Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Convertidor de moneda
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Airport: Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) |
City Statistics
Location: Special Administrative Region (SAR), People's Republic of China.
Dialling code: 852.
Population: 7,055,071 (2009 estimate).
Time zone: GMT + 8.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz; square three-pin plugs are common, although round three-pin and two-pin plugs are also in use.
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Overview
Hong Kong can be one of the most engaging and unexpectedly beautiful urban spectacles on earth.
Situated at the mouth of the Pearl River Delta on the southwestern coast of China, Hong Kong is a destination imbued with a remarkable mix of Eastern and Western influences. Since the handover from British colonial to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, it has become far more Chinese than ever before, but for tourists the joy of visiting lies in being wedged between two diverse cultures simultaneously.
Hong Kong Island with its financial hub is the energetic heartbeat of the region, where cloud-tickling skyscrapers, neon light night spectacular, fine dining, high-end shopping and world-class hotels are all part of the landscape.
Get down to street level however and the laneways, wet markets and traditional Chinese haunts are a reminder that beyond the city lies a working class populace still making ends meet the old way - and often the hard way.
Situated at the mouth of the Pearl River Delta on the southwestern coast of China, Hong Kong is a destination imbued with a remarkable mix of Eastern and Western influences. Since the handover from British colonial to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, it has become far more Chinese than ever before, but for tourists the joy of visiting lies in being wedged between two diverse cultures simultaneously.
Hong Kong Island with its financial hub is the energetic heartbeat of the region, where cloud-tickling skyscrapers, neon light night spectacular, fine dining, high-end shopping and world-class hotels are all part of the landscape.
Get down to street level however and the laneways, wet markets and traditional Chinese haunts are a reminder that beyond the city lies a working class populace still making ends meet the old way - and often the hard way.
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Getting There By Air
Airlines flying directly to Hong Kong from the UK include British Airways, Virgin Atlantics, Quantas and Cathay Pacific.
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
Tel: 2181 8888.
Website: www.hongkongairport.com
Hong Kong's airport is located 45km (28 miles) from central Hong Kong, at Chek Lap Kok on Lantau Island. The expanse and quality of shopping, dining and relaxation facilities at Chep Lap Kok are a real eye-opener for any first-time visitor.
Airport facilities
These include the Hong Kong SkyMart shopping centre, which has more than 130 shops, three information centres, free Wi-Fi access, bureaux de change, the 24-hour Plaza Shower & Relaxation Lounge, which offers showers and rooms for napping between flights, and the Connect Zone business centre (Level 6 departures hall). Car hire is available at the Ground Transport Centre from Avis, Hertz and other major operators.
Transport to the city
Rail, bus and taxi links from the airport to central Hong Kong leave from the Ground Transportation Centre. The easiest connection is via the high-speed MTR Airport Express train (tel: 2881 8888), which runs daily and leaves every 12 minutes (journey time - 24 minutes). The Airport Express is operated by the Mass Transit Railway (MTR), which also connects districts through Kowloon and Hong Kong Island with the airport. Passengers can take advantage of free shuttle buses linking MTR's Hong Kong and Kowloon stations with major hotels.
By bus, the quickest way to central Hong Kong is on the Airbus (tel: 2261 2791) and Cityflyer airport buses (tel: 2873 0818; www.nwstbus.com.hk), which depart every 15 minutes (journey time - 1 hour) for services to Central. About 30 franchised routes serve the airport, including night buses, with 17 pick-up bays.
Taxis to Hong Kong are readily available. Red taxis serve Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, green taxis serve the New Territories and blue taxis serve Lantau Island (journey time to Hong Kong - 45 minutes and costs approximately HK$240-300).
Ferry links operate between the airport and Tuen Mun in the New Territories every 30 minutes (journey time - 9 minutes). Turbojet (tel: 2307 0880; www.turbojetseaexpress.com.hk) provides direct ferry services from Chep Lap Kok airport to/from Macau (journey time - 45 minutes) and Shenzhen (journey time - 40 minutes).
Approximate flight times to Hong Kong
From London is 11 hours 45 minutes; from New York is 20 hours (due to non-stop New York-Hong Kong services); from Los Angeles is 14 hours 35 minutes; from Toronto is 15 hours 15 minutes and from Sydney is 9 hours.
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
Tel: 2181 8888.
Website: www.hongkongairport.com
Hong Kong's airport is located 45km (28 miles) from central Hong Kong, at Chek Lap Kok on Lantau Island. The expanse and quality of shopping, dining and relaxation facilities at Chep Lap Kok are a real eye-opener for any first-time visitor.
Airport facilities
These include the Hong Kong SkyMart shopping centre, which has more than 130 shops, three information centres, free Wi-Fi access, bureaux de change, the 24-hour Plaza Shower & Relaxation Lounge, which offers showers and rooms for napping between flights, and the Connect Zone business centre (Level 6 departures hall). Car hire is available at the Ground Transport Centre from Avis, Hertz and other major operators.
