This page is designed to help teach you how to visit Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is a city in East Asia which is bustling with energy. A former Britain’s colony, the city is an interesting example of East meet West. You can taste the local Cantonese cuisine on the street and enjoy the efficiency of the subway trains, haggle for lowest price for a fake Gucci sunglasses at the street vendors and buy genuine Louis Vuitton bag at the brand’s official boutique.

Hong Kong main language is Cantonese, a Chinese dialect. You can get by with English during your stay in Hong Kong as most people who work in formal sectors and tourism can speak English.

The currency for Hong Kong is Hong Kong Dollar. You can exchange your money at the banks or licensed moneychangers. Avoid banks where they keep a large amount of fees for currency exchange, which can get as high as $100 per transaction.http://www.lonelyplanet.com/china/hong-kong/practical-information/money-costsKeep some spare change for tipping, transportation, and shopping at street markets. You don’t have to tip at restaurants as they already bill you 10% for the service charge.

Some things to keep in mind, that Hong Kong is not a cheap city. Living cost in Hong Kong is approximately the same as every major cities in the world. The highest cost will be for your accommodation cost. You don’t have to worry to get a visa for tourist as Hong Kong is open for travelers from most countries in the world including USA, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and UK for the maximum of 90 days and 180 days for UK passport holders.http://www.lonelyplanet.com/china/hong-kong/practical-information/visas

The best way to travel around Hong Kong is by using the subway trains. It is one of the best mass transportation systems in the world. 90% of transportation in Hong Kong is done by subway trains.http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/free-ride-the-five-best-mass-transit-systems-worldwide/1095 You can buy the subway tickets at the automatic machines. Do not smoke, drink, or eat anything during your ride or you’ll be fined. You can pay for all the public transportation service in Hong Kong with Hong Kong’s Octopus card. All of public transport in Hong Kong is considered economical by New York or London’s standard.http://www.lonelyplanet.com/china/hong-kong/practical-information/money-costs

Taxi is another good transportation in Hong Kong, as well as the buses, ferry boats, and trams. Some taxi drivers can speak English and sometimes don’t. Do write your destination in Chinese as a precaution.

To reach outer islands of Hong Kong, you will need to take ferries. Ferries are quiet cheap, cheaper than the subway and buses. For a great fun ride, try to ride Star Ferry at night to see the beautiful city lights.

Either way, you should expect to walk a lot during your stay at Hong Kong, either when you stroll in the shopping centers and shopping malls, or walk your way from one place to another.

Hong Kong 4-5 stars hotels have international qualities. Seasonal rates and discounts may apply on the hotel rates. Contact your travel agents to find best deals for hotels at Hong Kong. If you intend to save more money for shopping or other purpose, try to stay at guesthouses or midrange hotels.

There are many restaurants you can try at Hong Kong, either Chinese restaurants or Western restaurants, but they are not cheap. To get authentic feel of Hong Kong cuisine and for economical food, try the street food.

Try some delicious local fare at dai pai dong or Hong Kong’s street stalls and food courts. Hong Kong is famous for its street food which is available all day through midnight. Hong Kong most famous food are Dim Sum, Hong Kong noodles, and red barbecued pork. You can also eat great food with great prices at the Hong Kong markets.

One thing to note in Hong Kong is to avoid drinking straight from the tap. You need to boil, filter, or disinfecting the tap water before it’s safe for drink.http://www.lonelyplanet.com/china/hong-kong/practical-information/health It is better to drink mineral or bottled water. Also be careful of sanitary issues if you eat from street vendors.

Shopping

Hong Kong is a famous destination for shopping in Asia. There are a lot of bargain apparel and accessories as well as branded items. Watch out when you buy branded items at street markets as they might be counterfeits. Some of them are very clearly fake branded items because of their very low price and low quality, but there are some higher quality counterfeits that harder to detect.

On thing to note is not to haggle when you don’t intend to buy; the shopkeepers will be angry and they can be quite vocal in their displeasure. If you don’t intend to haggle or bargain, shop at formal boutiques and department stores at the shopping malls.

There are countless of shopping places in Hong Kong. Some famous places to shop in Hong Kong including Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui, Temple Night Street Market, and Stanley Market.

Visit Hong Kong Disneyland

Hong Kong Disneyland is a part of the Disneyland theme park franchise. Like all the Disneyland parks around the world, you can expect to see Disney characters and Disney theme castle and attractions all around the park. There is also a Disneyland hotel and resort near the Disneyland.

Visit Lantau Island

Take a trip to Lantau Island to relax and unwind. Unlike the fast-paced Hong Kong, Lantau Island is calm and serene with mountains, valleys, and white beaches. It has a Buddhist monastery as well as a Giant Buddha statue. You can also visit the cultural village of Ngong Ping Village to see a traditional Chinese village and architecture.