Hong Kong is a vibrant and busy destination, and if you are looking for a more relaxed environment for your vacation, maybe you should cross Hong Kong from your list. This city can be compared to the city that never sleeps – New York. It even has its own Times Square. It is also rich in history and architecture. It has a booming economy; capitalism and commerce are wide spread and so is modern technology. The old negative connotation of “made in Hong Kong” does not apply anymore. Hong Kong is a modern urban jungle with about 14 million inhabitants. This makes Hong Kong an exciting destination with tons of activities and diversions for the traveler.

Hong Kong has a long and interesting history. It was influenced by the Portuguese and other European cultures, in trade and commerce, especially during the 1700’s making it a focus of global interest. Its economy boomed after becoming a possession of England during the wars between England and China, in the middle of the nineteen century. Its markets developed during these years, becoming what it is today. Hong Kong was returned to China after 1997, with the condition that its government and markets remain free and democracy reigns. This has made traveling to this destination relatively easy. Besides Chinese, English is also an official language there.

For some travelers, Honk Kong offers the perfect match between rich history, busy and vibrant life, as well as latest technology. There are plenty of sites to see and experience, making it one busy vacation spot. From museums full of colorful history to a heightened shopping experience, or extraordinary Bird gardens such as Yuen Po Street Bird Garden with over 70 bird stalls and birds singing in ornate cages; or the impressive and monumental ancient architecture, the traveler will be kept busy and sensory stimulated. When looking to quiet down a bit, there are many parks and monasteries which provide a calming, sanctuary like environment – a more natural setting. Victoria Peak offers the advantages of a smaller shopping district, while the Monastery of Miu Fat and the Man Mo Temple provides you a quiet refuge.

These days it becomes easier than ever to visit this high-spirited city with the many offers of discount airfare or wholesale travel deals available out there. There is much to see in this interesting part of the world and taking advantage of cheap airfare offers makes it possible for travelers in a budget. It is well worth it to visit this part of the planet as it offers many things that you won’t find anywhere else.

History reflects itself throughout this city and is present at every corner as you tour its commercial streets. One thing is for sure, you will never find yourself in the position of looking for what to do or see in this amazing city. The combination of these two worlds, modern and ancient, makes this city a perfect destination to experience it all.

A shipping and commercial hub, and a free port, Hong Kong is home of great deals from across the globe! Its history and convenience help make it one of the most impressive of all shopping destinations.

You must see the City Plaza. This is a top-of-the-line department store prominently featuring products by Marks and Spencers. City Plaza has all of those familiar designer shops one so desperately needs to see, and it also has virtually every toy marketed by Toys R Us. Boasting a popular skating rink, the Plaza is where one can find all kinds of Foreign and Local fast foods.

In Kowloon you will want to travel The Nathan Road, very popular with night shoppers. Haggle, haggle, haggle, and have some fun doing it. Even if you do not decide to buy anything from the many unique boutiques, you will enjoy watching and listening to those who do. Just remember, you are the one with the money and the shop keeper really wants to sell you something!

Upscale shoppers will be drawn to the Landmark Atrium, a shopping center that seems designed for the rich and accessory-starved. Designer bags, shoes, and all sorts of clothes are to be had here, if the price is right. Access to the Atruim is very convenient because it connects with the local station directly.

Back in Kowloon again, you should find–and plan to spend some time in–the Stanley Market. This extremely well-known shopping center is famous for its atmosphere of excitement and fun. High-energy shoppers will be at home here, finding wonderful Chinese artworks, Mao trinkets, and various souvenirs. This market is reached by a wild trip through jungle and wildlife.

Finally, the budget shopper and the window shopper will revel in the famous Lanes of Hong Kong. These streets are lined with booths and stalls selling budget items of all sorts, sizes, shapes, and kinds. Electronics, clothing, foods, books, trinkets, and almost anything can be found here. You might stumble upon the “find” of your life!

Make sure, while you shop in Hong Kong, that you savor the experience and will be reminded of the great times you will have as you gaze upon the prizes you bring home.

The brand new and only Asiatic Disneyland opened its doors on the 12th of September in 2005. This new theme park is situated on Lantau, an island in Hong Kong, where visitors to the park can look over the Chinese Sea and Penny’s Bay. The Walt Disney Company collaborated with the Hong Kong SAR administration to bring the excitement and brand name of Disneyland to China.