Transport to the city
Rail, bus and taxi links from the airport to central Hong Kong leave from the Ground Transportation Centre. The easiest connection is via the high-speed MTR Airport Express train (tel: 2881 8888), which runs daily and leaves every 12 minutes (journey time - 24 minutes). The Airport Express is operated by the Mass Transit Railway (MTR), which also connects districts through Kowloon and Hong Kong Island with the airport. Passengers can take advantage of free shuttle buses linking MTR's Hong Kong and Kowloon stations with major hotels.
By bus, the quickest way to central Hong Kong is on the Airbus (tel: 2261 2791) and Cityflyer airport buses (tel: 2873 0818; www.nwstbus.com.hk), which depart every 15 minutes (journey time - 1 hour) for services to Central. About 30 franchised routes serve the airport, including night buses, with 17 pick-up bays.
Taxis to Hong Kong are readily available. Red taxis serve Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, green taxis serve the New Territories and blue taxis serve Lantau Island (journey time to Hong Kong - 45 minutes and costs approximately HK$240-300).
Ferry links operate between the airport and Tuen Mun in the New Territories every 30 minutes (journey time - 9 minutes). Turbojet (tel: 2307 0880; www.turbojetseaexpress.com.hk) provides direct ferry services from Chep Lap Kok airport to/from Macau (journey time - 45 minutes) and Shenzhen (journey time - 40 minutes).
Approximate flight times to Hong Kong
From London is 11 hours 45 minutes; from New York is 20 hours (due to non-stop New York-Hong Kong services); from Los Angeles is 14 hours 35 minutes; from Toronto is 15 hours 15 minutes and from Sydney is 9 hours.
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Getting Around
Public Transport: Hong Kong has one of the most efficient and diverse public transport systems in the world. However, the diversity of operators prevents full integration and it is not possible, for example, to transfer from train to minibus on the same ticket, although the Octopus Card is very widely accepted.
The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) (tel: 2881 8888; www.mtr.com.hk) runs eight underground metro lines and the Airport Express link. It is more expensive than the ferry but quicker. Fares are metered by the number of stations, with only limited zoning.
Bus routes run throughout the territory, with cross-harbour routes via the tunnel. These, however, are often very crowded and their environmental credentials are questionable. Exact change is required for passengers not in possession of an Octopus Card.
Minibuses operate on fixed routes. These pick up passengers who flag them down like taxis and stop on request (the procedure is for passengers to stand up and yell) except at regular bus stops and other restricted areas. Payment is almost invariably by cash and drivers are not compelled to move without a full load, so they often loiter at traffic lights, waiting to pick up more passengers. Fares vary by distance and are usually incomprehensible to non-locals - some minibuses now accept Octopus Card payment. A night service operates between Central in Hong Kong and Mong Kok and between eastern Hong Kong Island and Kennedy Town in the west.
Trams only operate on Hong Kong Island. They are frequent and cheap and passengers pay with an Octopus Card or exact change as they exit. Temporary visitors are unlikely to encounter the far more advanced supertrams in suburban Kowloon. The Peak Tram, on the Island, is a funicular tramway to the upper terminus on Victoria Peak.
The Star Ferry (tel: 2367 7065; www.starferry.com.hk) ride across Hong Kong harbour is a tourist ‘must do', as well as the cheapest way to make the crossing. Passengers pay with an Octopus Card or exact change as they enter. Star Ferry terminals are in Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, Wan Chai and Hung Hom. Other ferry services also connect with the outlying islands of the territory and other destinations.
The MTR Urban Day Pass includes a map and souvenir ticket. A three-day Hong Kong Transport Pass is also available, with one or two Airport Express single journey tickets and three days of unlimited MTR rides. Both can be upgraded for use on all public transport services. For visitors staying for a week or more, it is worth getting the Octopus Card (tel: 2266 2222; www.octopuscards.com) - a smart card that automatically deducts the cost of the journey when it is placed on a sensor. The MTR Urban Day Pass and Octopus Cards are available for purchase at the ticket kiosk of any MTR station.
The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) (tel: 2881 8888; www.mtr.com.hk) runs eight underground metro lines and the Airport Express link. It is more expensive than the ferry but quicker. Fares are metered by the number of stations, with only limited zoning.
Bus routes run throughout the territory, with cross-harbour routes via the tunnel. These, however, are often very crowded and their environmental credentials are questionable. Exact change is required for passengers not in possession of an Octopus Card.
Minibuses operate on fixed routes. These pick up passengers who flag them down like taxis and stop on request (the procedure is for passengers to stand up and yell) except at regular bus stops and other restricted areas. Payment is almost invariably by cash and drivers are not compelled to move without a full load, so they often loiter at traffic lights, waiting to pick up more passengers. Fares vary by distance and are usually incomprehensible to non-locals - some minibuses now accept Octopus Card payment. A night service operates between Central in Hong Kong and Mong Kok and between eastern Hong Kong Island and Kennedy Town in the west.
Trams only operate on Hong Kong Island. They are frequent and cheap and passengers pay with an Octopus Card or exact change as they exit. Temporary visitors are unlikely to encounter the far more advanced supertrams in suburban Kowloon. The Peak Tram, on the Island, is a funicular tramway to the upper terminus on Victoria Peak.
