Man Mo Temple: a peaceful oasis

SHOPPING

Apart from eating, the other national sport of Hong Kong is shopping. It’s hard to choose between the 100-plus shopping malls. The metropolis seems to be a maze of shopping paradises, busy promenades and craft shops. Fortunately, each neighbourhood has its own products and prices. With a little preparation you’ll know exactly where to go.

SHOPPING

The latest laptops and perfumes are easy to find in Hong Kong but with the wide choice of shops it means you can also buy the most original souvenirs. Looking for a Chinese evening gown or antique folding screen? No problem! It’s easy to fall in love with the beautifully made local goods. But be warned, shopping on this scale has already turned the people of Hong Kong into shopaholics.

ARTS & CULTURE

Glistening skyscrapers and imposing shopping malls dominate the skyline of Hong Kong. It’s hard to imagine that this metropolis was nothing more than a fishing village 150 years ago. Fishermen lived here in stilt houses, supported above the water by poles, and fished to provide a meal for their families. You can still see this lifestyle today in Tai O fishing village.

CULINARY

You can see them on menus in all kinds of shapes and flavours, and they are served in steamer baskets or on side plates: delicious dim sum. Originally, these steamed parcels were a favourite breakfast item but nowadays they have become just as popular for lunch. Because each restaurant fills its menu with its own creations, more than 2,000 varieties of dim sum now exist.

CULINARY

China is the birthplace of tea. Naturally, this sophisticated beverage is a crowd pleaser in Hong Kong too. Whether with a breakfast of steamed snacks, at a business meeting or an elaborate dinner, tea accompanies most occasions. Teahouses are the quintessential places where a broad range of tea types, ceremonies and people come together.

SHOPPING

You’re just as likely to come across songbirds and goldfish on Hong Kong’s street markets as antique watches and Chinese dresses. Street markets are always exciting and full of life, in contrast with the often stuffy shopping malls. And in Hong Kong you can find a market at any time of the day... Or night.

CULINARY

The residents of Hong Kong are crazy about food. You can visit one the 11,000 restaurants in this metropolis at any time of the day. Hong Kong is also a mecca for all types of snacks, from Portuguese egg tarts to Chinese chive rolls and smelly durian sorbets.

FAMILY FUN

Referring to Ocean Park as an amusement park hardly does it justice. Founded in 1977, Hong Kong’s oldest amusement park offers so much more than just a few rides and roller coasters. Ocean Park encompasses a zoo, oceanarium, amusement park and research centre all in one. Animal welfare is one of the park’s top priorities and the various laboratories carry out important research.

FAMILY FUN

If you only have time to visit one Hong Kong attraction, go to The Peak. And if you have a lot of time, then still visit The Peak. Seven million visitors a year find their way to the top of this mountain. The view from here is breathtaking. There is also a gigantic shopping mall that will make the heart of every shopaholic skip a beat.

ARTS & CULTURE

Long before the steamboat was invented, people crossed the harbour between the island of Hong Kong and Kowloon by sampan. A time-consuming and arduous trip. However, once the Star Ferry came into operation, the journey was reduced to only 8 minutes. The Star Ferry now offers 12 boats and the crossing offers great views of the impressive Hong Kong skyline.

ARTS & CULTURE

Hong Kong is a fascinating city with an equally interesting history. The ‘New York of Asia’ was once a humble fishing village. Over time it evolved into a strategic military port and then grew into the busy Hong Kong of today: one of the largest financial centres in the world.