Experiences in Hong Kong

Wan Chai – The district where hip meets heritage

Think Wan Chai is just The World of Suzie Wong, karaoke bars and neon lights? Well, think again. This pulsating district has its share of good-time joints and exotic nightlife, but the real news is its thrilling evolution into one of the city’s coolest, most dynamic areas, with a heady mix of old and new, and East meets West, and where hip bars and happening restaurants mix with old tenement buildings and hidden temples among the district’s towering skyscrapers.

Like much of Hong Kong, Wan Chai was once a small fishing village populated by Chinese settlers. Its strategic harbour-side location and proximity to the colonial powers-that-be in Central during the 19th and 20th centuries, however, saw it develop from a spillover for workers and labourers to a wealthy commercial and cultural hub.

While Lee Tung Street, once lined with wedding stationery shops, has given way to an upscale mall, pockets of heritage still exist. It’s not just in the facade of the Bauhaus-era Wan Chai market, but in the maze of Wan Chai Road and Bowrington Road, where old-fashioned wet markets hum daily. It’s in tenement houses on Stone Nullah Lane and temples and shrines hidden in back lanes.

To get on trend, check out the chic boutiques and eats around Star Street and Ship Street in Wan Chai, cult designer stores on Leighton Road in Causeway Bay, and cool cafes and restaurants in the hip neighbourhood of Tai Hang.

Best explored on foot, Wan Chai District offers a wealth of heritage hideaways and modern hot spots — be they nightlife, dining, shopping or cultural — that make it an essential stop for any visitor.

Causeway Bay – Hong Kong’s centre of cool

If retail runs through Hong Kong’s arteries, then Causeway Bay is the beating heart that keeps it going. From big-name designer brands piled atop one another in gleaming glass towers to rising stars in street style, fashion feels at home in the district. However, it’s much more than just a shopper’s paradise. Venture beyond the multitude of malls and discover an alluring enclave that’s brimming with character, Hong Kong Island’s largest public park and a rich history tied to its past as a former fishing village.

Named after the cove that it’s now built on top of, Causeway Bay’s erstwhile coastline is today marked by Tung Lo Wan Road, while landmarks including a 19th century Tin Hau temple dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea, the Noon Day Gun and a bronze statue of British monarch Queen Victoria recall the territory’s Chinese and colonial influences.

Now home to some of the highest retail rents in the world, the area’s eye-watering real estate has forced businesses to be creative. A little bit of vertical exploration goes a long way, independent boutiques and local eateries are often hidden away from the ground floor.

Nighttime shopping is de rigueur, and is often followed by a belated dinner and rooftop drinks. The district’s skyscrapers and hotels are perfectly positioned to provide a moment’s repose, complete with panoramic vistas of Hong Kong’s dazzling cityscape. Alternatively, low-rise, village-like Tai Hang feels worlds away, when in fact it is just a few minutes’ distance, offering welcoming neighbourhood haunts.

With crowds that can make it feel like all of Hong Kong has descended on Causeway Bay, it’s a place of contrast and contradiction, at once busy and quiet, frustrating and rewarding, it’s a microcosm of Hong Kong that makes a lasting impression.

Cruise

Not only is Hong Kong one of the world’s best cruise destinations, it’s also the perfect place to set sail from.

Your adventures at sea begin here
Fly above deck or ride the waves on board! If you’re travelling at sea with a high-energy crew, you might wonder how to keep everyone occupied, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are just some of the exciting activities you’ll want to dive straight into!

Choose a cruise to fully unwind and relax at sea
There are times when you want a packed schedule chock-full of activities, and there are times when you just want to sit back, relax and unwind. If you’re looking for the latter, a cruise provides the perfect opportunity to do just that. Set off from Hong Kong, envelop yourself in the beautiful blues of the ocean and sky, and literally sail away from it all. Since fully switching off is easier said than done, we’ve put together a list of the top ways to chill out and recharge on a cruise ship.

Live it up on a luxury cruise
One of the best things about the soaring popularity of cruise holidays is that the standard of service and facilities have also been taken to the next level. Fancy a holiday with private sea-view balconies, world-class fine dining and butler service all at your fingertips? Have your driver drop you off at one of Hong Kong’s cruise terminals to set sail and discover a whole host of premium services and experiences. Read on to discover some of our favourites for an exquisite sojourn at sea!

Family adventures at sea
No two kids are the same and neither are family holidays! When it comes to family getaways, cruise holidays are a fantastic choice for families looking for a wide range of activities to suit all ages and cater to different interests. From exciting sports and recreation to fun classes, there are numerous activities on board to keep the kids entertained while the adults have some leisure time, chilling on the deck enjoying the sunshine. Here are some the fun ways you can find the right balance and make lots of new memories as a family.

Shopping
From glamorous malls to bustling street markets, Hong Kong lays its claim as Asia’s top shopping destination.

From second-hand vintage shops stacked with undiscovered treasures to shopping outlets where you can snap up high-end brands for a killer deal, here’s how every trend hunter visiting Hong Kong should spend their days in the city.

