UltimateCity Guide Hong Kong
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Stories from Hong Kong SAR, China

Every story, long read and guide in the ULTIMATE Hong Kong City Guide, in one place.

Culture

Arts & Culture in Hong Kong

All of Arts & Culture

M+, the Palace Museum, Cantonese opera and concerts: West Kowloon’s new museums and the Xiqu Centre, and the back story of the city’s art and architecture.

The bronze-coloured Hong Kong Palace Museum on the West Kowloon waterfrontThe back storyThe back storyHong Kong art, architecture & cultureThe Hong Kong Cultural Centre and the clock tower on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfrontArts & CultureMuseumsThe Hong Kong Palace MuseumThe curving white atrium of the Xiqu Centre, with a wooden pavilion at its heartArts & CultureCantonese operaThe Xiqu Centre

History

History & heritage

Neolithic coastal settlers, Hakka and Cantonese villages, a British colony from 1841, a refuge and a factory, and a Chinese special administrative region since 1997.

Incense coils inside Man Mo Temple, Hong KongHistory & heritageHakka villages, a colony of 1841 and a city of refugees: Hong Kong’s heritageFishing villages, the harbour and a world cityHong Kong Island and the harbour at night from Victoria PeakThe back storyThe Peak, the harbour and the temples: seeing Hong Kong wellGo up the Peak early or late, and cross the harbour by Star Ferry at…

Our advice

Ferry, tram, temple

Take the Star Ferry across the harbour, ride the Peak Tram for the view, and spend a morning in Sheung Wan’s Man Mo Temple and the old streets around it before visiting Tai Kwun. History & heritage

Areas

Hong Kong by neighbourhood

From Central to West Kowloon, each area has its own guide: the island’s heart, the temples and antiques of Sheung Wan, the Peak, Stanley’s beaches and the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront.

The Central skyline and the IFC tower seen from the Star Ferry on Victoria HarbourNeighbourhood guideCentralThe heart of the islandSunlight casting a round window’s shadow across the pale timber atrium of The Upper HouseNeighbourhood guideAdmiraltyPacific Place and the parksThe lobby of The St. Regis Hong Kong, with tall glass lanterns, stone benches and a fireplaceNeighbourhood guideWan ChaiOld and newThe curving galleries and escalators of Times Square, Causeway BayNeighbourhood guideCauseway BayShops and Victoria ParkThe colonnaded Barrack Block and parade ground at Tai KwunNeighbourhood guideSheung Wan & Tai Ping ShanTemples, antiques and small kitchens

The Peak

Ride the Peak Tram early in the morning or on a weekday, when the queues are shortest, and walk the level Lugard Road circuit at the top for the view.

  1. Neighbourhood guideThe PeakThe view of Hong Kong
  2. Neighbourhood guideThe South SideBeaches and Stanley
  3. Neighbourhood guideTsim Sha TsuiThe Peninsula and the waterfront
  4. Neighbourhood guideWest KowloonMuseums and the tallest tower

Practical

Plan your trip

The practical things to know before you go: entry and money, the Airport Express, MTR and ferries, and the scenic itinerary from Central to the South Side.

The vaulted roof and concourse of Hong Kong International AirportBefore you goHong Kong essentialsEntry, money and getting aroundAn Airport Express train on its way across LantauGetting aroundGetting aroundAirport Express, MTR and ferriesLugard Road, the shaded path round Victoria PeakItineraryThe scenic itineraryCentral, the Peak and the South Side
  1. Luxury guideLuxury Hong KongThe finest addresses

Our advice

Ask for the harbour

Ask for a harbour-view room, and book the hotel’s restaurants when you book the room. Grand hotels on the harbour

Day trips

Beyond Hong Kong

The Big Buddha, Macau, the Geopark and two islands, all within an hour or so.

The Tian Tan Buddha above the green hills and sea of Lantau, from aboveBeyond Hong KongLantauThe Big Buddha and Tai OSenado Square in Macau at night, its wave-patterned paving lit upBeyond Hong KongMacauSenado Square and the old townStilt houses, fish rafts and boats at Po Toi O, Sai KungBeyond Hong KongSai KungSeafood and the GeoparkSeafood restaurants on stilts and boats in the bay at Sok Kwu Wan, LammaBeyond Hong KongLammaThe trail and the seafoodPainted fishing boats moored in Cheung Chau harbourBeyond Hong KongCheung ChauBeaches, bikes and the Bun Festival

In depth

In depth: Hong Kong, from the harbour to the skyline

The harbour hotels, the Hong Kong table, the bars, the sights and buying a home: the stories behind the city, from dim sum to three stars.

Fireworks over Victoria Harbour and the lit-up towers of Wan ChaiStatue Square GardensChristmas in Hong KongCentral’s Christmas Town and the great tree of WinterFestShrimp dumplings with roe in a bamboo steamerIn depth: foodHong Kong CuisineDim sum, roast goose, milk tea and wonton noodlesA pink Chinese white dolphin surfacing off the coast of Lantau IslandIn depth: nature & wildlifeWild Hong KongPink dolphins, wetlands and country parks

Above the harbour

Book a table for sunset at the rooftops, and walk the lanes of Central afterwards.

  1. The back storyGrand hotels on the harbourIsland or Kowloon?
  2. The back storyThe Hong Kong tableFrom dim sum to three stars
  3. The back storyAbove the harbourThe bars

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