Answer: There’s never a best place to stay when touring Hong Kong. It all depends on your budget, and travel itinerary. If you are here for shopping, you might want to choose an area that’s nearer to the shopping district. However, getting around Hong Kong is very simple, with relatively cheap public transport easily accessible wherever you stay.

Most hotels are located close to the harbour in Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay and North Point on Hong Kong Island and in Tsim Sha Tsui, Tsim Sha Tsui East and Hung Hom in Kowloon, plus the busy areas of Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok.

If you are looking for something on the quieter side, there are also a growing number of resort-style hotels in the New Territories that offer relaxing alternatives.

Hong Kong @ Dusk
Photo by webel

The very first thing you must do in Hong Kong is to obtain an Octopus card. It’s a contactless debit card whose main use is for public transport, but many other roadside facilities allow you to pay via the Octopus card, including the McDonalds chain, convenience stores, and many types of vending machines. And your first use will be for the ride from the airport into the city, at a discount over cash.

The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) is Hong Kong’s public transport system, ten lines both over ground and underground. You’ll get around quickly, but you won’t see much while riding. To get a good view of the Hong Kong skyline, head across the harbor to Kowloon and look back.

Hong Kong Island, though not the largest area of Hong Kong, is still considered its center. Central, the capital city formerly called Victoria, contains the Escalator and the Peak Tram. The Escalator is free, and takes you through the neighborhoods of Central to the Mid-Levels. The terminus of the Peak Tram has the most fantastic views of the harbour and, nearby, you’ll see the most expensive homes in Hong Kong.

February through April and October through December are the times to visit Hong Kong for arts, film and cultural events. For rugby fans, visit Hong Kong around the end of March or the start of April for the three-day Rugby Sevens showdown. The horse racing season is September through June, at Happy Valley (near the MTR station for Causeway Bay) on Wednesdays, and on other days at Shatin on the mainland in the New Territories.

There are three major theme parks in Hong Kong, each quite different from the others.

Disneyland
Photo by skodak

The Hong Kong Disneyland Resort on Lantau Island has shorter queues than other Disneyland resorts and several wonderful attractions. Avoid visiting around Halloween, the week of Chinese New Year, or the week between Christmas and January 1st.

Ngong Ping 360, also on Lantau Island, is a Buddhist theme park with the longest cable car ride in Hong Kong, ending at the largest seated Buddha found in an outdoor setting.

Ocean Park, on the south side of Hong Kong island, is the local amusement park with aquariums, roller coasters, and a cable car — go if only to see the pandas.

There are many flights to Hong Kong from London and other cities — look for the ever-changing flight deals that are available through airlines, travel agencies, and other firms that service tourists.

The major attractions on the Headlands Rides include roller coaster the Dragon, a free fall ride The Abyss Turbo Drop, the Flying Swing, the Crazy Galleon, the Ferris Wheel.

The attractions at Adventure Land consist of the second roller coaster, the Mine Train, the Raging River and the Ocean Park Escalator, a weatherproof outdoor escalator at 225 meters long.

The Marine Land hosts the Pacific Pier where Californian sea lions and seals live, the Atoll Reef standing at four-story high has more than 2,000 fish swimming amongst the live coral reefs, the Ocean Theater stages dolphin and sea lion performances, the Sea Jelly Spectacular displays more than 400 jellyfish and the Ocean Park Tower serves as an observation deck with an unobstructed view of the South China Sea.

The Lowland Gardens is home to four Giant pandas, the Amazing Birds Show with macaws, cockatoos and parrots performances, the Sky Fair and the Cable Car ride.

The Whisker’s Harbor houses the Dolphin University, Whisker’s Theater, Kids Rides and Tiny Town Games.

The Bird Paradise consists of the Aviary and Flamingo Pond.

The Mascots of Ocean Park is a sea lion named Whiskers. However the real mascot marketing Ocean Park is Allan Zeman himself. Ever flamboyant, he would dress up as a Chinese doll used for offerings complete with a Chinese costume, pasty white face and two red cheeks to promote the Halloween attraction. During the launch of the Jelly Fish Spectacular, he is seen dressed as a walking Jelly Fish. He has high hopes for the Park and pledges to make Ocean Park into the world’s best marine-based theme park, a premier tourist destination with world class facilities and exhibits. The initial plan is to invest HK$5 billion into projects which includes a funicular train similar to the Peak Tram that transports visitors from the Headland to the Lowland. The park will eventually double in size with new attractions and even polar animals which hopefully would be abandoned as Hong Kong has sub tropical climate and definitely make a poor habitat for polar animals.

