Yes, it’s still Asia’s financial capital. There are still skyscrapers. There are still millions of people spending millions of dollars in free-market markets that the Chinese invented. And there are still people farming, fishing and trading as they’ve always done. Everything you ever knew plus a new attitude, a positive view of visitors, and easier access to China than ever before.
If you knew it as the ‘Crown Colony’, then you had better meet the new Hong Kong. Fast. Because the city that history made is now making history. You can be there. You can see it. The new Hong Kong. Welcome to the future.

• WELCOME TO HONG KONG
• CULTURE & TRADITION
• SHOPPING IN HONG KONG
• SPORTS AND PERFORMING ARTS
• OCEAN PARK
  

Spring: (March - mid May): Temperature and humidity rising. Jackets or sweaters suggested. Average temperature: 23°C (73°F), humidity around 82%.
Summer: (late May - mid September): Hot and humid. Temperature may rise to 33°C (91°F) with humidity up to around 90%. Shirtsleeves, cotton clothing, a sweater for indoors and an umbrella for outside suggested. Average temperature: 28°C (82°F), humidity 80%.
Autumn: (late September - early December): Temperature and humidity drop. Clear sunny days. Shirtsleeves to sweaters and light jackets suggested. Average temperature: 23°C (73°F), humidity 72%.
Winter:(mid-December - February): Cool with low humidity. Suits, light woollens and sometimes overcoats suggested. Average temperature: 17°C (62°F), humidity 72%.

There are silver coins for HK$1, HK$2, and HK$5, bronze coins for HK10 cents, HK20 cents and HK50 cents, and a new nickel-and bronze coin for $10.

Most foreign currencies and traveller’s cheques are easily changed in Hong Kong, either at banks, hotels or moneychangers (check how much you will get in return before handing over your money). EA$YXCHANGE is the first 24-hour automatic currency exchange service in Hong Kong.

Dining out is a way of life in Hong Kong - the territory’s many eating establishments are usually full at breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Hong Kong Tourist Association’s Official Dining and Entertainment Guide, available free of charge at HKTA Information and Gift Centres, is a must for visitors. It describes in detail China’s regional cuisine’s, suggests dishes to try (the names of these are translated into Chinese) and gives brief descriptions of all HKTA-member restaurants. In addition, there are chapters on the many other Asian and Western cuisine’s which are available in Hong Kong and listings of where to go for a night on the town.

Obtain a copy of the HKTA’s free Official Shopping Guide, available only at HKTA Information and Gift Centres. This contains listings of all HKTA-member outlets with maps locating them, useful advice on buying specific items, size charts, and everything else you need to know about shopping in Hong Kong.

Most shops and markets are open daily, except during the Lunar New Year holiday. Opening hours of outlets in the main shopping areas are generally as follows:

Hong Kong Island
Central and Western 10.00am-6.00pm
Wan Chai and Causeway Bay 10.00am-9.30pm

Kowloon
Tsim Sha Tsui East 10.00am-7.30pm
Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei, Mong Kok 10.00am-9.00pm

Shopping Centres and Malls: International brand-name items of all categories, including designer fashions, jewellery, cameras, leather goods, electrical equipment and optical goods can be found in shopping centres and malls, as well as in the shopping arcades of major hotels.

Department Stores: Department stores carrying merchandise from all over the world are found mainly in Tsim Sha Tsui, Central and Causeway Bay. Causeway Bay also boasts numerous Japanese department stores. Some remain open on Sunday and close for one day during the week.

Chinese Product Department Stores: Those specialize in products made in China and are good places to buy a traditional Chinese padded jacket or a length of silk, embroidery or jade and cloisonne. They also have Chinese food, antiques, furniture and stationery departments. Chinese product department stores can be found in all major shopping areas.

Best Buys: Antiques and Works of Art, Cameras, Carpets and Rugs, Ceramics and Porcelain, Computers, Cosmetics and Perfumes, Electrical and Electronic Equipment, Furniture, Furs, Ivory, Jade, Jewellery, Leather Goods, Optical Goods, Tailored Clothing, Watches.

