At a Glance

Preening on the south coast of China and scattered over 260 islands, Hong Kong naturally overlooks the South China Sea and welcomes everyone into a world with deep cultural and religious ties to the mainland that survived after more than a century of British occupation.

​Don't take our word for it! see what an international flight attendant has to say in this great selfie video!

Getting Around

Moving a little more than 7 million people over an area of a little more than 400 square miles is no easy feat, but Hong Kong proved to be efficient. Wherever you choose to stay, a combination of escalators, double decker buses, taxis, bicycles, light rail, trams, and ferries will get you to the most popular places in an hour or shorter. Take advantage of Hong Kong’s Octopus Card to get the most out of its network of public transport.

​Kowloon

Kowloon is probably what people have in mind when they think of Hong Kong as a densely packed city. With its forest of glass and concrete, it’s definitely a jungle out there, complete with soothing pockets of green and birdsong in Bird Garden and the Walled City Park.

Where there are millions of people in such a small area, there follows millions of choices when it comes to food, accommodation, sights, nightlife, and what Hong Kong has become known for all over the globe – shopping! For a breath of sea breeze, the promenade on the tip of Kowloon peninsula offers the best view of the scenic Victoria Harbor.

Hong Kong Island

A short Star Ferry ride from Kowloon’s promenade is Hong Kong Island, home to some of the biggest banking names and glitziest brands in the world housed in upscale and futuristic-looking buildings in the Central District. All of that can be viewed from the observation deck of Victoria Peak, which you can reach via the old standby, the Peak Tram.

As the island lights up after hours, you may want to find a seat in Central’s swanky wining and dining district, SoHo. In stark contrast to the island’s “Hong Kong-crete” are Chinese communities in Wan Chai and Western district that are some of the oldest outside the mainland. For the beach hunter, the island’s south coast offers quiet spaces to hear the crashing waves better.​