Aberdeen is located on the southern part of Hong Kong Island which comprises of Aberdeen proper, Wong Chuk Hang and Ap Lei Chau. Aberdeen has an interesting history of mistaken identity. Going back to the Ming Dynasty, the Aberdeen area is known as “Hong Kong”. Unbeknown to the foreigners during the early days of colonization, they have taken “Hong Kong” to be the name for the whole territory. As it pans out “Hong Kong” has become the official name for the territory and in 1845, the area is renamed “Aberdeen” after the 4th Earl of Aberdeen. To the locals Aberdeen is affectionately known as “Hong Kong Tsai” meaning “Little Hong Kong”.

Aberdeen is the abode of boat people, mostly Tanka people who live and work on junks. It is a fully functional fishing village but the population has seen a sharp decrease over the years, as the young refuse to take up the fishing trade. Moving “on shore” with proper housing is seen to be moving up the social ladder. However, there are still around 600 junks in the Aberdeen harbor with people refusing to give up their life on junks. For boat people who have moved on shore the junks have become working and chatting places while they salt fish or make fish balls and fish noodles with the catch of the day. To this day, Aberdeen is still a thriving fishing port with the total catch accounting for one third of the fresh fish supply in Hong Kong. To prevent overfishing, the fishing vessels are forced to take a hiatus in June and July under the Fishing Moratorium Period and all the fishing boats will be seen anchored at the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter then.

The government and the Hong Kong Tourist Association have been pivotal in promoting Aberdeen as a tourist attraction since the 1960’s as a scenic and gastronomic paradise. The fishing junks double as floating restaurants serving fresh seafood on board, complete with live singers crooning songs mostly by Teresa Teng while you savor the tasty food. Back in the 70’s and 80’s when the floating junks enjoy peak business they will be seen around expensive yaughts selling seafood cooked on board. It is very rare to find these homey floating restaurants now but should you crave for a bowl of fish noodles you can visit the Aberdeen Promenade after 6 pm on the off chance to catch one of them. As for a sunset “cruise” around the Aberdeen harbor, there are signposts signaling the waiting area for sampans that will circle the harbor.

The most famous floating restaurant frequented by locals and tourists is the Jumbo Floating Restaurant. The Macau casino tycoon Stanley Ho has spent four years and millions building the restaurant in the image of a Chinese imperial palace which open in 1976. The three decade old restaurant has lost its initial appeal over the years as curiosity fades. A few years back, the management decides to give the restaurant a major billion dollar overhaul and rename it Jumbo Kingdom, with the Jumbo Floating Restaurant and sister Tai Pak Floating Restaurant moored side by side. When you reach Sham Wan, you have to wait for barges to take you from the pier to the restaurant. It’s kind of silly as the two restaurants are looming in front of you and the ride is only 2 minutes. A bridge would be more convenient, but the barges serve as a prelude to a dining experience on board a floating restaurant. A hostess at the entrance would ask for your reservation with another hostess directing you to the appropriate floor. It would be wise to make a reservation beforehand as the newly decorated restaurants are drawing crowds both local and tourist.

The main dining floor, the Dragon Court serves traditional Cantonese cuisine, with signature seafood dishes. The food is true to its reputation, but it is definitely not a fine dining experience. To maximize the fast turnaround of tables, you will witness the efficiency Hong Kong is known for, as seen in the expedient arrival of your dishes. The dining area is one hollow open space and the cacophony really echoes. For a quieter ambience a surprise awaits you at the Topdeck which serves Western food. It is a bar and restaurant run by the Café Deco group which has another successful restaurant, the Café Deco operating at the Peak Galleria. Newly added attractions include cooking classes taught by the chefs and the much missed sampan dining experience at the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter. The incorporation of these different facets makes the Jumbo Kingdom a lot more interesting as opposed to the staid and run down restaurant before its renovation.

Another major tourist attraction that has a makeover is Ocean Park, situated in Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen. Ocean Park Hong Kong is founded in 1977 by the then governor of Hong Kong Sir Murray MacLehose and built using funds from the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club (sans Royal now). It is a marine mammal park, aquarium and theme park. The decades old attractions and rides have gone stale and with the passing of the popular killer whale Hoi Wai in 1998, visitors have plummeted to an all time low. With the Hong Kong Disneyland opening and the deficit at the Park very real, the government has proposed to move the Park to a more remote spot or close the Park. Fortunately, the first Chief Executive Mr. Tung Chee Hwa decides to invite the enigmatic father of Lan Kwai Fong, Allan Zeman to be the chairman of Ocean Park in 2004. After living in Hong Kong for almost forty years and transforming a dump into the area now known as Lan Kwai Fong, to be “the” clubbing, drinking and dining hotspot, Zeman has used his experience to breathe fresh air to Ocean Park. Zeman has even managed to turn the running deficit into a profit, with a record number of 5 million visitors in the year 2007/2008.

