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Street delicacies

The residents of Hong Kong are crazy about food. You can visit one the 11,000 restaurants in this metropolis at any time of the day. Hong Kong is also a mecca for all types of snacks, from Portuguese egg tarts to Chinese chive rolls and smelly durian sorbets.

Culinary

Egg tart

Baked in Hong Kong

There is an abundance of baked goods in Hong Kong. The Portuguese introduced their egg tarts to the Far East via Macao, and these tarts have a crispy edge and soft custard filling. Tai Cheon Bakery in Hong Kong now makes hundreds of these delicious cakes every day, which are best when still hot. The bakery is very famous – the last British governor is said to have been a frequent guest. There’s usually a queue outside which is always a good sign. There are also plenty of wife cakes baked nearby. This typical Cantonese snack is filled with almond paste and winter melon. 5 spices are added to the dough and to surprise the taste buds the buns are sprinkled with sesame seeds. Then there are the famous pineapple buns, which don’t have any fruit in them – the crust of these pastries resembles a pineapple, hence the name. The taste is divine, partly thanks to the combination of two types of dough.

Pancake with sweet mango

It's always time for dessert

From complex layered cakes to simple candy – the people of Hong Kong can’t get enough of sweets. A popular snack is sugar cane juice which is available in various cafés. This sugary drink is manufactured in old-fashioned mills from cane stalks. According to the Chinese, cane juice is tastiest after a spicy meal. A highly recommended place for sweet desserts is Hui Lau Shan. What started as a herbal shop outside the city centre has become an empire with 52 branches. The menu comprises plenty of desserts and you’ll find sweet mango in everything from ice cream to pudding. More fruit can be found at Lucky Dessert, which also has multiple establishments. They use durian in their gelatine, a fruit with a terrible smell but heavenly taste. And speaking of gelatine: Kei Kee Dessert builds the largest desserts with it. Huge cups are filled with gelatine cubes, mixed fruit and condensed milk. The portions are so big that you might want to skip dinner altogether before coming here.

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Shopping

Culinary

Arts & Culture

Family fun

Shopping

The latest laptops and perfumes are easy to find in Hong Kong but with the wide choice of shops it means you can also buy the most original souvenirs. Looking for a Chinese evening gown or antique folding screen? No problem! It’s easy to fall in love with the beautifully made local goods. But be warned, shopping on this scale has already turned the people of Hong Kong into shopaholics.

Culinary

China is the birthplace of tea. Naturally, this sophisticated beverage is a crowd pleaser in Hong Kong too. Whether with a breakfast of steamed snacks, at a business meeting or an elaborate dinner, tea accompanies most occasions. Teahouses are the quintessential places where a broad range of tea types, ceremonies and people come together.

Shopping

You’re just as likely to come across songbirds and goldfish on Hong Kong’s street markets as antique watches and Chinese dresses. Street markets are always exciting and full of life, in contrast with the often stuffy shopping malls. And in Hong Kong you can find a market at any time of the day... Or night.

Shopping

Apart from eating, the other national sport of Hong Kong is shopping. It’s hard to choose between the 100-plus shopping malls. The metropolis seems to be a maze of shopping paradises, busy promenades and craft shops. Fortunately, each neighbourhood has its own products and prices. With a little preparation you’ll know exactly where to go.

Culinary

You can see them on menus in all kinds of shapes and flavours, and they are served in steamer baskets or on side plates: delicious dim sum. Originally, these steamed parcels were a favourite breakfast item but nowadays they have become just as popular for lunch. Because each restaurant fills its menu with its own creations, more than 2,000 varieties of dim sum now exist.

Arts & Culture

Glistening skyscrapers and imposing shopping malls dominate the skyline of Hong Kong. It’s hard to imagine that this metropolis was nothing more than a fishing village 150 years ago. Fishermen lived here in stilt houses, supported above the water by poles, and fished to provide a meal for their families. You can still see this lifestyle today in Tai O fishing village.

Arts & Culture

Hong Kong is a fascinating city with an equally interesting history. The ‘New York of Asia’ was once a humble fishing village. Over time it evolved into a strategic military port and then grew into the busy Hong Kong of today: one of the largest financial centres in the world.

Family fun

If you only have time to visit one Hong Kong attraction, go to The Peak. And if you have a lot of time, then still visit The Peak. Seven million visitors a year find their way to the top of this mountain. The view from here is breathtaking. There is also a gigantic shopping mall that will make the heart of every shopaholic skip a beat.

Family fun

Referring to Ocean Park as an amusement park hardly does it justice. Founded in 1977, Hong Kong’s oldest amusement park offers so much more than just a few rides and roller coasters. Ocean Park encompasses a zoo, oceanarium, amusement park and research centre all in one. Animal welfare is one of the park’s top priorities and the various laboratories carry out important research.

Arts & Culture

In the heart of Hong Kong’s hectic financial district lies a peaceful oasis - the Man Mo Temple. This temple is dedicated to 2 very different gods: Man Cheong (God of Literature) and Mo (God of War). The temple was built around 1847 by wealthy Chinese merchants during the early years of British colonial rule in Hong Kong.

Arts & Culture

Long before the steamboat was invented, people crossed the harbour between the island of Hong Kong and Kowloon by sampan. A time-consuming and arduous trip. However, once the Star Ferry came into operation, the journey was reduced to only 8 minutes. The Star Ferry now offers 12 boats and the crossing offers great views of the impressive Hong Kong skyline.