Destination 》Asia 》East Asia 》Hong Kong
Years Visited: 2012 – November; 2015 – January
Hong Kong is one of the two Special Administrative Regions (SAR) of China (the other being Macau). Before the transfer of sovereignty to China in 1997, Hong Kong was a British colony for nearly 150 years.
Hong Kong is more than a harbor city with skyscrapers and crowded streets. From boat-buzzed waterfronts to its packed dim-sum restaurants, its incense-smoked temples to its chattering tea-houses, its street markets to its old-world hotels, Hong Kong is teeming with energy.
I have visited Hong Kong two times; the first time was just for a day back in November 2012. Second time was for few days arrived on New Year Eve, Dec 31 2014.
Photos below show waterfront and stunning Skyline of Hong Kong, Asia’s World City:
Hong Kong Island and Kowloon is one of the most densely populated places in the world. Photos below show crowded streets and markets of Hong Kong.
There are numerous ways of getting around Hong Kong by public transport, if you spend some time in Hong Kong and decide to use the public transport often, be sure to get a Octopus Card, which generally is more convenient and gives you unlimited access to almost all of the buses, ferries, trams and the underground system. My favorite public transport in Hong Kong is Ding-Ding, a Double Decker Tram
The Central–Mid-Levels escalator and walkway system in Hong Kong is the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world. The system includes 18 escalators and three inclined moving walkways. The escalator runs from the heart of Hong Kong’s bustling Central district, to the more relaxed and residential Mid-Levels neighborhood, and offers the best free ride in the city. In addition to an effortless way to traverse the hilly streets, the escalators provide an excellent opportunity to hop on – hop off and explore some of the best markets, antique shops, coffee shops and restaurants in town.
Victoria Peak is a 552-metre hill on Hong Kong Island, it has the most spectacular views the city.
Although Hong Kong may be best known for its skyline and markets, it has some great islands to explore, some of which are as quiet as rural China. There are many fishing villages on Lantau Island as well and some great hikes. Many ferries leave from Hong Kong island and it is easy to do some day trips.
Tai O, the Venice of Hong Kong, is a home to the Tanka people, a fishing community, who have built their houses on stilts above the tidal flats of Lantau Island for generations. These unusual structures are interconnected, forming a tightly knit community that literally lives on the water. The pictures below are from Tai O.
The large numbers of Filipinos, Indonesians, and Thais, most of whom are employed as domestic helpers also live in Hong Kong. On Sundays, the free day for foreign domestic workers, they congregate in thousands in the central area of Hong Kong and spend the day there together, sitting, talking, eating and drinking in the streets, over-pass, under-pass, wherever there is free space. Several entire streets in the Central area are blocked off for foreign domestic helpers on Sundays. You should not miss this cultural experience if you are in Hong Kong on Sunday.
After both visits to Hong Kong, I returned to Shanghai, my home during those days.
Window on the World 