Hong Kong is in my opinion the king of cities and for many reasons but to try and sum it up in one sentence I would have to say "Hong Kong is a thriving metropolis of beauty,culture,character and the perfect mix of modern life and old traditional life, all this with just the right amount of home comforts for those days you just need sit back relax, watch Netflix and eat a taco or two".
There are hundreds of hotels to choose from and a lot with a great harbor view and there are always good online deals so you can get a lot for your money if you search around a bit. We had a nice harbor view room at the harbor view hotel, it was a fairly good size room for two and very comfortable with everything you need. Most hotels on Hong Kong island are very nice and very up to date and Hong Kong is also connected very well by the MTR subway system so it doesn't matter where you stay you will never be far away from a station and a short ride into the city.
Now let's get into the details, I have been to Hong Kong only twice and for a total of about ten days but I still feel very comfortable and very much at home when I visit and lucky for me I'll be living there for a few months in the new year.
As an English guy living in China for a year it was great arriving in Hong Kong and seeing the English influence there, for example they drive on the correct side of the road and you can find a good English breakfast but this being said it's not too English. Hong Kong has a very wide variety of different people there and this shows in the atmosphere and culture in day to day life and what i mean by that is there are so many different cultures mixing there in a positive way that it seems to have manifested into a completely new and unique culture that makes it a really great place to be.
Everything from the towering glass skyscrapers to the bustling markets of Mong Kok all give you a massive variety of different experiences. Hong Kong island offers the huge architectural skyscrapers and super malls that I could happily walk around and take pictures of all day while the Hong Kong mainland offers markets for miles and much more of a traditional Chinese vibe.
Hong Kong island has some amazing sights especially from the top of Victoria peak. The view from the top is arguably one of the greatest views in the world and a must see if you ever visit. A short trip up on the tram and you have everything you need for a good day out.They have a 5 floor mall built up there with all kinds of different restaurants, shops and even a Madam Tussaud's wax museum, all that with the best viewing platform to enjoy the breathtaking views day or night.
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The star ferry ride across the harbor is another must do experience if you want the great harbor view that always shows up in pictures and movies. It really is a great short trip, very cheap and a nice way to cross the harbor if you have had enough with the busy subway.
Mong Kok shopping area on the mainland is also a great experience especially if you like a bargain and the famous ladies market is also on the must do list. This tightly packed street market seems to go on for days and it will take you a good hour or two just to walk through and take in that good market atmosphere. They sell just about everything fake and real and you will find it quite the challenge to walk through it and not buy anything.
There are actually many different markets on the mainland that are all worth going to see for each offer something a little different and you will also find a great variety of different foods in the same area, everything from east to west is available and you don't have to try hard to find somewhere great so you will have a great time if you're a food lover. One day I decided to try Thai, Mexican and Chinese food all in one day and it was all delicious and a great idea at the time.
Hong Kong also offers lots of smaller quieter areas on the outskirts towards the end of the subway lines and these places can be a great day out to escape the busy city and its not too far. We decided to try to find the grave of IP man (a wingchun grandmaster) for all you martial arts fans and we had to travel to one of these small towns to find it. I can't remember the name of the place but it was near the end of the light blue subway line about an hour from central Hong Kong.
Anyway in this small town we not only found the grave of Ip man which for me was a great experience and a chance to pay my respects to a great man, but we also found a huge Taoist temple which was one of the best i have seen throughout my travels in China. The temple also had a cemetery made up of lots of outside corridors with the pictures of the departed and lots of people lighting incense and laying flowers. It was quite a nice experience though and there was a lot of the temple that was open to the public so we spent a couple hours there just walking around.
As I said before Hong Kong has some of the best views in the world and you can find them all over the place, there are a lot of the skyscrapers that have observation rooms at the top so you don't always have to go up to the peak every time you want the view. The views at day and night really are mind blowing and at night it looks like something from a futuristic sci fy movie which i was lucky enough to enjoy with my friends on the rooftop of the Jervois hotel.
There are also some botanical gardens on the island which are free to see and there is a small zoo housing lots of animals from exotic birds to orangutans. The whole area is a great place to walk around and take some good pictures before or after going to Victoria peak which is very close by.
There are so many things Hong Kong has to offer from beaches to theme parks,temples and more and the atmosphere and the culture makes it my favorite city to date. This is definitely somewhere you should visit given the chance and it can also make for a great short trip or get away weekend if you're not too far away.
Thanks again for reading. Hope you enjoyed and please give me a resteem and an up vote and i'll keep the travel blogs coming.