Hong Kong - A Taste of the Orient - another of my favourite cities.
Hong Kong is a city that never sleeps, the New York of the east with a dose of the orient chucked in for good measure. Its gritty reality means Hong Kong is the real deal, far removed from the sanitised versions of the Far East found in cities like Singapore. Gateway to China and a consumer and cultural haven packed into small area, Hong Kong has something for everyone.
Ideal for a holiday or shorter stopover it is an intoxicating place and while it may be quite westernised Chinese traditions dominate.
The grandeur of the high rises of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon are impressive and where better to see them than from Victoria Peak, catch the Peak Tram for spectacular views of the city, so steep is the ride that the floor of the tram is angled to allow standing passengers to remain upright. Running for over 100 years the Peak Tram is a Hong Kong institution and must do for any visitor. Round off your visit with a trip to the famous Peak Café for lunch or dinner where east meets west and a large outdoor terrace welcomes guests.
Some of the modern architecture in Hong Kong competes with any modern day cities but the ancient Chinese philosophy of feng shui has played a part in this city's skyline, although the impressive building Bank of China surprisingly seems to flout some of these rules but remains an important landmark.
Soak up the atmosphere and energy of the city and catch the Star ferry another must do one and of the cheapest and most spectacular commuter routes in the world. The ferries ply their trade in a variety of routes taking passengers from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon over one of the busiest waterways.
Another commuter / sight seeing chance is the Central Mid Level Escalators, which transport people up and down the steep hill from central Hong Kong to the mid levels with stops throughout the journey - a real quirky experience and great people and shop watching opportunities.
Hong Kong offers a consumer paradise from designer shops to markets galore. Whether you like the glossy designer shopping malls or the chase of a bargain at one of the many specialist markets, the city has it all.
If you are lucky you will catch one of Hong Kong's many festivals, which feature spectacular fireworks and parades and are really a sight to see.
Worth a visit for shopping is some of the many markets in Hong Kong - Stanley market, visit the area and relax away from the frenetic pace of the heart of Hong Kong. There really are markets galore for all sorts of products - jade night markets at Temple Street
Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road is really worth a visit where you watch locals pay their respects or get your fortune told
If you fancy a spot of traditional Chinese exercise the hkta runs a variety of tai chi lessons in some of the parks - check with the hkta for days and locations.
While there is plenty to do in Hong Kong it is always nice to get out of the city, Lantau Island, which can be reached by ferry, is home to the Po Lin Monastry and on a hill above the monastry is a huge 22m bronze Buddha statue which can be seen for miles.
Another day trip from Hong Kong is a visit to Macau, which is only a 90-minute ferry ride from Hong Kong. Once a Portuguese colony it is also now a Special Administrative Region of China (SAR) and is quite different to Hong Kong.
Savour new experience and tastes, often unique to Hong Kong and its multi-cultural influences. Food is a major event in Hong Kong, where you can sample some Chinese food at its best. Dim sum or yum cha Cantonese snacks served for breakfast or lunch - plenty of international fayre on offer too.
So much to do and see the problem is fitting it all in!
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Hotel - 308 Des Voeux Road West, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 73 - 75 Chatham Road South, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Hong Kong - 4 Stars, 3 Stars - 308, 205 Rooms
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Advantages: All foreign countries have tha advantage of being different to your hoome. If you are like me, this bad review will make you want to go there and experience it for yourself. Just take my advice and dont prioritise it. Disadvantages: Dirty, expensive, unfriendly atm, busy, smoggy, ther are better places to backpack.
MadProffessor 03.04.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Hong Kong
Advantages: All foreign countries have tha advantage of being different to your hoome. If you are like me, this bad review will make you want to go there and experience it for yourself. Just take my advice and dont prioritise it. Disadvantages: Dirty, expensive, unfriendly atm, busy, smoggy, ther are better places to backpack.
MadProffessor 03.04.2001 ·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Hong Kong
Oct 16th, 2009
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