Travel
24 Hours In… Hong Kong
introBe enchanted by the unrelenting pace of metropolitan life while you’re drawn to the intoxicating allure of the Far East. For a city that encapsulates the juxtaposition between old and new, Hong Kong offers a vessel of sensory delights that is truly unique to Asia. Local insider and fashion stylist Nick Chan leads us through an ideal day in the Pearl of the Orient.
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Travel
24 Hours In… Hong Kong.
8am8am: Practice Morning Tai Chi At Kowloon Park – There’s no doubt the Chinese value health and wellness above anything else. Believed to restore and balance one’s yin and yang, tai chi is a meditative activity that eliminates stress through gentle movements and deep breathing. Join one of the many free tai chi groups and practice this ancient art amid the park’s sprawling greenery set against the expansive skyline. lcsd.com
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Travel
24 Hours In… Hong Kong.
9am9am: Have Pineapple Buns At Kam Wah Café – Believed to be the Chinese version of a croissant, the iconic pineapple bun is a much-loved commodity that’s been perfected at this local institution. The perfect breakfast calls for the flaky pastry to be washed down by an ice-cold Hong Kong-style milk tea. While the crisp exterior and gratuitous slab of butter makes up for the lack of an actual pineapple, expect service to be brisk and nail-bitingly efficient. yelp.com
2/17
Travel
24 Hours In… Hong Kong.
10am10am: Watch Songbirds At Yuen Po Street Bird Garden – Catch a glimpse of traditional Chinese culture, where enthusiasts gather their prized birds and display them to the world. Bamboo birdcages of all sorts, from no-frills designs to beautifully ornate varieties, line the street and offer a wonderful photo op. Squirm at the live mealworms or take in the colourful sights at the nearby Flower Market Road if you have time to spare. bird-garden.hk
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Travel
24 Hours In… Hong Kong.
11am11am: Go Bargain Hunting At Ladies’ Market On Tung Choi Street – Take a walk down this one-kilometre stretch of stalls geared towards the bargain shopper. With over 100 stalls, you’ll be spoilt for choice with a plethora of trinkets and small household items. The packed street is located within one of the most densely populated places on earth, which makes for a unique walking experience. Just be sure to brush up on your bargaining skills, as prices are negotiable and sellers are notorious for overpricing their goods. discoverhongkong.com
4/17
Travel
24 Hours In… Hong Kong.
12pm12pm: Ride The Star Ferry Across Victoria Harbour – A leisurely cruise on Victoria Harbour is one of the best ways to see the iconic skyline up close. Travel on these classic ferries that have been modelled on the original fleet from the late 19th century. Traveller’s Tip: The upper deck offers an air-conditioned cabin at the front and a greater vantage point for photo-taking. starferry.com.hk
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Travel
24 Hours In… Hong Kong.
1pm1pm: Savour Cantonese Dim Sum At Lin Heung Tea House – Expect classic Cantonese fare amidst a jovial atmosphere that has been preserved since the 1950s. Diners are greeted by daily specials on the mirrors, while traditional steel trolleys bursting with age-old dim sum recipes are pushed around to the delight of hungry customers. Sample their signature lotus seed buns, steamed brown sugar sponge cakes and quail egg siu mais for the quintessential dim sum lunch. linheung.com.hk
6/17
Travel
24 Hours In… Hong Kong.
2pm2pm: Get A Glimpse Of Fresh Produce At Gage Street Wet Market – No trip to Hong Kong would be complete without an experience at the local wet market. As a grassroots alternative to supermarkets, these bustling streets are filled with butchers and fishmongers who offer quality produce at a cheap price. Also worth visiting is the nearby Kowloon Soy Company (9 Graham St.) that arguably provides the best soy sauce in town as a result of their traditional brewing methods. kowloonsoy.com