Transportation is efficient and inexpensive, although as with most cities at weekends, on public holidays and during peak travel times, it becomes quite busy.

Airbus
The air-conditioned Airbus service operates between Hong Kong International Airport and popular areas of the city; it also stops at or near most major hotels.

Taxis
Taxis are numerous and readily available, and fares are low compared with those in most cities. Red taxis serve Hong Kong Island and Kowloon; green ones in the New Territories and blue taxis on Lantau Island operate at even lower rates. Many drivers speak some English but it is wise to have your destination written in Chinese characters.

Rates for red taxis start at HK$14.50 on the flag fall plus HK$1.30 for every 200 metres after the first two kilometres. Waiting time is HK$1.30 per minute. Pay, in Hong Kong dollars only, the fare shown on the meter, plus any additional charge where applicable. A HK$20 surcharge applies to cross-harbour tunnel trips ($30 for the new Western Harbour Crossing) which includes the driver’s HK$10 return toll. There is also a surcharge for rides through the Lion Rock (HK$6), Junk Bay (HK$3) and Aberdeen (HK$5) tunnels, and a HK$5 charge for each piece of luggage.

Taxi drivers expect a tip, but just round up the fare to the nearest dollar. Drivers cannot pick up or drop off passengers on restricted streets, which are marked with yellow lines.

Buses
Double-decker buses, which run from 6am till midnight, cover most parts of the territory. Fares range from HK$1.10 to HK$32. Exact change is required. You’ll find that, in general, the drivers do not speak much English.

Minibuses
Minibuses are small passenger vans which are yellow with a red stripe. They can pick up passengers and let them off anywhere expect regular bus stops and the usual restricted areas. Fares range from HK$2 to HK$7. Pay as you get off.

Trains
The Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) is 34 kilometres long and runs from Hung Hom in Kowloon up to the border with China. Trains run every three to 10 minutes in each direction, and fares vary according to the distance travelled (HK$8.50 for an ordinary single trip to Sheung Shui, the farthest you can go without a China visa). It’s a good way to visit some of the New Territories’ towns and villages.

The Mass Transit Railway (MTR), Hong Kong’s fast, efficient and air-conditioned underground system, runs not only along the north side of Hong Kong Island, but also from Central across the harbour to divide into east and west branches in Kowloon.

Ferries
The Star Ferry, which has connected Hong Kong and Kowloon since 1898, runs regularly between 6.30am to 11.30pm. It must be one of the cheapest and most scenic ferry rides in the world. The crossing takes approximately eight minutes.

The Hong Kong & Yaumati Ferry Company provides other regular and inexpensive services which connect Hong Kong Island to other parts of the Kowloon Peninsula and to the outlying islands.

Trams
Since 1904, the tram system has run east to west along the north side of Hong Kong Island, and still provides a leisurely, grandstand view. The flat fare is HK$1.60 (exact change required) and the service operates between 6am and 1am.

The Peak Tram is one of the most advanced tram systems in the world, taking just eight minutes to climb Victoria Peak. The service operates from 7am to midnight and the single fare is HK$15 (HK$23 return). This funicular railway has run since 1888 and is still the quickest way to reach the Peak.

Central
Central District, Hong Kong’s business hub, is home to Asia’s leading trading companies, international banks, government headquarters and the Supreme Court. Its shimmering skyscrapers house several up-market shopping malls, such as Pacific Place and The Landmark, and top-class hotels. Central’s architectural marvels include Exchange Square, the Bank of China Tower and the Hong Kong Bank Building. Amid the modernity, however, lie old stepped streets, charming colonial buildings and lush parkland.

1. Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens
In the mid-19th Century, 5.4 hectares of land above the Governor’s residence in Central were made into a botanical garden. Zoological exhibitions were added later, and the gardens now contain many endangered species. This is also an excellent place to watch local residents practice their tai chi chuan (shadow-boxing) every morning. Open from 6.00am to 10.00pm daily. Free admission.

