“He who never leaves his country is full of prejudices.” - Carlo Goldoni
The world is full of tourist destinations, but there are different places for different people. With its skyscrapers, shopping, nightlife, and unmissable sights, Hong Kong is a pretty versatile destination. This versatility is why most people will want to plan a trip. With an eight-hour time difference in winter and a seven-hour time difference in summer, Hong Kong is a destination with a lot to see and do. Hong Kong is a gem, which is probably why it’s sometimes called The Pearl of the Orient. Curious? Have you had this destination on your list for a while? Here’s our guide to visiting Hong Kong.
Whether it’s a city surrounded by beaches, a famous bay, tourist attractions, or faraway lands, there are plenty of reasons to various destinations. Hong Kong is no exception to the rule and there are plenty of reasons to go. From the history to the architecture and nature, there are plenty of reasons to visit Hong Kong. (Source: carloyuen) Hong Kong is also a destination you can visit any time of the year. There are treasures to be discovered on every street corner, trips out into nature, and even stuff for families to do. Of all the reasons to visit Hong Kong, here are some of our favourites:
Hong Kong is a green city: Hong Kong has 24 natural parks and the weather is quite nice for both locals and tourists. Your notion of Hong Kong might be one of skyscrapers. What better way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Hong Kong is a culinary paradise: those who love food will love Hong Kong. There are local markets for the curious and a dynamic lifestyle when it comes to eating. Everywhere you go, there are places to eat.
Hong Kong is a bright city: With its sound and light show on the Avenue of Lights, Hong Kong is bright. If you head up to the top of any of the taller buildings, you can enjoy the lights of the city itself. It’s breathtaking.
Hong Kong is full of history: The city’s colonial past can be seen in its trams and the Victoria Harbour ferry. You can enjoy the past of this forward-facing city.
Hong Kong is a shopper’s paradise: We already mentioned this, but if you like shopping, Hong Kong is the place to go. When it comes to shopping, Hong Kong is actually cheaper than London. A good reason to go there.
If you’ve been travelling around China, you’ll actually see that Hong Kong is quite different. Have you got your ticket? You’ll need somewhere to stay. Find out more about why you should visit Hong Kong
Choosing Accommodation in Hong Kong
“The man who seeks to educate himself must first read and then travel in order to correct what he has learned.” - Giacomo Casanova
Finding accommodation in Hong Kong is no more difficult than in any other city. However, like with other cities, you need to know what to look for. There are plenty of ways to look for accommodation in Hong Kong:
By neighbourhood: Whether it’s right in the centre with the offices and restaurants, Wan Chai, which feels a little more authentic, or SoHo, where you can find the best nightlife, Hong Kong’s different areas all have their own identities.
By price: As a popular destination, Hong Kong has plenty of places to stay. You can find accommodation of all kinds from hotels to hostels and holiday rents.
By activities: There are probably a few things you’ll want to do in Hong Kong and you might want your accommodation to be nearby. If you’re planning on doing a lot of shopping, you might want an accommodation that’s right by all the shops.
Hong Kong is a popular destination and, as a result, has no shortage of accommodation for tourists. (Source: Free-Photos) Hong Kong’s versatility can also be seen in the available accommodation. Have you decided on the kind of place you’d like to stay? Are you still planning your trip? Good! That’ll give you time to think about your budget. Find out more about accommodation in Hong Kong
How Much Does it Cost to Visit Hong Kong?
Your budget will often decide whether or not a trip is viable. Hong Kong is famous for being quite expensive, but you’ll actually see that it’s not as expensive as you think. Find Mandarin courses London here on Superprof. While getting to Hong Kong might cost a bit, there are quite a few things that are cheaper there than in the UK. (Source: 12019) Here’s a quick guide to budgeting for a trip to Hong Kong. Firstly, in the low-season, you can get to Hong Kong for as little as £400 return. However, in the high season, you’ll be looking at closer to £700 for return flights. Once you’ve landed, you have a few options for getting to the city:
Taxi: Around £40 for a 30-minute trip.
Train: Around £10 for a 25-minute trip.
Bus: Around £4, but the journey takes over an hour.
Generally, with taxis, you leave a tip. Accommodation might seem quite expensive with rooms for between £60 and £80 a night, but you can find cheaper places. Youth hostels, for example, are cheaper than luxury hotels. You can get rooms in BnBs for closer to £40 or £50 a night. As for food, Hong Kong is more expensive than mainland China, but is still very affordable. For around a tenner, you can get a nice meal in the city. Getting around Hong Kong is quite simples as there aren’t “zones” like in other cities. A tram ticket will cost a maximum of £2 with a “Adult Tourist Day Pass” costing closer to £6 and around £3 for kids. Shopping also tends to be cheaper in Hong Kong than in the UK. Of course, there are also plenty of free activities like going to parks. There are plenty of tourist activities, too, like:
Disneyland Hong Kong: HK$619 for adults and HK$458 for children.
Hong Kong is a nice place to visit and it’s helped by the decent weather. It can be tempting just to see the tourist attractions. However, they are a good place to start. There are plenty of things to see and do in Hong Kong. (Source: tee2tee) There are so many parts of the region you can visit. Just have a look at Kowloon City with its skyscrapers or Victoria Peak where you can see incredible views of the city. Tai O on Lantau Island is a little fishing hub. What better way to enjoy a different side of Hong Kong away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Sheung Wan is the historic heart of the city and then there’s Temple Street with its gate welcoming you to the night markets. Not to be missed! For a breather away from the city, there are plenty of parks and quieter attractions. The Clock Tower is another sight to be enjoyed. As you can see, Hong Kong is a place where it’s hard to get bored and is full of attractions for tourists of all ages. There’s a good mix of things to do, see, and enjoy. Discover Hong Kong's best attractions Bon voyage! If you'd like to learn more about Chinese languages and Cantonese, in particular, consider getting help from one of the many experienced and talented tutors available on Superprof. When learning languages, no two students are the same and there are different types of private tutorials for every type of learner, budget, and level. One-on-one tutorials are an excellent way to learn a foreign language as you're the only student in the class and will enjoy plenty of opportunities to practise, ask questions, and converse with your private tutor. Similarly, the tutor will tailor the sessions to you, what you want to learn, and how you like to learn. Generally, these types of tutorials are the most costly, but they're also the most cost-effective since every minute of the lesson is spent helping you to get better at your new language. If you can't find any local private tutors, you can always look for online tutoring. With an online tutor, you can be taught by people all over the world, including those from places like Hong Kong and other areas where Cantonese is spoken. Much like with face-to-face tutorials, you can get one-on-one online tutorials and spend a lot of time practising your language skills with your private tutor. However, since the tutor doesn't need to travel to their students, they can charge less than their face-to-face counterparts. Group tutorials are probably the best option for those on a tight budget as you can share the cost of the tutor's time with the other students in the lesson. While you won't get as much time to practise your Cantonese with the tutor, you will have other students to practise with and this can be better for students who'd be nervous practising their Cantonese with somebody who's already mastered the language. If you're not sure which type of tutoring is right for you, don't forget that a lot of the tutors on the Superprof website offer the first session for free. You can use these free sessions to try out several different private tutors before deciding on which one is right for you and your budget. Before you start getting in touch with tutors, we recommend putting together a list of requirements. From there, you can find the tutors that might be what you're looking for and then start contacting them.
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