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Here are our top five must-dos while you’re in Hong Kong

Take a walk on the Dark Side. Hong Kong Islanders sometimes refer disparagingly to Kowloon as the “Dark Side”. While it’s not all steel and glass like its counterpart across the harbour, Kowloon makes up in character what it lacks in glitz. Take the Star Ferry from Central and start walking. All varieties of feathered friends can be found in the colourful Bird Market, while the adjacent Flower Market is a must for gardening hobbyists. There’s also a endless mish-mash of clothes and bits of cheap junk in the Ladies’ Market and the Jade Market. For the more cultural, the Hong Kong History Museum contains a good modern history overview, including a display of post-1997 Hong Kong. When you’re done, have a drink at one of the Kowloon waterfront bars and enjoy the views across to the city’s famous skyline. Alternatively, splash out on high tea at the Peninsula.

Head for the hills. Hong Kong’s not all city: within a short distance from the urban centre, there are long-distance trails, nature trails, gentle family trails, trails once used for commerce, and others built for hikers, leading round and over hilltops, through grassland and forest, and past ageing villages overlooking abandoned rice fields. Some trails are only minutes away from downtown areas, and make for pleasant half-day outings. Others are an hour or more by public transport. An accessible favourite on Hong Kong Island is the Dragon’s Back walk, an undulating trail with breathtaking views on either side down to the sea. If you have more time to spare, many of the New Territories trails are also stunningly picturesque.

Eat your heart out. Dim sum, literally meaning “touching the heart”, is a favourite Chinese lunch of small dumplings and other bite-sized snacks. A popular and relatively tourist-friendly place is Maxim’s Palace at City Hall, where trolleys of dim sum circulate the hall for diners to choose what they fancy. Otherwise, Hong Kong’s food scene is one of the most vibrant in Asia – you’re guaranteed a good meal in almost every restaurant. Some of the more notable establishments include M at the Fringe, Vong, Indochine and Aqua, the last of which has good harbour views. For cheap and incredibly fresh seafood, take a ferry to Lamma or Cheng Chau and head for one of the many seafood restaurants on the waterfront.

Horse around. Thoroughbred racing is a favourite local pastime, with bi-weekly races from September to June. Of the two racecourses, the one at Happy Valley is the more accessible. During the week, races are typically held on Wednesday evenings. With minimum bets of HK$10 (US$1.30), placing a wager is fun and affordable even if you’re not the betting type. For a grander experience, get a tourist badge to the Members’ Enclosure or book a private box.

Find a bargain. It’s impossible to leave Hong Kong without buying anything, even if that’s nothing more than cheap oriental souvenirs for the office. If you haven’t found anything suitable in Kowloon, head to Stanley market. It’s a half-hour drive from Central and sells a good range of the usual collectibles: silly Tshirts, jewellery, silk cushions, tea sets and chopsticks. There are also art shops with framed prints and paintings. Looking for Asian furniture? Head to Horizon Plaza in Ap Lei Chau, a warehouse of many local furniture stores popular with expats in the know.



GETTING THERE Both Aeroflot and Cathay Pacific operate direct flights four times a week between Moscow and Hong Kong. VISAS American, British, Australian and most Western European country passport holders do not need to apply for visas prior to arrival in Hong Kong. Russian passports holders do. To check visa requirements, contact the Chinese Embassy in Moscow: Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Russian Federation 6, Ul. Druzhby, 117330 Moscow. Tel: (095) 956 1169 Alternatively, visit the Hong Kong Government’s Immigration Information Centre website at: www.immd.gov.hk

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 766


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