Hong Kong: A city where East meets West

The City of Lights

Hong Kong is a cosmopolitan metropolis which provides an intoxicating mix of eastern and western culture.

Located on China's south coast, 60 km east of Macau on the opposite side of the Pearl River Delta, Hong Kong is home to over 7 million people.  

The Island is surrounded by the South China Sea on the east, south, and west, and borders the city of Shenzhen, Guangdong to the north over the Shenzhen River.

Temple St Night Market

A trip to The Peak, Hong Kong Island's highest point, is a good place from which to begin any trip to the 'City of Lights'.

Home to some of Hong Kong's most expensive properties (anyone in the market for a HK$500 million property?); The Peak remains the territory's foremost tourist destination.   

To describe the view from the summit of Victoria Peak (522m) as breathtaking would be a colossal understatement.

There simply is no adjective descriptive enough to convey the feeling you get from taking in this Futurama-esque city and the amazing topography on which it is built.

The best way to get to the Peak is by travelling on the Peak Tram, a short 20-minute journey from Central.

Visitors to Hong Kong can also take the time to indulge in one of the locals favourite past times - shopping.

Year-round, you'll find many sales in and around Central on Hong Kong Island, where designer shops and exclusive labels are a dime a dozen.

In fact, the city is considered to be such a stylish and affordable shopping destination that a number of tourists travel to Hong Kong specifically to restock and update their wardrobes.

Shopping enthusiasts will also enjoy a trip to Temple St in Mongkok which hosts the city's liveliest night market - remember any marked prices at the markets should be considered as a mere suggestion in the bargaining process.

The Temple St market, which is open from the afternoon till midnight, sells clothes, CDs and DVDs, footwear, cookware, every day items and food in dai pai dong (open-air street stalls).

Hong Kong is one of the greatest food capitals of the world, with more than 10,000 restaurants to choose from it would take a person 27 years eating out every night to dine in all of them.

Enjoy high tea at the Peninsula Hotel

The city is separated into several food districts, each with their own unique atmosphere, where travellers can experience local and international cuisine from Brazil, Nepal, Russia, Egypt, Italy, Spain, Japan and Greece, just to name a few.

For an affordable taste of luxury, tourists can also enjoy cucumber sandwiches, scones and cake during high tea at the legendary Peninsula Hotel.