| HONG KONG is very much 'abroad'. Now that the | | | | covered outdoor escalator system in the world. It |
| near continent is easily accessible, countries such as | | | | carries commuters between the prestigious Mid |
| France, Spain, Italy seem to merge styles and culture | | | | Levels residential area and the heart of Central Hong |
| to become one generic Euro-Country. In contrast | | | | Kong. |
| Hong Kong feels like a foreign country. It also has | | | | Travel along it is free but beware it operates in one |
| reminders of a colonial past, so your trip there as well | | | | direction (down) during the morning rush hour then is |
| as being a trip to a foreign country is also a trip into | | | | switched to up thereafter. |
| the past. | | | | Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei on the Kowloon peninsular |
| Hong Kong is also a brash mixture of Western and | | | | is home to street hawkers eager to sell tourists |
| Eastern cultures, a meld of designer clothing, | | | | anything from custom-made suits to copy Rolex |
| electronic consumables and Chinese superstitions. | | | | watches. |
| Modern apartment tower blocks, very Western in | | | | At Yau Ma Tei, the Jade Market has plenty of the |
| style and decor, do not have floor numbers ending in | | | | cool green stone carved into a myriad of shapes. |
| '4' as the number 4 in Cantonese is very close to the | | | | Man Mo Temple in Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island. |
| Cantonese word for 'death'. | | | | Spirals of insense burn to fill the temple with scented |
| You will also stand out as a tourist amongst the | | | | smoke that clings to your skin and clothes long after |
| Chinese rather than being able to blend in with other | | | | you have left. |
| Europeans as you would nearer to home. And unless | | | | Nearby is the famous Chop Alley (Man Wa Lane) |
| you're an exceptional linguist there won't be any | | | | which is lined with small green-painted huts where |
| attempts to converse in Cantonese with the locals. | | | | chop makers sell chops. A chop is a Chinese seal |
| But don't despair, thanks to its history and a large | | | | typically carved from jade, soapstone, bone or ivory. |
| ex-pat community most Chinese, at least in | | | | You can get the carvers to translate your name into |
| restaurants and shops, will be able to speak English. | | | | Chinese for a custom-made seal. For a soapstone |
| Most of the street names and signs are in English as | | | | custom-made chop expect to pay around £15. |
| well as Cantonese. | | | | Shopping in Hong Kong |
| The first thing you will notice about this lively place is | | | | Central, Admiralty, and Causeway Bay on Hong Kong |
| its modern, efficient mass transit systems. Arriving at | | | | Island, along with Tsim Tsa Tsui and Mong Kok in |
| the new airport, Chek Lap Kok, you essentially walk | | | | Kowloon are the main shopping areas. Shopping hours |
| in a straight line from gate through baggage & | | | | vary, but most shops are open until late at night, |
| customs onto a (usually) waiting train that takes you | | | | seven days a week. Shops are also open on public |
| right into the heart of Kowloon, a popular hotel and | | | | holidays, except during the Lunar New Year. |
| tourist district. For exploring further the subway | | | | However, shops in Central close earlier at around 6 |
| system (MTR - Mass Transit Railway) is very cheap | | | | p.m., but the other main areas stay open until 9:30 |
| and clean with air-conditioned trains and stations. | | | | p.m. |
| Taxis are also plentiful and very cheap, thanks to the | | | | Main shopping malls on Hong Kong Island include |
| fact that most people do not run their own cars and | | | | Landmark in Central, Pacific Place in Admiralty, Times |
| rely instead upon buses, taxis and the MTR. | | | | Square in Causeway Bay, and City Plaza in Taikoo |
| It is a good idea to get the name of your hotel | | | | Shing. Kowloon also has its share of malls, which |
| printed onto a card in Cantonese so that you can | | | | includes the linked Ocean Terminal and Harbour |
| make yourself understood to the taxi driver when | | | | Centre complexes. |
