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When Americans think of brunch, they think of hearty egg dishes and towering stacks of pancackes. But in Hong Kong, the brunch menu is devoted to dim sum (which translates to “heart’s delight”), or steamed or fried dumplings filled with vegetables, chopped seasoned meat, seafood and just about any combination of ingredients that will fill the tiny pouches. Families of several generations gather on weekends to dine on dim sum and slurp tea, filling up on many kinds of dumplings usually selected from steaming carts presented tableside. Here are five of the best restaurants to experience Hong Kong’s version of brunch: 1. Harbourside Grill at Intercontinental Hong Kong has all you’d want in a brunch buffet: an amazing view with very tall ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, good service and excellent quality western and Chinese brunch cuisine. Their displays are elaborate to say the least-with both western and asian dishes, a roast carving station, and homemade desserts. 2. At Grissini in the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, you’ll feel as though you were transported to Italy when you see the rustic décor, Italian menu and the length of the wine list. The restaurant is anchored by a huge oven, which is used to make fresh breadsticks, and a wine gallery with over 1000 bottles. Floor-to-ceiling windows make Victoria Harbour look stunning. It’s the perfect backdrop for an Italian-style brunch in Hong Kong. 3. Hong Kong teems with restaurants serving traditional dim sum, but the best be found at Fu Sing Shark Fin Seafood Restaurant in Wan Chai. High quality seafood reigns supreme at this unassuming joint. Order one of Fu Sing’s signature dishes like toast with shrimp and mango or shark fin with crab egg white, and you might never want to eat American-style brunch again. 4. For more upscale but no-less delicious dim sum, book a table at Lung King Heen in the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. Executive Chef Chan Yan Tak is considered a master of contemporary Cantonese cuisine. Start off your day with dishes like steamed lobster and scallop dumplings or baked whole abalone puffs with diced chicken. 5. Refined Cantonese specialties and a handful of regional Chinese favorites are expertly executed at Summer Palace at the Five-Star Island Shangri-La. Famous for its dim sum lunches, Summer Palace also features signature plates that include Shanghainese shredded chicken, flat bean noodles and cucumber and chicken wing stuffed with crab and shark’s fin. Our favorite, though, is the steamed egg white with lobster and crab roe. The fresh, high-quality ingredients just melt in your mouth. The afternoon tea menu feature a wide selection of authentic Chinese teas, which your server will suggest according to your current state of health and even your mood.

Leave the jacket and tie at home, and take to the city’s neighborhoods for Hong Kong’s best food experiences. At these restaurants, ambience or service takes a back seat to delicious, authentic food made from the freshest ingredients using age-old recipes. Here are a five of the best: 1. At Yung Kee in Central, diners jam into the noisy space to dig into traditional Chinese cuisine. Romantic this busy dining room is not, but the roast goose is the best in the city, and Cantonese specialities like braised supreme bird’s nest and sautéed frog’s leg with bamboo shots will give you a taste of authentic Hong Kong cuisine. 2. The most popular place for dim sum for tourists and locals alike is Maxim’s City Hall. Perhaps this is because Maxim’s is one of the few restaurants in Hong Kong that still uses a trolley to carry dim sum to each table. Sample classic dishes such as steamed chicken and mushroom buns while sipping chrysanthemum tea, then finish a meal with a traditional moon cake. 3. When we say that all of the seafood is fresh at Chuen Kee Seafood Restaurant in Sai Kung, we really mean it. Upon entering the popular restaurant, you select your soon-to-be meal from a large aquarium tank and tell the chef how you would like it prepared. Sea urchin, boiled shrimp, Australian lobster, scallops and abalone are some of the seafood that can be stir-fried with garlic, steamed, boiled or prepared any way you like. 4. Under The Bridge Spicy Crab serves the freshest and most famous crab dish in Hong Kong, and perhaps in all of Asia. In Hong Kong’s early days, the restaurant’s neighborhood of Causeway Bay was where diners came for fresh seafood caught in the harbour and cooked to order the same day. The traditional dish of typhoon shelter crab, made with crab meat, garlic, scallion, red chili and black beans, originated in this area, and today is made to perfection at the curiously named Under the Bridge Spicy Crab. 5. Tsui Wah Cha Chaan Teng is a great place for every day dining. In fact, “Cha Chaan Teng” means local diner in Cantonese. Make an inexspensive lunch on a meal of fish ball noodles and milk tea at this authentic Central lunch spot.

Rightly known internationally as a destination that wants for nothing in the dining stakes, Hong Kong brims with thousands of great restaurants, which makes choosing one in which to dine a difficult task. Cantonese restaurants are prolific, ranging from small brightly lit cafes and noodle shops, to opulent freestanding and hotel dining rooms. Regional Chinese food (think spicy Szechuan) is also well represented, as it Southeast and South Asian food. You’ll find plenty of authentic dishes at the scores of tasty Thai, Indonesian and Indian restaurants that pepper the city.
In the past decade, more and more Western restaurants have spring up outside the confines of hotels. The SoHo district in Central is where you’ll find the highest density of ever-changing upscale restaurants, from steakhouses to Italian trattorias with the biggest new trend fusion tapas, with hotels in the Central area offering some of the finest Western fare in town; they are home to the majority of the celebrity chef-led kitchens that have mushroomed in the past six or so years.
Shopping malls usually harbor a wide spectrum of restaurants, from reasonably priced food courts to mid-range and fine-dining eateries. As with the rest of Asia, the coffee culture has boomed in Hong Kong, and these days finding a decent café, sandwich or pastry is easy. You’ll see Starbucks everywhere you go, and thankfully, plenty of local, independent cafes. Although the traditional street-food stalls are disappearing for government policy reasons, you’ll have more than enough options to get a taste of Hong Kong’s homegrown culinary scene.

You won’t be hard-pressed to find larger-than-life romance in Hong Kong’s finest restaurants, thanks mostly to the incredible views so many deliver from their perches atop the city’s skyscrapers. From Caprice at the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong to Petrus at Island Shangri-La, you’ll have superb vistas to go with your meal. Here are five of the best romantic restaurants in Hong Kong:

1. Caprice. A gorgeous venue with a massive open kitchen — rare for a French restaurant this size and scale— Caprice at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong is an attractive space with enviable views of the harbor. The alluring room glows with its over-sized crystal chandeliers and uplit walkway leading from the entrance through to the kitchen; the ruby-red velvet banquettes and accents recall a mix of circa-1930 French and Shanghai style.

2. Restaurant Petrus. The local benchmark for fine French cuisine for years, Restaurant Petrus at Island Shangri-La has made small changes to modernize the atmosphere at this beautiful, chandelier-lit-56th floor dining room, which has incredible views of the city. And while the polished staff now serves premium wines by the glass, the jacket-and-tie rule for men is more relaxed now — a jacket is still required for dinner. After all, the dress code should match the sophistication of the décor and service style of the staff, a rare treat in the casual new millennium.

3. Gaddi’s. Located inside The Peninsula Hong Kong, this spot is a long-standing legend whose influence extends beyond Hong Kong’s borders. In the Old World European classical space, traditional French cuisine is served by jacketed waiters and tables are set with antique silverware and Bernadraud china. Try the tasting menu or the chef’s table, which is delivered in the kitchen where you can take in the action behind the scenes.

4. Amber. Bathed in gold, Amber inside Landmark Mandarin Oriental is a top spot for creative haute cuisine. Dutch executive chef Richard Ekkebus churns out playful experiments verging on molecular gastronomy, which he changes on a regular basis. Lunchtime sets, which change weekly, of either two or three seasonal courses are popular with busy executives. It’s a shame to rush the likes of lamb duo confit and glazed white coco beans, so take your time and order one of the light desserts as well — you can’t go wrong with the Pavlova strawberry and mascarpone. Then again, you might want to check out the early bird breakfast, which begins at 6:30 a.m., rather unusual for a fine-dining restaurant.

5. Pearl on the Peak. Another Hong Kong celebrity-chef-led restaurant, Pearl on the Peak features the creations of Geoff Lindsay, one of Australia’s most reputed toques. The menu draws on a few signatures from his Melbourne restaurant Pearl, such as succulent flash-fried oyster meat appetizer with shiitake, chives, ginger and soy. Top it all off with a peak-top view over Hong Kong Island (seen through floor-to-ceiling glass windows), and you’ll have a meal to remember.

With a host of musical genres, City Hall is always a good bet for live entertainment. Back in 1933, Hong Kong demolished its original City Hall-an elegant two-story colonial structure built in 1869-to make room for two bank buildings. The stark, blocky waterfront complex that replaced it in 1962 may not match the original’s architectural charm, but it still stands as a vital cultural outpost in a city where money often comes before art, let alone music. Good thing there’s plenty of space here-in addition to a library, a marriage registry, a theater and two exhibition galleries, City Hall also houses a concert hall and recital hall, both preferred venues for the compact but lively Hong Kong Sinfonietta, which stages year-round concerts of orchestra favorites, as well as newly commissioned works. Love it or loathe it, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre’s controversial pink-tile-clad structure-comparisons have included “a giant ski jump”-reigns over Victoria Harbour and serves as Hong Kong’s top performing arts venue. A must-visit for classical music aficionados, the venue opened in 1989, and annually provides up to 1.4 million seats for cultural events, including Western operas, ballet, theater and modern dance. Not only is it a hub for touring troupes, but it’s also home to the city’s two foremost classical-music ensembles, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, both of which regularly perform in the 2,019-seat Concert Hall and the 1,734-seat Grand Theatre. Past highlights include concerts with world-class soloists such as Chinese-American cellist Yo-Yo Ma, as well as performances by the Sydney Symphony.

In a city that often favors new over old, many times at the expense of its own heritage, it’s refreshing to find Loke Yew Hall, a beautiful, historic 1912 structure tucked within Hong Kong University’s main campus. It served as a hospital during World War II, though now, in its role as theater/concert/lecture hall, it has hosted both the Hong Kong Philharmonic and the venerable Chinese political leader Dr. Sun Yat-sen, a crucial figure in the creation of modern, post-dynastic China. Head here for lunchtime and early evening concerts by young and emerging musicians, and look out for the free HKU Concert Series (held each September).

Being such a cosmopolitan city, Hong Kong’s restaurants tend to be more focused on fine dining than family fare. To find a dining room with booster seats or kids menus, you might need to stick with tried-and-true Western brands. So save Hong Kong’s traditional dim sum for an adults-only outing, and take your kids instead to one of Hong Kong’s many American-style restaurants for comfort food served in a kid-friendly environment. Here are a few of the best: 1. Though it’s known as a crowded tourist trap on weekends, Café Deco on The Peak has been one of Hong Kong’s landmark restaurants since opening in 1994-and it caters to kids, too. You can find everything from sushi and Indian tandoori specialties to homemade pizzas and sandwiches on the menu at this spacious and ornate family style eatery. They even have an Italian Bar that serves coffee and homemade cakes. For an uninterrupted meal, you can drop your children off in a designated kids corner where they can play with other kids under supervision. 2. Chow down on some ribs and American steaks at Dan Ryan’s, where group dining is encouraged. The fact that it’s completely westernized is a point of pride for the owners because their goal is to serve authentic food that you’d find in any restaurant in the U.S. Based on that alone, your kids will love it. Dan Ryan’s salads, sandwiches and burgers will be a nice break from traditional noodles in Hong Kong. 3. The expats who live in the area come to The Boathouse in Stanley, a charming fishing village on the southwestern coast of Hong Kong Island, for the beach-like atmosphere and upscale Italian food. The restaurant is located in a quaint Victorian-style building overlooking the sea. Inside, the décor is clean and nautical-themed-something the whole family can appreciate. The food, however, is anything but simple. Dishes like porcini mushroom risotto and smoked eggplant and braised veal ravioli paired with a beautiful view from the balcony make this a memorable dining experience. 4. Families with adventurous eaters should make their way to Café Too at the Five-Star Island Shangri-La. The buffet at this casual restaurant delivers just about every kind of cuisine in the world, from dim sum to crepes and Italian antipasto. Kids will love the incredible array of desserts-once they’ve tried some fresh fruit, Hainanese rice or steamed vegetables, of course. 5. For breakfast 24 hours a day and a kid-friendly menu with standards such as grilled cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, try The Flying Pan in Central, Wan Chai or Discovery Bay. The casual atmosphere and vast menu of familiar egg dishes make this traditional diner a hit with families.

