Asia’s World City boasts a rich blend of cultures, a unique amalgam of East and West, old and new, colonial and entrepreneurial.
Cruise into Hong Kong’s modern Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in historic Victoria Harbour and see how these worlds collide creating a mesmerizing metropolis. Tradition and innovation live side by side from sophisticated glass-and-steel skyscrapers rising from the streets to incense-filled temples and buzzing markets. Extend your cruise vacation in Hong Kong for more time to soak up the elaborate festivals, sample exotic foods, and relish the luxurious trappings of this city on the rise. Here are our recommendations for the best places to eat, play and sleep during your time in this quintessential cruise port.
Play
Bustling, eclectic Hong Kong has culture and adventure enough to occupy a lifetime. As a duty-free port, Hong Kong’s shopping is unrivaled. Find rare Ming furniture in the antique markets of Hollywood Road or hone in on high fashion at malls like the Fashion Walk in Causeway Bay. And though Hong Kong’s glamorous central district has an enticing urban appeal that’s hard to ignore, take time to explore beyond the city with a hike along the Dragon’s Back Trail, which follows a rugged ridge through Shek O Country Park, or spend a day relaxing on the tropical beaches of Lantau Island. Culture seekers can’t miss on a trip to Hong Kong. Visit during February to take part in the citywide revelry of the Chinese New Year. Spend an evening awash in traditional Silk and Bamboo music at the Guangdong opera. And from March 15 to 17, 2015, take part in Art Basel – the world’s premier international art show, held in Hong Kong for the third time – as it showcases galleries by international artists from across the region.
Eat
The people of Hong Kong have a food obsession, and deciding what to eat while ashore in a city with more than 12,000 restaurants can seem overwhelming. Luckily, no matter whether the choice is world-class international fare or delectable local specialties, it’s bound to be delicious. Visit the Temple Street Night Market and peruse the dai pai dong (food stalls) in the cooked food bazaar for tender noodles, delicate dumplings, and chewy claypot rice filled with Chinese sausage. Leave the city for laid-back Lamma Island and the old fishing village of Sok Kwu Wan to enjoy al fresco dining on decadent seafood like fresh chili crab, garlic prawns and deep-fried squid. And indulge a taste of Cantonese dim sum prepared to perfection against the backdrop of Victoria Harbour at Lung King Heen, the world’s first Chinese restaurant to earn three Michelin stars.
Sleep
Long a crossroads for ship-borne travelers from around the world, Hong Kong has trend-setting hotels to fit every style and character. Our collection of preferred properties includes sophisticated hotels steeped in tradition to extravagant escapes that cater to every decadent whim. Opened in 1928, The Peninsula Hong Kong is the city’s oldest, offering a glimpse into Hong Kong’s colonial past. Stately, old-world elegance permeates the property, where custom Rolls Royce limousines deliver visitors to doors manned by bellhops in white pillbox hats, and harbor-view rooms boast luxurious Egyptian cotton linens and marble bathrooms. Take the traditional High Tea in the lobby each afternoon to complete the colonial experience. For an opulent, modern stay, the Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong is a world unto itself, where visitors can lose themselves in luxury. Take the elevator to the ground floor and spend a morning shopping the Pacific Place mall before enjoying an on-site hatha yoga class or dining at one of the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurants.
