Hong Kong: skyscraper city

by Jessica Goulburn | 31 Oct 2013

Shop up a storm, immerse yourself in the culture and enjoy the wonders of Hong Kong. 

Our trip to Hong Kong was largely influenced by FOMO – fear of missing out.

Our mother and two aunts had planned a ‘sister’s vacation’ and my sister and I just couldn’t handle missing all the fun.

We landed in Hong Kong quite late at night, hopped on the Airport Express and were at our hotel in Kowloon a little over 30 minutes later. The benefit of the Airport Express, besides its speed, is that on your return trip, you can check-in at the city terminal. You’re then luggage-free for the trip to the airport.

Opening the curtains the next morning, we were greeted with a spectacular view over Victoria Harbour straight to Hong Kong Island.

Cultural moments

Day one … straight to The Peak. By far Hong Kong’s most popular attraction, The Peak is more than just views and shopping. Take the Peak Tram to the top, one of the world’s most famous funicular railways. It’s true when they say the ride is exceptionally steep; the buildings really do look that they are leaning as you go up. Once you’re up there though, there is an abundance of things to do. The Peak Tower offers an array of shops plus dining with a view. Head up to the Sky Terrace 428 for 360-degree views of Hong Kong. You can also learn about Hong Kong’s history while you’re up there. 

No visit to Hong Kong would be complete without a trip up the world’s longest outdoor escalator system. Stop on the side-streets along the 800-metre trip for some trendy shopping and funky eateries. Head to Stanley St for photographic equipment, discover the British history on Queen’s Road and soak up the mosaics along Hollywood Road, also famous for its contemporary art. On convincing recommendations from expats currently living in Hong Kong, we stopped at Oohla in trendy Soho for a bite. The food was deliciously tantalising and the air-conditioning was an absolute delight. We finished our day exploring with a well-deserved high tea at the Peninsula Hotel. Evoke the colonial days of the British, and lap up the luxury with tiny sandwiches, charming scones and a glass of bubbly or two.

Next on our cultural list was, of course, the Big Buddha. The Tian Tan Buddha statue was erected in 1993, bringing pilgrims and tourists from around the world to the remote Po Lin Monastery. The majestic bronze Buddha sits 34 metres high, facing north, overlooking the Chinese people. The sweeping mountain and sea views are only a 268-step climb away.

Life’s little pleasures

Definitely one of the shopping capitals of the world, no shopaholic will ever be let down by a holiday to Hong Kong.

Of course there are loads of shopping opportunities, but we chose to spend a day across the border as well. Hop on a train and head to Shenzen, China. You’ll need your passport as you go through immigration but it’s close enough for a day-trip. It’s so close that we had kids returning home to Shenzen from school in Hong Kong on our train with us.

Luohu Commerical City is literally just across the border. You can buy everything from fruit and vegetables, to imitation Gucci bags and a new set of luggage to take home all of your purchases. Just be aware of pickpockets, as there are a lot of people around.

If you don’t want to leave Hong Kong to fulfill your shopping needs, the City of Orient won't disappoint. Head to the Ladies Markets on Tung Choi Street for a kilometre-stretch of bargain clothes, accessories and souvenirs and there’s also the Temple Street Night Market if you’re keen to avoid the heat of the day.

Of course there are plenty of shopping centres around if you’d like to peruse the big brand stores. You can’t go past Harbour City with more than 700 stores with enough restaurants to satisfy even the fussiest of eaters, including Chinese, Asian and Western inspired.

Alternatively, simply amble around the streets of Kowloon, ducking into shops now and then to make the most of the air-conditioning.

What better way to finish a long day of shopping than with cocktails overlooking the harbour?

For our final night in Hong Kong, we headed to the top. 

The Sky Lounge at the Sheraton offers beautiful views over the Harbour. Enjoy the light show, with laser beams, spotlights and dazzling coloured lights, with a delectable lychee martini in hand.