Since most Hong Kongers consider clocking out of the office before 9 p.m. an early night and bars can stay open until dawn, it’s no wonder that Hong Kong’s nightlife carries a high-caliber reputation. Options run from divey British pubs and candlelit wine bars to trendy lounges and members-only clubs. Central still lays claim to the hottest clubs in Hong Kong, but other areas are joining the scene. Kowloon has become a popular after-hours location thanks to an influx of new and revamped hotels like the W Hotel, The Mira and The Peninsula. Likewise, Wan Chai, once famous for its red-light entertainment venues, has experienced a revival recently, drawing new pubs, wine bars and lounges to the neighborhood, along with a more mainstream crowd. Like in many cities around the globe, smoking was banned in all public places in Hong Kong in 2009, but there is yet to be a rule about being a set distance from building entrances, so it is quite common to see clusters of puffers huddled around bar doorways.

Hong Kongers’ favorite pastime is making money, so it should come as no surprise that the most popular spectator sport here is horse racing, the city’s only legal form of gambling apart from the lottery, soccer (coincidentally run by the same organization, the 1884-founded Hong Kong Jockey Club) and online sports betting. Happy Valley Racecourse has been home to the sport since 1846. Races run from September to June, when thousands of punters show up on Wednesday nights to win and lose fortunes-more than HK$100 billion was turned around in the 2006-2007 season alone. If you’re lucky enough to be in Hong Kong in December, you can catch a variety of mega-cash payouts during the Cathay Pacific series of races. The atmosphere ranges from charged to positively electrifying, but it’s not all high drama: The course is a green floodlit expanse, so if you’re not too fixated on a scorecard, you can take advantage of the chance to relax in the great outdoors with one of Hong Kong’s cheapest pints. While Happy Valley Racecourse is by far the iconic venue, rival Sha Tin Racecourse, open in 2007, is Hong Kong’s largest racecourse and is where serious gamblers go to place their bets (or where corporate types go to mingle and dig into lavish spreads in the many private boxes). Hong Kong Jockey Club also oversees Sha Tin, and hosts the frequent international races held here, which includes the annual Hong Kong Cup among others. You’ll have to buy a ticket to enter Sha Tin (HK$10), and if you want to venture past the public areas it will cost you even more, but tourists can gain access to the reserved areas of the racecourse by joining a tour organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, which includes entrance and a buffet lunch at the Visitors’ Box (see racecourse website for details).

Every year, during the last weekend of March, hordes of expats descend upon Hong Kong Stadium, claiming its 40,000 outdoor seats in the name of boozing, revelry and, occasionally, even rugby. Considered to be the most important competition in the eight-tournament IRB Sevens World Series, the Hong Kong Sevens pits 24 rugby union teams from around the world against each other. The contest’s huge popularity has resulted in the previously amateur Hong Kong team acquiring star players with professional status. Though the matches are undoubtedly exciting, the crowds are as diverting as the main event, especially at the hard-partying South Stand. If you’re more into the rugby than the crowd, inquire at the hotel about corporate boxes. There is also a lively beer tent just outside the stadium with big-screen TV’s for a different, yet no less lively, atmosphere for those unable to score tickets.

For such a compact city, Hong Kong teems with places to stay. With five Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotels and five Four-Star hotels, there’s no shortage of outstanding hotels. When the gleaming, high-rise Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong opened in 2005 on a waterfront stretch of land in Central, it raised the bar for luxury in Hong Kong. Rooms are comfortable subtly elegant, dressed in soothing neutral tones and loaded with high-tech amenities from plasma TVs to DVD players. The hotel includes an outdoor infinity-edge pool with an enviable vista of Victoria Harbour; suites are fit for a king (including the Aqua spa suite, which is equipped with a vitality pool and a private bar). Service is professional and efficient, meaning whatever you need, the staff will provide it before you even think to ask. The hotel’s restaurants draw locals who come to dine on upscale French cuisine at the glam Caprice (which has pioneered a previously untapped passion for cheese among Hong Kongers with its cheese room and tastings) and the Cantonese restaurant, Lung King Heen (meaning “view of the dragon). It’s one of the city’s (and the world’s) most acclaimed, and is remarkable for its selection of wines, as well as it’s ever-popular dim sum lunch menus. You know you’re somewhere special when pillbox-hatted page boys politely whisk open double-front doors to reveal an airy lobby with soaring ceilings. And so it is at The Peninsula Hong Kong, the city’s oldest hotel (which opened in 1928). Affectionately called “the Pen” by locals, the place drips with colonial decadence, from the palm-filled lobby where guests nibble on petit fours at tea time to the string quartet in the gallery. Perhaps the ultimate sign of the hotel’s classic pedigree is Gaddi’s, a local legend of a French restaurant, and the Verandah (which is as gorgeous and otherworldly as it sounds). Still, the Peninsula manages to balance its Old World inclinations with modern touches, like the Phillipe Starck-designed restaurant, Felix, which serves contemporary cuisine in a super-slick skyline setting. This blend of Asian and European styles carries through the place, from high-tech (wireless Internet and flat-screen TVs come standard in all rooms) and antiques-bedecked rooms to an impressive spa to the immaculate service, which quietly whispers that, yes,-you have indeed arrived.
In a city where business comes a close second to shopping, the centrally located Landmark Mandarin Oriental was destined to do well. Bling-worthy designer-label stores form a protective semicircle around this sharp boutique hotel centered in the heart of the business district, and their staffs-given adequate warning-will proceed to your room bearing the latest wares for the ultimate personal-shopping experience. Then again, you might simply want to close the door, switch on the “Do Not Disturb” button and experience the ultra-sensual 400-thread-count linens, glass-walled bathrooms (in some rooms) and multi-channeled entertainment system. Need to blow off some steam? Head for the 25,000-square-foot duplex spa, or the indoor pool (the two are fitting replacements for lack of a harbour view). Then head to the restaurant, Amber, or the bar, MO-both overflow with eye candy, whether you define that as cutting-edge design or pretty people.

With its ultra-convenient waterfront location-right by the Star Ferry Pier-and low ticket prices, you’d think the Hong Kong Museum of Art - the city’s largest art museum, established in 1962 - would have no difficulty attracting visitors. Yet since settling into its premises in 1991, this government-run institution has struggled to capture the city’s imagination. Thankfully, things are on the up, with inspired initiatives like the Hong Kong Art Series filling its contemporary art exhibition hall with popular, critically acclaimed shows like Digit@logue, overseen by local new-media artist Ellen Pau, and New Ink Art, organized by guest curator Alice King. Traveling international exhibits supplement the museum’s permanent collection of Chinese fine arts and antiquities, and become just another reason to check out this gem of a museum.
At the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, you can either explore new territories via time tunnels spanning 6,000 years or see decorative Chinese art from the donations of The Tsui Art Foundation in the T.T. Tsui Gallery of Chinese Art. It houses six permanent galleries such as these, as well as rotating programs for kids and adults like an introductory workshop on Cantonese opera headwear.
Adjacent to the Hong Kong Museum of History, Hong Kong Museum of Science features about 500 exhibits, and 70 percent of them are interactive. The biggest permanent exhibit is undoubtedly the Energy Machine, which occupies all four stories of the museum and is the only machine of its kind in the world. Balls zip along wavy or zig-zag tracks powered by computer controlled gates, demonstrating the relationship between energy conversion and movement. Along the way, they strike gongs and chimes, and create a chorus when they hit drums and xylophones.

A weekend’s worth of time will give you enough time to explore much of Hong Kong Island and its many attractions. On day one, check out Statue Square. Head to the 43rd floor of the Bank of China Tower, then walk over to the Central Ferry Pier and catch a boat to either Lamma or Cheung Chai. Have a seafood lunch and explore either island. Head back to your hotel and freshen up before heading out to Lan Kwai Fong and Soho for dinner, drinks and dancing.
On day two, take the bus from Central to Stanley for memorable DIY sight-seeing. Check out Stanley Market and have lunch along the waterfront. Take the MTR to the Jordan stop in Kowloon and shop at the Yue Hwa Emporium for silks, cheongsams and souvenirs. Make your way to Mong Kok for the Ladies’ Market and Bird Market. If you still have the energy that evening, go to the Temple Street Night Market.

A one day sightseeing tour of Hong Kong can deliver a good flavor of this bustling Chinese metropolis. Begin with a morning tram ride up to the Peak, where on a clear day you can see Hong Kong ad Kowloon stretching before you. Head back down to Central and get ready to shop Hollywood Road and SoHo as soon as stores open at 11 a.m. Mosey around the Mid-Levels Escalator. Take the Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui, just in time for high tea at The Peninsula Hong Kong. While away the time with a reflexology session at n of the many parlours on Nathan Road until 8 p.m. (for the light and sound show) by wandering along the waterfront promenade and Nathan Road. Wrap it up with dinner at Hutong, located atop a skyscraper that provides amazing views of Hong Kong island and the harbour.

Compared with other major cities, it’s easy to imagine Hong Kong as something of a cultural desert, with its creative soul smothered in dunes of cold, hard cash. But look closer and you’ll see that the theory doesn’t hold up. Recent times have seen a surge in the city’s cultural ambitions, as evidenced by a proliferation of new galleries; the arrival in 2008 of a high-profile international art fair, ART HK; and the opening of Hong Kong’s first local auction house, Atting House, which focuses on Asian contemporary art. Today the city ranks as the world’s third-largest art market after New York and London, thanks to headline-grabbing auction sales fueled by the Chinese contemporary art boom just to the north.
There’s still work to be done. The city suffers from a chronic dearth of venues, particularly for music and theater. Nonetheless, the government is slowly making headway in its plans to build a vast, multi-disciplinary cultural complex in West Kowloon, while a growing number of independent arts outfits are finding innovative ways to make their mark on the local scene. Case in point: the organizers behind October Contemporary, an annual month-long citywide event promoting Hong Kong contemporary art started in 2007. All this means that while Hong Kong culture isn’t exactly in-your-face, there’s a growing scene that’s just waiting to be discovered. Go and see it for yourself.

The climate in Hong Kong is subtropical, which means the weather is oppressively hot and humid between March and September, while October to February is cool. From May to November, Hong Kong experiences heavy rainfall, typically in the form of tropical storms or typhoons (known in the northeast Pacific and North Atlantic oceans as hurricanes)-but not to worry, direct hits are rare.
Tropical cyclones in Hong Kong are graded from one to 10 depending on their distance. A T1 signal is raised if a storm is about 500 miles away, and T8 indicates a full-blown typhoon powerful enough to generate wind speeds of up to 112 miles per hour. During a T8 signal, you are advised to remain indoors (wise advice considering debris, including the famous Hong Kong bamboo scaffolding, is known to whip through the city at such crazy wind levels). From June to September, temperatures soar to more than 30 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit) with humidity levels reaching 86 percent, particularly during August.
The optimal time of year to visit Hong Kong is between October and December-clear blue skies and warm spring-like weather are guaranteed practically every day. January and February are the coldest months of the year, so be sure to bring a scarf and jacket if you decide to come then.

Thanks to Hong Kong’s subtropical climate, you won’t have to bring your winter coat and boots for most of the year. However, if your trip falls between Mid-December and February, temperatures can be as low as 10 degrees Celsius (50 Fahrenheit). Hong Kong’s rainy season is between May and September, so you might wait to pack a light raincoat then. Otherwise, be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes to explore and swimwear for beaches. Hong Kongers dress for business and socializing, and many of the city’s most elegant restaurants require formal attire. With some of the world’s best tailors on hand and boutiques from all of top fashion labels, you can easily find whatever you might need for a business meeting or night on the town. Finally, leave room in your suitcase because you never know what wonderful trinkets you’ll find at one of Hong Kong’s famous markets.