The Star Ferry (tel: 2367 7065; www.starferry.com.hk) ride across Hong Kong harbour is a tourist ‘must do', as well as the cheapest way to make the crossing. Passengers pay with an Octopus Card or exact change as they enter. Star Ferry terminals are in Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, Wan Chai and Hung Hom. Other ferry services also connect with the outlying islands of the territory and other destinations.
The MTR Urban Day Pass includes a map and souvenir ticket. A three-day Hong Kong Transport Pass is also available, with one or two Airport Express single journey tickets and three days of unlimited MTR rides. Both can be upgraded for use on all public transport services. For visitors staying for a week or more, it is worth getting the Octopus Card (tel: 2266 2222; www.octopuscards.com) - a smart card that automatically deducts the cost of the journey when it is placed on a sensor. The MTR Urban Day Pass and Octopus Cards are available for purchase at the ticket kiosk of any MTR station.
Taxis: Taxis are plentiful in Hong Kong and Kowloon and are extremely cheap - most journeys cost less than HK$30. There are taxi ranks in busy locations but taxis can be flagged down anywhere on the street. Red taxis serve Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, green ones serve the New Territories and blue ones Lantau Island. Taxis with a rectangular red plaque on their dashboard are generally cross-harbour taxis meaning passengers only pay a one-way toll for using the cross-harbour tunnel. Some journeys incur extra tolls, and charges are also sometimes added when carrying luggage. It is common for passengers to round up the fare to the nearest dollar, although this is not mandatory.
Many drivers speak a little English but visitors would be advised to carry a map or have their destination written in Chinese characters. It is also wise for passengers to ask if the taxi is a Hong Kong or Kowloon taxi when boarding, especially late at night - drivers are happiest sticking to their own side of the water.
Many drivers speak a little English but visitors would be advised to carry a map or have their destination written in Chinese characters. It is also wise for passengers to ask if the taxi is a Hong Kong or Kowloon taxi when boarding, especially late at night - drivers are happiest sticking to their own side of the water.
Driving in the City: Driving in Hong Kong is best left to professionals. With one of the best public transport systems in the world and ubiquitous taxis, there is no need for visitors to risk going behind the wheel. Rates on cars are strong deterrents, with a 100% vehicle import tax and petrol tax, as well as hefty insurance and vehicle registration fees.
Major car parks in Central are at the Parking Building, Murray Road, and the Airport Express Terminal, Man Cheung Road. In Causeway Bay, the World Trade Centre is the main parking point, while in Kowloon, parking can be found at the Lippo Sun Plaza, Kowloon Park Drive in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Major car parks in Central are at the Parking Building, Murray Road, and the Airport Express Terminal, Man Cheung Road. In Causeway Bay, the World Trade Centre is the main parking point, while in Kowloon, parking can be found at the Lippo Sun Plaza, Kowloon Park Drive in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Car Hire: Car hire companies usually require drivers to be over 25 years and to pay a large refundable deposit. A valid driving licence from the country of residence or an International Driving Permit is required, as well as third-party insurance. Major operators include Avis (tel: 2890 6988; www.avis.com) and Hertz (tel: 2525 1313; www.hertz.com).
Bicycle Hire: Despite the heavy traffic and appalling air quality, there are places for visitors to enjoy cycling - out on the islands or in the New Territories. Bicycles are available for hire from Hop Cheong Bicycle Shop (tel: 2896 0816) and Siu Kee Bicycle (tel: 2981 1384) in Cheung Chau. The New Territories offer bicycle hire at Tai Po MTR station. For mountain bike gear, contact Flying Ball Bicycle Company (tel: 2381 3661; www.flyingball.com) in Cheung Sha Wan.
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Hotels
Hotels
The hotels below have been grouped into three pricing categories:
Luxury (over HK$3,000)
Moderate (HK$1,000 to HK$3,000)
Cheap (up to HK$1,000)
These prices are for a double room per night, including breakfast but excluding service charge and tax, unless otherwise specified.
All hotel bills in Hong Kong are subject to 10% service charge and 3% government tax.
Cheap
The hotels below have been grouped into three pricing categories:
Luxury (over HK$3,000)
Moderate (HK$1,000 to HK$3,000)
Cheap (up to HK$1,000)
These prices are for a double room per night, including breakfast but excluding service charge and tax, unless otherwise specified.
All hotel bills in Hong Kong are subject to 10% service charge and 3% government tax.
Cheap
Bishop Lei International House
This 3-star hotel and hostel, located on Robinson Road, is owned and run by the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong. The rooms are small but comfortable, with en-suite bathrooms, and many offer splendid panoramic views of Victoria Harbour and the towers of Central. Décor is simple but clean and well maintained. The hotel offers a swimming pool and basic business facilities. There is a free shuttle bus service to Wan Chai and the Airport Express station in Central.
4 Robinson Road, Mid-Levels
Tel: 2868 0828.
Website: www.bishopleihtl.com.hk
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
This 399-room ?ber-luxury hotel is one of the finest in the region. Magnificent harbour views, exquisite service, a suite of fine restaurants and bars, and a 2,044 sq m (6,706 sq ft) spa with 18 treatment rooms are combined with a superb location on the Hong Kong waterfront, with easy access to the Star Ferry terminal, the Central bar and restaurant districts and the IFC Shopping mall.
8 Finance Street, Central
Tel: 3196 8888.
