Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a city that has mastered the art of fitting an enormous amount of life into a very small space. Seven million people live on a series of islands and a narrow strip of mainland that together cover less area than the city of Houston. The result is a vertical city of glass towers rising from harbor waters, connected by one of the world’s best subway systems and fueled by some of the best food on the planet.
The energy is relentless. Neon signs in Chinese and English compete for attention on Nathan Road. The Star Ferry crosses Victoria Harbour every few minutes, shuttling commuters between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Incense drifts from ancient temples wedged between shopping malls. And at every turn, someone is eating something extraordinary, whether it is a $3 bowl of wonton noodles from a street stall or a twelve course tasting menu at a restaurant with views of the skyline.
Where to Go
Victoria Peak is the essential first stop. The Peak Tram, a funicular railway operating since 1888, climbs the steep hillside to the summit, where the views of the skyline, the harbor, and Kowloon stretching to the mainland beyond are among the most iconic cityscapes in the world. Go at dusk to watch the city transition from daylight to a sea of lights.
Kowloon, on the mainland side, has a grittier, more local energy than Hong Kong Island. The Temple Street Night Market is a sensory overload of stalls selling everything from electronics to jade to fortune telling services. Mong Kok is the densest neighborhood in the world, with flower markets, bird markets, and goldfish markets packed into narrow streets.
The Tian Tan Big Buddha on Lantau Island is a 112 foot bronze statue reached by the Ngong Ping 360 cable car, which crosses mountains and coastline with spectacular views. The nearby Po Lin Monastery offers a vegetarian lunch and a sense of calm that contrasts sharply with the city below.
Hong Kong’s traditional side is found in neighborhoods like Sheung Wan, with its dried seafood shops and Man Mo Temple, and in the walled villages of the New Territories. Aberdeen Harbour on the south side of Hong Kong Island has floating restaurants and sampan boat rides through a working fishing harbor.
Where to Stay
The Peninsula Hong Kong on the Kowloon waterfront is one of the grand hotels of Asia, operating since 1928 with a fleet of Rolls Royces and afternoon tea that is an institution. The Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong is the prestige address on the island side. The Upper House offers contemporary minimalist luxury with harbor views. For a more affordable option, the TUVE Hotel in Causeway Bay is a design hotel with compact but stylish rooms.
Food and Drink
Hong Kong is one of the greatest food cities in the world, and dim sum is the crown jewel. Small steamer baskets of har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai (pork dumplings), char siu bao (barbecue pork buns), and cheung fun (rice noodle rolls) are served from morning through early afternoon. Tim Ho Wan is the famous budget dim sum spot, but the city has hundreds of excellent options at every price point.
Roast goose at Yung Kee in Central is a Hong Kong institution. Wonton noodle soup from Mak’s Noodle is simple, perfect, and costs almost nothing. Egg waffles from street vendors are the quintessential Hong Kong snack. And Hong Kong style milk tea, brewed strong and served with evaporated milk, is the city’s caffeine of choice.
Let Us Plan Your Hong Kong Trip
Hong Kong packs more food, culture, and skyline into a few days than most cities deliver in a week. Whether you are visiting as a standalone destination or as a stopover on a broader Asian itinerary, we will make sure you hit the right neighborhoods, eat at the right places, and experience the energy that makes this city one of a kind.