A dynamic, cosmpolitan and compact world city, Hong Kong offers a wealth of things to see and do. Start off your visit by perusing the city’s famous food markets. Then, take a day trip to the southernmost point of the region, or one of the city’s many outlying islands. Don’t forget to visit a Chinese temple or find a vantage point to take in the full effect of Hong Kong’s beautiful skyline. 1. Food is an obsession in Hong Kong and restaurants are everywhere, from the ubiquitous and inexpensive cha chaan teng (teahouses), which clink and clank with the sound of clattering crockery and fill with mouth-watering aromas of steaming bowls of noodles, to high-end culinary hideaways like the exclusive Krug Room at the Mandarin Oriental, a private dining room that demands a bill of no less than HK$20,000 (about $2,600 in U.S. currency). Hong Kong’s street markets deliver an assault of sensory experiences, from the sights and smells of live seafood swimming in plastic bins to the sounds of hawkers bargaining. Fruit, vegetables and fresh soy milk can be found on Gage Street in Central, as well as stores dedicated to ginseng, bird’s nest and other dried goods used in both medicine and cooking, including shark’s fin, deer fetus and seahorses, just to name a few. More markets can be found in Kowloon’s Mong Kok neighborhood. 2. A day trip to Stanley, Hong Kong Island’s southernmost point, rewards you with a beachy landscape (beloved by the expats who live nearby) and the kitschy cheap wares of Stanley Market. Head to Exchange Square in Central and jump on a double-decker bus to reach this pocket of the island-be sure to snag a seat on the top level for stellar coastal views of Repulse Bay. Scour the market for things you never knew you needed (coasters embroidered with dragons, knock-off Nikes, silk purses and lacquer boxes are a few of the items whose prices dip lower and lower with persistent bargaining), and then have a bite to eat at one of the many waterfront restaurants. Check out Stanley Plaza’s Murray House, an attractively restored Victorian-era building, dismantled in 1982 from its original site in Central and rebuilt in Stanley. 3. Be sure to hop on a ferry to explore one of the many outlying islands. Lamma Island is famous for fresh seafood and for being actor Chow Yun-Fat’s birthplace. Cheung Chau has a harbor full of wooden boats fluttering with colorful flags, while the stilted houses in Tai O on Lantau Island make for a great photo opportunity. 4. Your first glimpse of Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour skyline at night is sure to be a breathtaking and unforgettable moment and you’ll want to get it right. Take the Star Ferry across the water or linger on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. There is a light show starting at 8 p.m. daily that highlights the city’s major buildings. Try to time your dinner reservations at Aqua or Hutong, both perched atop a skyscraper in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, to coincide with the display and you’ll have a free show with your meal. The view from The Peak on clear days or nights is fantastic. Take the Victorian-era Peak Tram up the steep hill and a bus down for the full experience. Scurry right past the souvenir shops to secure an outdoor seat at Pearl on the Peak, where you can sip champagne and sample seared wagyu or roasted duck. Don’t forget to bring your camera. 5. Fit in a visit to a Chinese temple. The modest Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road (at Ladder Street) is a petite space overwhelmed by the scent of the burning incense coils hanging from the rafters. It’s dedicated to the Taoist gods of literature (Man) and war (Mo), and provides an intriguing stop along the antiques shopping trail. The impressive Wong Tai Sin Temple in Kowloon commemorates a famous monk who was born around A.D. 328. It is said that any earnest plea to the gods at this temple will be rewarded. (Offering small change may help seal the deal.)

Even if you hate shopping, you’ll find at least one gem to buy in Hong Kong. With spending embedded in the Hong Kong culture and consumerism deep in this manufacturing hub’s roots, this island isn’t known as a shopping mecca for nothing.

You’ll see gaggles of Hong Kong hipsters in Causeway Bay, which resembles Tokyo’s famously youthful Harajuku station. The reason for this is simple: bargain street chic and upscale boutiques among the many malls like Japan-based Uniqlo. There’s Lee Gardens and Lee Gardens Too, which are both packed in along the narrow streets and almost look like office buildings. Inside, you’ll find high-end labels like Valentino and Yohji Yamamoto. Shaghai Tang, Gucci, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Kookai and Zara can be found in the Pacific Place mall. But a stop by The Landmark is a must, especially if you’re into luxury shopping. (Even British department store Harvey Nichols has an outpost here). The 1881 Heritage center is a collection of luxury boutiques housed in the renovated historic Marine Police headquarters. Here you’ll find the flagship store for Shanghai Tang as well as Rolex, Cartier, Dunhill and Tiffany. Nearby Park Lane, locatd on Nathan Road, offers fuss-free shopping with G2000 and Moiselle.

Being sharp will come in handy in terms of avoiding tourist traps, and as any savvy Chinese shopper will tell you, compare prices at three different places before you hand over any cash. Hong Kong markets, though spectacular and culturally rich, require some patience. Venture deeper into Kowloon, stopping at Mong Kok for legendary Ladies’ Market, originally named because its goods were hawked to women only. Nowadays vendors sell goods to both men and women, running the gamut from socks to stuffed animals, and luggage and handbags. Continue exercising your bargaining skills at Yau Ma Tei at the Jade Market, where rows of stalls sell jade in all shades and shapes. You’ll find high quality pieces here, but the impure variety lurk in the shadows, so don’t fork over your cash unless you’ve done your homework. Finally, head to Jordan’s Temple Street Night Market, which is perfect for after-dusk shopping and a taste of night market life (eat from the many stalls at your own risk).

Many of Hong Kong’s top designers are both Hong Kong- and foreign-educated, and they use their varied backgrounds to create a unique mix of items from that you won’t find stateside so be sure to check out some of their original threads.

Cecilia Yau’s shop Cecilia Yau Couture in draws attention for her indulgently girly dresses, which showcase stunning drapery and generous use of fabric. When it comes to over-the-top fashion, no one can beat Henry Lau of Spy Henry Lau. Lau has worked as an image designer for late, great legendary Hong Kong performers Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui.

Hong Kong Polytechnic University alumna Ruby Li has also participated in celebrities’ concerts, designing costumes for superstars like Sammi Cheng and Kelly Chan. She seamlessly incorporates old-school ’60s and ’70s glamour into her trendy lines, which sometimes carry a hint of Victorian glamour (think Anna Sui). Her small boutique Ruby Li Shop is unimpressive at first glance, but the pieces displayed inside are knockouts with creative cuts and carefree silhouettes.

Ranee Kok’s atelier Ranee_K is hard to miss with its purple front and gold 3-D “K” sign. The store almost feels like a costume shop with all sorts of colorful tops, flowing dresses and Chinese qipao-inspired frocks-there are even Kentucky Derby-worthy hats. Kok’s designs are girly without sacrificing sophistication, and the Parsons School of Design graduate can even tailor or custom-make styles.

Another Polytechnic graduate, Carrie Chau, has established a niche with her whimsical cartoon characters in the flagship lifestyle store Homeless, which she started with friends when rents in Soho dropped during the SARS epidemic. The shop has since moved to Central, where you can find Chau’s goods all over the store on bags, accessories and T-shirts; dig around to uncover furniture and other quirky finds for your home, like a runaway alarm clock.

With so many designers to choose from, it’s hard to leave town without taking home a small sampling of local talent.

There is plenty of wonderment to be found in Hong Kong-something that you and your kids can appreciate equally. From Ocean Park theme park and Hong Kong Disneyland to Ngong Ping 360 and the Peak Tram, you’ll reach new and thrilling heights. The Tsiam Sha Tsui water show can’t be missed, either. 1. Opened in 1977, Ocean Park, a giant homegrown theme park, has survived the competition from Hong Kong Disneyland since the latter’ss arrival in 2005. (And quite contrary to the doomsday predictions then, Ocean Park visitor numbers have been climbing in recent years, while Disney’s have been dropping.) Kids will love the park, which features rides (thrilling ones like the Mine Train roller coaster, and gentler ones for tots at the Kids World area), exhibits (including giant pandas An An and Jia Jia, and rare Chinese sturgeons), and a cable car system that links the Lowland and Headland sections of the park, which offers amazing views of the South China Sea. 2. Hong Kong Disneyland is still the famous Asian outpost of the happiest place on earth, and has all the familiar attractions (It’s A Small World, Mad Hatter Tea Cups, Space Mountain), plus a chance to meet Mickey and friends. 3. Ngong Ping 360 knocks your average theme park zip line ride out of the water. The 5.7km cable car journey allows you to see Hong Kong International Airport, South China Sea and the Tian Tan Buddha Statue from a whole new vantage point. Both you and your kids will let out plenty of “oohs” and “aahs” as you glide above the rolling grassy slopes of North Lantau Country Park. Most of all, the 25-minute ride provides a positively serene escape from the bustling city. 4. Hop aboard the Victorian-era Peak Tram for the scenic ride to the top of Victoria Peak. One of Hong Kong’s main tourist attractions, Peak Tram inspires long lines daily. The tram starts on Garden Road and climbs over 1,200 feet to the Peak. In some parts, it’s so steep, you’ll feel yourself tipped back almost flat on your back. (Pray for a seat.) The best views are on the right-hand side near the front. 5. Line up on the waterfront at Tsim Sha Tsui with the many locals who come to watch this 15-minute long light and music show, which begins each night at 8 p.m. The free spectacle is easy and fun for the whole family.

We don’t blame you for wanting to save your money to spend on hard-fought bargains in Hong Kong’s famous markets. It’s a good thing, then, that many of the best things to see or do in Hong Kong can be experienced without spending money. Here are five of the best: 1. Line up on the waterfront at Tsim Sha Tsui with the many locals who come to watch the 15 minute-long light and music show called “Symphony of Lights”, which begins each night at 8 p.m. The laser show spotlights the many skyscrapers clustered together on Central accompanied by a recorded soundtrack of contemporary music. 2. Even though Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world, there are still pockets of protected green space where you can head out for a hike. A great one begins on top of Victoria Peak and will take you (steeply) downhill through lush, tropical trees and vines. For an even more scenic trail, head to Tai Tam Country Park to hike the Dragon’s Back trail, which winds up a ridge that offers views of Stanley and the South China Sea. The trail ends at Shek O, a charming seaside village with plenty of alfresco restaurants. 3. Don’t stop at Victoria Peak, though. More stellar views of Kowloon await you at the Bank of China’s 43rd-floor observation deck and the 55th floor of the International Finance Centre, or the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. 4. Even if you don’t buy anything, a walk through any of Hong Kong’s many markets is a fascinating exposure to sights, sounds and smells that are unique to this international city. Removed from the bustle of Hong Kong shopping in the southern part of the Island, Stanley Market is an outdoor one-stop shop for souvenir-seekers. You’ll find stereotypical Chinese-inspired print bags and wallets, among Chinese calligraphy and paintings, in these stalls just blocks from the water. Some stalls can be skipped, but be persistent and you’ll find antiques (or at least well-done replicas) and potentially good deals on Chinese embroidery and prints of various eras of Hong Kong history suitable for framing but easy to roll up and carry away. Another market worth your while is Ladies Market, which was originally named because goods were hawked to women only. Today’s vendors sell goods to both men and women. You’ll find T-shirts, shoes, stuffed animals, jackets, jeans and even undergarments at this Kowloon market. 5. Every Wednesday, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin, which has collections spanning everything from Chinese painting and calligraphy to Hong Kong’s contemporary art, offers free admission. Hong Kong’s Museum of Art features traveling international exhibits that supplement the museum’s permanent collection of Chinese fine arts and antiquities. Visit on a Wednesday and you’ll receive free entry. For even more free culture and art visit any of the following museums which also waive admission on Wednesdays: Hong Kong’s Museum of History, Museum of Coastal Defense, Science Museum and Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum.

