Most tourists go to Hong Kong, expecting a New York version, which has a glossy glass of towers, cocktail bars, many restaurants, and a major financial district. However, Hong Kong has more than that – it has a unique personality rooted in Cantonese culture, where you will learn about tea shops, herbal-medicine apothecaries, and ornate temples.
Hong Kong is also an island, technically run by China, though somehow it operates independently. Whether going to Hong Kong is a dedicated vacation or an extended stop, you will need tips, such as the following to make your trip a success:
- Book a Flight
There are various ways of booking your trip to Hong Kong through the Cathay Pacific website or in person. Some people may feel comfortable booking over the phone since it is much safer and protects them against identity theft.
To book your flight over the phone, you need to contact customer service and provide your details to one of the agents. As you talk to a customer service agent, don’t hang up until you get confirmation because you may need to double-check if every detail is correct. You can also make payments over the phone using a debit or credit card.
- Be Conversant with the Dishes
Hong Kong is considered the ‘World’s Food Fair,’ and dining out is among the common things for tourists. From world-class restaurants to roadside stalls, the city provides a wide range of choices. For example, wontons, also regarded as Chao Shou, are added to a clear soup along with other ingredients. The most common ones are Sichuan-style wontons. These wontons are popular because of their rich meat filling and skin.
Roast goose is also a common dish and is regarded as the traditional specialty of Cantonese cuisine. Eating this dish has become a tourist attraction itself. Apart from roast goose and wontons, you can also eat food, like:
- Sam Hui Yat
- Dim Sum
- Yung Kee
- Slurp Bamboo Pole Noodles
- Hairy Crab
- Acquire a Travel Insurance
Getting sick at home is bad, but suffering from an ailment while you are on vacation is far much worse. This may be stressful for emergency and life-threatening situations, particularly if your medical insurance does not cover you in Hong Kong.
When traveling to this city, it’s possible to contract typhoid feed, hepatitis A or B, and Japanese encephalitis. Hence, your travel insurance plans need to include unlimited global medical protection. With no copays or deductibles, full coverage for repatriation benefits and emergency evacuation is a smart move to stay protected throughout your trip.
- List the Places You May Visit
Hong Kong is flocked with a lot of amazing attractions, so it may be easy for tourists to get overwhelmed. Therefore, if you are going to this city, it would be best to list some of the places you need to visit. One destination that you need to include in your list is Victoria Peak. Being the city’s highest point, it offers a 360-degree breathtaking panoramic view of the cityscape with its towers standing magnificently. In the evening, you may witness the panorama melting into orange and pink before reincarnating as the dazzling galaxy of light. With endless shopping opportunities and luxury dining, it’s also possible to witness the symphony of lights in Hong Kong. Basically, the symphony of lights is a classic and amazing performance, which is a must-see. Each night, this amazing spectacle combines interactive lights of 45 key buildings on Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. The symphony of lights also showcases the glamorous and vibrancy night vista of Victoria Harbor, creating a vision of laser beams, searchlights, and colored lights. Spending your night at the best rooftop bar may set you back hundreds of dollars. There are many skyscrapers, mountain viewpoints, and shopping malls, which provide the same stunning views.
You can also visit Man Mo Temple, surrounded by antique stores, which are very common in the area. With its clouds of introspective calm and intense, the temple is a haven from all the downtown hubbub outside.
- Look for an Accommodation
With easy and efficient public transportation, every location is convenient to look for accommodation in Hong Kong. However, most tourists prefer to stay in Tsim Sha Tsui because you will find many restaurants, hotels, and shops.
Business travelers also prefer Causeway Bay, Mong Kok, Central District, and Yau Ma Tei. You can get accommodation in one of the hotels in Hong Kong. Some of these may include:
- Langham Hotel and Resort
- Mandarin Oriental Hotel
- Four Seasons Hotel
- Conrad Hong Kong
- Understand the Culture
Hong Kong is a mixture of British and traditional Han Cantonese ethnic cultures of southeastern China. The local Hong Kongers are very proud of their accomplishments and region, and they will do everything they can to preserve their culture. Understanding the culture encompasses knowing their history, business practices, customs, and language. Cantonese and English are the official languages, but about 48% of Hong Kongers speak Mandarin.
The city also has its visual fingerprint. The neon signs, which flank the colorful streets of the city, are unmistakable.
- Carry the Essentials
Perfect luggage for your trip is a carry on-side travel backpack. You may not want one of the gargantuan neon hiking bags or drag a heavy suitcase behind when navigating this city. A perfect and well-organized backpack, which packs like suitcases, can make your trip much easier.
Humidity may strike any time, followed by Ms. Monsoon and chilly evenings, which seem to come out of nowhere. Hence, you should have wicking, breathable, and lightweight clothing in your backpack. Other things that your backpack can have may include:
- Travel journal
- Sunglasses
- E-reader plus chargers
- Toiletries
- Hand sanitizer
- Insect repellant
In a Nutshell!
Hong Kong has a reputation on its own. To some individuals, the city is a corporate hub for expats, and to others, its dizzying blend of new and old cultures.
With towering mountains, glittering harbor, and iconic skyline, this city is a stunner, and if you scratch below the surface, you will uncover a lot of secrets.
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