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Introducing Hong Kong
On first acquaintance Hong Kong can overwhelm. Navigate its teeming, tightly packed sidewalks and you’re met at every turn with neon signage, steam-filled canteens, molasses-slow traffic and a Babel of chatter.
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Once this first sensory wave has rolled over you, though, take a deep breath and start swimming with the current, because you’ll find Hong Kong is a place to delight in. Utterly safe and fantastically well organised, it offers little moments of perfection. You may find them on a plastic stool enjoying a bargain bowl of beef brisket soup or simply gazing at the thrilling harbour vistas. You’ll find them taking afternoon tea in the cool of a five-star hotel lobby or enjoying balmy open-air beers in the party zones.
Hong Kong can nudge you out of your comfort zone but usually rewards you for it, so try the stinky beancurd, sample the shredded jellyfish, brave the hordes at the city centre horseracing and join in the dawn tai chi. Escape the city limits and other experiences await – watching the sun rise from a remote mountain peak, hiking surf-beaten beaches or exploring deserted islands.
If it’s pampering you’re after, money can buy the ultimate luxuries in a city well used to serving its tiny, moneyed elite. Yet Hong Kong is also a city of simple pleasures. Most often it’s the least pricey experiences – a $2 tram or ferry ride, a whiff of incense curling from temple rafters, savouring fishing-village sundowners and seafood – that are the stuff of priceless memories.
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Last updated: Feb 25, 2010
Tips & articles
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Maximum fun, minimum money: Hong Kong’s best freebies
1 December 2009
Hong Kong is not a cheap place, but with a bit of planning you can spend a day in the city and spend...
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Jackie Chan’s dream itinerary: China
30 June 2009
We asked international film star Jackie Chan what his perfect trip through China would look like. Here’s...
Hong Kong
Recommended things to do & see
- Entertainment (87)
- Restaurants (169)
- Shopping (121)
- Sights (126)
- Hotels & hostels
Our Top Picks For Hong Kong
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1 The Peak
Ride the hair-raising tram for unbeatable harbour and city views
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2 Victoria Harbour
Float on one of the world's busiest and most exotic harbours
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3 Happy Valley
Listen to thundering hoofs and cheering crowds right in the city centre
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4 Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple
Divine the future alongside worshippers at the city's most interesting temple
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5 Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade
Spectacular harbour and skyline vistas day and night
Related Groups
Our favourite Hong Kong Blogs (beta)
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More updates on Travel to/from Hong Kong Airport to Shezhen
Blog: Travel China and the World - 6 February 2010
The questions about how to get from Hong Kong Airport to Shenzhen and back keep coming up in various forums. Even now that there are direct flights from Taiwan to China (rather than via Hong Kong) the topic is still active. The fact is there is still a border and a border check [...]
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A First Timers Expectations of Hong Kong
Blog: Vagabond3 - 1 February 2010
After successfully completing the 4320SYD contest, we won around the world tickets with VAustralia and their Virgin partners. We get to travel to Sydney, Hong Kong and London. With the Chinese New Year fast approaching (it’s actually Valentine’s Day this year), I thought it was only appropriate to research more and discover what Hong Kong is [...]
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Posting from Fragrant Harbour
Blog: Four Seas As Home - 1 February 2010
Hainan was wonderful (more pictures to come soon), and I was expecting to work for a few more weeks before the whole country goes on break for Spring Festival. But Wuhan had other plans for me, and what I thought would be a simple application to extend my visa turned out to be not so [...]