When Americans think of brunch, they think of hearty egg dishes and towering stacks of pancackes. But in Hong Kong, the brunch menu is devoted to dim sum (which translates to “heart’s delight”), or steamed or fried dumplings filled with vegetables, chopped seasoned meat, seafood and just about any combination of ingredients that will fill the tiny pouches. Families of several generations gather on weekends to dine on dim sum and slurp tea, filling up on many kinds of dumplings usually selected from steaming carts presented tableside. Here are five of the best restaurants to experience Hong Kong’s version of brunch: 1. Harbourside Grill at Intercontinental Hong Kong has all you’d want in a brunch buffet: an amazing view with very tall ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, good service and excellent quality western and Chinese brunch cuisine. Their displays are elaborate to say the least-with both western and asian dishes, a roast carving station, and homemade desserts. 2. At Grissini in the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, you’ll feel as though you were transported to Italy when you see the rustic décor, Italian menu and the length of the wine list. The restaurant is anchored by a huge oven, which is used to make fresh breadsticks, and a wine gallery with over 1000 bottles. Floor-to-ceiling windows make Victoria Harbour look stunning. It’s the perfect backdrop for an Italian-style brunch in Hong Kong. 3. Hong Kong teems with restaurants serving traditional dim sum, but the best be found at Fu Sing Shark Fin Seafood Restaurant in Wan Chai. High quality seafood reigns supreme at this unassuming joint. Order one of Fu Sing’s signature dishes like toast with shrimp and mango or shark fin with crab egg white, and you might never want to eat American-style brunch again. 4. For more upscale but no-less delicious dim sum, book a table at Lung King Heen in the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. Executive Chef Chan Yan Tak is considered a master of contemporary Cantonese cuisine. Start off your day with dishes like steamed lobster and scallop dumplings or baked whole abalone puffs with diced chicken. 5. Refined Cantonese specialties and a handful of regional Chinese favorites are expertly executed at Summer Palace at the Five-Star Island Shangri-La. Famous for its dim sum lunches, Summer Palace also features signature plates that include Shanghainese shredded chicken, flat bean noodles and cucumber and chicken wing stuffed with crab and shark’s fin. Our favorite, though, is the steamed egg white with lobster and crab roe. The fresh, high-quality ingredients just melt in your mouth. The afternoon tea menu feature a wide selection of authentic Chinese teas, which your server will suggest according to your current state of health and even your mood.

For such a compact city, Hong Kong teems with places to stay. With five Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotels and five Four-Star hotels, there’s no shortage of outstanding hotels. When the gleaming, high-rise Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong opened in 2005 on a waterfront stretch of land in Central, it raised the bar for luxury in Hong Kong. Rooms are comfortable subtly elegant, dressed in soothing neutral tones and loaded with high-tech amenities from plasma TVs to DVD players. The hotel includes an outdoor infinity-edge pool with an enviable vista of Victoria Harbour; suites are fit for a king (including the Aqua spa suite, which is equipped with a vitality pool and a private bar). Service is professional and efficient, meaning whatever you need, the staff will provide it before you even think to ask. The hotel’s restaurants draw locals who come to dine on upscale French cuisine at the glam Caprice (which has pioneered a previously untapped passion for cheese among Hong Kongers with its cheese room and tastings) and the Cantonese restaurant, Lung King Heen (meaning “view of the dragon). It’s one of the city’s (and the world’s) most acclaimed, and is remarkable for its selection of wines, as well as it’s ever-popular dim sum lunch menus. You know you’re somewhere special when pillbox-hatted page boys politely whisk open double-front doors to reveal an airy lobby with soaring ceilings. And so it is at The Peninsula Hong Kong, the city’s oldest hotel (which opened in 1928). Affectionately called “the Pen” by locals, the place drips with colonial decadence, from the palm-filled lobby where guests nibble on petit fours at tea time to the string quartet in the gallery. Perhaps the ultimate sign of the hotel’s classic pedigree is Gaddi’s, a local legend of a French restaurant, and the Verandah (which is as gorgeous and otherworldly as it sounds). Still, the Peninsula manages to balance its Old World inclinations with modern touches, like the Phillipe Starck-designed restaurant, Felix, which serves contemporary cuisine in a super-slick skyline setting. This blend of Asian and European styles carries through the place, from high-tech (wireless Internet and flat-screen TVs come standard in all rooms) and antiques-bedecked rooms to an impressive spa to the immaculate service, which quietly whispers that, yes,-you have indeed arrived.
In a city where business comes a close second to shopping, the centrally located Landmark Mandarin Oriental was destined to do well. Bling-worthy designer-label stores form a protective semicircle around this sharp boutique hotel centered in the heart of the business district, and their staffs-given adequate warning-will proceed to your room bearing the latest wares for the ultimate personal-shopping experience. Then again, you might simply want to close the door, switch on the “Do Not Disturb” button and experience the ultra-sensual 400-thread-count linens, glass-walled bathrooms (in some rooms) and multi-channeled entertainment system. Need to blow off some steam? Head for the 25,000-square-foot duplex spa, or the indoor pool (the two are fitting replacements for lack of a harbour view). Then head to the restaurant, Amber, or the bar, MO-both overflow with eye candy, whether you define that as cutting-edge design or pretty people.

Since most Hong Kongers consider clocking out of the office before 9 p.m. an early night and bars can stay open until dawn, it’s no wonder that Hong Kong’s nightlife carries a high-caliber reputation. Options run from divey British pubs and candlelit wine bars to trendy lounges and members-only clubs. Central still lays claim to the hottest clubs in Hong Kong, but other areas are joining the scene. Kowloon has become a popular after-hours location thanks to an influx of new and revamped hotels like the W Hotel, The Mira and The Peninsula. Likewise, Wan Chai, once famous for its red-light entertainment venues, has experienced a revival recently, drawing new pubs, wine bars and lounges to the neighborhood, along with a more mainstream crowd. Like in many cities around the globe, smoking was banned in all public places in Hong Kong in 2009, but there is yet to be a rule about being a set distance from building entrances, so it is quite common to see clusters of puffers huddled around bar doorways.

You won’t be hard-pressed to find larger-than-life romance in Hong Kong’s finest restaurants, thanks mostly to the incredible views so many deliver from their perches atop the city’s skyscrapers. From Caprice at the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong to Petrus at Island Shangri-La, you’ll have superb vistas to go with your meal. Here are five of the best romantic restaurants in Hong Kong:

1. Caprice. A gorgeous venue with a massive open kitchen — rare for a French restaurant this size and scale— Caprice at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong is an attractive space with enviable views of the harbor. The alluring room glows with its over-sized crystal chandeliers and uplit walkway leading from the entrance through to the kitchen; the ruby-red velvet banquettes and accents recall a mix of circa-1930 French and Shanghai style.

2. Restaurant Petrus. The local benchmark for fine French cuisine for years, Restaurant Petrus at Island Shangri-La has made small changes to modernize the atmosphere at this beautiful, chandelier-lit-56th floor dining room, which has incredible views of the city. And while the polished staff now serves premium wines by the glass, the jacket-and-tie rule for men is more relaxed now — a jacket is still required for dinner. After all, the dress code should match the sophistication of the décor and service style of the staff, a rare treat in the casual new millennium.

3. Gaddi’s. Located inside The Peninsula Hong Kong, this spot is a long-standing legend whose influence extends beyond Hong Kong’s borders. In the Old World European classical space, traditional French cuisine is served by jacketed waiters and tables are set with antique silverware and Bernadraud china. Try the tasting menu or the chef’s table, which is delivered in the kitchen where you can take in the action behind the scenes.

4. Amber. Bathed in gold, Amber inside Landmark Mandarin Oriental is a top spot for creative haute cuisine. Dutch executive chef Richard Ekkebus churns out playful experiments verging on molecular gastronomy, which he changes on a regular basis. Lunchtime sets, which change weekly, of either two or three seasonal courses are popular with busy executives. It’s a shame to rush the likes of lamb duo confit and glazed white coco beans, so take your time and order one of the light desserts as well — you can’t go wrong with the Pavlova strawberry and mascarpone. Then again, you might want to check out the early bird breakfast, which begins at 6:30 a.m., rather unusual for a fine-dining restaurant.

5. Pearl on the Peak. Another Hong Kong celebrity-chef-led restaurant, Pearl on the Peak features the creations of Geoff Lindsay, one of Australia’s most reputed toques. The menu draws on a few signatures from his Melbourne restaurant Pearl, such as succulent flash-fried oyster meat appetizer with shiitake, chives, ginger and soy. Top it all off with a peak-top view over Hong Kong Island (seen through floor-to-ceiling glass windows), and you’ll have a meal to remember.

A weekend’s worth of time will give you enough time to explore much of Hong Kong Island and its many attractions. On day one, check out Statue Square. Head to the 43rd floor of the Bank of China Tower, then walk over to the Central Ferry Pier and catch a boat to either Lamma or Cheung Chai. Have a seafood lunch and explore either island. Head back to your hotel and freshen up before heading out to Lan Kwai Fong and Soho for dinner, drinks and dancing.
On day two, take the bus from Central to Stanley for memorable DIY sight-seeing. Check out Stanley Market and have lunch along the waterfront. Take the MTR to the Jordan stop in Kowloon and shop at the Yue Hwa Emporium for silks, cheongsams and souvenirs. Make your way to Mong Kok for the Ladies’ Market and Bird Market. If you still have the energy that evening, go to the Temple Street Night Market.

A one day sightseeing tour of Hong Kong can deliver a good flavor of this bustling Chinese metropolis. Begin with a morning tram ride up to the Peak, where on a clear day you can see Hong Kong ad Kowloon stretching before you. Head back down to Central and get ready to shop Hollywood Road and SoHo as soon as stores open at 11 a.m. Mosey around the Mid-Levels Escalator. Take the Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui, just in time for high tea at The Peninsula Hong Kong. While away the time with a reflexology session at n of the many parlours on Nathan Road until 8 p.m. (for the light and sound show) by wandering along the waterfront promenade and Nathan Road. Wrap it up with dinner at Hutong, located atop a skyscraper that provides amazing views of Hong Kong island and the harbour.

Thanks to Hong Kong’s subtropical climate, you won’t have to bring your winter coat and boots for most of the year. However, if your trip falls between Mid-December and February, temperatures can be as low as 10 degrees Celsius (50 Fahrenheit). Hong Kong’s rainy season is between May and September, so you might wait to pack a light raincoat then. Otherwise, be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes to explore and swimwear for beaches. Hong Kongers dress for business and socializing, and many of the city’s most elegant restaurants require formal attire. With some of the world’s best tailors on hand and boutiques from all of top fashion labels, you can easily find whatever you might need for a business meeting or night on the town. Finally, leave room in your suitcase because you never know what wonderful trinkets you’ll find at one of Hong Kong’s famous markets.

With its ultra-convenient waterfront location-right by the Star Ferry Pier-and low ticket prices, you’d think the Hong Kong Museum of Art - the city’s largest art museum, established in 1962 - would have no difficulty attracting visitors. Yet since settling into its premises in 1991, this government-run institution has struggled to capture the city’s imagination. Thankfully, things are on the up, with inspired initiatives like the Hong Kong Art Series filling its contemporary art exhibition hall with popular, critically acclaimed shows like Digit@logue, overseen by local new-media artist Ellen Pau, and New Ink Art, organized by guest curator Alice King. Traveling international exhibits supplement the museum’s permanent collection of Chinese fine arts and antiquities, and become just another reason to check out this gem of a museum.
At the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, you can either explore new territories via time tunnels spanning 6,000 years or see decorative Chinese art from the donations of The Tsui Art Foundation in the T.T. Tsui Gallery of Chinese Art. It houses six permanent galleries such as these, as well as rotating programs for kids and adults like an introductory workshop on Cantonese opera headwear.
Adjacent to the Hong Kong Museum of History, Hong Kong Museum of Science features about 500 exhibits, and 70 percent of them are interactive. The biggest permanent exhibit is undoubtedly the Energy Machine, which occupies all four stories of the museum and is the only machine of its kind in the world. Balls zip along wavy or zig-zag tracks powered by computer controlled gates, demonstrating the relationship between energy conversion and movement. Along the way, they strike gongs and chimes, and create a chorus when they hit drums and xylophones.

Compared with other major cities, it’s easy to imagine Hong Kong as something of a cultural desert, with its creative soul smothered in dunes of cold, hard cash. But look closer and you’ll see that the theory doesn’t hold up. Recent times have seen a surge in the city’s cultural ambitions, as evidenced by a proliferation of new galleries; the arrival in 2008 of a high-profile international art fair, ART HK; and the opening of Hong Kong’s first local auction house, Atting House, which focuses on Asian contemporary art. Today the city ranks as the world’s third-largest art market after New York and London, thanks to headline-grabbing auction sales fueled by the Chinese contemporary art boom just to the north.
There’s still work to be done. The city suffers from a chronic dearth of venues, particularly for music and theater. Nonetheless, the government is slowly making headway in its plans to build a vast, multi-disciplinary cultural complex in West Kowloon, while a growing number of independent arts outfits are finding innovative ways to make their mark on the local scene. Case in point: the organizers behind October Contemporary, an annual month-long citywide event promoting Hong Kong contemporary art started in 2007. All this means that while Hong Kong culture isn’t exactly in-your-face, there’s a growing scene that’s just waiting to be discovered. Go and see it for yourself.

