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Hong Kong
This city is one of my top ten favorite cities in the world. I have been to this fantastic city a few times and I always enjoy planning a new adventure. The way I like to describe Hong Kong is that it is like Hawaii on skyscraper steroids. It has luscious emerald-green mountains, and in the center you have Victoria Harbor- which is just stunning.
One thing I always advise when traveling overseas is to be aware of the safety & security ratings that are constantly being updated by the U.S. State Department. Check out my article on The Safest Tips for Traveling Overseas.
We will get into the history of Hong Kong and discover that in the last ten years, there has been a drastic shift in politics. Hong Kong’s culture is a fusion of China and Great Britain. I absolutely love this city, from the hotels to the shopping to the food. So let’s get started, shall we?
The Grand Hyatt Hong Kong
This hotel is by far one of the top ten I have ever stayed at. Check out room prices here. I am also a fan of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Chain and recommend it as my second choice.
One of the main criteria I use to judge a hotel besides cleanliness is its breakfast. You would be blown away by the amazing array of assortments, and whenever I was there with my co-workers and friends, we would spend hours at breakfast. Freshly made assortments of juices, pastries, eggs (however you wanted) and meats.
As you walk into the lobby, you will be blown away by the luxury of this hotel. As a fun fact, there is a beautiful exotic flower shop located right in the hotel, making it easy for a loved one to send you flowers while you are traveling. (Ask my now-husband how I know that!) The rooms are lovely, and if you get a room with a view of Victoria Harbor, you have won the jackpot!
The Peak Tram
Riding on the Peak Tram is a MUST when visiting this city. Check out Peak Tram Tickets Here. This neat ride is the oldest tram in the world, built-in 1888 for use by the British Governor and Peak residents. This is where you see Hong Kong’s beauty from high up. You’ll never see skyscrapers from a vantage point like this anywhere else on the globe- so don’t miss the chance!
Star Ferry Across Victoria Harbor
You might need to get to the other side of the Island, so why not take the Star Ferry. Check out Star Ferry tickets and times Here.
Riding across the ferry is essential in Hong Kong, especially at night. They have this fantastic “Symphony of lights” show every night. You don’t want to miss it either! Check out the video below. To view it from the ferry is so incredibly unique, that it’s the only way I recommend seeing it.
The Markets
One of my favorite things to do, especially in Asian countries, is to visit their markets. I love everything about the hustle and bustle. It IS busy and crowded, but it is also so much fun. There are many different district markets throughout this city. In fact, I drug one of my best girlfriends to go to the fabric market. Hong Kong is where all fashion begins, so I had to see where the materials were bought and sold. Fashion starts here, and then eventually it makes it to North America a couple of years later.
Below, I will mention a few of my favorite markets I love visiting here.
Ladies Street Market
This is the first one that was recommended to us to go shopping at. Ladies love to shop the most, so a whole street is dedicated to us! You can find clothes, handbags, jewelry, accessories, toys, and fun goodies. Check out the location and directions to the Ladies Market here.
Most Americans are very uncomfortable with trying to haggle or bargain for a reasonable price, but you should at least try it. Bargaining for a price is part of how most Asian markets operate, and figuring out your negotiating skills can be a lot of fun.
The Flower Market
Some people like flowers, but I love them, and I have driven some friends/co-workers to flower markets on many trips. Hong Kong and Bangkok have the most gorgeous flower markets ever. Check it out Here if you love them as much as I do. Note: This market operates at night.
Jade Market
Jade is not only popular in China but is also believed to bring good luck. This market is a fun place to look for jade jewelry, perhaps some earrings or a necklace to commemorate your visit to Hong Kong. If you are looking for high-quality jade, you may want to go to a jade dealer in the city, but otherwise, this is a great place to bargain shop for some really neat goodies or souvenirs. Check out the location and time here.
Dim Sum
Who could resist mouthwatering Dim Sum? Not me. The Grand Hyatt Hong Kong breakfast also serves these, in case you don’t get enough to eat at dinner. Check out One Dim Sum and Sun Hing in Hong Kong for delicious buns with yummy goodness.
High Tea
“High tea” is a big part of Hong Kong’s culture and has existed for the last hundred years. A London tea room in Hong Kong? Yes, please (any day of the week!) …But Hong Kong does even London tea a notch better. I am a massive fan of high tea, so check out the best ten places to get High Tea in Hong Kong.
And Now for your History Deep Dive…
The history of Hong Kong is interesting, to say the least. It has gone through pirates, opium wars, being leased to Great Britain for one hundred years, and becoming what is now a booming merchant and financial trade hot spot.
Madame Cheng
You may be surprised to learn that piracy was heavy in Hong Kong Harbor during the early 1800s. One of the most famous pirates was Zheng Yi, who died just two short years after building a massive pirate confederation. After his death in 1807, Yi’s five captains voted for his wife, Zheng Yi Sao, also known as Madame Cheng, to take over.
She would take his place, continuing to plunder the South China Sea. Her husband left her with approximately 600 flotillas and 40,000 pirates. The pirates were responsible for looting all merchant ships from Vietnam to Hong Kong. One of the main reasons the pirate rule under Yi proliferated is that any prisoners taken would have a choice of becoming a pirate or being flogged to death. Which might you choose?
Madame Cheng was successful for a few years and even beat the Chinese Navy twice. Her fleet was wanted not only by the Chinese but also by the British and Portuguese. Madame Cheng’s pirates began to fall apart from within, fighting bitter and heavy battles. She decided to sail all her ships to Canton and ask for a pardon for all her pirates with a set of terms. Her legend continues to live on. (1)
Opium Wars Lead to the Creation of Hong as we Know it Today
Meanwhile, by the 1820s, the British are using Hong Kong Harbor to bring in opium (allegedly from India). Eventually, China became so addicted to opium it began to cause devastating social and economic effects. By 1939, the Chinese government had enough of the British merchants pumping drugs into the populace, after having confiscated record amounts of opium chests from British warehouses.
Tensions began to escalate after a drunken British soldier killed a Chinese villager, and the British destroyed a Chinese blockade in Canton. Although the Chinese government wanted to utilize the legal system to resolve the matters, the British government refused and full-on war broke out instead.
In 1942, the British beat the Qing Dynasty during the first Opium War, leading to the Treaty of Nanjing. Britain was given Hong Kong in the peace treaty to compensate for their losses. From 1898 to 1997, the city would be leased to Great Britain before an eventual return to China. This led to the immense cultural difference we now see on Hong Kong Island compared to China’s mainland. (2)
When Great Britain finally let go of Hong Kong in 1997, it asked for two things: a Bill of Rights for the island, and that though it would be a part of China, that it retain its capitalist system for fifty more years. (3) Will Hong Kong be the same bright and exciting city that I knew it to be in the next decade to come? Only time will tell.
Sources
(1). https://www.worldhistory.org/Zheng_Yi_Sao/