Website: www.fourseasons.com/hongkong
InterContinental Hong Kong
A 5-star landmark right on the Kowloon waterfront, the InterContinental offers a magnificent prospect of the skyscrapers of Central, both from many of its 495 rooms and lobby bar. The view over the rim of its outdoor Jacuzzi is just as fabulous, making for stylish late-night dips. Conference, business facilities and day spa are equally lavish. Its top-grade eateries include SPOON by Alain Ducasse and NOBU.
18 Salisbury Road, Kowloon
Tel: 2721 1211.
Website: http://hongkong-ic.intercontinental.com
Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong
The Mandarin Oriental, which overlooks Victoria Harbour from its perch right in the middle of Central, is a Hong Kong institution. The 502 rooms are known for their elegance, and its tearooms and buffets also enjoy a loyal following. The lobby has style to spare with a somewhat recherché art deco flavour. Top-class dining options include Pierre and Mandarin Grill, while favourite bars include the M Bar and Captain's Bar.
5 Connaught Road, Central
Tel: 2522 0111.
Website: www.mandarinoriental.com/hongkong
The Peninsula Hong Kong
The jewel in the crown of Kowloon's waterfront hospitality palaces, The Peninsula is a colonial foundation dating from 1928, which has kept its supremacy well into the post-colonial era. Comprehensive, modern facilities embellish period grandeur, while the tearooms at street level are magnificent. The hotel affords magnificent harbour views from some suites; it also boasts top-class restaurants, including Gaddi's and Philippe Starck's celebrated Felix, and even offers city helicopter trips from its rooftop helipad.
Salisbury Road, Kowloon
Tel: 2920 2888.
Website: www.peninsula.com/hongkong
Holiday Inn Hong Kong-Golden Mile
Kowloon's representative of the Holiday Inn chain is situated right on Nathan Road, the Golden Mile of shops and souvenir stalls. Its 597 rooms are furnished and equipped to the usual Holiday Inn standard and it makes an excellent choice for travellers on a budget, with a luxurious feel that belies its 4-star category. Its function rooms provide full resources for events and business functions.
50 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui West, Kowloon
Tel: 2369 3111.
Website: www.goldenmile-hk.holiday-inn.com
Luxe Manor Hotel
In big, bold and brassy Hong Kong, boutique accommodation with a designer edge can be difficult to find. Fortunately Luxe Manor, with its 153 rooms and six themed suites, caters to guests who believe bigger is not necessarily better. The interior is a quirky mix of grand old architecture fused with the surrealist art and design of the early 20th century. Guest rooms feature little luxuries such as marble bathrooms and mini-bar. The hotel's restaurant, Aspasia, is helmed by Michelin-starred chef Roland Schuller. Alternatively step out onto Knutsford Terrace, a buzzing alfresco strip.
39 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Tel: 3763 8880.
Website: www.slh.com/theluxemanor
W Hong Kong
One of Hong Kong's newest hotels (opened in late 2008) offers neon light skyline views from all 393 rooms. The interior draws on inspiration from the environment with tree-like columns in the main entrance and wood grain and water patterns in the guest rooms, where handmade soft furnishings add to the home-away-from-home ambience. On the 76th floor, the rooftop swimming pool is one of the highest in the world. In the Living Room, two-storey ceilings and plush seating provide an ideal place to kickback and relax before dining at one of the hotel's restaurants.
1 Austin Road West, Kowloon Station, Kowloon
Tel: 2717 2222.
Website: www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/index.html
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Business Etiquette
Suits are advisable for business - Hong Kong can be surprisingly formal in its outward business standards, in contrast to the casual buccaneering entrepreneurialism of its business practice. Hong Kongers are also not casual about business punctuality - appointments should be fixed in advance and kept. The culture of business cards is prevalent and, if possible, cards should be printed with Chinese translations on the reverse.
Although business lunches (especially dim sum) and after-hours drinking are a prevalent part of the Hong Kong business scene, there is not the same emphasis on drinking parties and karaoke bonding evenings as there is in China and Japan. Hong Kongers are too busy focusing on the bottom line to worry about company camaraderie. Expat workers drink together frequently but this is not a formal part of local business culture - just an unavoidable one.
Normal office hours are Monday to Friday 0900-1300 and 1400-1800 and Saturday 0900-1300, with some offices staying open later on Saturday.
Although business lunches (especially dim sum) and after-hours drinking are a prevalent part of the Hong Kong business scene, there is not the same emphasis on drinking parties and karaoke bonding evenings as there is in China and Japan. Hong Kongers are too busy focusing on the bottom line to worry about company camaraderie. Expat workers drink together frequently but this is not a formal part of local business culture - just an unavoidable one.
Normal office hours are Monday to Friday 0900-1300 and 1400-1800 and Saturday 0900-1300, with some offices staying open later on Saturday.
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Sightseeing
Sightseeing Overview: Hong Kong was part of China before coming under British administration as a result of the 19th-century Opium Wars. When peace terms were drawn up in 1841, Hong Kong Island was ceded by China to Britain. It remained under British control (apart from a four-year period under Japanese occupation during WWII) until the 1997 handover.
