Travel to Hong Kong

Vibrant as it is diverse, Hong Kong is fast becoming one of Asia’s premier holiday destinations for the masses. With its sky-piercing landscapes, chockfull of department stores, mega malls, theme parks and funky neighbourhoods, Hong Kong also offers a variety of activities especially enticing for families.

When you think of family fun, one cannot forget Hong Kong Disneyland. With a host of all those spectacular attractions that Disneyland is globally renowned for, Fantasyland, Adventureland, Tomorrowland and Main Street USA await both the young and the young at heart with open arms. Complete with fireworks, the Lion King Broadway show, Sleeping Beauty Castle, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Mickey's PhilharMagic, the Cinderella Carrousel and Dumbo the Flying Elephant are some of the park’s best loved attractions. Along with traditional Disney parades and mind-blowing rides such as Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Hong Kong Disneyland is a treat for all who dare to imagine and immerse themselves in the rich tradition of this entertainment powerhouse.

Among the many family oriented activities available on the island a trip to the Peak is an absolute must. Offering families a lot more than the breathtaking 360 degree scenes available at Lions View Point Pavilion and Lugard Road Lookout in the shape of fine dining and shopping opportunities, a trip on the century old Peak Tram is a not be missed event when viewing the Peak in all its glory. Climbing 1200 feet above the ground kids and adults alike will get the unique opportunity to view the city from a 45 degree angle while the Peak Tram Historical Gallery also offers guests a glimpse into the evolution of this special form of transportation. Madame Tussaud’s Hong Kong is another hotspot with its life-like celebrity figures where children can take snaps with their favourite stars and superheroes.

Ocean Park is another favourite spot for families on vacation as it offers an educational and fun filled encounter with wildlife and Hong Kong’s giant pandas. Spread out over 25,000 square metres the Amazing Asian Animals section is a treasure trove of Asia’s beloved creatures while other must-see highlights include Goldfish Treasures and Panda Village which houses 60 species of birds, turtles, Chinese alligators and quirky otters. The Panda Kingdom Shop and Panda Cafe are also great for souvenirs and trinkets of the park’s famed residents Ying Ying and Le Le who call the Giant Panda Adventure Facility home. The Sky Fair, Dolphin Encounter Programme, Ocean Theatre, and the Behind-The-Scenes tour also offer interactive experiences for the whole family. Hong Kong Wetlands Park is also a hotspot for kids in addition to the Ngong Ping 360 cable ride experience.

Noah’s Ark on Ma Wan Island is another unique attraction with its whopping 270,000 square feet reconstruction of the Bible’s Noah’s Ark complete with a 4D theatre where kids can learn about the Great Flood. A museum, educational tours, programmes and facilities are also located within the ark to offer an informative experience that is both engaging and memorable.

With over 500 exhibits the Hong Kong Science Museum is also a great place for families with over 70% of the exhibits being hands-on, interactive items. Children will get to learn science the fun way while blowing foamy bubbles of soap, playing with home ware and circuits while the museum also houses a 72 feet high energy machine that is one of the biggest of its kind. The Hong Kong Space Museum with its state-of-the-art SXRD projectors, digital planetarium, Hall of Astronomy and Hall of Space Science will inspire the wannabe astronaut in all children. 

Other illustrious museums that are suited for families include the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence and the Hong Kong History Museum where the island’s vibrant legacy is traced through the centuries. The Golden Bauhinia Square is another point of interest as families can watch the majestic flag raising ceremony in the mornings which takes place amidst pomp and grandeur next to the Forever Blooming Bauhinia sculpture. The Police Silver Band and Police Pipe Band also perform during this daily ritual which adds to the ceremonious air of the affair.

The Langham Hong Kong is well suited for families in search of a child-friendly luxury hotel in Hong Kong. Charmingly designed and decorated in keeping with modern sensitivities, this idyllic accommodation is a premier luxury Hong Kong hotel.

Hong Kong is a favourite tourist destination for many reasons. If it's delicacies, you can find a luscious array of dishes from Peking Duck to savoury snacks and hotpots. And if you seek adventure and excitement there is the world famous Ocean Park, Disneyland and the Peak Tram ride up the Victoria Peak.

The shopping scene in Hong Kong is just as exciting and diverse as its other attractions. The choices are overwhelming from your regular souvenirs to the trendiest designer labels and accessories. And so are the places to hunt for them, be it shopping streets, markets, boutiques, malls and department stores. But if you want to try out the best, Hong Kong boasts a number of major shopping hotspots.

