Hong Kong Travel Tips

Following are regularly updated travel tips for Hong Kong.

The text below is from the comprehensive holiday travel tips to be found at
Cheap World Travel Tips.


April 18 2009 Hong Kong travel tips

Hong Kong's airport is an attractive, well designed structure with clear signage and is easy to navigate. An In-Transit Excursions brochure is available that explains the airport's shopping and entertainment precincts, SkyMart and SkyPlaza, as well as activities in and around the city. Clearing customs is fairly straightforward and visitors pay no departure tax if they return by midnight.

In Macau, the best church is the 17th century St Dominic's, the best museum is within Mount Fortress, the best facade is St Paul's Cathedral built in 1602, the best market is the art deco Red Market built in 1936 at the corner of Avenida Almirante Lacerda and Avenida Horta e Costa, and the best temple is the A-Ma temple built in 1488.

Note: Hong Kong became a mostly smoke-free city from January 1 2007 when a ban came into force on cigarettes in restaurants, workplaces, schools, karaoke lounges and public areas. Smoking at outdoor places such as beaches, swimming pools, sports grounds and most areas of public parks is also forbidden and offenders face a maximum penalty of $HK5000.

Travellers, particularly with respiratory ailments, should note that air pollution from thousands of factories along the Pearl River can be so intense that you cannot see across Hong Kong habour and the sun is a barely visible orange disc. Thick air pollution is regular during winter but in recent years has also become a frequent problem in summer. A smoggy day in Hong Kong is comparable to inhaling six cigarettes and the pollution problem is causing some people to leave the city.

Country parks in Hong Kong include Aberdeen, Pok Fu Lam, Tai Tam, Kam Shan, Lantau and Sai Kung. Nature trails worth exploring include Bowen Road, Lantau Trail, Maclehose Trail, Pineapple Dam, Tai Po Kau, and Wilson Trail.

It's worth noting a $1 billion, five year redevelopment of Ocean Park which will see the 44 hectare park almost completely rebuilt. Ocean Park offers endless family fun with 2005 admission at $HK185 for adults and $HK93 for children, which covers fares for all games and rides. The park is open from 10am to 6pm.

According to Census figures released in 2005, there are about 10% more women living in Hong Kong than men.

Another reason to buy an airline ticket to Hong Kong is the opening in September 2005 of the new Hong Kong Disneyland on the edge of Lantau Island. The 126 hectare Disney park has four themed lands - Main Street USA, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland and Adventureland - and is expected to attract almost 6 million tourists in its first year. Adult entry is about US$46 and US$31 for children aged 3 to 11. Weekend entry is more expensive but all entry fees cover all rides and shows in the park. Early criticism of the park is that there are insufficient roller-coaster rides, no shaded areas and lengthy queues, particularly on weekends.

Almost 7 million people live in Hong Kong and the streets are usually crowded. If you want privacy, the only hideaway is often your hotel room.

However, about 70% of Hong Kong is classed rural with about 40% reserved as country parks, so it's fairly easy to slip out of the city and clear your lungs with a day trekking through the countryside.

The easiest escape might be to catch a tram to The Peak, Hong Kong's lookout with 360 degree views, and spend a few hours exploring the surrounding bushland.

Other infrastructure changes of interest to tourists include a major spruce-up of the Victoria Harbour waterfront, a huge cultural and entertainment complex being built in West Kowloon, and a $100 million renovation at Hong Kong's iconic Peak Tower.

About 20% of Hong Kong's landscape is covered by forests and woodland. The Hong Kong Wetland Park, which combines education with entertainment, is scheduled for a full opening in 2006.

The travel lure of Hong Kong was further enhanced with the opening in 2006 of a new 7.5 kilometre cableway running from Tung Chung next to Hong Kong International Airport to Ngong Ping and the Big Buddha. The 20 minute journey offers spectacular views over the South China Sea and North Lantau Country Park.

The 20 minute cabe lcar journey will allow tourists to soar up to 585 metres over the mountains and witness spectacular 360 degree views over the airport, Tung Chung Bay and the South China Sea. The cable construction has blended with the natural environment and the cableway system will be the largest in Asia.

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