Rightly known internationally as a destination that wants for nothing in the dining stakes, Hong Kong brims with thousands of great restaurants, which makes choosing one in which to dine a difficult task. Cantonese restaurants are prolific, ranging from small brightly lit cafes and noodle shops, to opulent freestanding and hotel dining rooms. Regional Chinese food (think spicy Szechuan) is also well represented, as it Southeast and South Asian food. You’ll find plenty of authentic dishes at the scores of tasty Thai, Indonesian and Indian restaurants that pepper the city.
In the past decade, more and more Western restaurants have spring up outside the confines of hotels. The SoHo district in Central is where you’ll find the highest density of ever-changing upscale restaurants, from steakhouses to Italian trattorias with the biggest new trend fusion tapas, with hotels in the Central area offering some of the finest Western fare in town; they are home to the majority of the celebrity chef-led kitchens that have mushroomed in the past six or so years.
Shopping malls usually harbor a wide spectrum of restaurants, from reasonably priced food courts to mid-range and fine-dining eateries. As with the rest of Asia, the coffee culture has boomed in Hong Kong, and these days finding a decent café, sandwich or pastry is easy. You’ll see Starbucks everywhere you go, and thankfully, plenty of local, independent cafes. Although the traditional street-food stalls are disappearing for government policy reasons, you’ll have more than enough options to get a taste of Hong Kong’s homegrown culinary scene.

Even if you hate shopping, you’ll find at least one gem to buy in Hong Kong. With spending embedded in the Hong Kong culture and consumerism deep in this manufacturing hub’s roots, this island isn’t known as a shopping mecca for nothing.

You’ll see gaggles of Hong Kong hipsters in Causeway Bay, which resembles Tokyo’s famously youthful Harajuku station. The reason for this is simple: bargain street chic and upscale boutiques among the many malls like Japan-based Uniqlo. There’s Lee Gardens and Lee Gardens Too, which are both packed in along the narrow streets and almost look like office buildings. Inside, you’ll find high-end labels like Valentino and Yohji Yamamoto. Shaghai Tang, Gucci, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Kookai and Zara can be found in the Pacific Place mall. But a stop by The Landmark is a must, especially if you’re into luxury shopping. (Even British department store Harvey Nichols has an outpost here). The 1881 Heritage center is a collection of luxury boutiques housed in the renovated historic Marine Police headquarters. Here you’ll find the flagship store for Shanghai Tang as well as Rolex, Cartier, Dunhill and Tiffany. Nearby Park Lane, locatd on Nathan Road, offers fuss-free shopping with G2000 and Moiselle.

Being sharp will come in handy in terms of avoiding tourist traps, and as any savvy Chinese shopper will tell you, compare prices at three different places before you hand over any cash. Hong Kong markets, though spectacular and culturally rich, require some patience. Venture deeper into Kowloon, stopping at Mong Kok for legendary Ladies’ Market, originally named because its goods were hawked to women only. Nowadays vendors sell goods to both men and women, running the gamut from socks to stuffed animals, and luggage and handbags. Continue exercising your bargaining skills at Yau Ma Tei at the Jade Market, where rows of stalls sell jade in all shades and shapes. You’ll find high quality pieces here, but the impure variety lurk in the shadows, so don’t fork over your cash unless you’ve done your homework. Finally, head to Jordan’s Temple Street Night Market, which is perfect for after-dusk shopping and a taste of night market life (eat from the many stalls at your own risk).

Many of Hong Kong’s top designers are both Hong Kong- and foreign-educated, and they use their varied backgrounds to create a unique mix of items from that you won’t find stateside so be sure to check out some of their original threads.

Cecilia Yau’s shop Cecilia Yau Couture in draws attention for her indulgently girly dresses, which showcase stunning drapery and generous use of fabric. When it comes to over-the-top fashion, no one can beat Henry Lau of Spy Henry Lau. Lau has worked as an image designer for late, great legendary Hong Kong performers Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui.

Hong Kong Polytechnic University alumna Ruby Li has also participated in celebrities’ concerts, designing costumes for superstars like Sammi Cheng and Kelly Chan. She seamlessly incorporates old-school ’60s and ’70s glamour into her trendy lines, which sometimes carry a hint of Victorian glamour (think Anna Sui). Her small boutique Ruby Li Shop is unimpressive at first glance, but the pieces displayed inside are knockouts with creative cuts and carefree silhouettes.

Ranee Kok’s atelier Ranee_K is hard to miss with its purple front and gold 3-D “K” sign. The store almost feels like a costume shop with all sorts of colorful tops, flowing dresses and Chinese qipao-inspired frocks-there are even Kentucky Derby-worthy hats. Kok’s designs are girly without sacrificing sophistication, and the Parsons School of Design graduate can even tailor or custom-make styles.

Another Polytechnic graduate, Carrie Chau, has established a niche with her whimsical cartoon characters in the flagship lifestyle store Homeless, which she started with friends when rents in Soho dropped during the SARS epidemic. The shop has since moved to Central, where you can find Chau’s goods all over the store on bags, accessories and T-shirts; dig around to uncover furniture and other quirky finds for your home, like a runaway alarm clock.

With so many designers to choose from, it’s hard to leave town without taking home a small sampling of local talent.

We don’t blame you for wanting to save your money to spend on hard-fought bargains in Hong Kong’s famous markets. It’s a good thing, then, that many of the best things to see or do in Hong Kong can be experienced without spending money. Here are five of the best: 1. Line up on the waterfront at Tsim Sha Tsui with the many locals who come to watch the 15 minute-long light and music show called “Symphony of Lights”, which begins each night at 8 p.m. The laser show spotlights the many skyscrapers clustered together on Central accompanied by a recorded soundtrack of contemporary music. 2. Even though Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world, there are still pockets of protected green space where you can head out for a hike. A great one begins on top of Victoria Peak and will take you (steeply) downhill through lush, tropical trees and vines. For an even more scenic trail, head to Tai Tam Country Park to hike the Dragon’s Back trail, which winds up a ridge that offers views of Stanley and the South China Sea. The trail ends at Shek O, a charming seaside village with plenty of alfresco restaurants. 3. Don’t stop at Victoria Peak, though. More stellar views of Kowloon await you at the Bank of China’s 43rd-floor observation deck and the 55th floor of the International Finance Centre, or the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. 4. Even if you don’t buy anything, a walk through any of Hong Kong’s many markets is a fascinating exposure to sights, sounds and smells that are unique to this international city. Removed from the bustle of Hong Kong shopping in the southern part of the Island, Stanley Market is an outdoor one-stop shop for souvenir-seekers. You’ll find stereotypical Chinese-inspired print bags and wallets, among Chinese calligraphy and paintings, in these stalls just blocks from the water. Some stalls can be skipped, but be persistent and you’ll find antiques (or at least well-done replicas) and potentially good deals on Chinese embroidery and prints of various eras of Hong Kong history suitable for framing but easy to roll up and carry away. Another market worth your while is Ladies Market, which was originally named because goods were hawked to women only. Today’s vendors sell goods to both men and women. You’ll find T-shirts, shoes, stuffed animals, jackets, jeans and even undergarments at this Kowloon market. 5. Every Wednesday, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin, which has collections spanning everything from Chinese painting and calligraphy to Hong Kong’s contemporary art, offers free admission. Hong Kong’s Museum of Art features traveling international exhibits that supplement the museum’s permanent collection of Chinese fine arts and antiquities. Visit on a Wednesday and you’ll receive free entry. For even more free culture and art visit any of the following museums which also waive admission on Wednesdays: Hong Kong’s Museum of History, Museum of Coastal Defense, Science Museum and Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum.

There is plenty of wonderment to be found in Hong Kong-something that you and your kids can appreciate equally. From Ocean Park theme park and Hong Kong Disneyland to Ngong Ping 360 and the Peak Tram, you’ll reach new and thrilling heights. The Tsiam Sha Tsui water show can’t be missed, either. 1. Opened in 1977, Ocean Park, a giant homegrown theme park, has survived the competition from Hong Kong Disneyland since the latter’ss arrival in 2005. (And quite contrary to the doomsday predictions then, Ocean Park visitor numbers have been climbing in recent years, while Disney’s have been dropping.) Kids will love the park, which features rides (thrilling ones like the Mine Train roller coaster, and gentler ones for tots at the Kids World area), exhibits (including giant pandas An An and Jia Jia, and rare Chinese sturgeons), and a cable car system that links the Lowland and Headland sections of the park, which offers amazing views of the South China Sea. 2. Hong Kong Disneyland is still the famous Asian outpost of the happiest place on earth, and has all the familiar attractions (It’s A Small World, Mad Hatter Tea Cups, Space Mountain), plus a chance to meet Mickey and friends. 3. Ngong Ping 360 knocks your average theme park zip line ride out of the water. The 5.7km cable car journey allows you to see Hong Kong International Airport, South China Sea and the Tian Tan Buddha Statue from a whole new vantage point. Both you and your kids will let out plenty of “oohs” and “aahs” as you glide above the rolling grassy slopes of North Lantau Country Park. Most of all, the 25-minute ride provides a positively serene escape from the bustling city. 4. Hop aboard the Victorian-era Peak Tram for the scenic ride to the top of Victoria Peak. One of Hong Kong’s main tourist attractions, Peak Tram inspires long lines daily. The tram starts on Garden Road and climbs over 1,200 feet to the Peak. In some parts, it’s so steep, you’ll feel yourself tipped back almost flat on your back. (Pray for a seat.) The best views are on the right-hand side near the front. 5. Line up on the waterfront at Tsim Sha Tsui with the many locals who come to watch this 15-minute long light and music show, which begins each night at 8 p.m. The free spectacle is easy and fun for the whole family.

A dynamic, cosmpolitan and compact world city, Hong Kong offers a wealth of things to see and do. Start off your visit by perusing the city’s famous food markets. Then, take a day trip to the southernmost point of the region, or one of the city’s many outlying islands. Don’t forget to visit a Chinese temple or find a vantage point to take in the full effect of Hong Kong’s beautiful skyline. 1. Food is an obsession in Hong Kong and restaurants are everywhere, from the ubiquitous and inexpensive cha chaan teng (teahouses), which clink and clank with the sound of clattering crockery and fill with mouth-watering aromas of steaming bowls of noodles, to high-end culinary hideaways like the exclusive Krug Room at the Mandarin Oriental, a private dining room that demands a bill of no less than HK$20,000 (about $2,600 in U.S. currency). Hong Kong’s street markets deliver an assault of sensory experiences, from the sights and smells of live seafood swimming in plastic bins to the sounds of hawkers bargaining. Fruit, vegetables and fresh soy milk can be found on Gage Street in Central, as well as stores dedicated to ginseng, bird’s nest and other dried goods used in both medicine and cooking, including shark’s fin, deer fetus and seahorses, just to name a few. More markets can be found in Kowloon’s Mong Kok neighborhood. 2. A day trip to Stanley, Hong Kong Island’s southernmost point, rewards you with a beachy landscape (beloved by the expats who live nearby) and the kitschy cheap wares of Stanley Market. Head to Exchange Square in Central and jump on a double-decker bus to reach this pocket of the island-be sure to snag a seat on the top level for stellar coastal views of Repulse Bay. Scour the market for things you never knew you needed (coasters embroidered with dragons, knock-off Nikes, silk purses and lacquer boxes are a few of the items whose prices dip lower and lower with persistent bargaining), and then have a bite to eat at one of the many waterfront restaurants. Check out Stanley Plaza’s Murray House, an attractively restored Victorian-era building, dismantled in 1982 from its original site in Central and rebuilt in Stanley. 3. Be sure to hop on a ferry to explore one of the many outlying islands. Lamma Island is famous for fresh seafood and for being actor Chow Yun-Fat’s birthplace. Cheung Chau has a harbor full of wooden boats fluttering with colorful flags, while the stilted houses in Tai O on Lantau Island make for a great photo opportunity. 4. Your first glimpse of Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour skyline at night is sure to be a breathtaking and unforgettable moment and you’ll want to get it right. Take the Star Ferry across the water or linger on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. There is a light show starting at 8 p.m. daily that highlights the city’s major buildings. Try to time your dinner reservations at Aqua or Hutong, both perched atop a skyscraper in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, to coincide with the display and you’ll have a free show with your meal. The view from The Peak on clear days or nights is fantastic. Take the Victorian-era Peak Tram up the steep hill and a bus down for the full experience. Scurry right past the souvenir shops to secure an outdoor seat at Pearl on the Peak, where you can sip champagne and sample seared wagyu or roasted duck. Don’t forget to bring your camera. 5. Fit in a visit to a Chinese temple. The modest Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road (at Ladder Street) is a petite space overwhelmed by the scent of the burning incense coils hanging from the rafters. It’s dedicated to the Taoist gods of literature (Man) and war (Mo), and provides an intriguing stop along the antiques shopping trail. The impressive Wong Tai Sin Temple in Kowloon commemorates a famous monk who was born around A.D. 328. It is said that any earnest plea to the gods at this temple will be rewarded. (Offering small change may help seal the deal.)