From fashion items to sports and electronic goods, furniture, antiques and collectibles, there are lots of things that fit your tastes and budgets over here. And if you know where to shop in Hong Kong it saves you a lot of time and lets you browse what you want, free from hassle.

Hong Kong malls are said to be some of the biggest and best in the world and so browsing some of them during your Hong Kong tour is inevitably a must. And among these the top choices are Pacific Place in Admiralty, Times Square in Causeway Bay and Festival Walk in Kowloon.

Bargain lovers ought to step out into the shopping streets of Hong Kong to feel the thrill of bargaining itself. The most popular shopping streets are the Ladies Market, Stanley Market, Jade Market and Temple Street Night Market. Conversely Hollywood Road in particular is an antiques paradise. From antiques to arts, knickknacks to curios and even attractive souvenirs can be shopped in Hollywood Road and the nearby Cat Street Market.

Among its shopping districts Causeway Bay is one of the most popular hubs among tourists. So when it comes to fashions, electrical appliances and shoes you ought to be ready to get spoilt for choice. Other famous shopping districts in Hong Kong include Wan Chai, Central, Admiralty, Ap Lei Chau, Stanley Village as well as Western.

Budget shoppers will be delighted to visit the Ladies Market in Kowloon for it is teeming with inexpensive items. A market that comes to life at night is the Temple Street Night Market in Kowloon. Experience the excitement of night time shopping where lines of stalls stack an overwhelming choice of sundry items, enough to entice you to shop till you drop.

In Hong Kong, shopping is already an integral part of the local lifestyle, and is one of the things you must do while you're touring in Hong Kong. If your choice of destination is Kowloon you can book a cosy hotel in Kowloon Hong Kong that will connect you with its shopping areas conveniently. The Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong sits on the entertainment and shopping district of Tsim Sha Tsui East and is ideal for the shopaholics. This elegant Hong Kong hotel provides the latest amenities topped with sumptuous creature comforts, bundled with stunning views of the Victoria Harbour.

Welcome to Hong Kong - a place where deeply rooted Chinese traditions are blended with Western influences to create a truly unique living experience.

Traditional temples, colonial buildings, and modern skyscrapers offer a glimpse into each era responsible for shaping the Hong Kong of today: an international business hub with an eclectic mix of foreign nationals from more than 50 countries around the world.

Hong Kong Skyline

Location

Hong Kong sits on China's south coast, just below the Tropic of Cancer.  With seven million people settled on a 426 square mile (1,104 sq km) plot of land, Hong Kong qualifies as one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

Aside from claiming some of the world's tallest buildings, the region also boasts a wide variety of outdoor activities as 40 percent of the land is divided into 23 country parks.

Geography

Hong Kong is comprised of Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories, and over 260 outlying islands.

North of the Island, across Victoria Harbor, is the Kowloon Peninsula. Traditionally, Kowloon has always been known as the entertainment district of Hong Kong.  Streets are lined with shops, markets, the best hotels, and several forms of entertainment. There are also a number of historical and cultural museums portraying the Hong Kong of yesterday.

The New Territories, set in the northernmost reaches of Hong Kong, share a border with Mainland China, and cover 306 square miles (796 sq km).  The New Territories are characterized by a diverse terrain of sandy beaches, wildlife reserves and mountain peaks, which have towns and country farms nestled in valley lowlands throughout.

More than 260 islands dot the surrounding waters of the South China Sea.  Lantau Island is a throne to the world's largest seated outdoor Buddha.  The 202-ton, bronze statue sits atop the island's Ngong Ping plateau and can be seen for miles around.

Big Buddha in Lantau can be seen from miles around

To the east is Discovery Bay, a popular home to expats who want to enjoy a more peaceful and laid back environment.

Lamma Island is another popular destination with good hiking, beaches, and fresh seafood being the major attractions.

Located in between these two islands are two more islands worth noting: Cheung Chau and Peng Chau.

History

Hong Kong was not always the lively metropolis it is today. With its ideal location on the South China Sea, Hong Kong attracted the attention of fishermen and pearl hunters from Mainland China, and later, Western traders looking for silks, silver, tea, and spices.

The British traded opium for Chinese commodities but when the Qing Empire banned the drug trade, the First Opium War took place.At the close of the First Opium War in 1841, Hong Kong Island was surrendered to the British.  In 1860, with the end of the Second Opium War, the colony was enlarged to include the Kowloon Peninsula; and in 1898 the New Territories and more than 200 islands were handed over to Britain on a 99-year lease.

Aside from four years of Japanese occupation during World War II, Hong Kong remained a British colony until it was officially turned over to the People's Republic of China (PRC) on 1 July 1997.

