Brightsun’s Featured Travel Destination of the Month - Hong Kong

Find out more about this bustling city with our pocket guide, containing useful travel information and highlights to look forward to when visiting.

Hong Kong is an iconic travel destination that is the ultimate definition of old and new blended together, with an iconic skyline of skyscrapers set among ancient temples and traditional markets. The city’s landscapes are dramatic and beautiful, with towering green mountains, country parks, and nature sites home to native flora and fauna. There are plenty of opportunities for outdoor exploration here!

Places to Visit in Hong Kong – Explore the City’s Bustling Neighbourhoods

Sham Shui Po

If you like to travel off the beaten track, then bustling Sham Shui Po is a worthwhile spot. It’s not your typical tourist attraction, so there won’t be crowds here or overpriced price tags – it’s the perfect place to people watch and get an insight into how Hong Kong locals live, home to cosy cafes, street food, and whole streets dedicated to shopping, with toy shops, electronic shops, and local artisan stores to browse. There are also guided foodie tours and walking tours you can take in Sham Shui Po.

West Kowloon

West Kowloon is one of Hong Kong’s up and coming neighbourhoods comprising the city’s contemporary cultural district, plus historic areas including a temple complex dedicated to Tinhau – Goddess of the Sea, as well as the Temple Street Night Market. One of the newer attractions to open at West Kowloon is Sky 100, one of Hong Kong’s tallest buildings; on the 100th floor there’s an observation deck with spectacular views of the city. Then there’s the M+ museum, which is the first ever global museum of contemporary visual culture in Asia.

Central

Central is the business, financial, and commercial district of Hong Kong where you’ll get a feel of the city’s modern edge, with glossy high-rise buildings set among colonial-era structures, churches, and lush parks and gardens. Central, previously named Victoria, is the city’s colonial centre from its former British rule and is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city, so the contrast of past and present will be also witnessed here. What to do in Central? You can take the Peak Tram to Victoria, visit the Cat Street market, plus explore the many colourful art galleries, restaurants, and nightlife spots.

The Great Outdoors of Hong Kong

Hong Kong isn't just a bustling city with shopping and sightseeing as some might assume; there are so many hidden gems in and around Hong Kong that are just waiting to be explored. This includes the 200+ islands that surround the city, with access to incredible water sports and boat rides, plus marine parks. Also, over 70% of Hong Kong itself is green, so there's a myriad of options for escaping the bustle and retreating to beautiful natural settings. Dragon’s Back Mountain is worth noting, as is Big Wave Bay.

Events to Enjoy / Dates for the Calendar

Cheung Chau Bun Festival

Cheng Chau is an island in Hong Kong and the Cheung Chau Bun Festival takes place here, which is an important native event. It was originally celebrated to mark the end of a historic plague that took place on the island, although now it’s just considered as a festive holiday, with visitors from all around Hong Kong and across the globe joining in the celebrations that include a float parade, bun tower climbing competition, bun towers, and of course lots of delicious food.

Dragon Boat Festival

Hong Kong’s traditional Dragon Boat festival is an annual event that usually falls in May-June on the fifth day of the fifth Lunar month (this year it will be late June), honoring the life of ancient Chinese poet, Qu Yuan. Customs for this celebrated event include festive local snacks like sticky rice dumplings called zongzi, and the main event: the Hong Kong international dragon boat races, where more than 100 teams compete together at Tsim Sha Tsui East, Victoria Harbour.

Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance Festival

This traditional festivity is unique to Hong Kong, specifically the Tai Hang neighbourhood, coinciding with the city’s autumn festival which falls on 16th-18th September this year. The famed event consists of an illuminated dragon dance procession which is carried out by more than 300 performers, parading through the streets for three consecutive nights. The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Festival is officially recognised as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.  

New Year Countdown

The New Year is celebrated in style in Hong Kong and is considered as one of the most anticipated countdown events in Asia. When the countdown clock on the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre’s facade strikes midnight, Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong’s skyline is transformed into an incredible array of colours with an impressive fireworks display. The official count down starts 60 seconds before midnight, and the display itself is syncronised with music and lighting effects, shooting out of building rooftops and exploding into the night sky.

Travel Need-To-Knows

Weather

Hong Kong has a subtropical climate. Summers (between May-September) tend to be more humid with high temperatures, occasional monsoon rains, and a small risk of tropical cyclones and typhoons in the South China Sea which can affect Hong Kong, particularly between July and September. Winters (October-April) are mild, warm, and generally dry, with February-April being cloudier. The best time to visit Hong Kong is between October-November, which sees more sunshine, less humidity, and warm pleasant weather. January is the coolest month, with average high temperatures of around 18 degrees Celsius.

Time Difference

Hong Kong is eight hours ahead of GMT.

Currency

You’ll be spending Hong Kong dollars.

Getting Around the City

Hong Kong has an extensive train and underground network that is cheap and efficient, covering most of the city. The Airport-central is a fast airport express train service that operates from Hong Kong’s international airport to West Kowloon and Central. The city also has a tram service that operates to Victoria Harbour’s peak, taking around 20 minutes, and there’s a ferry service that operates to the city’s surrounding islands.

We hope you’ll consider this relatively unexplored gem of Asia! You can fly direct to Hong Kong with British Airways from just £565 or save money with an indirect flight from £388 with Air China, travelling via Beijing.

We also have a fab choice of holiday packages to Hong Kong, from stylish hotel stays to twin-centre breaks with Bali or Dubai, allowing you to experience and explore two destinations in one trip.