2. Hong Kong Park
This 10 hectare oasis in the middle of Central features a greenhouse, an aviary, pools, fountains, a restaurant, the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre and an amphitheater. The Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware is also located here. The main entrance is on Supreme Court Road, near the Admiralty MTR station. Open from 7.00am to 11.00pm daily. Free admission.

3. Lan Kwai Fong
Formerly known as matchmakers alley, this narrow lane in Central now houses trendy shops, restaurants and nightclubs.

4. Victoria Peak
Victoria Peak, which rises to 554 metres above sea level, is still the most prestigious residential address on Hong Kong Island. It can be reached in just eight minutes from Central by funicular railway. The summit offers a superb 360-degree view of virtually the whole territory as well as the islands of the South China Sea beyond. The Peak Galleria, a three-tiered complex featuring restaurants and shops, is also located at the Peak. The seven-storey Peak Tower houses the Peak Tram Terminus, a viewing point, Food & Beverage area and entertainment facilities including the Dark ride & Motion ride.

Western
Although Western was the first area to be settled by the British, the district is very much a Chinese domain and is home to many traditional Chinese artisans. Open-fronted shops and stalls sell everything from herbs and ginseng to handcrafted furniture and funerary items.

5. Western Market
This beautifully reconstructed Edwardian building on the corner of Connaught Road and Morrison Street in Western District originally opened in 1858 as one of Hong Kong’s first produce markets. These days kiosks sell specialty gifts and mementos. Sixteen fabric shops are located on the first floor. Open daily from 10.00am to 7.00pm.

6. Hollywood Road/Lok Ku Road
This is the heart of Hong Kong’s antique district, where you can find Chinese porcelain, rosewood and black-wood furniture, paintings, curios and chinoiserie. The Cat Street Galleries house four floors of arts-and-crafts shops and an exhibition gallery.

7. Man Mo Temple
Situated on Hollywood Road, the temple is one of the oldest and the largest of its kind in the territory. It is dedicated to Kwan Kung, the god of war, and Man Cheong, the god of literature.

Wan Chai
At night, Wan Chai’s colourful neon signs are switched on and nightclubs, Chinese restaurants and bars bustle with activity. Wan Chai is also home to a unique Police Museum and the Wan Chai Green Trail, an interesting walk that winds through the city up to lookout points in the hills above. There are also some historic buildings such as Tai Wong (Hung Shing) Temple and the Old Wan Chai Post Office. Situated at one end of Wan Chai are the Hong Kong Arts Centre, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (an extension is being build and scheduled to be completed mid-1997) and the 78-storey Central Plaza. At the other end is the Queen Elizabeth Stadium.

Happy Valley
Located between Wan Chai and Causeway Bay, Happy Valley is best known for its racecourse, which is one of the richest in the world. The HKTA organizes a Come Horse racing Tour to race meetings here and at the Sha Tin course during racing season from September to June.

Causeway Bay
Bordered by Victoria Park, a typhoon shelter, the Hong Kong Stadium and the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, Causeway Bay is one of the busiest areas of Hong Kong by day or night. Modern department stores stand alongside open-air markets, cooked-food stalls, cinemas, bars and restaurants. Tin Hau Temple is located nearby.

8. Noon Day Gun
Located in a small garden opposite The Excelsior Hotel in Causeway Bay, the gun made famous by Noel Coward in his song Mad Dogs and Englishmen is still fired every day on the stroke of noon.

9. Aw Boon Haw Gardens
Built in 1935 by a local philanthropist, Aw Boon Haw, with the proceeds from his famous Tiger Balm ointment, these gardens are a truly fantastic series of statues and grottoes depicting ancient Chinese myths. Open from 9.30am to 4.00pm daily. Free admission.