Zeman boasts that by the completion in 2012 Ocean Park will house 33 species of animals and 70 rides. The Park will be even more accessible then with the completion of the South Island line proposed by the Mass Transit Railway. He sums it up best, “In my world, there is only first-class—I won’t accept business-class or economy”. This can be aptly applied to surrounding Aberdeen and Jumbo Kingdom, which have evolved to accommodate the changing tides and tastes. We won’t want to see these places replaced at any time as they are first rate.

The Peak Tram
Photo by thewamphyri

Nowadays the Peak is accessible by bus, minibus, taxi and the still operational Peak Tramway. The Peak Tramway is a funicular railway and has been in service for 120 years. The lower terminus, doubling as a ticketing office is located at Garden Road in Central. The tram fare for adults is HK$20 for one way and $30 for return, children aged 3 to 11 is HK$6 for one way and $9 for return, seniors over age 65 is $7 for one way and HK$14 for return. The tram ride is slightly bumpy as it climbs laboriously up the slope. The seats on the right side of the tram offer the best view going up the steep incline. The upper terminus is at the Peak Tower with brief stops at Kennedy Road, MacDonnell Road, May Road and Barker Road. These stops lead to upscale residences collectively known as the mid-levels leading up to the Peak. The operating hours for the trams are from 7am to midnight, with extended services during special events and holiday. The wait is around 10 to 15 minutes.

Hong Kong from the peak on a summer’s night
Photo by stuckincustoms

The upper terminus is the Peak Tower adjoining neighboring Peak Galleria to provide dining and shopping experiences on the Peak. The Sky Terrace is located at the Peak Tower, where you can enjoy a 360 degree panoramic view of the city. You can buy a Sky Pass which is inclusive of the tram fare and entrance fee to the Sky Terrace at the lower terminus. The Peak Tower is the most identifiable building on the Peak. It has undergone a major facelift to accommodate the new dining and shopping area. The Peak Tower also houses Madame Tussauds Hong Kong at shop P101. The wax museum is organized into thematic sections where you can view lifelike wax sculptures of famous people.

Bruce Lee @ Madame Tussauds
Photo by mikeleeorg

To name some of the most popular figures at the museum, Kung Fu has none other than “the” Bruce Lee and Jacky Chan. Asian Stars feature Leslie Cheung and Andy Lau. Hollywood stars welcome Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Marilyn Monroe, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster. World leaders will find you with Barrack Obama, Gandhi and Hu Jintao. Sports stars bring you face to face with David Beckham, Yao Ming and Ali. Pop Stars glitter with Madonna, Michael Jackson the Beatles, Teresa Teng and Anita Mui. Royalty salutes the much missed people’s princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. Cultural figures let you meet “the” Madame Tussaud, Picasso, Mozart and Pavarotti. Let’s not forget the Fashion Icons, Elle Macpherson and Naomi Campbell. There is an attraction named Scream where the setting is a mental asylum filled with gory background with the criminally insane running amok to scare and make you scream. The entrance fee to the museum is $160 for adults, $90 for children age 3-11 and $90 for seniors age 65 and above. There are also special combo packages that combine peak tram fare, sky terrace and museum tickets which you can enquire about at the lower terminus in Central.

Peak Galleria
Looking out from the viewing platform of the Sky Terrace (aka the “Flying Wok”) over the Peak Galleria.
Photo by clocky

A big courtyard leads up to the entrance of the Peak Galleria with the fountains adding to the leisurely ambience. The outdoor seating area is mostly taken up by people who want to soak up some sun or just to rest. The biggest tenant in the Galleria is the Café Deco restaurant. It encompasses two floors and boasts an open space concept. The various cuisines, rotisserie, tandoori and sushi are all open kitchens where you can watch the food preparation while savoring the dishes you have ordered. Another big draw to the restaurant is the floor to ceiling glass windows which offer you a stunning view of the skyline, especially at night. The Café opens 365 days a year from 11:30am to midnight Monday to Thursday, Friday, Saturday and public holidays from 11:30am to 1am and Sunday from 9:30am to midnight. Open air markets are held from March to June every year on the rooftop of the Peak Galleria before the arrival of sweltering summers. The dates set for 2010 are March 21st, April 18th, May 16th and June 20th. Vendors sell handmade jewelry, cloth bags and other DIY trinkets. Though dogs are not allowed in the shopping mall proper, they can walk up the staircase leading to the rooftop market.

