Hong Kong was for me one of the world’s most vibrant cities I have visited, Hong Kong is where the skyline is breathtaking and the culture is unique, as well as their interesting history!
Also, the city is one of the busiest and most developed cities in Asia, with a perfect blend of east and west, Hong Kong still retaining its culture and it’s something beautiful to see.
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The first thing you notice about Hong Kong is skyscrapers but not only, Hong Kong is also surrounded by water and mountains and a lot of nature to see and explore.
Officially Hong Kong is part of China, but it is culturally so different, the only city I visited in China that looks like Hong Kong was Shenzhen (see the Shenzhen article here).
Hong Kong was a British colony, this is why most people speak English and there are lots of signs in English, wish was easier for me to navigate around, compared to China.
The locals are very polite and friendly, something you can find in China and generally in Asia.
Hong Kong was part of the British Empire from 1842 until 1997, when Britain handed it back to China.
Nowadays Hong Kong is a special administrative Region of China, meaning it is part of China but has its own currency, economy, and immigration laws so it is allowed to operate as an independent country.
Hong Kong consists of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, The New Territories, and 200 outlying islands, but the main part of the city is focused on the northern part of Hong Kong Island and the southern part of Kowloon. It is relatively compact and well connected, the Metro underground system is one of the best and most efficient in the world, and it's not expensive to take.
Victoria Peak
Victoria Peak is the highest peak in Hong Kong and the city’s most famed attraction.
For me it was the best spot where you can describe how great was Hong Kong, it is one of the most photographed spots in the world, containing one of the world’s most iconic skylines view.
The most popular way to reach the top is by The Peak Tram: it is one of the world’s oldest, steepest and most well-known funicular railways, making it an exciting and unique experience for visitors to Hong Kong. It is open from 7am – midnight and the view is spectacular both in the day and night, although, try to get there for sunset and see the impressive bright lights appear in the city below.
You can buy the Peak Tram ticket, which is around 52HK$ return (nearest MTR for The Peak Tram is Admiralty). Alternatively, you can take bus 15 up to The Peak from Central Station for just 10HK$ one way, although it takes longer, it helps you visit the city through the bus.
Yik Cheong building
Featured in movies Yik Cheong building is one of Hong Kong’s most well-known and instantly recognized sites, it consists of several densely stacked towers of apartments and shows the typical Hong Kong style crowded apartment blocks.
Hong Kong has a large population but isn’t very large, so apartment blocks like this are common, to use all its space to accommodate its residents. This is the reason you can find accommodations expensive compared to Shenzhen for example.
To reach the Yik Cheong building you need to take the MTR and exit at Quarry Bay station then you have to walk along Kings Road towards Tai Koo. The entrance to Yik Cheong can be easily missed, but just look for an alleyway next to the meat shop and walk through and you’ll find yourself standing in the middle of the apartment blocks.
Kowloon Peninsula
One of the most popular things to do in Hong Kong is to see the beautiful Symphony of Lights, held every night at 8 pm for Free!! It is an incredible display of lights, lasers and music lasting about 10 minutes.
The Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront on Kowloon is the best place to watch this display (try to get there early as it gets busy). You can also watch it on board of the junk traditional Chinese boats.
Important : During the day it is very recommended to take the ferry between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, you will enjoy the view and the vibes….
Is Hong Kong expansive?
Hong Kong is a wonderful city but sometimes some of the top attractions can be expensive, especially if you plane to make the most of your trip and visit the Ocean amusement park or spend a day trip in Macau.
These are some prices of some paid attractions and other things in Hong Kong:
Conclusion
Between modernity and Culture
In Hong Kong, you can notice in many corners that Chinese culture is still there, you can go back in history throw buildings and traditional signs in the city.
You will find a lot of temples and gardens that will help you forget about the busy streets and stressful vibes you may feel in big cities.
On the other hand, the city itself has a large number of modern shopping malls and big arcades with very expensive brands attracting a lot of tourists.
So if you plane to visit Hong Kong follow us here where I will share more articles about the city and the secret spots to discover…
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