Much has changed since 1841 when then foreign secretary Lord Palmerston described Hong Kong as ‘nothing but a barren island without a house upon it'. Hong Kong can be one of the most engaging and unexpectedly beautiful urban spectacles on earth.
A two-minute walk from the bustle of Central reveals a harbour view that the architectural boom of the 1980s and 1990s has turned into a mixture of Manhattan and San Francisco, with added shipping bustle. After dark, it just gets better. The view of Hong Kong's glittering lights from the Peak by night is unforgettable, particularly at 2000 when the nightly Symphony of Lights laser and music show invigorates the towers of Central and Kowloon's Tsim Sha Tsui.
By contrast, the south side of Hong Kong Island, at Stanley or Repulse Bay, is an entrancing islandscape straight out of a classical Chinese ink painting. And any backstreet market provides folksy, ethnic charm by the barrow load. Lamma Island provides a picturesque (power plant excepted) getaway and some excellent seafood restaurants and vegetarian cafés.
Old colonial Hong Kong may have been short on grand monuments but the now famous Bank of China and the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) give the place a 21st-century buzz suited to one of the Pacific Rim's most pivotal economic hubs. These buildings share the limelight with the rainbow-coloured light show of The Center skyscraper, the waterside steel wings of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and the soaring International Finance Center complex, Hong Kong's tallest building.
Much has changed since 1841 when then foreign secretary Lord Palmerston described Hong Kong as ‘nothing but a barren island without a house upon it'. Hong Kong can be one of the most engaging and unexpectedly beautiful urban spectacles on earth.
A two-minute walk from the bustle of Central reveals a harbour view that the architectural boom of the 1980s and 1990s has turned into a mixture of Manhattan and San Francisco, with added shipping bustle. After dark, it just gets better. The view of Hong Kong's glittering lights from the Peak by night is unforgettable, particularly at 2000 when the nightly Symphony of Lights laser and music show invigorates the towers of Central and Kowloon's Tsim Sha Tsui.
By contrast, the south side of Hong Kong Island, at Stanley or Repulse Bay, is an entrancing islandscape straight out of a classical Chinese ink painting. And any backstreet market provides folksy, ethnic charm by the barrow load. Lamma Island provides a picturesque (power plant excepted) getaway and some excellent seafood restaurants and vegetarian cafés.
Old colonial Hong Kong may have been short on grand monuments but the now famous Bank of China and the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) give the place a 21st-century buzz suited to one of the Pacific Rim's most pivotal economic hubs. These buildings share the limelight with the rainbow-coloured light show of The Center skyscraper, the waterside steel wings of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and the soaring International Finance Center complex, Hong Kong's tallest building.
Tourist Information: Hong Kong Tourism Board Visitor Information Centres
Hong Kong International Airport (Buffer Halls A and B, Arrivals Level, Terminal 1)
Lo Wu (Arrival Hall, 2/F, Lo Wu Terminal Building)
Hong Kong Island (Peak Piazza, between the Tower and the Galleria)
Kowloon (Star Ferry Concourse, Tsim Sha Tsui)
Tel: 2508 1234.
Website: www.discoverhongkong.com
Hong Kong International Airport (Buffer Halls A and B, Arrivals Level, Terminal 1)
Lo Wu (Arrival Hall, 2/F, Lo Wu Terminal Building)
Hong Kong Island (Peak Piazza, between the Tower and the Galleria)
Kowloon (Star Ferry Concourse, Tsim Sha Tsui)
Tel: 2508 1234.
Website: www.discoverhongkong.com
Passes: The HKTB Museum Pass gives unlimited admission to Hong Kong Museum of Art, Heritage Museum, Science Museum, Space Museum, Museum of Coastal Defence, Museum of History and Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum. Valid for one week, the pass is available from HKTB offices and participating museums.
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Key Attractions
Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware
Situated in the beautiful Hong Kong Park and overlooking the ultramodern mania of Central, Flagstaff House, dating from 1846, is the former residence of the colonial Commander-in-Chief and the oldest surviving colonial building in Hong Kong. It now houses a fine museum of tea ware, seals and other ceramics.
10 Cotton Tree Drive, Hong Kong Park, Central
Tel: 2869 0690.
Website: www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Arts/english/tea/intro/eintro.html
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 1000-1700.
Admission charge: N.
Disabled access: Y.
Happy Valley Races
Wednesday night is horse racing night in Happy Valley where the floodlit racecourse, hemmed in by towering apartment buildings and steep hills, attracts hardcore Chinese gamblers (it's the only legal form of gambling in Hong Kong) and boozing expats alike. Hong Kongers pack the Happy Valley tram after work for this social event and tourists tag along for the buzz. Order a beverage from the beer marquee and stand along the barrier as the horses come up the home straight or take in the view from the amphitheatre-esque grandstand.
2 Sports Road, Happy Valley
Tel: 2895 1523.
Opening hours: Sep-June. First race 1930.
Admission charge: Y (free with passport stamped within month).
Disabled access: Y.