A free standing stone building sits opposite to the Galleria. The building is a Grade II Historic Building which has seen many different uses. During the construction of the Peak Tramways, British engineers have made a station in the building. Around the early 1900’s it has served as the resting place for sedan carriers. The Old Peak Café is born in 1947 etching a special place in the collective memory of locals for its signature dish, the Hainan chicken rice. Due to some contractual problems the restaurant has faced the threat of demolition in the late 1980’s. Luckier than the Repulse Bay Hotel, the restaurant is saved and after extensive renovation is renamed the Peak Lookout.

The restaurant has an indoor and outdoor dining area. There are many international cuisines, Indian, Japanese, Thai, American, to choose from and can be aptly called a gastronomic paradise. Recommendations are the seafood platter with two tiers which is filled to the brim with oysters, clams, Alaskan king crabs, prawns that serves two, the red duck curry comes with rice but an extra order of the many flavored naan bread, plain, garlic and cheese is a must, the tandoori dishes are served sizzling hot on iron plates and for dessert, the bread and butter pudding and warm molten chocolate cake is pure bliss. During the day dogs are allowed in the outdoor garden café. The restaurant has water bowls and menu catered for the pooches. For pampered pooches preferring chairs they have to endure sitting on embarrassing red plastic trays in order not to soil the white chairs.

Just outside the Peak Lookout are the beginnings of several trails or nature walks. Mount Austin Road, Victoria Peak Garden, Hong Kong Trail and the Pok Fu Lam Country Park. By far the most popular is the Hong Kong Trail where it circles the Peak. There are several viewing points where you can take in the view of the harbor and the skyline. The trail is favored by joggers, some with their dogs tagging along. The Victoria Peak Garden is more challenging as it is an upward slope all the way to the summit. At a leisurely pace, it takes around 40 minutes to reach the top. As opposed to other parks the Peak Garden is dog friendly.

Hong Kong Skyline
Photo by mikemcd

A complete tour of the Peak takes at least half a day, what with riding the Peak tram, viewing the city at the Sky Terrace, taking a nature walk, visiting Madame Tussauds wax museum, shopping for souvenirs and dining in the famous restaurants. With this in mind, your schedule has to figure in the smoggy days where you will be utterly disappointed visiting the Peak for the view. However, on a clear day nothing beats the breathtaking expanse of the Victoria harbor and its skyline on Victoria Peak.

Stanley
Photo by question_everything

Island South is one of the most prestigious neighborhoods on the island after the Peak. Aside from seeing some expensive wheels and convertibles en route to Stanley, you will pass by some famous bays on Island South. The first bay to come into view is Deep Water Bay. It is much smaller and lesser known than neighboring Repulse Bay, which is great in terms of more elbow room for sunbathers and swimmers in the summer. The two small restaurants serve light refreshment and are frequented by locals who want to genuinely relax with the soothing sound of waves in the background.

Repulse Bay
Photo by denniswong

The second bay is Repulse Bay, made famous by the Repulse Bay Hotel originally built in 1920, demolished in the 70’s and 80’s to make way for more lucrative luxurious apartments. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the demolishment of the hotel because of its historical value. The controversy is stirred up again with the completion of a modern monolith complex with a gaping hole in the middle. The hole has been ridiculed for a long time and the rumor behind the design is to invite good feng shui. Strange looking it may be but its price tag is no joke.

Feng Shui
Photo by G. Solomon from wikipedia

Repulse Bay Hotel
Photo frpm The Repulse Bay

The Repulse Bay Hotel has welcomed many distinguished guests, among them celebrities and royals. The Hollywood movie “Love is a many splendored thing” starring William Holden is filmed in the hotel. Hemingway is known to have stayed here as well. The hotel is not glitzy. Its charm feels more like genteel Merchant Ivory films. Ceiling fans, verandahs, gardens and a sweeping staircase bespoke the elegant décor of a period film set. An imitation of the hotel is built in 2001 and opened to the public in 2002 which makes you question why it is torn down in the first place. There is a bus stop right in front of the Repulse Bay as it is called now. High tea and brunch at the Verandah Restaurant is top notch as in the food, service and commanding sea view. From this vantage point you will see two huge statues, Guan Yin and Tin Hau, part of the Guan Yin Temple on the bank. A flight of stairs will take you down to the beach from the Repulse Bay. To attract more people to the beach, the beach has been expanded by importing sand from other beaches. A telling difference is this foreign sand is much coarser than the original finer sand of the beach.

