Hong Kong, China

Shoppers
Hong Kong has more commercial space and merchandise than any other city in China.

First Time Asia Travelers
Since Hong Kong was under British rule until the mid-1990s, English is widely spoken here. All street signs and public transportation systems are also in English. Additionally, many American fast-food chains are prominent throughout the city making travelers feel right at home.

Transfers
Roundtrip transfers between the airport and hotels are included in your vacation package and will be forfeited if not used. After clearing customs at Hong Kong International Airport, passengers proceed through Exit A, where they will be met by a representative. Transfer time to hotels is approximately 50 minutes via motorcoach. An optional private car transfer upgrade is also available.

Ferry
Ferries run from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon in just eight minutes. Ferries also run between Wanchai and Tsim Sha Tsui.

Subway
Hong Kong’s subway system is safe and easy to use. Four lines serve the area and tickets can be purchased at stations. A special money-saving tourist ticket is also available.

Taxi
Taxis are convenient. Note that there are surcharges for luggage, tunnels, and bridges.

Bus
Buses cover most areas of Hong Kong and are easy to use.

Tram
The Peak Tram rises 1,305 feet to Victoria Peak for unsurpassed panoramic views. A free shuttle bus runs between the lower terminus and the Star Ferry.

Hong Kong is one of the world’s great epicurean centers, with more than 10,000 restaurants! Lovers of Chinese cooking can sample every regional style, though Cantonese dishes predominate. Always look for the gold “Q” sign in the window, stating that the establishment is recommended by the tourist board. Restaurants are all throughout the city and are everchanging, but here are some popular ones:

• Peking Garden Restaurant
  Serving excellent Peking duck. The restaurant's clay-breaking ritual of the beggar's chicken and demonstrations of the acrobatic art of noodle making provide entertainment as well.
• Tai Hing Roast Restaurant
  Offering 5-star roasted Cantonese cuisine and innovative roast items with western flavors such as wasabi creamy sauce and baked roast pork rice.
• Tai Woo Restaurant
  Award-winning restaurant known for delectable and creative seafood dishes. Try the steam eel of "two tastes served with crispy rice" or "three tastes of crab with vegetables and melon." Causeway Bay.
• Ah Yee Leng Tong
  Famous for Chinese stewed soup, Ah Yee Leng Tong serves more than 10 varieties each day along with a selection of crystal chicken, dim sum, and boatman's specialties.
• Prince Restaurant
  Signature dishes at affordable prices, Prince Restaurant serves traditional Chinese cuisine as well as contemporary culinary innovation.
• Knutsford Steak Chop & Oyster Bar
  An excellent place to people watch from the Bourbon Street-style terrace, and dine on succulent steaks and oysters.

In addition to these specific restaurants, the following four areas are the most popular for dining: Kowloon City for good food at a good value; Lan Kwai Fong and SoHo for trendy restaurants and international cuisine; Sai Kung, Lamma Island, and Lei Yue Mun for fresh seafood at its best; and Causeway Bay for authentic and traditional dining.

Look for shops displaying the gold “Q” in their window, which certifies the shops that pass stringent annual assessments showing that they provide genuine products and ensure superb customer service.

Hong Kong Island

At Stanley Market, you’ll find everything from Nike and Versace knock-offs to fresh water pearls and unique souvenirs. Be sure to bargain. As a rule of thumb, you should pay about 60% of the original asking price and the best bargains are generally found further away from the main entrance. If you don't like to bargain, the China Arts and Crafts store has posted prices. There are several branches throughout Hong Kong, the largest being in Kowloon, near the Star Ferry.

East and West Li Yuen Streets and Spring Garden Lane are good places to shop for inexpensive and competitively priced clothes.

For a typical Chinese shopping area, visit the Western District with its Chinese medicine shops and craftsmen making mah-jongg tiles. The streets behind the Western Market are also filled with atmospheric shops.

