Guide: Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a frequent stop for those looking for a stress-free trip to Asia as well as many business folk traveling for work or meetings. Since many western tourists visit HK, the main areas of Hong Kong island and the tips of Kowloon are easy for westerners and expats to acclimate to. However, it’s the areas away from the hustle and bustle that are the most charming and where you’ll pick up more of the true Hong Kong culture. Whichever experience you decide to go with, you’re sure to have a great time.
Arriving
I, personally, flew nonstop from SFO to HKG ($373 RT) but the Hong Kong International airport is an easy destination that services numerous airlines. Similar to Singapore, HKG is a major hub for incoming and outgoing tourists so it makes sense to fly into HKG for cheap and then book another leg of your trip from there.
If you are a US Citizen, you don’t need a tourist visa to get into Hong Kong if your trip us under 90 days, but make sure that your passport is valid for at least one more month beyond the date of your intended stay. If you are planning to work in Hong Kong, you’ll need to obtain a visa before you arrive and if you plan to hang out in HK for more than 90 days, you’ll have to get an extension or just leave and com back (recommended). More details for US Citizens can be found here.
Once you get through customs and immigration, you can take the Airport Express to your destination: Kowloon or Hong Kong Island. The Airport Express is super easy to take so there is no reason to get a taxi or rent a car. There are two desks to buy tickets and the signage is clear — and yes, you can pay with your credit card. Choose if you want a one-way or round trip ticket and then follow the signs down to the train. This is the ONLY train stop where you won’t need to tag in to board the train. You just hop on and take your seat until your stop (you’ll either be the second stop for Kowloon or the third for Hong Kong Island). You will have to tag out in order to get off the train. It took me about 20 minutes to get to Kowloon.
If you don’t want to take public transportation, there is Uber in Hong Kong and it is cheaper than prices in America but public transport is faster and cheaper.
Money
Ideally you have a travel credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred — most establishments take credit cards but many street vendors do not so do carry some cash. The local currency is the Hong Kong Dollar.
$1 HKD = $.13 USD
You will either need to use your credit card or the local currency as foreign currency is not widely accepted.
Language
English is an official language of Hong Kong and in most tourist areas, everyone will speak almost-perfect English. However, if you venture off into non-tourist areas, you may want to brush up on your Cantonese. I often thanked people in Cantonese and it seemed appreciated.
Some people may understand Mandarin but it would be best that you go with Cantonese in Hong Kong if you are looking to try a Chinese dialect.
Transport
To get around Hong Kong, MTR (the train) truly is the best option. It costs a dollar or so to get anywhere and the traffic on main roads can be terrible crossing the bridges that the train is just way faster. Trains are always clean and always punctual and everything is connected so if you get on the first line you can find, as long as you make it to a central hub where you can transfer elsewhere, you should be fine.
To buy a train ticket, simply find a ticket kiosk and select the destination you would like to go to (you can use Google Maps to figure this out or use the MTR map) and you will be prompted to pay the fare for that destination. It’s that easy!
If you are truly against trains, you can grab an Uber or a Taxi, but taxis are color-coded so not all taxis will take you to your destination. Red taxis can operate on both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon but there were times the driver refused to take me if I wanted to cross the bridge between the two islands. If you go to Lantau Island, you need to find the rare blue taxis. If you are super stuck, taxis are cheap and available but not the best method of transport.
Power and Internet
You should always bring a universal adapter whenever you travel. In Hong Kong the power plugs and sockets are of type G and D. The standard voltage is 220 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. This is the same as what they use in the UK so if you are visiting from the US, you definitely need an adapter.
You won’t need VPN in Hong Kong but don’t be surprised if your activity is monitored.
Dynamics
Hong Kong is very separate from Mainland China, yet just a 20 minute drive from Shenzhen. The difference can be felt when you realize you can access the internet more freely just 20 minutes from crossing into Hong Kong from Mainland China, but there’s more to HK than just a free internet.
I ended up staying away from the train stops and inland on Kowloon. Because of this, I was nestled in between parks full of joggers and mahjong games, as well as street food served happily served by locals that smiled even when they couldn’t understand my poor Cantonese. I had heard of these two worlds (and I am sure there are more than two) but there is the business world that accommodates expats, complete with a buzzy bar scene, and then there’s the more local culture that I couldn’t quite grasp but was definitely a world that seemed to not be influenced by the wave of westerners that come and go from the island.
These two experiences didn’t overlap so you would have to make an effort to go from one part of the island to another if you wanted to experience both.
Where to stay
I loved staying at the Mahjong Hostel in Kowloon for a mere $25 USD a night. To many tourists this may seem to be located in the middle of no where but it was still central to a lively area that isn’t in the tourist books. I also stayed a night on Hong Kong Island (Wan Chai district) which gave me a rush just to be in the center of tall buildings and famous eats. It really depends on what vibe you prefer. Though Kowloon and Hong Kong Island are great gateways, you can also book a hotel on a surrounding island if you’re looking for more of an adventure.
Places to go
Hong Kong has great hiking and I highly recommend taking a day trip to Llama Island. Taking the ferry is just a great experience in general, but ending up on Llama Island (an artsy/hipster island that has vegan food options) is the perfect destination. There are two ports on the island, so I recommend getting off at one port and walking the island to the port on the other end of the island and then taking a ferry from there back to Hong Kong Island or Kowloon.
Llama Island
For a city-hike, I recommend Victoria Peak. Yes, it’s in all the tourist books but the experience and views are just spectacular. The wait for the tram was about 2 hours so I ended up walking up to the view point which also took two hours. I got more than I bargained for with incredibly steep paths but views around every corner. You can also stop at the zoo or gardens on the way up to the top.
Windy and sweaty but great view at Victoria Peak
The famous Hong Kong skyline
For those that are looking for a “Hey I’ve been to Hong Kong” Instagram-able experience, you should definitely check out one of the light shows on the water. A Symphony of Lights happens every night at 8PM local time. It can get crowded so I actually broke away from the crowds to watch the show from a pier which means I did not hear the music that accompanied the flickering lights but I got great pics and it was still beautiful.
I watched from Harbour City on Kowloon and walked through the mall and through the parking garage to an empty pier, though this is not one of the recommended vantage points in the tour books.
If you have the time, you can go see the Big Buddha on Lantau Island. This is a great experience complete with a sky gondola ride and a good walk up a long flight of stairs. Take the MTR to Lantau Island and then either wait in line for a sky gondola (buy tickets in advance to skip the line) or take the bus up, which is what I did. The bus was great but took an hour but really gives you more of an on-the-ground look at the area. I took the sky gondola down and paid a little extra for the Crystal Cabin so I didn’t have to wait hours in line for the regular cabin.
My final recommendation is the take the Mid-levels escalators anywhere. You can hop on and off whenever and see different parts of Hong Kong. Not great for Instagram but just something to check off your bucket-list.
Of course, Hong Kong is famous for its food and cheap Michelin starred meals so save room and camera space for those good eats!
Food and Drink Reviews