With the hand over of '97, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China that operates under the "one country, two systems" policy.  This means that, although Hong Kong is officially run by the PRC, it maintains its own political, social, and economic systems; therefore, English continues to be an official language and many treaties, freedoms, and international relationships have remained in place.

Getting around

For the millions of people with several tasks at hand, there is need for a transportation system capable of meeting immeasurable expectations.  Hong Kong is well prepared with one of the most advanced, comprehensible transportation systems in the world.  The truth is that most people don't even feel the need to buy a car.

Complete with the MTRC, buses, ferries, taxis, and trams, there are several options for reaching any destination in a timely manner.  Hong Kong's railway system, known as the Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC), includes 131.5 miles (211.6 km) of rail and 150 stations.

Double-decker buses, minibuses, taxis, and the Hong Kong Island trams are frequent and easy to use. Ferries provide transportation across Victoria Harbor and to many of the outlying islands.  Daily travel is made convenient by the Octopus Card, a card with a built-in microchip that manages fares electronically. The Octopus card can be used with almost all forms of public transportation, as well as at public pay phones, vending machines, photo booths, grocery stores, convenience stores, and fast-food restaurants.

Things to do

Shopping, eating, and outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, rock climbing, and several water sports, are favorite pastimes for residents and tourists alike.

Hiking at Dragon's back

Ocean Park and Disneyland Hong Kong are two largely visited theme parks of the area.

Locals also enjoy playing mahjong as well as Chinese chess, checkers, and card games. Arcades and karaoke clubs are popular hangouts for the younger generations.

Economy

With endless choices for entertainment, the tourism industry has thrived in recent years and, in turn, plays a key role in sustaining Hong Kong's economy.

Skyscrapers in Central, Hong Kong

This is part of the transformation of the last few decades where Hong Kong has shifted from relying on manufacturing centers to the service-based industries, which also includes the internationally appealing corporate and finance sectors.

Trade is, as it always has been, another major contributor to the growing economy.

With these components in place, Hong Kong has made a steady recovery from the East Asian financial crisis of 1997 and the economy continues to grow stronger.

While discussing Hong Kong, it is necessary to know the vital truth and statistics of the city. To start with lets begin with the basics of Hong Kong city which are worth noticing. Hong Kong city as most of you might be aware of was known as the 'Barren Rock' in the past is turning out to be the economy hub of the world.

1. Population of Hong Kong city is about 6.9 million which makes it one of the most densely populated areas of the world.

2. Overall density of Hong Kong city comes about- 6420 people per square kilometre which is quiet a lot.

3. It is a Special Administrative Region and it gained this status for People's Republic of China on July 1st 1997 which was approximately one and a half century after the Britains left China.

4. Average rainfall in Hong Kong comes about 2214.3 mm and the lowest temperature has gone down to 0.0°C.

5. The transport of Hong Kong is definitely something we might not want to miss. There are 1955 kilometers of roads carrying 544089 licensed vehicles on an average which would make it 276 vehicles for every kilometre.

6. Bridge infrastructure of Hong Kong has been the most remarkable of all. The Tsing Ma Bridge is the world's longest road-rail suspension bridge which has the main span of 1377 metres managing perfectly the road and the rail traffic of Hong Kong.

The Kap Shui Mun Bridge is the road-rail cable stayed bridge which has a main span of 430 meters but still contributing to the transport of Hong Kong city to a larger extent. It is the world's longest cable-stayed bridge managing the road and the rail traffic.

7. And talking about the nationality aspects of Hong Kong, it is dominated by the Chinese responsible for more than 95% of population.

8. Official languages spoken in Hong Kong are Chinese and English with English being the language used widely in the Government and the business sectors.

9. Climate of Hong Kong is amiable which is usually sub-tropical for more than half the year. Although there could be temperature drops to 10 degrees during the winters and rising up to 31 degrees during summers.

10. According to Doing Business Hong Kong is being ranked as world's 4th largest trading economy. It also has world's sixth largest foreign exchange market and is world's 15th largest banking centre.
In Asia alone, Hong Kong holds second biggest stock market.

11. About 4000 international corporations have established their regional centres in the city of Hong Kong which makes it a city with humungous international corporate base.

12. Hong Kong economy allows the features like free trading which would mean diminished or no trade barriers of any sort and no discrimination between the crossborder investors and also offers lucid regulations

13. Hong Kong is also world's second busiest container port.

These facts and figures keep on escalating each year indicating the progress of Hong Kong along with the passage of time!!

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