Hong Kong: Visiting the Tropical Island
10 Reasons to Visit Hong Kong
The big city skyline of Hong Kong makes it easy to forget that this is a tropical Island. Hong Kong is located on the southeast coast of China at the mouth of the Pearl River and faces the South China sea.
Despite its dense urban environment and futuristic neon skyline, about three quarters of Hong Kong's total area is made up of countryside. About 40 percent of the area is designated as country parks. You can enjoy hiking trails in Hong Kong, relax on the beaches or enjoy the nightly Symphony of Lights.
If you are planning to visit, here are 10 things to enjoy::
1 - The Symphony of Lights - Every night at 8 p.m. enjoy the light show. Victoria Harbor is lit up with the world's largest light display. Lights shine across 40 buildings on both sides of the harbor.
2 - What to Eat - Enjoy authentic dim sum dumplings at the Luk Yu Tea House, in operation since the 1930s.
3 - Visit a Beach - Spend a day relaxing on a sunny Hong Kong beach in the Sai Kung District. Enjoy the crystal clear waters and the gentle sea breezes.
4 - Where to Stay - The Mira Hotel has been lauded as one of the hippest new hotels in the world. The Mira cell phones can be used to reach the hotel from anywhere in the city. Enjoy foods at the celebrity-chef restaurants. Also featured is the indoor infinity pool as well as a spa.
5 - Camping - Camp out on Pui O Beach on Lantau Island. Although a bare bones location, the campsite is organized and features showers, a beach bar and barbecues. If you are lucky you may catch a glimpse of the island's free roaming water buffalo!
6 - Art - Art and history buffs can check out the Hong Kong Museum of History. If you opt to stay at the super luxurious Island Shangri-La Hotel, you'll see the world's biggest Chinese silk painting which spans 16 stories.
7 - Casinos - Take a trip out to Macao, which is known as Hong Kong's Monaco. Fancy casinos are here which includes the $2.1 billion dollar City of Dreams. Also located here are historic temples.
8 - Cable Car Ride - Take a tour over Lantau's green landscape on the Ngong Ping 360 cable cars. Enjoy the amazing view which includes the island's famous giant sitting Buddha statue, as well as the Po Lin Monastery and the fishing village.
9 - Cruising - Include a cruise out to Lamma Island and enjoy all the super fresh seafood at the many restaurants.
10 - Feng Shui Tour - Hong Kong is built on the principle of feng shui. Feng Shui literally translates to "wind and water" and is based on the principle of living in harmony with nature. The tour will share the principles of this ancient philisophy and show how it has influenced the landscape of Hong Kong. One stop will be the Central District. Standing at Statue Square is where the guide will explain how the district has been propelled into becoming a leading financial center in the world.
Traveling to Hong Kong - Nonstop travel is possible from JFK on Cathay Pacific or from Newark on Continental.
Happy New Year of the Metal Rabbit in 2011. In 2012 it will be the Water Dragon.
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Comments
I have always heard that Hong Kong is way to expensive but you have mentioned some items like camping that seem like they would not be too expensive.
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Wow Riviera Rose! Will you write about this - I'm one of your followers so if you do I will be there! I so enjoyed my recent trip to Beijing and like so much of China you have to go again and again!
I lived in Hong Kong almost twenty years ago and have missed it ever since. Would love to do the feng shui tour and see the light show, and just thinking about the silk painting in the Shangri-La makes me nostalgic... I want to go back!!!
List Lady - You always get me in the mood for traveling! I'm so afraid of flying though. I will eventually overcome my fear...I'll have to if I am going to visit these wonderful places you list for us. I'd love to check out that Mira Hotel and camp out on the Pui O Beach (though I'm not a big fan of camping I'd try it this time around). Thank you. Rated it up!
I never knew it was a tropical island. How amazing. What I would love is the feng-shui tour. I've often read that feng-shui is why Hong Kong is so wealthy. Sounds good to me. I hope to get there soon! Thanks for the info. Rated up!
Wow...would you look at that skyline! Wonderful hub. This is one place I'll need to put on my "go to" list! lol
Love the feng shui angle. I've read that Hong Kong follows geomancy - and that is why there is such wealth. I'd certainly do the tour. Had no idea HK was a tropical island - I would love to have a chance to see water buffalo - and the light show. So much.
I've gotten as far as Taiwan and Beijing - HK will be next. Thanks a million for a short sweet hub. Yay! Rated up!
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