Leave the jacket and tie at home, and take to the city’s neighborhoods for Hong Kong’s best food experiences. At these restaurants, ambience or service takes a back seat to delicious, authentic food made from the freshest ingredients using age-old recipes. Here are a five of the best: 1. At Yung Kee in Central, diners jam into the noisy space to dig into traditional Chinese cuisine. Romantic this busy dining room is not, but the roast goose is the best in the city, and Cantonese specialities like braised supreme bird’s nest and sautéed frog’s leg with bamboo shots will give you a taste of authentic Hong Kong cuisine. 2. The most popular place for dim sum for tourists and locals alike is Maxim’s City Hall. Perhaps this is because Maxim’s is one of the few restaurants in Hong Kong that still uses a trolley to carry dim sum to each table. Sample classic dishes such as steamed chicken and mushroom buns while sipping chrysanthemum tea, then finish a meal with a traditional moon cake. 3. When we say that all of the seafood is fresh at Chuen Kee Seafood Restaurant in Sai Kung, we really mean it. Upon entering the popular restaurant, you select your soon-to-be meal from a large aquarium tank and tell the chef how you would like it prepared. Sea urchin, boiled shrimp, Australian lobster, scallops and abalone are some of the seafood that can be stir-fried with garlic, steamed, boiled or prepared any way you like. 4. Under The Bridge Spicy Crab serves the freshest and most famous crab dish in Hong Kong, and perhaps in all of Asia. In Hong Kong’s early days, the restaurant’s neighborhood of Causeway Bay was where diners came for fresh seafood caught in the harbour and cooked to order the same day. The traditional dish of typhoon shelter crab, made with crab meat, garlic, scallion, red chili and black beans, originated in this area, and today is made to perfection at the curiously named Under the Bridge Spicy Crab. 5. Tsui Wah Cha Chaan Teng is a great place for every day dining. In fact, “Cha Chaan Teng” means local diner in Cantonese. Make an inexspensive lunch on a meal of fish ball noodles and milk tea at this authentic Central lunch spot.

Rightly known internationally as a destination that wants for nothing in the dining stakes, Hong Kong brims with thousands of great restaurants, which makes choosing one in which to dine a difficult task. Cantonese restaurants are prolific, ranging from small brightly lit cafes and noodle shops, to opulent freestanding and hotel dining rooms. Regional Chinese food (think spicy Szechuan) is also well represented, as it Southeast and South Asian food. You’ll find plenty of authentic dishes at the scores of tasty Thai, Indonesian and Indian restaurants that pepper the city.
In the past decade, more and more Western restaurants have spring up outside the confines of hotels. The SoHo district in Central is where you’ll find the highest density of ever-changing upscale restaurants, from steakhouses to Italian trattorias with the biggest new trend fusion tapas, with hotels in the Central area offering some of the finest Western fare in town; they are home to the majority of the celebrity chef-led kitchens that have mushroomed in the past six or so years.
Shopping malls usually harbor a wide spectrum of restaurants, from reasonably priced food courts to mid-range and fine-dining eateries. As with the rest of Asia, the coffee culture has boomed in Hong Kong, and these days finding a decent café, sandwich or pastry is easy. You’ll see Starbucks everywhere you go, and thankfully, plenty of local, independent cafes. Although the traditional street-food stalls are disappearing for government policy reasons, you’ll have more than enough options to get a taste of Hong Kong’s homegrown culinary scene.

When Americans think of brunch, they think of hearty egg dishes and towering stacks of pancackes. But in Hong Kong, the brunch menu is devoted to dim sum (which translates to “heart’s delight”), or steamed or fried dumplings filled with vegetables, chopped seasoned meat, seafood and just about any combination of ingredients that will fill the tiny pouches. Families of several generations gather on weekends to dine on dim sum and slurp tea, filling up on many kinds of dumplings usually selected from steaming carts presented tableside. Here are five of the best restaurants to experience Hong Kong’s version of brunch: 1. Harbourside Grill at Intercontinental Hong Kong has all you’d want in a brunch buffet: an amazing view with very tall ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, good service and excellent quality western and Chinese brunch cuisine. Their displays are elaborate to say the least-with both western and asian dishes, a roast carving station, and homemade desserts. 2. At Grissini in the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, you’ll feel as though you were transported to Italy when you see the rustic décor, Italian menu and the length of the wine list. The restaurant is anchored by a huge oven, which is used to make fresh breadsticks, and a wine gallery with over 1000 bottles. Floor-to-ceiling windows make Victoria Harbour look stunning. It’s the perfect backdrop for an Italian-style brunch in Hong Kong. 3. Hong Kong teems with restaurants serving traditional dim sum, but the best be found at Fu Sing Shark Fin Seafood Restaurant in Wan Chai. High quality seafood reigns supreme at this unassuming joint. Order one of Fu Sing’s signature dishes like toast with shrimp and mango or shark fin with crab egg white, and you might never want to eat American-style brunch again. 4. For more upscale but no-less delicious dim sum, book a table at Lung King Heen in the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. Executive Chef Chan Yan Tak is considered a master of contemporary Cantonese cuisine. Start off your day with dishes like steamed lobster and scallop dumplings or baked whole abalone puffs with diced chicken. 5. Refined Cantonese specialties and a handful of regional Chinese favorites are expertly executed at Summer Palace at the Five-Star Island Shangri-La. Famous for its dim sum lunches, Summer Palace also features signature plates that include Shanghainese shredded chicken, flat bean noodles and cucumber and chicken wing stuffed with crab and shark’s fin. Our favorite, though, is the steamed egg white with lobster and crab roe. The fresh, high-quality ingredients just melt in your mouth. The afternoon tea menu feature a wide selection of authentic Chinese teas, which your server will suggest according to your current state of health and even your mood.

You won’t be hard-pressed to find larger-than-life romance in Hong Kong’s finest restaurants, thanks mostly to the incredible views so many deliver from their perches atop the city’s skyscrapers. From Caprice at the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong to Petrus at Island Shangri-La, you’ll have superb vistas to go with your meal. Here are five of the best romantic restaurants in Hong Kong:

1. Caprice. A gorgeous venue with a massive open kitchen — rare for a French restaurant this size and scale— Caprice at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong is an attractive space with enviable views of the harbor. The alluring room glows with its over-sized crystal chandeliers and uplit walkway leading from the entrance through to the kitchen; the ruby-red velvet banquettes and accents recall a mix of circa-1930 French and Shanghai style.

2. Restaurant Petrus. The local benchmark for fine French cuisine for years, Restaurant Petrus at Island Shangri-La has made small changes to modernize the atmosphere at this beautiful, chandelier-lit-56th floor dining room, which has incredible views of the city. And while the polished staff now serves premium wines by the glass, the jacket-and-tie rule for men is more relaxed now — a jacket is still required for dinner. After all, the dress code should match the sophistication of the décor and service style of the staff, a rare treat in the casual new millennium.

3. Gaddi’s. Located inside The Peninsula Hong Kong, this spot is a long-standing legend whose influence extends beyond Hong Kong’s borders. In the Old World European classical space, traditional French cuisine is served by jacketed waiters and tables are set with antique silverware and Bernadraud china. Try the tasting menu or the chef’s table, which is delivered in the kitchen where you can take in the action behind the scenes.

4. Amber. Bathed in gold, Amber inside Landmark Mandarin Oriental is a top spot for creative haute cuisine. Dutch executive chef Richard Ekkebus churns out playful experiments verging on molecular gastronomy, which he changes on a regular basis. Lunchtime sets, which change weekly, of either two or three seasonal courses are popular with busy executives. It’s a shame to rush the likes of lamb duo confit and glazed white coco beans, so take your time and order one of the light desserts as well — you can’t go wrong with the Pavlova strawberry and mascarpone. Then again, you might want to check out the early bird breakfast, which begins at 6:30 a.m., rather unusual for a fine-dining restaurant.

5. Pearl on the Peak. Another Hong Kong celebrity-chef-led restaurant, Pearl on the Peak features the creations of Geoff Lindsay, one of Australia’s most reputed toques. The menu draws on a few signatures from his Melbourne restaurant Pearl, such as succulent flash-fried oyster meat appetizer with shiitake, chives, ginger and soy. Top it all off with a peak-top view over Hong Kong Island (seen through floor-to-ceiling glass windows), and you’ll have a meal to remember.

Being such a cosmopolitan city, Hong Kong’s restaurants tend to be more focused on fine dining than family fare. To find a dining room with booster seats or kids menus, you might need to stick with tried-and-true Western brands. So save Hong Kong’s traditional dim sum for an adults-only outing, and take your kids instead to one of Hong Kong’s many American-style restaurants for comfort food served in a kid-friendly environment. Here are a few of the best: 1. Though it’s known as a crowded tourist trap on weekends, Café Deco on The Peak has been one of Hong Kong’s landmark restaurants since opening in 1994-and it caters to kids, too. You can find everything from sushi and Indian tandoori specialties to homemade pizzas and sandwiches on the menu at this spacious and ornate family style eatery. They even have an Italian Bar that serves coffee and homemade cakes. For an uninterrupted meal, you can drop your children off in a designated kids corner where they can play with other kids under supervision. 2. Chow down on some ribs and American steaks at Dan Ryan’s, where group dining is encouraged. The fact that it’s completely westernized is a point of pride for the owners because their goal is to serve authentic food that you’d find in any restaurant in the U.S. Based on that alone, your kids will love it. Dan Ryan’s salads, sandwiches and burgers will be a nice break from traditional noodles in Hong Kong. 3. The expats who live in the area come to The Boathouse in Stanley, a charming fishing village on the southwestern coast of Hong Kong Island, for the beach-like atmosphere and upscale Italian food. The restaurant is located in a quaint Victorian-style building overlooking the sea. Inside, the décor is clean and nautical-themed-something the whole family can appreciate. The food, however, is anything but simple. Dishes like porcini mushroom risotto and smoked eggplant and braised veal ravioli paired with a beautiful view from the balcony make this a memorable dining experience. 4. Families with adventurous eaters should make their way to Café Too at the Five-Star Island Shangri-La. The buffet at this casual restaurant delivers just about every kind of cuisine in the world, from dim sum to crepes and Italian antipasto. Kids will love the incredible array of desserts-once they’ve tried some fresh fruit, Hainanese rice or steamed vegetables, of course. 5. For breakfast 24 hours a day and a kid-friendly menu with standards such as grilled cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, try The Flying Pan in Central, Wan Chai or Discovery Bay. The casual atmosphere and vast menu of familiar egg dishes make this traditional diner a hit with families.

Since most Hong Kongers consider clocking out of the office before 9 p.m. an early night and bars can stay open until dawn, it’s no wonder that Hong Kong’s nightlife carries a high-caliber reputation. Options run from divey British pubs and candlelit wine bars to trendy lounges and members-only clubs. Central still lays claim to the hottest clubs in Hong Kong, but other areas are joining the scene. Kowloon has become a popular after-hours location thanks to an influx of new and revamped hotels like the W Hotel, The Mira and The Peninsula. Likewise, Wan Chai, once famous for its red-light entertainment venues, has experienced a revival recently, drawing new pubs, wine bars and lounges to the neighborhood, along with a more mainstream crowd. Like in many cities around the globe, smoking was banned in all public places in Hong Kong in 2009, but there is yet to be a rule about being a set distance from building entrances, so it is quite common to see clusters of puffers huddled around bar doorways.