Hong Kong Museum of History
It is somehow fitting that this go-ahead territory has its history commemorated in a dazzling new building. Opened in late 2000, the museum building, situated next to the Hong Kong Science Museum in Kowloon, houses exhibits covering the region's history from prehistoric times, including some spectacular period sets. There are traditional costumes, a huge collection of period photographs, replicas of old village houses and an entire street, circa 1881, with its own Chinese medicine store. There are also numerous temporary exhibitions.
100 Chatham Road South, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Tel: 2724 9042.
Website: http://hk.history.museum
Opening hours: Mon and Wed-Sat 1000-1800, Sun 1000-1900.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Mid-Levels Escalator
Not just any escalator, the Mid-Levels Escalator is the world's longest at 800m (2,622ft) and was built as a commuter aid for this wealthy residential hillside. The city fathers reportedly balked at the cost of twin stairways, so there is only one escalator, running downhill in the morning and uphill thereafter, until midnight. It gives a fine (and free) view of (and access to) the streets of the fashionable Soho district, which is packed with restaurants, bars and, around Hollywood Road, excellent art and antiques stores and galleries.
Central Market (corner of Queens Road and Jubilee Street) to Conduit Road
Opening hours: Daily 0700-1030 (downhill), 1030-2400 (uphill).
Admission charge: N.
Disabled access: Y.
Ngong Ping 360
The 5.7km (3.5 miles) Ngong Ping 360 cablecar, travelling between Tung Chung Town Centre and Ngong Ping on Lantau Island, offers stunning views across North Lantau Country Park, Tung Ching Bay and the giant Tian Tan Bhudda statue. Part of the development is Ngong Ping Village, a small theme park incorporating family-friendly attractions such as Walking with Buddha, the Monkey's Tale Theatre, the Ngong Ping Tea House and several dining, retail and entertainment outlets.
11 Tat Tung Road, Tung Chung, Lantau Island
Website: www.np360.com.hk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1800, Sat-Sun 1000-1830.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Star Ferry
The green and white tub-shaped ferries have been a familiar sight around Hong Kong since the 1920s and are a much-cherished symbol of the city. Far more important, however, is the fact that their decks give one of the best available views, day or night, of the waterfronts of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon - not to mention the plethora of ocean traffic surging through the shipping lanes.
Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, Wan Chai and Hung Hom Star Ferry terminals
Tel: 2367 7065.
Website: www.starferry.com.hk
Opening hours: Daily 0616-2330 depending on service.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Statue Square
Statue Square is a must-see, with its dazzling ensemble of modernist buildings. The HSBC headquarters building - featuring on most Hong Kong dollar notes and designed by Norman Foster - forms the south side of the square and just to the east of it is I M Pei's Bank of China Tower, where visitors can ascend to the 43rd of the building's 72 floors for a particularly stunning view of Central. Less distinguished but equally prominent buildings jostle around them, towering over the colonial remnant of St John's Cathedral. In more antiquated contrast, the Legislative Council Building, formerly the Supreme Court, on the east side of the square, houses Hong Kong's partly elected assembly. Standing beside the Star Ferry terminal is the soaring 88-storey International Finance Centre (known as 'Two IFC' - One IFC building is older and much smaller), home to a Four Seasons hotel and the city's showpiece shopping mall, as well as a cinema and a fine portfolio of cafés, restaurants and bars.
Central
Victoria Peak (The Peak)
A miniature hill station in colonial times, Victoria Peak is stratospheric in its social exclusiveness and its rents. Groundlings can still visit, however, ascending by the vertiginous Peak Tram - a funicular in use since 1888, which feels more like a Victorian-era Space Shuttle, or by taxi or bus. Atop the hill is the Peak Tower viewing platform, as well as the revamped Peak Galleria shopping arcade and several restaurants - dinner at Café Deco is a must-do Hong Kong experience: the view down into central Hong Kong and across the water to Kowloon defies description, day or night. Hikers can scale the real peak, some 140m (459ft) above the tram terminus, or take the leisurely Peak Circuit walk with vistas over Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the outlying islands. Both are signposted.
Garden Road (Lower Peak Tram Terminus)
Tel: 2849 7654.
Website: www.thepeak.com.hk
Opening hours: Daily 0700-midnight (Peak Tram).
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Western Market
This former market (a four-storey red brick Edwardian building dating from 1906 and occupying an entire block at the western end of Central) was reopened in 1991, as a shopping centre featuring small shops, souvenir stands and curio sellers. Ground-floor shops sell unique merchandise rather than chain store goods, while the first floor recreates the old 'Cloth Alley', selling silks and fabrics of all kinds. There is also a dim sum restaurant and a fine antique-shop café.
Connaught Road
Tel: 2543 6878.
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1900.
Admission charge: N.
Disabled access: Y.
Wong Tai Sin Temple
An ornate traditional temple in the heart of Kowloon, Wong Tai Sin Temple combines Buddhist, Confucian and Taoist traditions. Wong Tai Sin himself was a Zhejiang shepherd/alchemist who supposedly concocted a marvellous cure-all. His statue in the main building was brought from the mainland in 1915. The building is spectacularly colourful with its red pillars, golden ceiling and decorated latticework, although not particularly distinguished. Far more fascinating are the fortune-tellers in their arcade of booths and the throngs of worshippers. This is also Hong Kong's number one temple for Chinese New Year celebrations.