Eastern
The area east of Victoria Park is largely industrial, but modern shopping and entertainment complexes such as Cityplaza at Taikoo Shing, have added a commercial flavour to the area. The settlements of Shau Kei Wan and Chai Wan are Chinese residential areas where markets and temples abound.

Southern

10. Aberdeen
Once a quiet fishing village, Aberdeen is now a thriving town best known for its magnificent floating restaurants, excellent seafood and waterborne population.

By night, the glittering neon lights offer wonderful photo opportunities. The floating restaurants can be reached by motor launch.

11. Ocean Park/Middle Kingdom/Water World
Ocean Park, Southeast Asia’s largest leisure complex, lies between Aberdeen and Repulse Bay and provides a great day out for all the family. Attractions include a cable car and the world’s second-longest outdoor escalator; Atoll Reef, the largest reef aquarium in the world; marineland shows and exhibitions, a shark tunnel; an aviary, a butterfly house, the 72-metre Ocean Park Tower, the Dinosaur Discovery Trail; Film Fantasia-Simulator rides; a huge roller coaster and other thrilling rides. Adjacent to Ocean Park is Middle Kingdom, which presents a living history of China through replicas of ancient palaces and pagodas, temples and street scenes. Next door is Water World, a giant water-play park which is open throughout the summer.

12. Repulse Bay
The less congested, quieter south side of the Island is largely a residential area and is particularly favoured by expatriates. Repulse Bay boasts one of Hong Kong’s most popular and accessible beaches; in the summer changing rooms an showers are provided, and lifeguards are on duty. Facing the beach are fast-food stalls, a restaurant complex and a supermarket. The Repulse Bay Arcade houses shops and restaurants.

13. Stanley
A lively spot on the south side of Hong Kong Island, the open-air market in picturesque Stanley Village is frequented by visitors and locals alike for bargains in overrun designer jeans, fashions, leather, rattanware, porcelain and linen and bedding. There are also many bars and restaurants and interesting walks to nearby beaches.

KOWLOON
Tsim Sha Tsui
Many of Hong Kong’s hotels are located here, on both sides of Nathan Road, which is known as Hong Kong’s Golden Mile of shopping and nightlife. On the waterfront stands the huge New World shopping and nightlife. On the waterfront stands the huge New World shopping complex and two deluxe hotels. Further west of the Star Ferry Pier and the air-conditioned plazas of Ocean Terminal, The Hong Kong Hotel Arcade, Ocean Centre, Ocean Galleries and the Gateway, which together form Harbour City, Asia’s largest shopping centre. Next to this is China Hong Kong City, a complex containing shopping arcades and a ferry terminal to China and Macau.

14. Star Ferry
This most famous of Hong Kong’s ferries plies the shortest route between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon daily between 6.30am and 11.30pm, giving passengers an ideal vantage point from which to photograph the fascinating harbour scene on both sides.

15. Hong Kong Cultural Centre/Museum of Art
Hong Kong’s largest venue for the performing arts, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre’s facilities are among the most up-to-date in the world. They include the Concert Hall, Grand Theatre, Studio Theatre, an exhibition gallery, shops, restaurants and bars. Adjacent to the Cultural Centre is the Hong Kong Museum of Art.

16. Hong Kong Space Museum
Beneath this distinctive dome is one of the world’s largest and most exciting planetariums, as well as exhibition halls on astronomy and space sciences. Sky Shows and Omnimax shows are presented in the Space Theatre daily, except Monday, and simultaneous interpretation on headphones is available. Book ahead for tickets.

17. Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre
The Mosque is located in Kowloon Park off Nathan Road, a 10-minute walk from the Star Ferry. It is the prayer centre for Hong Kong’s 70,000 Muslims.

18. Kowloon Park
Kowloon Park boasts extensive recreation and sports facilities, including a swimming pool complex, games hall, gardens, an aviary and a children’s playground. The Sculpture Walk and Hong Kong Museum of History are major attractions.

