Travel Guides > Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong Travel

Hong Kong is a country of contrasts. Because it was a British colony for 99 years, until 1997, much of Hong Kong is decidedly English and you'll forever find signs pointing to the fact that rugby remains a much-loved sport here or that many locals still indulge in afternoon tea each day.

On the other hand, the visitor will view many things Chinese, from little stalls that line the streets, peddling traditional foods, to shops whose walls are covered with jars of ancient Chinese herbal medicines.

Other contrasts abound as well. Hong Kong is sleekly modern, with gleaming skyscrapers and the best in modern technology. Yet, you can still see ancient Chinese festival that draws thousands of people.

A good place to start your tour of Hong Kong and to see all that the country has to offer - old and new, British and Chinese - is with a ride on the Star Ferry to the central district, across Victoria Harbour. After you disembark, you'll want to head straight for the tram that takes you to the top of Victoria Peak, where you'll find the best views of Hong Kong. Bring your camera because the sights are spectacular!

It's always good to garner a little local history before you do an immense amount of sightseeing, so many visitors choose to next visit the Hong Kong Museum of History. This fascinating museum includes artifacts, dioramas, maps, videos, and lots of other media that help tell the story of this country, from its early days to its reclamation by China just a few years ago.

Equally as fine is the Hong Kong Museum of Art, home to one of the world's most extensive collections of Chinese art. Guests to the museum will be treated to bamboo carvings, costumes, clothing, bronzes, jade, and exquisite cloisonné in addition to paintings and pencil drawings.

The temples in Hong Kong are ornate and spectacular as well. Check out the Wong Tai Sin Taoist Temple or the Man Mo Buddhist Temple. Be sure to also visit the Tian Tan Buddha, the world's tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha.

If you're traveling with children, there are two excellent hands-on museums that will thrill the young ones but also interest adults as well. The Science Museum has nearly 500 displays, devoted to topics like energy, transportation, communication, health, and home technology. Similarly, the Space Museum includes lots of interactive exhibits and even some simulator rides, like a virtual paraglider.

A favorite with visitors of all ages is Ocean Park, located on Hong Kong Island. This spectacular theme park/natural attraction will take at least a day to explore and the kids will no doubt beg to come back again. In the "lowlands", you'll find two very popular panda bears, a dinosaur discovery trail, a butterfly house, kiddie rides, a dolphin "university", and a goldfish pagoda. In the "headlands", which you reach via an exciting cable car ride, there are several aquariums, a sea lion area, a Japanese garden, and some very exhilarating thrill rides.