Hong Kongers’ favorite pastime is making money, so it should come as no surprise that the most popular spectator sport here is horse racing, the city’s only legal form of gambling apart from the lottery, soccer (coincidentally run by the same organization, the 1884-founded Hong Kong Jockey Club) and online sports betting. Happy Valley Racecourse has been home to the sport since 1846. Races run from September to June, when thousands of punters show up on Wednesday nights to win and lose fortunes-more than HK$100 billion was turned around in the 2006-2007 season alone. If you’re lucky enough to be in Hong Kong in December, you can catch a variety of mega-cash payouts during the Cathay Pacific series of races. The atmosphere ranges from charged to positively electrifying, but it’s not all high drama: The course is a green floodlit expanse, so if you’re not too fixated on a scorecard, you can take advantage of the chance to relax in the great outdoors with one of Hong Kong’s cheapest pints. While Happy Valley Racecourse is by far the iconic venue, rival Sha Tin Racecourse, open in 2007, is Hong Kong’s largest racecourse and is where serious gamblers go to place their bets (or where corporate types go to mingle and dig into lavish spreads in the many private boxes). Hong Kong Jockey Club also oversees Sha Tin, and hosts the frequent international races held here, which includes the annual Hong Kong Cup among others. You’ll have to buy a ticket to enter Sha Tin (HK$10), and if you want to venture past the public areas it will cost you even more, but tourists can gain access to the reserved areas of the racecourse by joining a tour organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, which includes entrance and a buffet lunch at the Visitors’ Box (see racecourse website for details).

Every year, during the last weekend of March, hordes of expats descend upon Hong Kong Stadium, claiming its 40,000 outdoor seats in the name of boozing, revelry and, occasionally, even rugby. Considered to be the most important competition in the eight-tournament IRB Sevens World Series, the Hong Kong Sevens pits 24 rugby union teams from around the world against each other. The contest’s huge popularity has resulted in the previously amateur Hong Kong team acquiring star players with professional status. Though the matches are undoubtedly exciting, the crowds are as diverting as the main event, especially at the hard-partying South Stand. If you’re more into the rugby than the crowd, inquire at the hotel about corporate boxes. There is also a lively beer tent just outside the stadium with big-screen TV’s for a different, yet no less lively, atmosphere for those unable to score tickets.

With a host of musical genres, City Hall is always a good bet for live entertainment. Back in 1933, Hong Kong demolished its original City Hall-an elegant two-story colonial structure built in 1869-to make room for two bank buildings. The stark, blocky waterfront complex that replaced it in 1962 may not match the original’s architectural charm, but it still stands as a vital cultural outpost in a city where money often comes before art, let alone music. Good thing there’s plenty of space here-in addition to a library, a marriage registry, a theater and two exhibition galleries, City Hall also houses a concert hall and recital hall, both preferred venues for the compact but lively Hong Kong Sinfonietta, which stages year-round concerts of orchestra favorites, as well as newly commissioned works. Love it or loathe it, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre’s controversial pink-tile-clad structure-comparisons have included “a giant ski jump”-reigns over Victoria Harbour and serves as Hong Kong’s top performing arts venue. A must-visit for classical music aficionados, the venue opened in 1989, and annually provides up to 1.4 million seats for cultural events, including Western operas, ballet, theater and modern dance. Not only is it a hub for touring troupes, but it’s also home to the city’s two foremost classical-music ensembles, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, both of which regularly perform in the 2,019-seat Concert Hall and the 1,734-seat Grand Theatre. Past highlights include concerts with world-class soloists such as Chinese-American cellist Yo-Yo Ma, as well as performances by the Sydney Symphony.

In a city that often favors new over old, many times at the expense of its own heritage, it’s refreshing to find Loke Yew Hall, a beautiful, historic 1912 structure tucked within Hong Kong University’s main campus. It served as a hospital during World War II, though now, in its role as theater/concert/lecture hall, it has hosted both the Hong Kong Philharmonic and the venerable Chinese political leader Dr. Sun Yat-sen, a crucial figure in the creation of modern, post-dynastic China. Head here for lunchtime and early evening concerts by young and emerging musicians, and look out for the free HKU Concert Series (held each September).

For such a compact city, Hong Kong teems with places to stay. With five Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotels and five Four-Star hotels, there’s no shortage of outstanding hotels. When the gleaming, high-rise Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong opened in 2005 on a waterfront stretch of land in Central, it raised the bar for luxury in Hong Kong. Rooms are comfortable subtly elegant, dressed in soothing neutral tones and loaded with high-tech amenities from plasma TVs to DVD players. The hotel includes an outdoor infinity-edge pool with an enviable vista of Victoria Harbour; suites are fit for a king (including the Aqua spa suite, which is equipped with a vitality pool and a private bar). Service is professional and efficient, meaning whatever you need, the staff will provide it before you even think to ask. The hotel’s restaurants draw locals who come to dine on upscale French cuisine at the glam Caprice (which has pioneered a previously untapped passion for cheese among Hong Kongers with its cheese room and tastings) and the Cantonese restaurant, Lung King Heen (meaning “view of the dragon). It’s one of the city’s (and the world’s) most acclaimed, and is remarkable for its selection of wines, as well as it’s ever-popular dim sum lunch menus. You know you’re somewhere special when pillbox-hatted page boys politely whisk open double-front doors to reveal an airy lobby with soaring ceilings. And so it is at The Peninsula Hong Kong, the city’s oldest hotel (which opened in 1928). Affectionately called “the Pen” by locals, the place drips with colonial decadence, from the palm-filled lobby where guests nibble on petit fours at tea time to the string quartet in the gallery. Perhaps the ultimate sign of the hotel’s classic pedigree is Gaddi’s, a local legend of a French restaurant, and the Verandah (which is as gorgeous and otherworldly as it sounds). Still, the Peninsula manages to balance its Old World inclinations with modern touches, like the Phillipe Starck-designed restaurant, Felix, which serves contemporary cuisine in a super-slick skyline setting. This blend of Asian and European styles carries through the place, from high-tech (wireless Internet and flat-screen TVs come standard in all rooms) and antiques-bedecked rooms to an impressive spa to the immaculate service, which quietly whispers that, yes,-you have indeed arrived.
In a city where business comes a close second to shopping, the centrally located Landmark Mandarin Oriental was destined to do well. Bling-worthy designer-label stores form a protective semicircle around this sharp boutique hotel centered in the heart of the business district, and their staffs-given adequate warning-will proceed to your room bearing the latest wares for the ultimate personal-shopping experience. Then again, you might simply want to close the door, switch on the “Do Not Disturb” button and experience the ultra-sensual 400-thread-count linens, glass-walled bathrooms (in some rooms) and multi-channeled entertainment system. Need to blow off some steam? Head for the 25,000-square-foot duplex spa, or the indoor pool (the two are fitting replacements for lack of a harbour view). Then head to the restaurant, Amber, or the bar, MO-both overflow with eye candy, whether you define that as cutting-edge design or pretty people.

Thanks to Hong Kong’s subtropical climate, you won’t have to bring your winter coat and boots for most of the year. However, if your trip falls between Mid-December and February, temperatures can be as low as 10 degrees Celsius (50 Fahrenheit). Hong Kong’s rainy season is between May and September, so you might wait to pack a light raincoat then. Otherwise, be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes to explore and swimwear for beaches. Hong Kongers dress for business and socializing, and many of the city’s most elegant restaurants require formal attire. With some of the world’s best tailors on hand and boutiques from all of top fashion labels, you can easily find whatever you might need for a business meeting or night on the town. Finally, leave room in your suitcase because you never know what wonderful trinkets you’ll find at one of Hong Kong’s famous markets.

A weekend’s worth of time will give you enough time to explore much of Hong Kong Island and its many attractions. On day one, check out Statue Square. Head to the 43rd floor of the Bank of China Tower, then walk over to the Central Ferry Pier and catch a boat to either Lamma or Cheung Chai. Have a seafood lunch and explore either island. Head back to your hotel and freshen up before heading out to Lan Kwai Fong and Soho for dinner, drinks and dancing.
On day two, take the bus from Central to Stanley for memorable DIY sight-seeing. Check out Stanley Market and have lunch along the waterfront. Take the MTR to the Jordan stop in Kowloon and shop at the Yue Hwa Emporium for silks, cheongsams and souvenirs. Make your way to Mong Kok for the Ladies’ Market and Bird Market. If you still have the energy that evening, go to the Temple Street Night Market.

With its ultra-convenient waterfront location-right by the Star Ferry Pier-and low ticket prices, you’d think the Hong Kong Museum of Art - the city’s largest art museum, established in 1962 - would have no difficulty attracting visitors. Yet since settling into its premises in 1991, this government-run institution has struggled to capture the city’s imagination. Thankfully, things are on the up, with inspired initiatives like the Hong Kong Art Series filling its contemporary art exhibition hall with popular, critically acclaimed shows like Digit@logue, overseen by local new-media artist Ellen Pau, and New Ink Art, organized by guest curator Alice King. Traveling international exhibits supplement the museum’s permanent collection of Chinese fine arts and antiquities, and become just another reason to check out this gem of a museum.
At the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, you can either explore new territories via time tunnels spanning 6,000 years or see decorative Chinese art from the donations of The Tsui Art Foundation in the T.T. Tsui Gallery of Chinese Art. It houses six permanent galleries such as these, as well as rotating programs for kids and adults like an introductory workshop on Cantonese opera headwear.
Adjacent to the Hong Kong Museum of History, Hong Kong Museum of Science features about 500 exhibits, and 70 percent of them are interactive. The biggest permanent exhibit is undoubtedly the Energy Machine, which occupies all four stories of the museum and is the only machine of its kind in the world. Balls zip along wavy or zig-zag tracks powered by computer controlled gates, demonstrating the relationship between energy conversion and movement. Along the way, they strike gongs and chimes, and create a chorus when they hit drums and xylophones.

A one day sightseeing tour of Hong Kong can deliver a good flavor of this bustling Chinese metropolis. Begin with a morning tram ride up to the Peak, where on a clear day you can see Hong Kong ad Kowloon stretching before you. Head back down to Central and get ready to shop Hollywood Road and SoHo as soon as stores open at 11 a.m. Mosey around the Mid-Levels Escalator. Take the Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui, just in time for high tea at The Peninsula Hong Kong. While away the time with a reflexology session at n of the many parlours on Nathan Road until 8 p.m. (for the light and sound show) by wandering along the waterfront promenade and Nathan Road. Wrap it up with dinner at Hutong, located atop a skyscraper that provides amazing views of Hong Kong island and the harbour.

The climate in Hong Kong is subtropical, which means the weather is oppressively hot and humid between March and September, while October to February is cool. From May to November, Hong Kong experiences heavy rainfall, typically in the form of tropical storms or typhoons (known in the northeast Pacific and North Atlantic oceans as hurricanes)-but not to worry, direct hits are rare.
Tropical cyclones in Hong Kong are graded from one to 10 depending on their distance. A T1 signal is raised if a storm is about 500 miles away, and T8 indicates a full-blown typhoon powerful enough to generate wind speeds of up to 112 miles per hour. During a T8 signal, you are advised to remain indoors (wise advice considering debris, including the famous Hong Kong bamboo scaffolding, is known to whip through the city at such crazy wind levels). From June to September, temperatures soar to more than 30 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit) with humidity levels reaching 86 percent, particularly during August.
The optimal time of year to visit Hong Kong is between October and December-clear blue skies and warm spring-like weather are guaranteed practically every day. January and February are the coldest months of the year, so be sure to bring a scarf and jacket if you decide to come then.

Compared with other major cities, it’s easy to imagine Hong Kong as something of a cultural desert, with its creative soul smothered in dunes of cold, hard cash. But look closer and you’ll see that the theory doesn’t hold up. Recent times have seen a surge in the city’s cultural ambitions, as evidenced by a proliferation of new galleries; the arrival in 2008 of a high-profile international art fair, ART HK; and the opening of Hong Kong’s first local auction house, Atting House, which focuses on Asian contemporary art. Today the city ranks as the world’s third-largest art market after New York and London, thanks to headline-grabbing auction sales fueled by the Chinese contemporary art boom just to the north.
There’s still work to be done. The city suffers from a chronic dearth of venues, particularly for music and theater. Nonetheless, the government is slowly making headway in its plans to build a vast, multi-disciplinary cultural complex in West Kowloon, while a growing number of independent arts outfits are finding innovative ways to make their mark on the local scene. Case in point: the organizers behind October Contemporary, an annual month-long citywide event promoting Hong Kong contemporary art started in 2007. All this means that while Hong Kong culture isn’t exactly in-your-face, there’s a growing scene that’s just waiting to be discovered. Go and see it for yourself.