Stanley Market
Photo by dcmaster

On the ride to Stanley you can literally feel the pace becoming slower and the hustle bustle of the city further and further away. This is one of the reasons locals and tourists flock to Stanley, to soak up the ambience. After getting off at the bus terminus you will immediately see the Stanley market. Stanley market is filled with Chinese styled merchandize, clothing, framed prints, ceramic and much more. There are several shops selling linen and lace products ranging from bed spreads, pillow cases, runners, placemats, coasters, to tissue box covers. The quality of the linen is really good and a full set will transform your bed worthy to be a Martha Stewart show piece. The fine mosquito nets are more decorative than functional and it evokes the nostalgia of an era gone by.

You will find replicas of almost everything Chinese in the market, amongst them tiny shoes reminiscent of the foot binding practice in old China. Skilled craftsmen can chisel a stone Chinese seal for you with your initials and it comes with red cinnabar paste for stamping. After giving the calligrapher your name a translation will be written in Chinese characters with ink and brushes. You can also buy written ones displayed on racks. A confession though, the Chinese words are pretty funny to locals because they are direct translation of how your name sounds.

Stanley market is in the form of a circle. Depending on which way you enter, you either emerge to Stanley Main Street with all the bars and eateries or back at the area in front of the bus terminus. The bars are packed during the holidays and weekends. There are many cuisines to choose from, French, Thai, Italian. The jovial mood is contagious and a few beers definitely help to spread it around. The best thing is everyone seems to be cheerful and enjoying themselves. Smiles are rarely seen in hyper tense city life but there are no shortages here. Stanley is also one of the most dog friendly places in Hong Kong. Most of the parks in Hong Kong are off limits to dogs. Fortunately for dog owners and their pooches, Stanley is opened to four legged friends and you will see these furry friends beaming beside their owners at the outdoor cafes.

Murray House
Photo by frankenstein

Murray House can be seen looming from the eateries. The building is originally built in 1846 and is one of the oldest surviving colonial era buildings. With development winning over conservation this round, Murray House is taken apart to make way for the Bank of China Building in Central. The pieces are numbered to be put back together at a later date. The Murray Building is relocated to Stanley in 2000. The architectural style is colonial with high arches, tall columns and long verandahs. It houses the Maritime Museum on the ground floor displaying seafaring history. While looking at the exhibit it’s interesting to note that pirates are active in those days, with Stanley being one of the main stays. Stanley is also notorious for Stanley Prison, a maximum security prison which is fully operational today. Ironically Stanley Fort is located in Stanley as well which has served as the barracks for the People’s Liberation Army since the handover in 1997.

As if Stanley is not colorful enough, the dragon boat races held every year on Stanley Main Beach is a crowd draw, with many serious competitors coming back every year to participate in the event. Dragon boat races are held during the Dragon Boat Festival on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar. On other days you will see windsurfers on the waters. The St. Stephen’s Beach is the second beach in Stanley complete with all the amenities of showers and changing rooms. There is a snack bar for refreshment as well. Sadly, dogs are not allowed on both beaches.

The appeal of Stanley and Island South lies in its magic to make you feel completely relaxed and always welcomed. It is a must see if you are in the territory. After all it’s just a bus ride away.

Hong Kong Skyline
Photo by sprengben

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Causeway Bay
Photo by tallkev

Causeway Bay has been synonymous with Japanese department stores for many years. Although stores such as Mitsukoshi and Daimaru have retreated from the territory in the past decade, they are etched in the collective memory of many locals, becoming landmarks. You will still hear locals telling taxi drivers to drop them off at the old Daimaru or Mitsukoshi. To fill the vacuum, Causeway Bay literally has a facelift and has evolved into a microcosm that caters to a wide spectrum of shoppers. One thing about Causeway Bay that hasn’t changed though is its status as a mecca for shoppers, where you can shop till you drop.

SOGO @ Causeway Bay
Photo by qiaomeng

The 13-storey Sogo is the last standing Japanese department store in the area. Across from Sogo is Times Square, a mega shopping complex with the biggest video wall in Asia. The front entrances of Sogo and Times Square are the most crowded places in Causeway Bay, somehow becoming de facto meeting points and new landmarks. Navigating through the crowd takes patience and tactics, alternately braking and accelerating. For some reasons, people will abruptly stop while walking, some turning to check if friends and family are in tow, some for no reason at all.

Lee Gardens LV
Photo by qiaomeng

Locals can distinguish the clientele who frequent different parts of Causeway Bay. The more affluent area is Lee Gardens and Lee Gardens Two that house the ready-to-wear collections of Chanel, LV, Prada and Gucci. You will see a lot of well heeled ladies having high tea at Cova Caffe Ristorante at the Lee Gardens. The café has a long history dating back to the 1800’s, but it is quite comical the way diners then and now mirror each other, where the cafe once has been serving European royalties, it is now serving the Queens of haute couture. There is a whole floor at Lee Gardens Two that caters to designer babies, luring chic moms with their toddlers and helpers. The clothes are ridiculously expensive for the amount of fabric, but the smiles you see on the proud moms twirling their precious ones in these adorable clothing are priceless.

