Have you ever visited Hong Kong from Singapore? If not, then quickly chalk out your Hong Kong trip with your near and dear ones. The beauty of the place along with the various tourist attraction places will definitely mesmerize your senses. What else? Hong Kong is also an ideal destination for the shopaholics as there are numerous shopping malls and shopping centers, including street side shops, which offer everything that you want ranging from trendy outfits and funky jewelries to home appliances. So to experience all these, plan a visit to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is one of the most popular tourist destinations is Asia. Every day, thousands of tourists visit Hong Kong. This land is a former British colony. Hong Kong has perfectly absorbed people and cultural influences from places as diverse as Thailand and Alaska. It is an excellent destination for tourists. It has become a major tourism destination for China’s increasingly affluent population. This harbor is picture perfect in its beauty. Hong Kong is made up of several islands.
How to Travel Singapore to Hong Kong
Pondering about how to travel Singapore to Hong Kong? Think no more as there are flights from Singapore to Hong Kong which you can avail to arrive at Hong Kong. The Hong Kong International Airport, also called as Chek Lap Kok International Airport, is the major airport for visitors who arrive at Hong Kong by flight. There are several flights connecting Singapore and Hong Kong. So just not wait further and chalk out your Hong Kong tour with your family and friends.
History of Hong Kong
In 1841, Hong Kong became a British colony under the Convention of Chuen Pi as a result of the defeat of the Qing Dynasty of China in the First Opium War. After the defeat of China in the Second Opium War, the Kowloon Peninsula was ceded to Britain in 1860. In 1898, a rural area north of Boundary Street in Kowloon district was leased to Britain for 99 years. For time being Hong Kong fell into Japanese hands during the Second World War but later returned to British control after the war ended. In 1984, the Chinese and British Governments signed the Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong and eventually Hong Kong was returned to China on 1 July 1997. Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China.
Best Time to Visit Hong Kong
The climate of Hong Kong can be a little chilly in the winter (10°C) whereas hot and humid in the summer (33°C). The best time to visit this place is during spring – March to May, when the average temperature is around 25°C and during the months of October to December.
Transportation in Hong Kong
After you have landed in Hong Kong, you can take a taxi from the airport to the city and it will cost you depending on your exact destination. Opt for a red taxi for destinations to Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, green taxis are restricted to the New Territories and blue taxis are for Lantau Island. There is a chart at the exit of the airport to the taxi stand showing the approximate fares to most destinations. The meter fare does not include the luggage fee, waiting fee, toll fee or pet fee. The fees at Hong Kong International Airport is too expensive, therefore it will be cheaper if you to fly out of Macau International Airport. Macau International Airport is easily reached by ferry from Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and Hong Kong International Airport.
You can use VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Maestro and Cirrus cards during your visit to Hong Kong. Credit card use is common in most shops for major purchases.
Hotels and Accommodations in Hong Kong
When visiting Hong Kong, you may want to stay in 5-star hotels. Staying in one of these hotels will be an experience of living life king-size. Given below are few luxury hotels:
- The Peninsula Kowloon
- The Langham Kowloon
- The Four Seasons, hk island central
- The Island Shangri-La hk island
- Mandarin Oriental- la hk island
- Rennaisance Harbour View Hotel HK Island - Wan Cha
- The Ritz-Carlton HK Island central
- The, Excelsior
- Regal Airport Hotel
Some of the budget hotels in Hong Kong are:
- Largos
- Dorsett Seaview
- Metropark Mongkong
- City Garden
- The Harbourview
- Newton
- Imperial
Cuisines of Hong Kong
The cuisine of Hong Kong is a combination of what seems best of various styles of cuisine. The food is extensively influenced by Cantonese cuisine and parts of non-Cantonese-speaking China, Western world, Japan and Southeast Asia. Hong Kong provides an unlimited variety of food in every class, from the roadside stalls to the most upscale restaurants. Standard Western dining etiquettes are rarely observed even in upscale restaurants in Hong Kong. The fast food includes: Pork Cutlet, Chinese Broccoli with Oyster sauce, baked pork chop rice.
Fish balls on a stick, Stinky tofu, Wonton noodle, Tofu pudding, beef jerky, Haw flakes, Dim sum, Peking Duck, Poon Choi, Buddha's delight, Mantou are some of the cuisines you can try.
Shopping In Hong Kong
Shopping in Hong Kong is one of the best in the World. It is a dream destination for every shopper. You will get excellent shopping items at rates cheaper than most Western countries. The popular shopping items include consumer electronics, jewelery, custom clothing, shoes, expensive brand name goods, Chinese antiques, toys and Chinese herbs/medicine. Even wide choice of European clothing is available but prices are high. Hong Kong Island and the Tsim Sha Tsui have upmarket shopping malls, whereas Kowloon is the place to go for cheap open markets. Causeway Bay is home to Hong Kong's youth fashion scene and is a great place to look for the latest fashion trends. Kowloon's Nathan Road has many shops selling electronics, cameras and gadgets. The best known Shopping Malls in Hong Kong are:
- Harbour City
- Cityplaza
- Pacific Place
- Langham Place
- APM
- Festival Walk
- IFC Mall
- Times Square
- Landmark
Apart from malls, there are many street markets:
- Ladies Market
- Flower Market
- Goldfish Market
- Bird Market
- Jade Market Temple
- Street Seafood Street
- Stanley Market
- Seafood Street
- Apliu Street
Places to see in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a land of magic. A place you will love to visit time and again. The beautiful
beaches will take your breath away. The sea is never too far in Hong Kong. If you want to explore the best beaches, then it is worth making the effort to travel to the beaches of the New Territories. The excellent beaches are:
- Repulse Bay: This large urban beach lies on the south side of Hong Kong island. It is the best beach for young children.