The partnership also allowed the new theme park to appeal specifically to native Chinese, respecting their cultures and attitudes. Inside the park one will find two luxury hotels, Disney’s Hollywood Hotel and the Disneyland Hotel. The Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel is a grand Victorian throwback, offering four hundred lavishly appointed old English rooms. The Hollywood Hotel’s rooms are designed and decorated to bring back Hollywood’s golden age with their art deco appointings. Park attractions will be familiar to those who have visited any of Disney’s other amusement parks. Main Street showcases its American roots and is surrounded by the railroad.

Adventureland has its Jungle River Cruise where the jungle comes alive with sounds and visuals, including Tarzan’s Treehouse, which is reachable only by raft! The park offers a musicals, such as the one based on the Lion King movies.

The great castle of Hong Kong Disneyland is that of Sleeping Beauty. Here, children large and small can explore and play and imagine being in their own fairy tale. Snow White has her own grotto, and Cinderella gets an enchanting carousel ride! Winnie the Pooh is featured in his own ride, The Many Adventures of Winne the Pooh, and visitors can also ride other recognizable rides such as the flying elephant Dumbo ride and the Mad Hatter Tea Cups. The park offers 3D movie entertainment at Mickey’s PhilharMagic and more entertainment at Disney’s Storybook Theater.

Those who cannot help but look excitedly forward to our future will enjoy Tomorrowland, a Disney vision for our future living. Space Mountain is there in all its rocket-powered glory, and Orbitron, the virtual jet-piloting ride, shows what individual space travel might be like. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters is a high-speed, high-energy game for everyone in the family. You can also envision our future on Autopia as you drive electric cars of the future around a track which represents our next generation of roads. These rides and attractions are meant to be appreciated by all visitors of all cultural backgrounds, and the same applies to the cuisine found throughout the park. Traditional “western” food is sold right beside everyday Chinese dishes. All in all, the park is a very fun, very eye-opening one-and-only type of place.

Getting around Hong Kong can end up being expensive for a first time visitor. There are ways to save a bit of money so that it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, Whether you are traveling to this great city for business or pleasure, these tips will help you save some money.

Use the Airbus

Upon arriving in Hong Kong, choose to bypass taxis and the Airport Express in favor of the slower Airbus. Although baggage handling will be more convenient and your flight may have been long and tiring, the Airbus is a far less expensive method to get from the airport to the city than the Airport Express and taxis. You do pay for the convenience of the other forms of transportation.

The Airbus make a bit longer to get to your destinations but the savings can be substantial. Taxi fares can be as high as HK345, a single trip on the Airport Express can range up to HK100, but the Airbus will cost you up to a low HK40. That represents a significant savings.

Octopus Card

Using the Octopus Card ensures that you get savings. It is an electronic preloaded card that can be used throughout most of the public transit system in Hong Kong. When using the card, fares are a bit less than if you were paying cash. Not only is the card convenient to use to get around, it can be easy to top up when it gets low.

To use the card, you can simple wave it over the card reader. Because it is a chip, the card doesn’t need to be taken out of you purse to be read. The usage is immediately deducted from the balance and you can easily check the balance.

For HK150, you get a card with a HK100 balance and a HK50 refundable deposit that is returned when you turn in the card. At the end of your visit, you can turn the card in to get any unused funds as well as your deposit. If you will be visiting Hong Kong within three years, keep the card to use on your next visit.

Shopping

In Kowloon, you can immerse yourself in the authentic Hong Kong shopping experience. There are seals to be had but beware you don’t get taken. The open markets in Kowloon attract tourists and some vendors are prone to overcharge. Do your research on prices before you go and don’t be afraid to haggle. Some items can be had for 50% less than they are priced.

HK2 Sight-seeing tour

For a slow, scenic ride through Hong Kong’s streets, jump on a double-decker tram. Since the fares on the trams are regulated, no matter how far you travel the cost is still HK2. If you are looking to see the city and not have to find your way around, this is the way to do it. Not only is this style of sightseeing convenient but also save money to boot.

Cheap Accommodations

Finding a cheap place to stay in Hong Kong can be a daunting task. In this city of expensive hotel rooms, the Harbourview Hotel offers affordable rooms with many of the rooms looking out over Victoria Harbour. The four star hotel is ideally located close to shopping, Hong Kong Park, The Peak Tram, and is within a short walk to the ferry terminal.

Tipping

Most hotels and restaurants add a 10% gratuity to the bill. There is no reason to leave an additional amount unless you find the service above average. Check beforehand to see how much will be added to the bill so that you do not tip too much. It is appreciated if you leave an additional 5% if you like the service.

Saving money during your time in Hong Kong is not difficult if you so a bit of research and ask the locals for information. Make sure that you do price comparisons and follow the thrifty tips to keep a bit more of your hard earned money in your pocket.