Time Square
Photo by kruder

As you weave through the streets behind Lee Gardens and migrate to Times Square, you will find an eatery that is founded in 1860 on Pak Sha Road. Tai Ping Koon is famous for chicken wings cooked a la Swiss sauce, roast pigeon, Portuguese chicken and a gigantic soufflé that takes four people to finish. The waiters look like they have been around as long as the restaurant. The food here is a great example of “Hong Kong western cuisine” where classic western dishes are added a twist to become a novel cuisine. Unbeknown to the chefs a century ago, these dishes have become classics local people love.

Inside Time Square
Photo by wenzday01

A few turns and you will find yourself on Sharp Street or Yiu Wah Street, with Times Square looming in front of you. The rent in Hong Kong ranks amongst the highest in the world. In an area like Causeway Bay with such high human traffic, rent for a roadside shop is exorbitant. In recent years, there is a trend for shops to move from roadsides into buildings. As shops move upward into buildings, bars have followed suit. There are bars on almost every floor in the buildings on both streets. To pick one, simply step into the elevator and press any floor. Since the bars usually occupy a whole floor, you can take a peek to see if it’s to your liking or press “door close” to the next floor. The turnover rate of these bars is quite high. Moving into buildings does cut the overhead in terms of rent, but it also cuts off a lot of traffic. You don’t have to feel embarrassed by the above elevator technique in picking a bar, it’s well observed among locals.

When you see Lane Crawford, you are officially in Times Square. Lane Crawford is an upscale department store along the likes of Neiman Marcus or Saks. There is a Japanese supermarket and lifestyle store operated by Citysuper in the basement level. You will find all kinds of delicacies, home wares, gadgets that you don’t really need but nice to have. Many Japanese housewives shop here because they can find every cooking ingredient they need from home. If you want to have a quick bite to boost your energy for more shopping, the food court is right here. There are many cuisines to choose from. Before you leave, do stop at Flannel Flowers across the food court. Let your senses bask in the fragrance of the beautiful seasonal flowers on display. If you have a few days’ stay in the territory still, a bouquet artfully arranged by the “artists” will brighten your staid hotel room.

Causeway Bay
Photo by smaku

If you don’t feel like eating at the food court, there is always the choice of the food forum with “20 nationwide eateries”. You will see a lot of people queuing below the video wall for the glass elevators to a restaurant of their choice on 10-13/f. The massive Times Square has become the choice location for New Year count down. If you are in the proximity during New Year’s Eve be alert to the broadcasts of road blocks. The roads around Times Square are usually cordoned off at around 5-6pm. You have to make a quick decision to stay “in” the area till after the countdown or get out before the roads are closed.

Just opposite of Times Square on Russell Street is Soundwill Plaza, abound with many beauty salons and spas. If you want to take a well deserved rest from all the walking around, you may want to ask the concierge at the lobby for a list of the spas and make an appointment. However, if you really want to take a breather from the jostling crowd, you can plan a leisurely day. The Breakfast buffet at the Park Lane Hotel is a great way to start the day. Café One overlooks the Victoria Park and the harbor, depending on which side they seat you. You can enjoy the extra big cups of coffee or tea while reading a newspaper or magazine. The best part is you can enjoy the 3 hour breakfast at your own pace with multiple helpings of great food.

After a big breakfast, take a walk in Victoria Park. It is the biggest park in Hong Kong and is named after Queen Victoria. There is a statue of the Queen at the main entrance on Causeway Road. Aside from the sporting facilities such as tennis, basketball courts and swimming pools, there is a central lawn with ample greenery around. There are benches spread out in the park where you can sit and relax and temporarily forget you are in a concrete jungle. There are many events held at the park all through the year. You might chance upon one on your visit. The Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo is usually held in December, The Flowers Show in March and the Lantern Show during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The admission fee is HK$10-20, with free admission for children up to a certain age and seniors over 65.

Hong Kong Central Library
Photo by bonnett

If you want a still quieter way to spend your time, you can visit the Hong Kong Central Library just across the park. There is an escalator to bring you up to a bridge that links the park and the library without having to wait to cross the busy street. As the main library in the territory, the floor area covers 33,800 square meters. The monolith building itself is quite impressive with an arch shaped doorway. If you love to read, browsing through the aisles of books is pure joy. Pick a favorite and read a few passages. If you have kids with you on your trip here, they can spend a relatively calm afternoon in the children’s book section. You can also take your book with you and have a cuppa at the Delifrance café located in the lobby. Depending on your energy level, you may want to venture out to the vibrant shopping places again, but if you are a bit bored by the shopping, you may want to have a drink on the top floors of hotels such as the Excelsior and the Park Lane, where you can sip your cocktail overlooking the Victoria harbor and the Kowloon skyline.