- Middle Bay: This beach is visited by gay people. Middle Bay has showers, changing rooms, lifeguards, shark nets and a cafe.
- Shek O: It is away from the busy city but is well served by restaurants and has a good bus service from the north side of the island. This beach is frequented by local youths.
- Big Wave Bay: This beach is much smaller than other beaches on Hong Kong Island. It has waves that will appeal surfers from around the world.
You can enjoy
hiking in Hong Kong. It is a great way to appreciate Hong Kong's beautiful landscapes, such as mountains, beaches and breathtaking cityscapes. The starting points for most hiking trails are accessible by bus or taxi. If you want to escape from the urban Hong Kong, then hiking is recommended for you. Trails in Hong Kong are Lantau Trail on Lantau and Hong Kong Trail on Hong Kong Island.
You can visit a variety of
museums in Hong Kong with different themes. One of the best museums is the Hong Kong Museum of History. This museum gives an excellent overview of Hong Kong's captivating past. Given below are the museums worth visiting:
- Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum
- Fireboat Alexander Grantham Exhibition Gallery in Quarry Bay Park
- Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware in Hong Kong Park
- Hong Kong Film Archive in Sai Wan Ho
- Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre in Kowloon Park
- Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Shatin
- Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum in Sham Shui Po
- Hong Kong Space Museum in Tsim Sha Tsui
- Madame Tussauds in The Peak
- Hong Kong Museum of History in Tsim Sha Tsui
Hong Kong has the best
skyscrapers in the world. You can see the breathtaking Hong Kong Island skyline from Kowloon. You will get the best view from the
Avenue of Stars at Tsim Sha Tsui. Hong Kong's version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Avenue of Stars celebrates icons of Hong Kong cinema from the past century. The seaside promenade offers fantastic views, day and night, of Victoria Harbour and its iconic skyline.You can as well choose to take the Star Ferry which runs frequently from Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, Wan Chai, Kowloon City and Hung Hom.
You can visit the Po Lin (Precious Lotus)
Monastery while in Hong Kong. It is a very popular tourist attraction. The statue of Tian Tan Buddha is erected at the entrance of Po Lin (Precious Lotus) Monastery. The statue is made of copper and is the largest outdoor statue of Buddha in whole world. Thousands of tourists from across the world come to see this 34 meters tall statue.
Hong Kong is famous for its skyscrapers. You can see amazing architectural buildings in Hong Kong.
Hopewell Centre is one of the tallest buildings in Hong Kong. This building is recognized as the first circular skyscraper with 64 floors. This building presents the perfect example of architectural and structural design.
Lantau Island is the largest island in Hong Kong. It is situated on the Pearl River and covers an area of almost 147 Sq Kilometers. You will find number of monasteries and spiritual places which increases the beauty of this island. Lantau Island has immense natural beauty for tourists.
Cheung Chau is a little island that offers walks, beautiful temples and traditional fishing villages, along with markets and seafront, seafood restaurants.
Wong Tai Sin is a Taoist temple in Kowloon. This temple is dedicated to the god of healing. A lot of people visit this huge and colorful temple.
To visit
The Peak in Hong Kong Island you have to take the little funicular railway up this 550-metre hill for superb views over Hong Kong harbor. You will enjoy the ride on one of the world’s steepest cable cars up to Victoria Peak. After reaching the top, you will have an amazing 360-degree view of Hong Kong.
The Star Ferry in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon takes you between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. This ferry ride is very romantic and you must try it.
There are several parks in Hong Kong that will excite you and your family. You can visit the
Water World, Ocean Park and many more. If you want to enjoy lively monkeys and orangutans then do not miss the
Botanical Gardens.
Travel Tips for Hong Kong
- You must use the cities metro system “Mass Transit Railway” because it is efficient, reliable and user-friendly. All signs and maps are in Cantonese and English, and it will take you across Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula.
- Handshaking is the common form of greeting in Hong Kong.
- Do not miss eating dim sum. The city is famous for its many varieties.
- During a meal, a toast is often drunk saying “Yum Sing” at each course.
- If you are with locals, then there may be up to 12 courses of meal served, and although it is not considered an insult to eat less, a good appetite is always appreciated and it is considered cordial to taste every dish.
- Hotels, bars and restaurants normally include a 10% service charge. You need to follow standard tipping rules and add an additional 5% for good service, and give an extra 5% - 10% for taxi fares.
- Take comfortable clothes such as T-Shirts and Shorts during the summer months.
- It is recommended that you take the medicine Immodium, a anti-diarrhea medicine.
