Time of year: Summer
Weather: HOT
Attractions and activities: Ngong Ping 360, Tian Tan Buddha, Tung Choi Street Market
Know Before You Go
Hong Kong reminds me of New York City. It’s big, busy, bright, vibrant. It’s a melting pot of different types of people, culture, art, history, commercialism, and much more (look up its history to learn more!). The only difference is the world seems to get a slower start in HK. A night owl myself, I appreciated this. Interestingly, while busy, no one seemed to be moving faster – it was just more. More lights, more advertisements, more people. If you like the energy of city life, you’ll enjoy Hong Kong.
When it comes to food, you can find almost anything you wish to eat in Hong Kong. Traditional foods (dim sum, sweet and sour pork, the list goes on), Italian, even bar food. You can complete internet searches just like you would in the US to find something that sounds appetizing to you. Try at least one authentic HK dish!
After staying in Hong Kong I was never more glad for my packing approach. Outside was very toasty and humid. Inside you could turn into a popsicle within 15 minutes. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, pack layers. In a HK summer travel season, be prepared for the heat and not a lot of breeze when outdoors. When we visited the Buddha our clothes were practically sticking to us.
Getting around is fairly easy in HK. You can take public transportation (get an Octopus card), hire a car (Uber), take a boat, or walk. Just build in some time as you will be navigating crowds.
One last thing I will pass along from our experience at the street market. Bring cash. You will not find many places that take credit card.
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What Was Missed
There is no doubt in my mind that we missed a lot while in Hong Kong. With a little over a day free on a weekend between Shanghai, China and Singapore stops, we didn’t have a lot of time to explore. Had there been more time I would liked to have seen a monastery or temple, Nan Lian Garden, Tai Mo Shan or Lantau Peak, Wisdom Path, and so much more.
Trip Summary
I enjoyed Hong Kong. The blend of traditional culture and modernism was very interesting to experience. It’s proximity to Macau and other China attractions makes it a decent option for travel plans. Others advised to use HK as part of a larger Asian tour at a future date, as several neighboring countries are a few hours’ plane ride away and HK has a major international airport. I hope I can return someday.
As I said in the Shanghai post, I’d love to return to China one day to experience more, and if possible, with my family in tow.
Happy traveling.
Not Tomorrow 