Causeway Bay
Photo by imuttoo

Causeway Bay is a really crowded place, so if you are not used to the density of people per square meter, take a moment to recuperate at the many cafes in the area. You can try out the siphoned brewed coffee at the UCC coffee shops on the 4th floor of Sogo department store and the 2nd floor of Causeway Bay Center. Each cup of coffee is individually brewed and watching the baristas skillfully executing these siphoned brews makes you appreciate your coffee in a brand new way. With renewed energy, you can brave the crowd and go shopping again. Have fun in the shopping paradise!!

Central Street Sign
Photo by lbphotos

A trusted measure of world class cities is the expensiveness of land and Hong Kong has continued to qualify in this aspect. Having an address in Central confers prowess. The same company with an address elsewhere in the territory automatically diminishes its status. Working in Central thus has long been a lofty goal of many locals. The term “OL” is the acronym for office ladies and stands for the well heeled ladies working in big companies with loads of buying power. Before the emergence of the “OL” culture, working in Government Hill as civil servants is just as enviable because of the “iron rice bowl”, meaning you will receive a lifelong pension during retirement.

Central, Hong Kong
Photo by nl469

Central rides high in heritage value as seen in the many colonial style architecture preserved in the area, whereas imprints of sovereignty are seen on the streets that bear the names of the British royalty and Governors. The three main thoroughfares that crisscross Central, Queen’s Road, Des Voeux Road and Connaught Road are named after Queen Victoria, Sir George William Des Voeux, the 10th governor of Hong Kong and Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught respectively. Other landmarks include Statue Square, built towards the end of the 19th century with statues of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, Edward VII, George V and Sir Thomas Jackson erected at different times. However, during the Japanese Invasion, these statues, except Sir Thomas’s have been ordered to be melted along with the two signature lions of HSBC. Fortunately, most of the statues have been returned and Queen Victoria now reigns once more at Victoria Park and the two lions still guard the HSBC Headquarters. Sir Thomas Jackson is the lone statue in Statue Square now.

HSBC Lion
Photo by lbphotos

Sir Thomas Jackson Bart
Photo by canolais

Moving on to Edinburgh Square, it houses the City Hall, the Memorial Gardens and the Star Ferry. The City Hall Library is the oldest library in the territory and the Hall itself is a venue for concerts and performing arts. You may wish to catch a performance by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. City Hall also has a marriage registry and on auspicious days on the lunar calendar, you will see newlyweds and their family and friends vying for a prime spot to take photographs. The now demolished Queen’s Pier has once been the ceremonial place where new Governors arrive. The Square is also one of the terminuses of the Star Ferry Pier, built in 1957 and still in service today. The ferry continues to be a cross harbor transportation method favored by locals and tourists alike. The ferry moves along in snail pace and you can slowly take in the spectacular skyline on both sides of the harbor. The skyline changes every few years. Even locals will marvel and point out a familiar skyscraper is now hidden by yet another taller one. Is it an illusion? How can such a densely packed place like Hong Kong to be endlessly expanding?

Hong Kong City Hall
Photo by rzs

Star Ferry Pier
The “Star” Ferry Company Ltd. is a passenger ferry service operator in Hong Kong, China. Its principal routes carry passengers across the Victoria Harbour, between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

The fleet of twelve ferries operates four routes across the harbour, carrying over 70,000 passengers a day, or 26 million a year. Even though there are now other ways to cross the harbour (by MTR and road tunnels), the Star Ferry continues to provide an efficient, popular and inexpensive mode of crossing the harbour. The company’s main route runs between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui, which is what most people mean by “the Star Ferry” in common parlance.

This route continues to be popular with tourists, and has become one of the icons of Hong Kong heritage. The ferry itself, and the layout of the Kowloon pier are completely recognizable in the 1961 film The World of Suzie Wong. From the ferry, one can take in the famous view of the harbour and the Hong Kong skyline.
Photo by mischiru

Yes, there always seem to be land for another skyscraper in Central. Aside from demolishing old buildings to make way, land reclamation is another option that dates back to 1904, where the Praya Reclamation Scheme has added 59 acres to the Central waterfront. Hong Kong has many iconic skyscrapers. The Bank of China Tower designed by I.M. Pei has been the talk of the town and shrouded in rumor due mostly to its shape in the form of a blade. One rumor has the blade cutting off the feng shui of the then Governor’s House under British rule, another is to undermine that of the bank’s rival, HSBC. Incidentally, the rumor surrounding the HSBC headquarters with its open design is to take in water from the Victoria Harbor, water meaning prosperity. The IFC has usurped both buildings’ shine as the tallest building in Hong Kong, the third tallest in the Greater China Region and the seventh tallest in the world, boasting the highest rent and changing the skyline of Hong Kong yet once again. The IFC has two towers, one housing the IFC Mall and the Four Seasons Hotel and the IFC Two office tower bearing the tallest badge.