Tai Sin Road, Kowloon
Tel: 2327 8141.
Opening hours: Daily 0700-1730.
Admission charge: N.
Disabled access: Y.
Situated in the beautiful Hong Kong Park and overlooking the ultramodern mania of Central, Flagstaff House, dating from 1846, is the former residence of the colonial Commander-in-Chief and the oldest surviving colonial building in Hong Kong. It now houses a fine museum of tea ware, seals and other ceramics.
10 Cotton Tree Drive, Hong Kong Park, Central
Tel: 2869 0690.
Website: www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Arts/english/tea/intro/eintro.html
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 1000-1700.
Admission charge: N.
Disabled access: Y.
Happy Valley Races
Wednesday night is horse racing night in Happy Valley where the floodlit racecourse, hemmed in by towering apartment buildings and steep hills, attracts hardcore Chinese gamblers (it's the only legal form of gambling in Hong Kong) and boozing expats alike. Hong Kongers pack the Happy Valley tram after work for this social event and tourists tag along for the buzz. Order a beverage from the beer marquee and stand along the barrier as the horses come up the home straight or take in the view from the amphitheatre-esque grandstand.
2 Sports Road, Happy Valley
Tel: 2895 1523.
Opening hours: Sep-June. First race 1930.
Admission charge: Y (free with passport stamped within month).
Disabled access: Y.
Hong Kong Museum of History
It is somehow fitting that this go-ahead territory has its history commemorated in a dazzling new building. Opened in late 2000, the museum building, situated next to the Hong Kong Science Museum in Kowloon, houses exhibits covering the region's history from prehistoric times, including some spectacular period sets. There are traditional costumes, a huge collection of period photographs, replicas of old village houses and an entire street, circa 1881, with its own Chinese medicine store. There are also numerous temporary exhibitions.
100 Chatham Road South, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Tel: 2724 9042.
Website: http://hk.history.museum
Opening hours: Mon and Wed-Sat 1000-1800, Sun 1000-1900.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Mid-Levels Escalator
Not just any escalator, the Mid-Levels Escalator is the world's longest at 800m (2,622ft) and was built as a commuter aid for this wealthy residential hillside. The city fathers reportedly balked at the cost of twin stairways, so there is only one escalator, running downhill in the morning and uphill thereafter, until midnight. It gives a fine (and free) view of (and access to) the streets of the fashionable Soho district, which is packed with restaurants, bars and, around Hollywood Road, excellent art and antiques stores and galleries.
Central Market (corner of Queens Road and Jubilee Street) to Conduit Road
Opening hours: Daily 0700-1030 (downhill), 1030-2400 (uphill).
Admission charge: N.
Disabled access: Y.
Ngong Ping 360
The 5.7km (3.5 miles) Ngong Ping 360 cablecar, travelling between Tung Chung Town Centre and Ngong Ping on Lantau Island, offers stunning views across North Lantau Country Park, Tung Ching Bay and the giant Tian Tan Bhudda statue. Part of the development is Ngong Ping Village, a small theme park incorporating family-friendly attractions such as Walking with Buddha, the Monkey's Tale Theatre, the Ngong Ping Tea House and several dining, retail and entertainment outlets.
11 Tat Tung Road, Tung Chung, Lantau Island
Website: www.np360.com.hk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1800, Sat-Sun 1000-1830.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Star Ferry
The green and white tub-shaped ferries have been a familiar sight around Hong Kong since the 1920s and are a much-cherished symbol of the city. Far more important, however, is the fact that their decks give one of the best available views, day or night, of the waterfronts of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon - not to mention the plethora of ocean traffic surging through the shipping lanes.
Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, Wan Chai and Hung Hom Star Ferry terminals
Tel: 2367 7065.
Website: www.starferry.com.hk
Opening hours: Daily 0616-2330 depending on service.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Statue Square
Statue Square is a must-see, with its dazzling ensemble of modernist buildings. The HSBC headquarters building - featuring on most Hong Kong dollar notes and designed by Norman Foster - forms the south side of the square and just to the east of it is I M Pei's Bank of China Tower, where visitors can ascend to the 43rd of the building's 72 floors for a particularly stunning view of Central. Less distinguished but equally prominent buildings jostle around them, towering over the colonial remnant of St John's Cathedral. In more antiquated contrast, the Legislative Council Building, formerly the Supreme Court, on the east side of the square, houses Hong Kong's partly elected assembly. Standing beside the Star Ferry terminal is the soaring 88-storey International Finance Centre (known as 'Two IFC' - One IFC building is older and much smaller), home to a Four Seasons hotel and the city's showpiece shopping mall, as well as a cinema and a fine portfolio of cafés, restaurants and bars.
Central
Victoria Peak (The Peak)
A miniature hill station in colonial times, Victoria Peak is stratospheric in its social exclusiveness and its rents. Groundlings can still visit, however, ascending by the vertiginous Peak Tram - a funicular in use since 1888, which feels more like a Victorian-era Space Shuttle, or by taxi or bus. Atop the hill is the Peak Tower viewing platform, as well as the revamped Peak Galleria shopping arcade and several restaurants - dinner at Café Deco is a must-do Hong Kong experience: the view down into central Hong Kong and across the water to Kowloon defies description, day or night. Hikers can scale the real peak, some 140m (459ft) above the tram terminus, or take the leisurely Peak Circuit walk with vistas over Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the outlying islands. Both are signposted.
