Discover All That’s New & Timeless in Hong Kong

The Traditions Keeping Hong Kong’s Soul Alive

Step inside the atmospheric Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road in the Sheung Wan district, and you’ll see the spiritual side of modern, progressive Hong Kong. The smoke from incense coils suspended from the ceiling carries prayers to Man Cheong Tai, the god of civil literature, and Mo Tai, the martial god. It’s a tiny slice of tradition surrounded by modernity, yet while many of Hong Kong’s most visible symbols of urban life, such as balcony barber shops, wet markets or labyrinthine clusters of neon signs are vanishing, many remain.  

The reliable strength of bamboo scaffolding still shapes most modern construction projects in Hong Kong, while the sound of its trams, affectionately called “ding dings,” rings through the modern streets. The grandfather of all Hong Kong tramways, the Peak Tram, still carries passengers to awesome views at the top of Victoria Peak, while the Star Ferry connects ultra-modern Central with rapidly changing Tsim Sha Tsui. On a clear day, there’s no better way to admire Hong Kong’s skyline, except maybe walking along the Avenue of Stars, which honours the famous faces of Hong Kong entertainment. 

Hong Kong’s special relationship with food is also as strong as ever. The milk tea is always pouring, pineapple buns and Hong Kong style egg tarts are as delicious as ever, and dim sum remains the ultimate in family (related or chosen) dining. But there’s always room at the table for innovation. We’d hate to leave anyone out or play favourites by trying to single out Hong Kong’s best restaurants or 50 Best Bars, but you can bet there’ll be new additions to any such list by the time you arrive. Be sure also to check out which of Hong Kong events and festivals coincide with your trip. 

The Ever-Changing Face of Kowloon 

Kowloon is Hong Kong’s most populated area, and, arts lovers in particular should make a beeline for West Kowloon Cultural District (aka WestK), which incorporates M+ contemporary art museum and the Hong Kong Palace Museum. You can chill between exhibits in the West Kowloon Art Park, or for performing arts, check the programs at Freespace for cutting edge performances, or Xiqu Centre for classic Chinese opera. 

The serene Kowloon Walled City Park honours the memory of what was once the city’s most controversial landmark, preserving the remnants of its south gate. A little to the north, sit down to have your fortune told at the Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple, or hop on the efficient MTR to the beautiful Nan Lian Garden and Chi Lin Nunnery. Meanwhile, to the south, Hong Kong innovation strikes again in the Kai Tak district, home to Kai Tak Sports Park, AIRSIDE “culturetainment” hub, world-class shopping malls and more.    

Ever changing as it is, it’s hard not to feel like you’re seeing the more local side of Hong Kong, both modern and traditional while you’re in Kowloon, so give yourself at least one full day there to explore. 

Reinventing the Past, Creating the Future

If you prefer boutique galleries and shops that sell one-of-a-kind pieces, Hong Kong has you covered. Central and Sheung Wan in particular are dotted with small galleries showcasing local and international artists. Two of the city’s most historic buildings stand out, reinventing themselves as showcases for Hong Kong’s creative minds. The former police station of Tai Kwun now combines an arts centre, performance spaces, small galleries, and a museum devoted to the building’s unique history. Prefer to browse art you can take home? A five-minute stroll along Hollywood Road brings you to PMQ. The former Police Married Quarters is where young Hong Kong artists and entrepreneurs have set up shop to showcase their creativity through sustainable fashion, design, fine arts and a lot more. Several of the rooms have been preserved in their original style if you’re curious about the building’s history. 

Buddha Watches Over Hong Kong’s Outdoor Oasis

Hong Kong offers surprisingly abundant green space along with plenty of hiking trails, particularly in the New Territories to the north, or on Lantau Island, the largest island in Hong Kong. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can hike all the way up to the Lantau’s Tian Tan Buddha, a 34m (111ft) tall bronze statue of Buddha that watches over Hong Kong’s gateway island from high above the busy runways of Hong Kong International Airport. The hike takes about two hours and 15 minutes, but most visitors prefer to take in the view from the Ngong Ping 360 cable car. Stop in at the picturesque Po Lin Monastery, established in 1906, then for a real taste of Lantau’s heritage, visit Tai O fishing village, a small but vibrant community that preserves a traditional way of life. You can even connect with Hong Kong’s unique ocean life nearby, watching wild white dolphins just offshore. Other popular spots include the stunning beaches and clear waters of Pui O, Cheung Sha, Mui Wo and Discovery Bay. The ferries from Central offer a more picturesque journey than the MTR, enhancing that island escape feel. 

Wellness-loving Lantau is also a great place to simply connect with nature. Many of its trails string together a number of historic landmarks, and most reward those that make the trek with stunning views. The 4.5-hour Sunset Peak hike—to the third highest peak in Hong Kong—might be our favourite, but it’s hard to go wrong with any option on this natural treasure. Lantau is also an ideal hub for exploring smaller islands like Peng Chau, Cheung Chau and Lamma Island, each of which offers its own outdoor activities, historic sights and beaches. Standing ankle deep in their turquoise waters, it’s easy to forget there’s a bustling, major world city less than an hour away! 

The Transport Hub That Unlocks More of Asia

With one of the fastest, most extensive and most efficient mass transit systems in the world, there’s seldom much need for a taxi on your average Hong Kong day out (and when there is, they’re safe and quite affordable). With solid connections throughout the region, the MTR will even take you to the more remote trailheads of the New Territories or to the southern villages of Hong Kong Island. The Airport Express train will have you from HKIA to Central in just 24 minutes, or less if you’re disembarking in Kowloon.  

If engineering wonders are your thing, you can admire the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge from afar on a one-hour ferry ride to Macau, or experience the 45-minute drive across it in person. The world’s longest sea-bridge, it includes innovative undersea tunnels and artificial islands that allow shipping to pass unhindered. With air connections across the Chinese Mainland and many other parts of Asia, Hong Kong is an ideal springboard for exploring the region, so why not start with its next-door neighbour, Macau. Just remember your passport, since Macau is a distinct administrative region with its own immigration control. 

How to Get to Hong Kong (& How Long to Stay)

Hong Kong’s flagship airline, Cathay Pacific is consistently named among the world’s top airlines, serving a wide variety of destinations including Vancouver and Toronto in Canada, and San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Boston, and New York in the United States. Air Canada and Hong Kong Airlines also fly nonstop from Vancouver, while United uses Hong Kong International Airport to connect to Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City.  

While you could spend a month or more happily exploring, eating, and shopping your way through this dynamic city, a minimum of three days offers a good introduction, while three to five gives you time to explore in depth at a more comfortable pace. While Hong Kong is moving fast, it doesn’t expect visitors to keep up. Take your time, allowing each of Hong Kong’s islands and neighbourhoods to share its own stories, then return another day to see it transformed anew for its next chapter.

Discover Hong Kong on a tailor-made vacation today.