Overview - Hong Kong
From Track2Asia
Hong Kong is composed of Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories. Hong Kong Island or the “Central” is the smallest among the three, but it is also the center of Hong Kong’s business and tourism. Hong Kong Island’s south side is home to the rich and famous, its beaches providing the main attraction. Repulse Bay (or Shallow Water Bay, which is its Chinese name) is perhaps the favorite.
Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula are separated by stunning Victoria Harbor. The views of both sides of the harbor are simply spectacular. The New Territories, meanwhile, is a rural area located north of Boundary Street of the Kowloon district. Here, you can still come upon small villages that have remained largely undiscovered by tourists.
Hong Kong is a city that throbs with a different kind of energy – the kind that attracts a multitude. Go to Causeway Bay or Mongkok and you will feel as if all of the 6.9 million population in Hong Kong is there with you.
Hong Kong fascinates and delights. It has a lot to offer in terms of shopping, dining and nightlife. You can find the chic designer brands, the latest in fashion and traditional Chinese wares. You can go to the lively open-air markets such as the Jade and Stanley markets. You can even shop way past midnight – the Temple Street Night Market is just one way to indulge even when most stores are closed for the day.
For traditional Chinese herbal medicine, go to Sheung Wan, at Bonham Strand and Bonham Strand West. These is a wide variety of medicinal items – dried plants and animals, and pills. For the chic (and the expensive) fashion, you can go to department stores and upscale malls.
Hungry after all that shopping? Why, Hong Kong is a veritable gourmet heaven. The people of Hong Kong are certified food lovers and the food choices are vast and equally tempting. Many talented chefs flock to the city and are intent to turn your stomach into “one happy place”. In Hong Kong, you do not only get to enjoy traditional Chinese fare (seafood tops this list) but you can also sample Japanese, Korean, American, European and so many other cuisines. Make sure not to miss the very popular cha chaan teng and dai pai dong.
Hong Kong also enjoys a vibrant nightlife –centred around Wanchai and Lan Kwai Fong (Central), these areas are favorite haunts of locals and expatriates. For more relaxing (and quiet) evenings, take a walk along the promenade, which threads the length of the Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfont. You can also hie up to Victoria Peak. There, the city is laid in all its sparkly splendor – an unforgettable jewel.
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