 16-day cinematic extravaganza.
The Hong Kong Arts Festival looks like
further establishing
the city's cultural credentials with a variety of international acts
performing each year. The Chinese National Theatre is also promising
something revolutionary.
From a night at the opera to a day at the races.
The Hong Kong International Races,
in December, boasts four international group one races, including the
Hong Kong Cup, which serves as the 14th leg and finale of the World
Series of Racing.
For lovers of rugby, the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens
tournament is
an international highlight. The three-day carnival is famous for its
fun atmosphere, mad fans and thrilling Sevens rugby.
Restaurants &
Bars
Eating out is a way of life in Hong Kong, both on
business or family
occasions, and is a combination of a lively Chinese and international
food culture, relative wealth and traditional associations between
eating well and living well. The passion for food in Hong Kong
culminates every year in March when it hosts the two-week Hong Kong
Food Festival.
What people around the world generally regard as
'Chinese food' has
probably originated from the Cantonese cuisine, which is the staple
diet of Hong Kong.
In the Central District, try Hunan
Garden (The Forum
(3rd floor), Exchange Sq., Central, Central District; Tel: +852 2868
2880) for a taste of another part of China, where the food is spicier,
sizzling and loaded with garlic and chilli. The d袯r sets this place
apart, as does the rather unique list of Hunanese wines.
Luk Yu Tea House (24–26 Stanley St; Tel:
852/2523 5464) is a blast from Hong Kong's past. Operating since 1933,
the most famous teahouse in Hong Kong has slow-turning ceiling
fans, wooden booths for couples and spitoons. This is one of the best
places to try Chinese teas and dim sum.
The place can be packed with locals and the staff can be surly. The
best times are early in the morning or from dinner onwards.
In Kowloon, international dining in a
stunning setting awaits at Felix
(top floor of The Peninsula hotel, Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui; Tel +
852 2920 2888 ext. 3188). A stone's throw from the harbour, the
restaurant takes full advantage of the views with massive glass
facades. However, the interior is as much of an eye-opener, with wavy
walls and a tiny heat-sensitive disco floor that lights up under
dancing feet. The east-meets-west cuisine and people-watching
opportunities are also great. Go early for a cheaper three-course
special, or pop in later for drinks.
Fook Lam Moon (53–59 Kimberley
Rd; Tel: + 852 2366
0286) is regarded by old-timers as the finest Cantonese cuisine in the
world, and is the place to see and be seen for local movers and
shakers. This is also where the most exotic, and expensive, cuisine can
be sampled. Try bird nest, abalone and the controversial shark's fin
soup.
Watertours combine sightseeing with dining.
Evening tours can
include drinks on a traditional Chinese junk, dinner in a floating
restaurant, scenic pauses on the Peak, or all of the above.
Getting Around
Hong Kong is compact enough to walk around, signs
are in English and
Chinese, and the public transport system is the equal of any other in
the world.
Train
The MTR, Hong Kong's underground train system, is
swift, runs on
time and is air-conditioned. It runs from the north side of Hong Kong
island to east and west of Kowloon and out to Lantau Island.
The Kowloon-Canton Railway runs from Kowloon
station out to the border between the New Territories and mainland
China.
Trams
Trams run across the north of Hong Kong Island.
They are frequent and stop regularly. Take the top deck for the best
views.
Ferries
The Star Ferry has been running across Victoria
Harbour from Hong
Kong to Kowloon since 1898. The service finishes at 11.30pm so
late-night revellers may want to get a cab back to the hotel.
Taxis
Taxis are comparatively cheap in Hong Kong, which
means they are
also popular and can therefore be difficult to find during busier
periods. Taxi drivers will probably know the name of your hotel in
English but are less likely to know the English street names – ask
someone to write the address in Chinese for you before you leave.
Taxis from Hong Kong are restricted to operating
to and from Hong
Kong itself, not in Kowloon or the new territories. Taking a taxi
across the harbour incurs extra charges resulting from tunnel tolls.
Travel Tips
If you are finding it hard to hail a taxi, you may be standing in a
restricted stopping zone.
Airports
Hong Kong is a major international transport hub
with no shortage of flights to most destinations.
Hong Kong International Airport is located on a
small island off Lantau, 34km from central Hong Kong.
The Airport Express Link Train takes 23 minutes
from the airport to
central Hong Kong, crossing the Tsing Ma Bridge, the world's longest
single-span suspension bridge.
The official currency of Hong Kong is the Hong
Kong dollar (HKD).
Notes are issued by the banks in denominations from HK$10 (which is
being replaced by a coin) up to HK$1000. Coins are minted by the
government from HK10c to HK$10.
ATMs linked to the international Cirrus and PLUS
networks (check
with your bank about joining these networks) are readily available 24
hours a day and offer competitive exchange rates.
Credit cards are widely accepted but it is worth
noting that some smaller shops may offer better prices for cash.
Cash is certainly more convenient, but not as safe
as other methods
of carrying money. It's a good idea to take some with you though, for
emergencies.
Tipping
It is not customary to tip taxi drivers in Hong
Kong, although
rounding up the fare is considered fair. It's almost mandatory to tip
hotel staff at least HKD10, and if you make use of the porters at the
airport, expect to pay about HKD2 per suitcase.
Travel Tips
Exchange rates can vary widely but the larger banks usually offer
better rates
than the street-side vendors |