Malls and mansions
Hong Kong had never seen anything like it. When Ocean Terminal opened in 1966, it was the first fully enclosed, air-conditioned shopping mall in Asia, and just the first development of the retail palace we now know as Harbour City. “Hong Kong is a city of malls,” says Stefan Al, a Dutch architect and the author of Mall City: Hong Kong’s Dreamworlds of Consumption, which documents the evolution of Hong Kong’s retail complexes.

Fashion designer Melissa Bui’s guide to artisan shopping in Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s stature as a global fashion hub is growing fast, and leading the charge are a number of homegrown designers. One of them is Melissa Bui, an up-and-coming name who’s making waves at fashion circuits all over the world. Her collections are inspired by the city around her, and here she gives us the low-down on where she shops for fashion, homeware, inspiration and more.

Hong Kong’s best secret shops
Don’t want to be kitted out in the same old high street brands and styles? You’ve come to the right place. Hong Kong’s many high-rise buildings and alleys hide a number of retail gems offering special garments and shopping experiences. Here’s a guide to the best hidden shops that you mustn’t miss.

Hong Kong’s best vintage shops
Hong Kong’s many high-end malls are famous for housing pristine collections from the world’s most stylish fashion houses. The city’s second-hand scene is no slouch, though. With vintage fashion increasingly popular in Hong Kong, shopping at thrift stores has never been more on-trend. Here are the city’s best vintage and second-hand antique shops if you want to get in on the action.

Sailing icon: Hong Kong’s Star Ferry

Throughout Hong Kong’s history, the city’s advance has been etched into the singular skylines that have grown on both sides of Victoria Harbour. As gleaming towers rose like phoenixes from the memories of colonial architecture, there has been one constant – the Star Ferry – which has voyaged between the Kowloon Peninsula’s southern tip to Hong Kong island for more than 120 years.

Cross-harbour ferry services were launched in the 1880s, by an entrepreneurial Parsee, Dorabjee Naorojee Mithaiwala, aboard his steamboat, the Morning Star. However, it only in 1898, when British-Armenian businessman Sir Catchick Paul Chater bought the fleet of four vessels, that the Star Ferry Company was born.

Nine double-ended bottle-green and ivory boats now ply the routes between Central and Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui. The current style of ship first set sail in the 1950s – although the design varied little from Naorojee’s Morning Star – quickly becoming an integral part of not only Hong Kong’s infrastructure, but also the scenery. Today they provide more than just a means of transport for Hong Kong’s inhabitants and visitors, they are also a source of inspiration for the city’s creatives.

Hong Kong attractions for families of all ages

Hong Kong is a great destination for family holidays. Whether you and your little ones want to spend time marvelling at animals or snapping selfies with some of the biggest celebrities in the world, you can find countless activities here that your whole family can enjoy. From theme parks to museums and even a glass-bottomed cable car, here are some of the best attractions for you and your kids.

For Disney fans
Hong Kong Disneyland is known as the “happiest place on Earth” for a reason. From kid-friendly favourites, such as Dumbo the Flying Elephant and ‘it’s a small world‘, to immersive experiences, such as the newly opened Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! and Iron Man Experience, there’s something here for dreamers of all ages. Be sure to grab a front-row seat to the parades, where you can meet some of your favourite Disney characters. And for even more park time, book a room at one of their three hotels — all kid-friendly of course.

Ocean Park Hong Kong: for animal lovers
Despite being more than four decades old, marine-based Ocean Park has remained a firm fan favourite with locals and visitors alike. Committed to raising awareness of environmental conservation, the sprawling park allows guests, big and small, to get close to some of nature’s greatest wonders, from exotic sharks that swim about in a 360-degree aquarium to furry giant pandas and waddling penguins. Aside from being a haven for animal-lovers, the park is also the perfect spot for thrill-seekers who want to test their courage on the floorless rollercoaster or the hair-raising turbo-drop ride fitted with VR technology.

Hong Kong Wetland Park: for nature enthusiasts
Hong Kong isn’t just a concrete jungle. Get out of the city for a day and visit this gorgeous ecotourism park in the New Territories. The facility boasts a lush 60-hectare nature reserve, which is teeming with plants and wildlife, including butterflies, mudskippers, fiddler crabs and the park’s famous salt-water crocodile, Pui Pui. Once you’ve finished exploring the reserve, head to the Visitor Centre where you’ll find nature-themed artwork and interactive games and exhibits that’ll teach you and your family more about the environment.

Madame Tussauds Hong Kong: for pop-culture junkies
Want to shake hands with the royal family, be crowned by Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach or perform Papillion with Jackson Wang? You can do just that at Madame Tussauds. Sitting on The Peak, Madame Tussauds is home to more than 100 world-famous celebrity figurines, from international pop sensation Ariana Grande to the Avant Garde Japanese contemporary artist, Yayoi Kusama and Hong Kong’s very own Bruce Lee. After rubbing shoulders with Marvel’s flagship heroes, head to the Selfie Gallery, where you’ll find elaborate backdrops for the perfect Insta-famous family snap!