Hong Kong Travel Tips

From fantastic cultural festivals to stunning attractions, Hong Kong is one of the world's hottest destinations.  There are so many good reasons why you should make Hong Kong your next holiday destination.  Here's a sample of some not to be missed events: January/February - Chinese New Year Celebrations; April / May - Bun and Buddha Festival; end of June to end of August - The Hong Kong Shopping Festival; September to October - Mid-Autumn Lantern Celebration; October to November - Best of the Best Culinary Awards; end November to end December - Hong Kong WinterFest.

Like Manhattan, Hong Kong's stunning skyline appears to leap from the sea. The city is crowded, yet peace can be found within a park's quiet corner or atop a splendid moutaintop vista. Within its 420 square miles is a myriad of shopping centers, banks, museums, restaurants, parks (including Mickey's latest), monasteries, and of course, those cathedrals of commerce: the skyscrapers!

Hong Kong's major attractions include:

Central:
This is the Hong Kong of postcards and pictures, the Hong Kong of gleaming skyscrapers dwarfing the busy boat traffic below. "Central" is the heart of Hong Kong, the financial and administrative core of the city. Land being as pricy as it is, little is left of Hong Kong's colonial past save for the 1911 Neo-Classical Legislative Building. Central straddles Victoria Harbour: Hong Kong Island to the south, Kowloon, on the Chinese mainland, to the north. Both sides are well-connected by ferries (the Star Ferry makes for an ideal sightseeing ride); invisible from above water is the network of vehicular and mass transit tunnels passing below.

Victoria Peak:
Paris has its Eiffel Tower, New York its Empire State Building, Rio its Corcovado. Hong Kong its Victoria Peak. As of this writing the 1,811-foot (552m) peak still - barely - tops the tallest buildings in the skyline it overlooks. A 10-minute funicular (the Peak Tram) makes easy work of the mountain but many board tour buses for the ride past the millionaire mansions lining the upper roads. By bus or tram, your reward for making the trip, besides the glorious views, is The Peak Tower, a collection of shops and cafes, a Madame Tussauds, and a Ripley's Believe it or Not! Odditorium.

Victoria Peak Hiking Trail:
By far, the best way to appreciate the views from atop Victoria Peak are from the looping trail that encircles it. You can stroll along its length in 45 minutes or so, taking in the views of the burgeoning city below on one side; then, a few minutes later, the tranquility of the south sides' outying islands and the South China Sea. If you've been to Gibraltar, you'll understand the lure of this walk!

Nathan Road:
Located on the Kowloon side, this is one of Hong Kong's favorite shopping boulevards. Restaurants and hotels also crowd and clog this artery, actually adding to the road's tourist appeal.

The Escalator:
As a tourist to most cities, you wouldn't normally earmark an "escalator visit" on your map. But this escalator is different. For one, it's outdoors (though covered). Second, it's a series of linked escalators covering half a mile of hillsides. Third, it's a one-way commuter system, traveling downhill from the early morning until 10:00AM. At 10:20AM, the escalators reverse direction, moving uphill the rest of the day and night. Finally, during non-commuter rush hours (the system moves about 34,000 pedestrians a day) it's an excellent way to tour the territory between Central, the "Mid-Levels," and "SoHo" (SOuth of HOllywood Road) shopping and restaurant districts.

The Museums:
Interactive exihibits add to the fun at the Hong Kong Science Musuem. Weather, gravity, electricity - all take on more meaning when you can push the buttons, lift the levers and twist the dials. The Hong Kong History Museum protects what many property developers haven't: Hong Kong's past. Scale-model Pre-Victorian homes, Victorian shops, and street scenes can be toured. Photographs and artifacts offer a glimpse of the not-to-long-ago Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Museum of Art is best known for its Chinese calligraphy pieces and an exquisite collection of Chinese watercolors.

Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront:
On the Kowloon side, this is where the Kowloon-bound Star Ferries debark. If there's a cool breeze to be caught, here's where to catch it! The views across to Hong Kong Island are true photo-ops. The Hong Kong Cultural Centre is situated here, as is the Avenue of the Stars - Hong Kong's version of Hollywood's Walk of Fame. Here, however, only the local film stars are honored...and there are many! If you're ready to take a break, take it at the famed Peninsula Hotel - always on the list of the world's top hotels. And if you can, time your break for afternoon High Tea in the hotel's lobby (daily from 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm); it's the last word in civilized living! Dress is smart casual.

Lantau Island:
A few years back, you could spend weeks in Hong Kong and never set foot on this island. Today, it's likely to be the FIRST place you'll visit as it's now the site of the new Hong Kong International Airport. Located just west of Hong Kong Island (and twice its size), Lantau is also the site of the new Hong Kong Disneyland. All of this is connected to town by expressways and high-speed trains. Several Buddhist monasteries are situated here, the Po Lin Monastery being the most visited, primarily because of its grand "Big Buddha" statue seated high above the hilltop. For the faithful (and aerobically-inclined), a flight of 268 steps will bring you up to the Buddha's feet.

More About China's Incredible Festivals from Hong Kong Tourism Board:

• Chinese New Year - A holiday festival like no other, an amazing celebration that is full of ancient traditions, rituals and culture. You'll find the festive mood infectious as the people of Hong Kong come out to welcome the New Year!  Experience the unique fusion of ancient customs and modern fun in one of the world's biggest Chinese New Year celebrations. You'll be captivated by fragrant flower markets and thrilled by a spectacular night parade, exciting fireworks, fast-paced sporting events and much, much more.
• Cheung Chau Bun Festival - For excitement and thrills, you can't beat the unique Cheung Chau Bun Festival. The colorful annual event features young children dressed in traditional costumes carried aloft in a parade through the streets, and a mad scramble up huge towers of buns to grab the 'lucky' ones off the top. The festival coincides with the Birthday of the Lord Buddha, which is celebrated with spectacular rituals held at temples throughout Hong Kong.
• The Hong Kong Shopping Festival - This sensational extravaganza highlights the best of Hong Kong: the sophistication and diversity, the superb service, the wonderful shopping and dining and, of course, great prices. Participating shops and restaurants have great offers for you with special summer promotions. Look for shops and restaurants displaying the  Quality Tourism Services (QTS) Scheme logo. QTS is the sign you can trust for superb service and genuine products with clearly displayed prices. We’ll also have wonderful entertainment lined up for you as an added bonus.
• Mid-Autumn Lantern Celebration - Glowing lanterns, special goodies to eat, and good times with family and friends — this is the Mid-Autumn Festival, a delightful tradition welcoming the harvest moon with special lantern carnivals. A highlight held over three nights is a colorful 'fire' dragon procession that takes place at Tai Hang near Causeway Bay, involving a 67-metre long fiery dragon made up of hundreds of burning joss sticks that is uniquely Hong Kong.
• Best of the Best Culinary Awards - When it comes to cuisines, no matter your taste, Hong Kong has it. More than 9,000 restaurants offer endless options, from Asian delicacies to the best in Western fare, from gourmet dining to tasty snacks, from early morning to late at night. For fans of alfresco dining there is no better place to eat than Lamma Island and the towns of Stanley, Sai Kung and Lei Yue Mun. For great Chinese food, check out the Best of the Best Culinary Guide to find award-winning restaurants. Every October, master chefs compete to create the finest Chinese cuisine in four categories of classic Hong Kong dishes. The guide lists the winning restaurants and is available at HKTB Visitor Information & Services Centres in Hong Kong.
• Hong Kong WinterFest - Celebrate the holiday season in Hong Kong  during the annual winter celebration. Hong Kong WinterFest offers visitors festive entertainment, lights and decorations. Hong Kong’s skyscrapers get extra-special treatment with colorful festive lighting like you’ve never seen before. You’ll also find lots of events specially designed for families and kids as well as festive shopping and dining to enjoy. There is no better way to take in all the seasonal excitement than with an open-top bus tour or a harbor cruise to really appreciate Hong Kong at Christmas!