Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong’s rich history has made the city what it is today, with its mix of Chinese tradition and British Victorian-era influence. The city is now a financial and tourism hub with a smorgasbord of things to see, do and experience.
Hong Kong is serviced by two cruise terminals, the Hong Kong Cruise Terminal located on the Tsim Sha Tsui Peninsula at Kowloon, close to the CBD, and the newer Kai Tak Cruise Terminal located on a runway of the old Hong Kong Airport and is 10kms from the centre of the city and 42kms from the Airport. Most cruise ships now embark and disembark at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.
The two main areas where most hotels, sights and attractions are located are Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. There is a multitude of quality hotel options on either side of the harbour from comfortable 3-4 star up to opulent 6-star hotels and the city is serviced by a world-class metro system which makes it easy to access any part of Hong Kong from your hotel.
Hong Kong Island has a variety of sites and activities to experience such as riding the “Ding Dings” which are the iconic double-decker trams that run through the busy streets of Hong Kong Island that have been used by locals since 1904 or riding the longest escalator in the world (Central Mid-Levels escalator).
A must-do on the Island is taking in the breathtaking views at The Peak at Sky Terrace which is the highest viewing platform in Hong Kong offering unrivalled 360-degree views. Getting to The Peak by the Peak Tram is an experience in itself. One of the world’s oldest and most famous funicular railways, the tram climbs to 396 metres above sea level and has a gradient of 4 to 25 degrees which provide a unique visual illusion, when going uphill the high rise buildings on the right-hand side appear to fall toward The Peak!
If in Hong Kong on a Wednesday between September and July then a visit to Happy Valley Racecourse should be on everyone’s list! Held every Wednesday evening, the races are a place where the ex-pat community of Hong Kong meet along with locals. Each week has themed entertainment with live bands, exciting food choices and of course, the horse racing where you can win or lose a few Hong Kong dollars.
Kowloon is located on the mainland of Hong Kong and is home to most of the museums of the city including the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Museum, Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum which is composed of an Eastern Han Dynasty brick tomb believed to be built between 25-220 AD along with an exhibition gallery, the Hong Kong Science and Space Museums. The most famous street in Hong Kong is located in Kowloon, Nathan Road. A section of the street is named the “Golden Mile” from the harbour to Ma Tei Station, this section is known for its shopping, religious buildings and tourist attractions.
A highlight of any trip to Hong Kong is strolling along Victoria Harbour in Kowloon of an evening and witnessing “A Symphony of Lights”. The bright and colourful display includes lasers and lights shooting out from buildings filling the night sky. More than 40 buildings make up this multimedia show every evening for 15 minutes and are one of the things to experience.
If markets are your thing then the city won’t disappoint with a myriad of markets across the city selling all kinds of wares well into the evening. There are too many markets to list all here but among the best and most well-known are the Ladies Market (affordable fashion goods and accessories), Temple Street Market (extensive range of goods), Jade Market (jewellery including of course Jade) and Cat Street (no they don’t sell cats but they sell everything from traditional homewares, Chinese pottery and silk).
With its blend of east and west, Hong Kong is a city that is a melting pot for many cultures and nationalities which adds to its unique flavour and wide-ranging experiences. Whether beginning or ending a cruise in Hong Kong a few nights spent in the city is a must and won’t disappoint.
Hong Kong is serviced by two cruise terminals, the Hong Kong Cruise Terminal located on the Tsim Sha Tsui Peninsula at Kowloon, close to the CBD, and the newer Kai Tak Cruise Terminal located on a runway of the old Hong Kong Airport and is 10kms from the centre of the city and 42kms from the Airport. Most cruise ships now embark and disembark at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.
The two main areas where most hotels, sights and attractions are located are Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. There is a multitude of quality hotel options on either side of the harbour from comfortable 3-4 star up to opulent 6-star hotels and the city is serviced by a world-class metro system which makes it easy to access any part of Hong Kong from your hotel.
Hong Kong Island has a variety of sites and activities to experience such as riding the “Ding Dings” which are the iconic double-decker trams that run through the busy streets of Hong Kong Island that have been used by locals since 1904 or riding the longest escalator in the world (Central Mid-Levels escalator).
A must-do on the Island is taking in the breathtaking views at The Peak at Sky Terrace which is the highest viewing platform in Hong Kong offering unrivalled 360-degree views. Getting to The Peak by the Peak Tram is an experience in itself. One of the world’s oldest and most famous funicular railways, the tram climbs to 396 metres above sea level and has a gradient of 4 to 25 degrees which provide a unique visual illusion, when going uphill the high rise buildings on the right-hand side appear to fall toward The Peak!
If in Hong Kong on a Wednesday between September and July then a visit to Happy Valley Racecourse should be on everyone’s list! Held every Wednesday evening, the races are a place where the ex-pat community of Hong Kong meet along with locals. Each week has themed entertainment with live bands, exciting food choices and of course, the horse racing where you can win or lose a few Hong Kong dollars.
Kowloon is located on the mainland of Hong Kong and is home to most of the museums of the city including the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Museum, Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum which is composed of an Eastern Han Dynasty brick tomb believed to be built between 25-220 AD along with an exhibition gallery, the Hong Kong Science and Space Museums. The most famous street in Hong Kong is located in Kowloon, Nathan Road. A section of the street is named the “Golden Mile” from the harbour to Ma Tei Station, this section is known for its shopping, religious buildings and tourist attractions.
A highlight of any trip to Hong Kong is strolling along Victoria Harbour in Kowloon of an evening and witnessing “A Symphony of Lights”. The bright and colourful display includes lasers and lights shooting out from buildings filling the night sky. More than 40 buildings make up this multimedia show every evening for 15 minutes and are one of the things to experience.
If markets are your thing then the city won’t disappoint with a myriad of markets across the city selling all kinds of wares well into the evening. There are too many markets to list all here but among the best and most well-known are the Ladies Market (affordable fashion goods and accessories), Temple Street Market (extensive range of goods), Jade Market (jewellery including of course Jade) and Cat Street (no they don’t sell cats but they sell everything from traditional homewares, Chinese pottery and silk).
With its blend of east and west, Hong Kong is a city that is a melting pot for many cultures and nationalities which adds to its unique flavour and wide-ranging experiences. Whether beginning or ending a cruise in Hong Kong a few nights spent in the city is a must and won’t disappoint.
