5 Things To Do in Hong Kong

This post was originally created for 1stClassFashion.com 

Hong Kong is known as Asia’s world city, full of flavors, sites and events that will entice any palate.  Here are 5 things you should do if you venture to HK!

[highlight color=”orange”] 1) GET LOST [/highlight]

Since Hong Kong is the world’s most vertical city, there are endless offerings around every corner, up every staircase, and down every alleyway. It’s like sensation after sensation, all stacked up on a hill. If you’re looking for the feel of Mainland China why not take the MTR or bus to a stop deep in Kowloon and take a walk. Another awesome thing to try is to go into a place where the menu isn’t in English and order what the person next to you is having. The harbor in Aberdeen makes a beautiful venture and you can even rent a boat through Airbnb and sleep on the water! Although the locals tend to keep to themselves, if you ask directions or recommendations many are happy to help despite language barriers. The only way to explore the city is to actually get out and do it, so what are you waiting for?!

[highlight color=”orange”] 2) BEAUTIFY YOURSELF [/highlight]

From Causeaway Bay to LKF and Kowloon, you’ll find a plethora of offerings in the beauty sector at various price ranges. When it comes to beauty, you should definitely judge a book by its cover, so if the shop looks cute and so do the people running it, it’s more than likely a safe bet. I stopped by Lovely Spa on La Kwai Fong and received a massage and waxing treatments at an unbelievable price with the friendliest service. Every woman, or man for that matter, can use a good pedicure and a massage, and Hong Kong is definitely the place to get the most for your money.

[highlight color=”orange”] 3) EXPERIENCE LOCAL CULTURE, FOOD, AND ART [/highlight]

Just like London, Paris, LA or New York, Hong Kong is a mesh or cultures, flavors, art and events. I was lucky to attend the Hong Kong Flower Show during my stay and was bummed to miss the Hong Kong Art Walk which began right after my departure.  A great place to check out what’s happening locally is on Twitter or at www.hk-magazine.com for daily updates on what’s happening. Dim Sum at DimDimSum in Kowloon and High Tea at the Hong Kong Regal Hotel are also highly recommended with an extra dash of yum!

 

[highlight color=”orange”] 4) A NIGHT ON THE TOWN [/highlight]

If you’re looking to take in some nightlife, Lan Kwai Fong is the place to start. On the Hong Kong side, Peel Fresco Music Lounge offers amazing jazz tunes, and although they charge a hefty cover to get in, it’s worth it (try the sangria!). There are tons of expat bars around the area that have amazing happy hour deals and the Fatty Crab almost makes you feel like you’re in Silver Lake or some other trendy area out there in the world and feature hand-crafted cocktails from some of the world’s best bartenders.

The Kowloon side used to be called “the dark side” because apparently not much happens there after dark, but I found it quite the opposite. Local pool halls and bars stay open late and serve the needs of those looking for cocktails, beers, and fun.

[highlight color=”orange”] 5) MACAU AND OTHER FUN EXTRAS   [/highlight]

As a tourist, one of the must see attractions in Hong Kong is the Giant Buddha.  It’s a quick MTR ride from central, and once you get there a cable car ride above the water will take you to the top where friendly faces and even some cute roaming cows await. It’s beautiful and calming to wander through the grounds and into the various temples. Big Buddha himself might leave you searching for the right words to describe him, and if I were to choose just one word, it would be magnificent.

Macau is a great option if you have a day or half day to spend exploring. I had a late night flight so I opted to check my bags in early at the Central MTR station and take the ferry to Macau from there (talk about efficiency!). The mesh of Chinese culture and Portuguese architecture with a dash of Vegas is more than an eyeful, and there are plenty of easy-to-get-to tourist sites around the island. Take advantage of one of the free shuttles from the MGM or the Wynn which will bring you right to the casino, from there cross over to Hotel Lisboa and you can enter the charming old part of the city. I didn’t choose to spend much time gambling, but had a great time exploring the city and snacking on local pastries from a hole in the wall bakery.

 Depending on the weather, a nice hike in one of the many hills is highly recommended. A great place to check out hikes in HK is this post by CNN Travel.

I hope you will enjoy Hong Kong friends!! Stay tuned for my next post on the fashion scene in Asia’s World City.