Large, western-style department stores can be found in the Central District, Admiralty, Wanchai, Causeway Bay, and Tsim Sha Tsui District.

Kowloon Side

Temple Street market is another worth visiting. At night the vendors, lights, and music of this open-air market stretch for almost a mile, making this one of Hong Kong’s most lively experiences.

Other shopping favorites include Rio Pearl where you’ll find gorgeous pearls in all sizes and price ranges, plus precious stones, and jewelry.

You can see various types of birds and their doting owners at the Bird Market.

If shopping for jade, visit the Jade Market located down the street from the Miramar Hotel and the Night Market. It’s fun and inexpensive.

The weekly free HK Magazine, has the most comprehensive calendar of upcoming events. Copies are distributed on Fridays to stores, restaurants, and lounges. The Hong Kong Standard also lists things to do, as does the weekend Hong Kong Life, and the Friday pullout publication, WE, from the South China Morning Post.

Some of the best talent in the world performs in Hong Kong. Performances of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra offer a full season of concerts from September – July. Traditional Chinese dance can be seen five times a year performed by the Hong Kong Dance Company. The Hong Kong Ballet also performs throughout the year.

Chinese New Year
February 7, 2008. The most important festival in Hong Kong is celebrated with more fun and vitality than anywhere else in the world. The vibrant International Chinese New Year Parade draws people from around the world and fills the streets with a dizzying mix of musicians, performers, and colorful floats. Afterward, the annual Chinese New Year fireworks extravaganza raises the level of excitement as everyone gets ready to party! WorldVacations will be offering New Year’s packages.

Mid-Autumn Festival
September. The Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates the harvest moon and is a special time for children and families, who take colorful lanterns to parks, beaches and hilltops to gaze at the moon.

Chung Yeung Festival
October. Also known as Autumn Remembrance, this festival is similar to Ching Ming in the spring, in that families journey to the graves of their ancestors to perform cleansing rites and pay their respects. The Chung Yeung Festival commemorates a Han Dynasty (202BC – AD220) legend, which tells how a soothsayer advised scholar Woon King that he should take his family to a high place for the entire ninth day of the ninth moon. Upon their return the Woon family discovered all living things in their village had been slaughtered. Today, many Hong Kong families remember the lucky scholar during the Chung Yeung Festival when they head into the hills to picnic.

City of Life Street Carnival
December. This exciting carnival shouldn’t be missed and features performances galore all across the city. Streets and public spaces are filled with local and international troupes providing nonstop action including dance, cabaret, jazz, rock, samba, and Cantopop.

Unique Evening
Take time to check out the Night Market. You can have your palm read, do some shopping, people watch, and sample the local cuisine. This is a great spot for knock-off sunglasses, purses, and clothing at deeply discounted prices. Be on the lookout for the quality of the goods.

Quality Tourism Services (QTS) Scheme
When shopping, look for stores that display the gold "Q" QTS sign of quality. These shops and restaurants have passed stringent annual assessments from the Hong Kong Tourism Board showing that they provide genuine products with clearly displayed prices, display clear product information, and ensure superb customer service.

Bring the Family
Not only is Hong Kong a great vacation for couples, families will never want for activites, and children will have the unique opportunity to discover a distant culture first hand. Victoria Peak offers spectacular views of the city and harbor, but is also home to Madame Tussauds Hong Kong and the EA Experience for video game enthusiasts. Also for kids of all ages, the magic of Disney is present with Hong Kong Disneyland.

Monte Carlo of Asia
Embark on an adventurous tour to Macau. You'll enjoy a hydrofoil ride to a former Portuguese colony, see the sites, and have the opportunity to try your luck at one of the many casinos.

Tailor
If having a suit tailor-made, look for a tailor with a gold “Q” in the window, which means they have been approved by the tourism board. Plan to be in town for 5-6 days to allow for measurements, an intermediate fitting, and final approval of your purchase. Princeton Custom Tailors on Peking Road is well known for quality workmanship.

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