Tsim Sha Tsui East
Tsim Sha Tsui East was developed in recent years on land reclaimed from the sea. Some of the most luxurious hotels are located here on the waterfront amid blocks of ultramodern, air-conditioned shopping plazas and restaurants. The Hong Kong Coliseum, Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Kowloon Station, The Kowloon-Canton Railway terminal, are nearby.

19. Hong Kong Science Museum
Discover the mysteries of science at this museum. Some 60 per cent of the 500 exhibits are hands on.

Yau Ma Tei/Mong Kok
At the northern end of Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei is one of the older parts of Kowloon, famous for its open-air markets and temples. Mong Kok is an exhilaratingly crowded area with open-air markets. Both districts reveal many aspects of traditional Chinese urban lifestyles.

20. Temple Street Night Market
Located off Jordan Road in Yau Ma Tei, this is a lively night market which sells sweaters, shirts, gadgets, CDs and more. Sometimes fortune-tellers and Chinese opera singers can be found there. It is best to visit the market after 8.00pm.

21. Jade Market
Between 10.00am and 3.30pm daily, a section such as Cityplaza at Taikoo Shing of Kansu street in Yau Ma Tei becomes a market selling all varieties of jade at prices which range from the sublime to the ridiculous. It is best to visit the market in the morning.

22. Bird Market
In an alley called Hong Lok street, near Mong Kok MTR station, hundreds of birds and cages are for sale. Songbirds have been prized in China since the early dynasties.

23. Ladies’ Market
This market in Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok, is open every afternoon and evening. Inexpensive ladies’ clothes, jeans, shoes and accessories are the stall holders’ specialties.

Other Attractions in Kowloon

24. Kowloon Walled City Park
Situated on the site of the historic Kowloon Walled City, this park preserves architectural remnants such as a Qing Dynasty almshouse and the Old South Gate. Laid out like a classical Southern Chinese-style garden, it features pavilion’s, sculptures, flower gardens and a playground. Open daily 6.30am-11.00pm; free admission.

25. Wong Tai Sin Temple
This is a large, modern temple whose deity is famous for curing illnesses. Nearby stalls sell joss sticks, and fortune-tellers ply their trade.

26. Lei Yue Mun
Enjoy fresh seafood in this village, situated at the point at which the harbour narrows between Kowloon and the northeastern shore of Hong Kong Island. Make your own seafood selections from the village market and let one of the nearby restaurants prepare them to your specifications.

NEW TERRITORIES
This 740-square-kilometre area, which is situated north of Boundary Street in Kowloon, was leased to Britain in 1898 for a period of 99 years under the terms of the Second Treaty of Peking. Sino-British negotiations in recent years resulted in the signing of an agreement in December, 1984, under which sovereignty of Hong Kong reverted to China on July 1, 1997, the year the lease expired. The New Territories are largely rural but development has been rapid and satellite towns and resettlement estates now occupy more and more space.

27. Airport Core Programme Exhibition Centre
Models, photos, videos and slide shows chart the progress of one of the world’s largest civil engineering programmes, which comprises 10 interlinked projects, including the new airport at Chek Lap Kok, the world’s longest span suspension bridge, a third cross-harbour tunnel and a road and rail network linking the airport to urban areas. The centre offers a stunning panoramic view of the bridge under construction.

28. Ching Chung Koon
This Taoist Temple of Green Pines houses many Chinese art treasures, including lanterns which used to hang in Beijing’s Imperial Palace 200 years ago, and a jade seal more that 1,000 years old.

29. Tai Mo Shan
This is Hong Kong’s highest peak (957 metres), from which you can see the new industrial town of Tsuen Wan to the south and all of the New Territories to the north. To get there, take a bus from Tsuen Wan, or join The Land Between Tour organized by the Hong Kong Tourist Association.

30. Yuen Yuen Institute
This large temple complex in Lo Wai (Old Walled Village) is dedicated to Hong Kong’s three major Chinese religions - Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Its main structure is a replica of Beijing’s magnificent, three-storey, circular Temple of Heaven. A vegetarian lunch can be arranged for visitors.