Bank of China Tower
Photo by stephenchipp

The skyscrapers are canvases for the Christmas lights display every year, attracting locals and tourists to the harbor front to take photographs. There are photography competition held every year luring amateurs and professionals alike. The Hong Kong Tourism Board has taken an even bolder step forward showcasing the skyscrapers by organizing a large light and sound show, called the Symphony of Lights. With the participation of 44 skyscrapers on both sides of the harbor, every night at 8pm the exterior of these buildings will have a synchronized lighting display, complete with laser and LED lights. The pyrotechnic fireworks shooting off rooftops of the IFC during New Year and Chinese New Year always bring a roar in the crowd of spectators.

Some buildings in Central are not iconic as skyscrapers, but as the revered address of haute couture stores. The Landmark is the first prestigious shopping mall in Hong Kong and the launching platform of many haute couture brands as most of them have their beginnings here. This is where Carrie Bradshaw will pay homage as the location of the first Hong Kong Monolo Blahnik store. Almost 20 years since its inception, the Landmark has an extensive renovation in 2003, with parts of its office building converted to the 6 star Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hotel. At the same time another stellar tenant has moved in, the prestigious Harvey Nichol’s store. The 4/f restaurant in Harvey Nichol’s is a hushed jewel with great service and menu, yet manages not to draw a crowd. New shopping malls have sprouted across the territory but none can rival the status of the Landmark as the epitome of style and luxury. The Landmark is owned by the biggest landlord in Central, Hongkong Land. The office buildings are linked by passageways above the streets, providing a route to the flagship stores on street level. To some people whose visual memory is better with brand names than streets, waiting at the Chanel store is a great indicator of where you are.

Pedder Building
This is the Pedder Building in downtown Hong Kong. It was built in 1924. The lighting made it very dramatic. It was right next to the MTR station.
Photo by Dilian K

Another iconic building is just across the Landmark on Pedder Street. Pedder Building is a narrow building built in 1923 and is the last surviving pre-war building of its kind. It is declared as a “Grade II Historical Building”. The architecture is Neo classical with arches and columns. Once an office building, it now houses the garment retailer Shanghai Tang and a Chinese eatery, the China Tee Club. One other tenant, Blanc de Chine has garnered the hype and popularity to open a flagship store on New York’s Fifth Avenue. The designer has taken elements of Chinese styled garments and turned them into modern classics. One example is layering a see through patterned chiffon “cheong sam” with a one piece dress to create a flowing versus a tight fitted “cheong sam” seen in traditional styles.

Lane Crawford
Photo by mjaniec

When it comes to the evolving of style and elegance in the city, you must know a little about Lane Crawford and the style icon Joyce Ma. Lane Crawford is the first luxury store in Hong Kong. The first shop is opened on Des Voeux Road, it has then moved to Queen’s Road Central in the 70’s and finally to the IFC mall in 2004. Despite all the moves, the flagship Lane Crawford store has remained in the heart of Central, which is telling proof of the lure of Central. Its long history in luxury retailing has made the store as venerable as Berdorf Goodman and Saks. Joyce Ma is pivotal in introducing most European brands to Hong Kong and to her signature boutique, Joyce since 1970. At the height of Joyce’s expansion from fashion into home style and beauty, sporting a Joyce shopping bag is a status symbol. Joyce Ma is so influential in cultivating style and fashion in the territory she has been awarded the highest civilian distinction in France, the Legion of Honor. Her legendary refined elegance can still be felt in her boutiques around Hong Kong.

Central @ Night
Photo by mbphotography

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Connaught Road is a 5 star hotel which has won many awards over the years for its impeccable service and elegance. The Forbes magazine has listed the Mandarin side by side with the Ritz in Paris as the greatest hotels. This is back in 1967, but the Mandarin has continued to be on the list of the 500 best hotels in the world and on Conde Nast’s gold list 2009. The hotel has ten restaurants of which Pierre is Michelin-starred. The Clipper Lounge offers tea service and the best scones in town. It is also a place to see and be seen for local socialites with its open design. What a better place to sip tea and gossip after a day of shopping?

Central is a true powerhouse of finance, luxury and style, blazing the way for Hong Kong as a vibrant region, territory or city.