7/17
Travel
24 Hours In… Hong Kong.
3pm3pm: Trek Up The Central Mid-Levels Escalator – As the classic centerpiece in the film Chungking Express (1994), you cannot leave the city without first visiting the world’s longest outdoor covered escalator. This out-of-the-box exercise in urban planning was conceived to relieve pedestrian traffic in the early ‘90s. In a city characterised by its hilly terrain, you’ll be mesmerised by the feverish pace of the streets below while you pass by commercial businesses dotted beside the escalator – all in a span of 20 minutes. about.com
8/17
Travel
24 Hours In… Hong Kong.
4pm4pm: Travel Through Time At Man Mo Temple – Designated as a Grade 1 historic building, this temple is a living relic of Chinese vernacular architecture that continues to be the place of worship for Man Cheong (God of Literature) and Mo Tai (God of Martial Arts). Traditional plaster mouldings and woodcarvings have all been preserved in their original glory, while the beguiling incense coils help cast rays of light that magically descend upon the interior courtyard. discoverhongkong.com
9/17
Travel
24 Hours In… Hong Kong.
5pm5pm: Support Local Designers At PMQ – Formerly known as the Police Married Quarters, this historically significant building has been revitalised as a creative design hub for local designers. The original residential units of former police officers have been transformed into design studios for independent creatives to showcase their products. From fashion to furniture design, here’s your chance to buy something that truly was ‘Designed in Hong Kong’. pmq.org.hk
10/17
Travel
24 Hours In… Hong Kong.
7pm7pm: Take An Evening Stroll Through Hong Kong Park – Hong Kong’s answer to New York City’s Central Park is an urban oasis situated in the heart of the financial district. Allow yourself a brief respite, with its landscaped gardens, tropical foliage, waterfalls and streams intended to ease away the stress of city life. The elevated park also offers an enchanting view of the skyscrapers as they begin to light up the night sky. discoverhongkong.com
11/17
Travel
24 Hours In… Hong Kong.
8pm8pm: Go Rooftop Bar-Hopping – While overzealous tourists flock to The Peak for views of Hong Kong Island, the “hidden secret” of a town dominated by skyscrapers is the unobstructed view from the top of these glass monoliths. The prices may be as high as the towers themselves, but the panorama is worth the splurge at SEVVA’s rooftop bar. Secure yourself a table beside the glass balcony, and you’re guaranteed a spectacular front row seat to the nightly laser light show, ‘A Symphony of Lights’. sevva.hk
12/17
Travel
24 Hours In… Hong Kong.
watchWatch Before You Go: Catch the frantic pace of this urban jungle in Wong Kar-Wai’s acclaimed visual masterpiece Chungking Express (1994). Vibrant scenes are weaved into a tale of missed connections and transient relationships that has earned Tony Leung and Faye Wong a spot in Hong Kong’s cinematic hall of fame. For those who want to understand the workings of a hopeful yet ever-changing city, this tale is not one to be missed. imdb.com
13/17
Travel
24 Hours In… Hong Kong.
readRead Before You Go: A memoir through the eyes of an expatriate, Martin Booth’s Gweilo: Memories of a Hong Kong Childhood paints a vivid picture of 20th-century Hong Kong that’s bursting with visual and olfactory delight. Booth’s inquisitive nature as a 7-year-old revives the memory of the city’s colonial history, interspersed with honest observations of Chinese culture in times gone by. amazon.com
14/17
Travel
24 Hours In… Hong Kong.
listenListen Before You Go: French producer Onra loops and slices vintage Chinese and Southeast Asian vinyl samples into a venerable album of hip hop vignettes. For those looking for a unique take on Hong Kong’s cross-cultural identity, Chinoiseries Pt. 2 integrates the stylistic differences between the East and West and distils it into a melodic soundtrack that delivers in spades. itunes.com
15/17
Travel
24 Hours In… Hong Kong.
aboutAbout The Writer: Nick Chan is the curator of fashion and lifestyle blog Cut & Copy, whilst his Instagram account serves to display his interest in film photography as well as the latest in the world of style. With a background in architecture, he is currently a freelance writer and fashion stylist. See more at @nickccy.
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Travel
24 Hours In… Hong Kong.
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