We don’t blame you for wanting to save your money to spend on hard-fought bargains in Hong Kong’s famous markets. It’s a good thing, then, that many of the best things to see or do in Hong Kong can be experienced without spending money. Here are five of the best: 1. Line up on the waterfront at Tsim Sha Tsui with the many locals who come to watch the 15 minute-long light and music show called “Symphony of Lights”, which begins each night at 8 p.m. The laser show spotlights the many skyscrapers clustered together on Central accompanied by a recorded soundtrack of contemporary music. 2. Even though Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world, there are still pockets of protected green space where you can head out for a hike. A great one begins on top of Victoria Peak and will take you (steeply) downhill through lush, tropical trees and vines. For an even more scenic trail, head to Tai Tam Country Park to hike the Dragon’s Back trail, which winds up a ridge that offers views of Stanley and the South China Sea. The trail ends at Shek O, a charming seaside village with plenty of alfresco restaurants. 3. Don’t stop at Victoria Peak, though. More stellar views of Kowloon await you at the Bank of China’s 43rd-floor observation deck and the 55th floor of the International Finance Centre, or the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. 4. Even if you don’t buy anything, a walk through any of Hong Kong’s many markets is a fascinating exposure to sights, sounds and smells that are unique to this international city. Removed from the bustle of Hong Kong shopping in the southern part of the Island, Stanley Market is an outdoor one-stop shop for souvenir-seekers. You’ll find stereotypical Chinese-inspired print bags and wallets, among Chinese calligraphy and paintings, in these stalls just blocks from the water. Some stalls can be skipped, but be persistent and you’ll find antiques (or at least well-done replicas) and potentially good deals on Chinese embroidery and prints of various eras of Hong Kong history suitable for framing but easy to roll up and carry away. Another market worth your while is Ladies Market, which was originally named because goods were hawked to women only. Today’s vendors sell goods to both men and women. You’ll find T-shirts, shoes, stuffed animals, jackets, jeans and even undergarments at this Kowloon market. 5. Every Wednesday, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin, which has collections spanning everything from Chinese painting and calligraphy to Hong Kong’s contemporary art, offers free admission. Hong Kong’s Museum of Art features traveling international exhibits that supplement the museum’s permanent collection of Chinese fine arts and antiquities. Visit on a Wednesday and you’ll receive free entry. For even more free culture and art visit any of the following museums which also waive admission on Wednesdays: Hong Kong’s Museum of History, Museum of Coastal Defense, Science Museum and Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum.

A dynamic, cosmpolitan and compact world city, Hong Kong offers a wealth of things to see and do. Start off your visit by perusing the city’s famous food markets. Then, take a day trip to the southernmost point of the region, or one of the city’s many outlying islands. Don’t forget to visit a Chinese temple or find a vantage point to take in the full effect of Hong Kong’s beautiful skyline. 1. Food is an obsession in Hong Kong and restaurants are everywhere, from the ubiquitous and inexpensive cha chaan teng (teahouses), which clink and clank with the sound of clattering crockery and fill with mouth-watering aromas of steaming bowls of noodles, to high-end culinary hideaways like the exclusive Krug Room at the Mandarin Oriental, a private dining room that demands a bill of no less than HK$20,000 (about $2,600 in U.S. currency). Hong Kong’s street markets deliver an assault of sensory experiences, from the sights and smells of live seafood swimming in plastic bins to the sounds of hawkers bargaining. Fruit, vegetables and fresh soy milk can be found on Gage Street in Central, as well as stores dedicated to ginseng, bird’s nest and other dried goods used in both medicine and cooking, including shark’s fin, deer fetus and seahorses, just to name a few. More markets can be found in Kowloon’s Mong Kok neighborhood. 2. A day trip to Stanley, Hong Kong Island’s southernmost point, rewards you with a beachy landscape (beloved by the expats who live nearby) and the kitschy cheap wares of Stanley Market. Head to Exchange Square in Central and jump on a double-decker bus to reach this pocket of the island-be sure to snag a seat on the top level for stellar coastal views of Repulse Bay. Scour the market for things you never knew you needed (coasters embroidered with dragons, knock-off Nikes, silk purses and lacquer boxes are a few of the items whose prices dip lower and lower with persistent bargaining), and then have a bite to eat at one of the many waterfront restaurants. Check out Stanley Plaza’s Murray House, an attractively restored Victorian-era building, dismantled in 1982 from its original site in Central and rebuilt in Stanley. 3. Be sure to hop on a ferry to explore one of the many outlying islands. Lamma Island is famous for fresh seafood and for being actor Chow Yun-Fat’s birthplace. Cheung Chau has a harbor full of wooden boats fluttering with colorful flags, while the stilted houses in Tai O on Lantau Island make for a great photo opportunity. 4. Your first glimpse of Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour skyline at night is sure to be a breathtaking and unforgettable moment and you’ll want to get it right. Take the Star Ferry across the water or linger on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. There is a light show starting at 8 p.m. daily that highlights the city’s major buildings. Try to time your dinner reservations at Aqua or Hutong, both perched atop a skyscraper in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, to coincide with the display and you’ll have a free show with your meal. The view from The Peak on clear days or nights is fantastic. Take the Victorian-era Peak Tram up the steep hill and a bus down for the full experience. Scurry right past the souvenir shops to secure an outdoor seat at Pearl on the Peak, where you can sip champagne and sample seared wagyu or roasted duck. Don’t forget to bring your camera. 5. Fit in a visit to a Chinese temple. The modest Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road (at Ladder Street) is a petite space overwhelmed by the scent of the burning incense coils hanging from the rafters. It’s dedicated to the Taoist gods of literature (Man) and war (Mo), and provides an intriguing stop along the antiques shopping trail. The impressive Wong Tai Sin Temple in Kowloon commemorates a famous monk who was born around A.D. 328. It is said that any earnest plea to the gods at this temple will be rewarded. (Offering small change may help seal the deal.)

There is plenty of wonderment to be found in Hong Kong-something that you and your kids can appreciate equally. From Ocean Park theme park and Hong Kong Disneyland to Ngong Ping 360 and the Peak Tram, you’ll reach new and thrilling heights. The Tsiam Sha Tsui water show can’t be missed, either. 1. Opened in 1977, Ocean Park, a giant homegrown theme park, has survived the competition from Hong Kong Disneyland since the latter’ss arrival in 2005. (And quite contrary to the doomsday predictions then, Ocean Park visitor numbers have been climbing in recent years, while Disney’s have been dropping.) Kids will love the park, which features rides (thrilling ones like the Mine Train roller coaster, and gentler ones for tots at the Kids World area), exhibits (including giant pandas An An and Jia Jia, and rare Chinese sturgeons), and a cable car system that links the Lowland and Headland sections of the park, which offers amazing views of the South China Sea. 2. Hong Kong Disneyland is still the famous Asian outpost of the happiest place on earth, and has all the familiar attractions (It’s A Small World, Mad Hatter Tea Cups, Space Mountain), plus a chance to meet Mickey and friends. 3. Ngong Ping 360 knocks your average theme park zip line ride out of the water. The 5.7km cable car journey allows you to see Hong Kong International Airport, South China Sea and the Tian Tan Buddha Statue from a whole new vantage point. Both you and your kids will let out plenty of “oohs” and “aahs” as you glide above the rolling grassy slopes of North Lantau Country Park. Most of all, the 25-minute ride provides a positively serene escape from the bustling city. 4. Hop aboard the Victorian-era Peak Tram for the scenic ride to the top of Victoria Peak. One of Hong Kong’s main tourist attractions, Peak Tram inspires long lines daily. The tram starts on Garden Road and climbs over 1,200 feet to the Peak. In some parts, it’s so steep, you’ll feel yourself tipped back almost flat on your back. (Pray for a seat.) The best views are on the right-hand side near the front. 5. Line up on the waterfront at Tsim Sha Tsui with the many locals who come to watch this 15-minute long light and music show, which begins each night at 8 p.m. The free spectacle is easy and fun for the whole family.

Even if you hate shopping, you’ll find at least one gem to buy in Hong Kong. With spending embedded in the Hong Kong culture and consumerism deep in this manufacturing hub’s roots, this island isn’t known as a shopping mecca for nothing.

You’ll see gaggles of Hong Kong hipsters in Causeway Bay, which resembles Tokyo’s famously youthful Harajuku station. The reason for this is simple: bargain street chic and upscale boutiques among the many malls like Japan-based Uniqlo. There’s Lee Gardens and Lee Gardens Too, which are both packed in along the narrow streets and almost look like office buildings. Inside, you’ll find high-end labels like Valentino and Yohji Yamamoto. Shaghai Tang, Gucci, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Kookai and Zara can be found in the Pacific Place mall. But a stop by The Landmark is a must, especially if you’re into luxury shopping. (Even British department store Harvey Nichols has an outpost here). The 1881 Heritage center is a collection of luxury boutiques housed in the renovated historic Marine Police headquarters. Here you’ll find the flagship store for Shanghai Tang as well as Rolex, Cartier, Dunhill and Tiffany. Nearby Park Lane, locatd on Nathan Road, offers fuss-free shopping with G2000 and Moiselle.

Being sharp will come in handy in terms of avoiding tourist traps, and as any savvy Chinese shopper will tell you, compare prices at three different places before you hand over any cash. Hong Kong markets, though spectacular and culturally rich, require some patience. Venture deeper into Kowloon, stopping at Mong Kok for legendary Ladies’ Market, originally named because its goods were hawked to women only. Nowadays vendors sell goods to both men and women, running the gamut from socks to stuffed animals, and luggage and handbags. Continue exercising your bargaining skills at Yau Ma Tei at the Jade Market, where rows of stalls sell jade in all shades and shapes. You’ll find high quality pieces here, but the impure variety lurk in the shadows, so don’t fork over your cash unless you’ve done your homework. Finally, head to Jordan’s Temple Street Night Market, which is perfect for after-dusk shopping and a taste of night market life (eat from the many stalls at your own risk).

Many of Hong Kong’s top designers are both Hong Kong- and foreign-educated, and they use their varied backgrounds to create a unique mix of items from that you won’t find stateside so be sure to check out some of their original threads.

Cecilia Yau’s shop Cecilia Yau Couture in draws attention for her indulgently girly dresses, which showcase stunning drapery and generous use of fabric. When it comes to over-the-top fashion, no one can beat Henry Lau of Spy Henry Lau. Lau has worked as an image designer for late, great legendary Hong Kong performers Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui.

Hong Kong Polytechnic University alumna Ruby Li has also participated in celebrities’ concerts, designing costumes for superstars like Sammi Cheng and Kelly Chan. She seamlessly incorporates old-school ’60s and ’70s glamour into her trendy lines, which sometimes carry a hint of Victorian glamour (think Anna Sui). Her small boutique Ruby Li Shop is unimpressive at first glance, but the pieces displayed inside are knockouts with creative cuts and carefree silhouettes.

Ranee Kok’s atelier Ranee_K is hard to miss with its purple front and gold 3-D “K” sign. The store almost feels like a costume shop with all sorts of colorful tops, flowing dresses and Chinese qipao-inspired frocks-there are even Kentucky Derby-worthy hats. Kok’s designs are girly without sacrificing sophistication, and the Parsons School of Design graduate can even tailor or custom-make styles.

Another Polytechnic graduate, Carrie Chau, has established a niche with her whimsical cartoon characters in the flagship lifestyle store Homeless, which she started with friends when rents in Soho dropped during the SARS epidemic. The shop has since moved to Central, where you can find Chau’s goods all over the store on bags, accessories and T-shirts; dig around to uncover furniture and other quirky finds for your home, like a runaway alarm clock.

With so many designers to choose from, it’s hard to leave town without taking home a small sampling of local talent.