Garden Road (Lower Peak Tram Terminus)
Tel: 2849 7654.
Website: www.thepeak.com.hk
Opening hours: Daily 0700-midnight (Peak Tram).
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Western Market
This former market (a four-storey red brick Edwardian building dating from 1906 and occupying an entire block at the western end of Central) was reopened in 1991, as a shopping centre featuring small shops, souvenir stands and curio sellers. Ground-floor shops sell unique merchandise rather than chain store goods, while the first floor recreates the old 'Cloth Alley', selling silks and fabrics of all kinds. There is also a dim sum restaurant and a fine antique-shop café.
Connaught Road
Tel: 2543 6878.
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1900.
Admission charge: N.
Disabled access: Y.
Wong Tai Sin Temple
An ornate traditional temple in the heart of Kowloon, Wong Tai Sin Temple combines Buddhist, Confucian and Taoist traditions. Wong Tai Sin himself was a Zhejiang shepherd/alchemist who supposedly concocted a marvellous cure-all. His statue in the main building was brought from the mainland in 1915. The building is spectacularly colourful with its red pillars, golden ceiling and decorated latticework, although not particularly distinguished. Far more fascinating are the fortune-tellers in their arcade of booths and the throngs of worshippers. This is also Hong Kong's number one temple for Chinese New Year celebrations.
Tai Sin Road, Kowloon
Tel: 2327 8141.
Opening hours: Daily 0700-1730.
Admission charge: N.
Disabled access: Y.
.
Culture
Hong Kong's reputation as a brashly philistine capitalist paradise has not exactly enlarged its footprint on the international cultural scene, but it should be remembered that this is Greater China's film and media powerhouse and one area where Chinese arts and culture have flourished without political and ideological interference.
HKTicketing (tel: 3128 8288; www.hkticketing.com) and Orbit (tel: 2734 9009; www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Entertainment/Ticket/en/index.php) sell tickets to cultural events. Listings can be found in BC Magazine (www.bcmagazine.net), Time Out HK (www.timeout.com.hk) and favourite expat magazine HK (www.hk-magazine.com).
Music and Dance
China Club
Traditional Chinese opera is performed at the China Club. It is very difficult to get in here but it is worth trying, if only to admire the display of modern Chinese art.
13F Old Bank of China Building, Bank Street
Tel: 2521 8888.
Hong Kong Cultural Centre
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is the town ensemble and its frequent showings at corporate galas at least bankroll a full year-round programme. The company is resident at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre from September to July. Hong Kong's classical ballet troupe, the Hong Kong Ballet, also regularly performs at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
10 Salisbury Road
Tel: 2734 2009.
Website: www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/HKCC
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
Visiting orchestras of all standards frequently tour through Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts hosts frequent concerts. Hong Kong's classical ballet troupe, the Hong Kong Ballet, also regularly performs here.
1 Gloucester Road
Tel: 2584 8500.
Website: www.hkapa.edu
Theatre
Hong Kong Arts Centre
The Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts (see above), the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (see above) and the Hong Kong Arts Centre are shrines of high theatrical culture.
Upper Basement, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai
Tel: 2582 0200.
Website: www.hkac.org.hk
Hong Kong Fringe Club
Hong Kong Fringe Club gets many of the more wacky acts.
South Block, Lower Albert Road, Central
Tel: 2521 7251.
Website: www.hkfringe.com.hk
HKTicketing (tel: 3128 8288; www.hkticketing.com) and Orbit (tel: 2734 9009; www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Entertainment/Ticket/en/index.php) sell tickets to cultural events. Listings can be found in BC Magazine (www.bcmagazine.net), Time Out HK (www.timeout.com.hk) and favourite expat magazine HK (www.hk-magazine.com).
Music and Dance
China Club
Traditional Chinese opera is performed at the China Club. It is very difficult to get in here but it is worth trying, if only to admire the display of modern Chinese art.
13F Old Bank of China Building, Bank Street
Tel: 2521 8888.
Hong Kong Cultural Centre
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is the town ensemble and its frequent showings at corporate galas at least bankroll a full year-round programme. The company is resident at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre from September to July. Hong Kong's classical ballet troupe, the Hong Kong Ballet, also regularly performs at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
10 Salisbury Road
Tel: 2734 2009.
Website: www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/HKCC
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
Visiting orchestras of all standards frequently tour through Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts hosts frequent concerts. Hong Kong's classical ballet troupe, the Hong Kong Ballet, also regularly performs here.
1 Gloucester Road
Tel: 2584 8500.
Website: www.hkapa.edu
Theatre
Hong Kong Arts Centre
The Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts (see above), the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (see above) and the Hong Kong Arts Centre are shrines of high theatrical culture.
Upper Basement, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai
Tel: 2582 0200.
Website: www.hkac.org.hk
Hong Kong Fringe Club
Hong Kong Fringe Club gets many of the more wacky acts.
South Block, Lower Albert Road, Central
Tel: 2521 7251.
Website: www.hkfringe.com.hk
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