Hong Kong, with its population of over 7,000,000, is the destination of choice for many tourists from around the globe. Spread over some 200 islands, even the far corners of this international gem offer amazing discoveries for the first time visitor.

The location of Hong Kong in Eastern Asia is ideal with its proximity to China and the South China Sea. Occupied by the British in 1841 and eventually leased for 99 years to Britain, the city has a very storied history. During a formal ceremony in 1997, Great Britain transferred sovereignty of Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China. Because of all the influences that have impacted Hong Kong, it offers religious, cultural and lifestyle diversity.

The official languages of the city are English and Cantonese so visitors should have no problem communicating. Tourists can explore the vibrant city and experience the culture with the comfort of knowing that they will be able to find assistance if they need it.

Although the value of the Hong Kong dollar (HKD) against the US dollar (USD) varies, it is roughly 8 HKD to 1 USD.

Renowned for its exquisite food, great shopping and spectacular skylines; Hong Kong offers incredible photo opportunities. Make sure to bring a camera on your visit because you never know when a breathtaking vista, startling event or every day occurrence will move you to capture the memory for your photo album.

Tucked away in Hong Kong, there are small shops that exude local flavor and charm. On the other hand, there are several upscale shopping areas that rival high-end shopping districts found in cities around the globe. By far, the best shopping experience is found in the street markets that seem to have a life and culture all their own. In the markets you can bargain and haggle to your hearts content and, if your skills are good, you will leave with many a bargain.

As with buying anything, don’t dive in headfirst until you have looked around and compared prices. The shopkeepers and stall tenders are canny and can haggle with the best. Make sure not to get caught up in the moment. Set a price point in your mind and stick to it. Remember that the price you settle on is the price you pay because there is no sales tax in Hong Kong.

Getting around Hong Kong can be a daunting task for a novice. To eliminate any monetary issues, get an Octopus card. This card can be used throughout most of the public transportation system. Not only can you use it for your transportation needs but many convenience stores, vending machines and fast food restaurants are able to accept it.

Some of the key places in Hong Kong are:

- Ocean Park is an amazing place to spend a day or two exploring. It combines the rich marine life of the ocean, the wondrous world of nature, and a dazzling array of goldfish with the joy of being a child. Your admission to Ocean Park allows you free admission to Middle Kingdom which is a recreation of China’s history in miniature. In addition to being a fun thing to do, it is very educational as well.

- Lamma Island has a natural, almost unspoiled beauty and offers a unique experience to explore a way of life quite different from the hustle of the city. For a small island, it packs a powerful punch when it comes to activities and uniqueness.

- Lantau Island has expansive woodlands that take you away from the congestion for a while. There is a Buddhist monastery there that offers simple vegetarian meals if you are so inclined. A walk up the long flight of steps will take you to a 100 foot tall Buddha and incredible views.

Despite the huge population, Hong Kong has many great green spaces and a beautiful natural landscape. This can be appreciated if you take the tram up to The Peak and look out over the city. With its vibrant lifestyle, incredible beauty and eastern charm, Hong Kong should be on every traveler’s “Must See” list.

Reclaimed from Hung Hom Bay in southern Kowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui boasts many tourist attractions. Because it has so much to offer visitors, it has become a major destination for visitors. Among its attractions along the Victoria Harbor waterfront is the impressive Avenue of the Stars.

Designed along the line of Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, this promenade was developed into this attraction at a staggering cost of $40 million Hong Kong dollars by a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, New World Development Company Limited. Although the promenade itself was constructed in 1982, the Avenue of Stars component was unveiled to the public in 2004. During the ceremonies, the Avenue was handed over to the government to be used as public space.

During the day, the promenade provides impressive views of Victoria Harbor. In the evening, it is a popular place to see spectacular A Symphony of Lights display. With the addition of the Avenue of Stars, there is also an opportunity to glimpse the human stars of Hong Kong.

As you enter the promenade from Salisbury Garden, There is a towering 4.5-meter high replica of the Hong Kong Film Awards winner’s statuette. Hong Kong’s cinematic history spanning 100 years is revealed on nine bright red pillars as well as a Bruce Lee life-size statue are set along the 440-meters promenade.

As a tribute to those that have made significant contributions to territory’s filmmaking, there are decorative concrete plaques inset in the bricks of the promenade. The majority of the plaques honor deceased contributors and therefore just the name is inscribed. Plaques honoring those that are alive often feature an autograph and handprints.

The first year saw 73 people inducted and the list keeps growing. Such notables as Jackie Chan, the late Bruce Lee, and John Woo all have stars along the promenade. Take a stroll among the stars and, who knows; you might see a celebrity doing the same.