Hong Kong City Breaks

A guide to Hong Kong

Stepping out into Hong Kong for the first time is an assault on the senses. Booming traffic, fluorescent neon signs, pavements teeming with hundreds of people, exotic unfamiliar smells, steamy, sultry air… a short break here is guaranteed to delight and surprise. Hong Kong makes for a fascinating getaway like no other, and combines Eastern culture with colonial architecture and design, as the British only ceded sovereignty to China in 1997.

A hectic, exhilarating destination

The pulsating Hong Kong Island, with its financial hub, gleaming skyscrapers, top-class restaurants, world-class hotels and full-throttle atmosphere is the beating heart of the city. Hong Kong can cater to your every whim, yet can suit any budget. Must-see attractions include the dazzling Statue Square, with its glitzy contemporary buildings, Ngong Ping 360 cable car, travelling between Tung Chung Town Centre and Ngong Ping on Lantau Island, Tung Ching Bay and the giant Tian Tan Bhudda statue, and the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, which offers stunning views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island waterfront.

Exceptional nightlife and shopping

The nightlife in Hong Kong can be as hectic or relaxed as you want. The most intense partying is to be found in the square mile of Central; here the most relaxed drinking hours and the wildest clubs form the pulse of the city' nightlife. For a more sedate night out, try SoHo ('South of Hollywood Road'), where the trendy boutique bars, brasseries and cafes provide a more chilled out vibe. To experience authentic Hong Kong nightlife the way the locals do, try the Tsim Sha Tsui district; jam packed with bars and clubs. Many people come purely for the shopping, which ranges from huge designer malls to rambling, chaotic markets. One of the cheapest shopping experiences to have is to go to the Ladies’ Market on Tung Choi Street in Mong Kok, Kowloon, where you can buy virtually anything, from fake designer clothes to souvenir chopsticks.