| you want to get back to your hotel. | | | | Kowloon |
| You will also notice the fact that you are in the | | | | Bird Market |
| tropics. The climate is hot and humid, even at night. | | | | Yuen Po Street, Mong Kok, 10 minutes walk from |
| But air-conditioning is abundant, in fact on some | | | | Prince Edward MTR station. |
| streets you will probably be dripped on by water | | | | Hundreds of song birds in cages of all shapes and |
| from the air-conditioning condensers attached to | | | | sizes combine to make a noise |
| most every window of the buildings towering above | | | | Nathan Road |
| the streets. | | | | Not a market, but there's a definte market-feel to |
| As a gweilo ('ghost people', the Cantonese term for | | | | the many shops that are crammed along the lower |
| pale-faced Westerners) you will be targeted on busy | | | | end of this street in Tsim Sha Tsui with their neon |
| Nathan Road by the many street salesmen : "Copy | | | | signs jutting out into the street from the buildings. |
| watch, sir?", "Custom suit?", "Free drink?", "Jade | | | | Here there is everything from cameras, electronic |
| rings?". Unless you are happy to part with your | | | | goods, tailors to jewellery shops. Street hawkers will |
| money for fakes, or buy clothing with a higher price | | | | offer "Custom suit", "Copy watch", "Jade rings", |
| tag than its quality merits, learn to ignore these | | | | anything and everything is available here. |
| people. Even saying 'No' is seen as a sales opening. | | | | Night Market |
| Hong Kong has much to offer everyone from | | | | Shanghai Street, Yau Ma Tei |
| sightseeing to shopping to eating to simply absorbing | | | | After dusk into late night a browse through this |
| the atmosphere and mix of cultures this world-class | | | | market is fascinating. There's everything from |
| city has to offer. Here are some must see places on | | | | fortune-tellers to open air restaurants. |
| your visit : | | | | Ladies' Market |
| The Peak Tram is perhaps the most popular tourist | | | | Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok |
| attraction and definitely a must on any visit to Hong | | | | Open daily from noon to 10:30pm sells everything |
| Kong. A furnicular railway takes you up The Peak for | | | | from fake designer accessories and clothing to cheap |
| some breathtaking views of the Kowloon Penisular, | | | | cosmetics and toys. It is also popular for late night |
| Victoria Harbour and surrounding islands. | | | | snacks. |
| You can reach the Peak Tram station using the No | | | | Jade Market |
| 15C Shuttle Bus from the Star Ferry Terminal in | | | | Kansu & Battery Streets, Yau Ma Tei |
| Central or the No 12S bus from Admiralty MTR | | | | Open daily 10am to 3:30pm this market has jade |
| station. The Peak Tram runs every 15 minutes from | | | | objects in many different shapes and sizes. Beware |
| 7am to midnight - views at night are equally | | | | though, not all of the objects are genuine jade, but if |
| breathtaking to see Hong Kong's sparkling panorama. | | | | you're not too bothered you can get a reasonably |
| At the summit there are shops, restaurants and | | | | priced souvenir. |
| other attractions besides the 360 degree panoramic | | | | Hong Kong Island |
| view. | | | | Cat Street (Upper Lascar Row) |
| The Star Ferry at Tsim Sha Tsui (pronounced Chim | | | | Shops along this street are filled with a mixture of |
| Sow Choi) for a few pennies plys back and forth | | | | bric-a-brac, real and fake antiques and hundreds of |
| across busy Victoria Harbour linking the Kowloon | | | | stalls. |
| peninsular with Central and Wan Chai on Hong Kong | | | | Western Market |
| Island. | | | | Morrison Street |
| You can take the MTR from Kowloon to Central, but | | | | Opened in 1906 this red brick built building was a food |
| a trip on the ferry is a must for the experience and | | | | market for more than 80 years. Today it has been |
| views of Victoria Harbour. | | | | restored and in 1991 became a shopping complex. It |
| The Mid Levels Escalator, at 800m is the longest | | | | offers handcrafts, fabric and souvenir stalls. |