31. Kam Tin Walled Village
Built in the 1600s, the traditional village at Kam Tin, actually called Kat Hing Wai, is still inhabited by descendants of the original Tang clan. The village is surrounded by a wall, which was built to protect early inhabitants from invading pirates and bandits.

32. Lok Ma Chau Lookout Point
Mainland China can be seen from this hilltop lookout, which also overlooks the Shenzhen River, paddy fields and duck farms and Shenzhen Special Economic Zone in China.

33. Luen Wo Market
Near Fanling in the northern New Territories, this typical Chinese market features a wide array of fresh produce and daily necessities, which are sold from stalls laid out in a square. The best time to visit this market is between 10.30am and 12 noon.

34. 10,000 Buddhas Monastery
There are in fact 12,800 statues of Buddha lining the walls of this temple on the hillside west of Shatin railway station. The monastery features a nine-storey pink pagoda and also houses the founder’s remains, which have been embalmed in gold leaf.

35. Sai Kung
Located in the eastern part of the New Territories, the Sai Kung area contains two official country parks. Sai Kung Town boasts a picturesque harbour and many excellent seafood restaurants.

OUTLYING ISLANDS
In addition to Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, Hong Kong has 235 outlying islands. Most are uninhabited, while on others the way of life has remained virtually unchanged for decades. Many are easily accessible, very inexpensively, on scheduled ferries operated by the Hong Kong & Yaumati Ferry Company and can be visited for a day or even half a day. Three of the most popular and charming islands are Cheung Chau, Lamma and Lantau.

36. Cheung Chau
This is a tiny island, only 10.5 kilometres west of Hong Kong (one hour by ferry from Central), where motor vehicles are prohibited. See how the fisherfolk live and visit boat-building yards, fish-processing factories and the island’s famous Pak Tai Temple, which was built in 1783.

37. Lamma
The closest of Hong Kong’s outlying islands, Lamma lies about 40 minutes from Central by ferry. The main township is Yung Shue Wan, where stalls selling dried fish, Chinese herbal medicines, incense and candles mingle with modern low-rise cafes and waterfront seafood restaurants. Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma’s second settlement, is also famous for its open-air seafood restaurants.

At least two beaches on Lamma are ideal for swimming, fishing and barbecues. During the Tin Hau Festival, which is celebrated ever year in April or May, the bay near Yung Shue Wan throngs with junks flying gaily coloured flags.

Macau is worth seeing simply because it’s so close, so easy to reach, and yet - with a population of less than half-a-million - so different from Hong Kong. It’s a messy, bustling remnant of Portugal’s imperial past.

There’s a choice of boats from Hong Kong - quickest is the Jetfoil which takes about an hour - and all the options leave from the Macau Ferry Pier in Connaught Road.

Getting around by pedicab is probably in the most fun. But you have to haggle. The buses are OK but there’s a serious language problem with the taxi drivers. Once you’re settled, though, it’s best to walk because the streets are old, narrow and interesting. You’ll find a bizarre mix of old Portugal and traditional China all mixed up with stalls, shops and restaurants. For a real taste of old Macau walk the streets of the southern peninsula.

There are good hotels and you’ll enjoy a couple of days. The food - Macanese cuisine is absolutely unique - is exciting and delicious. And the Portuguese wine is cheap.

CHINA

China is more accessible than ever. But despite the recent changes - and the way China is now welcoming tourism - it can still be a strange experience. Except in border towns, foreigners are still a curiosity, and the frank staring and touching can be unnerving.

Even so, China is no longer the drab, dreary third-world country it once was. Even a trip to Guangzhou - Hong Kong’s nearest neighbour - can be a genuinely exciting adventure. But it’s still easier, and more reassuring, to go on a tour - even if you never usually go on a tour - just to get a feel for a place that’s about as ‘foreign’ as you get. China is interesting to say the least; some people find it disturbing. Whatever you think, it’s an experience you’ll never forget. Never.