Hong Kong Travel Tips

Traveling around Hong Kong quickly exposes how it is a city of maddening, perpetual energy where ‘more’ is often the answer – no matter the question. ‘More’ buildings, ‘more’ lights, ‘more’ land and ‘more’ money are sought with zeal but often without concern for the impact on the environment, history or personal life.

It doesn’t take long to adjust to the neon lights and symphony of loud conversations, screeching buses and ear splitting jackhammers. However, while the visual and noise pollution are absorbed, the choking air pollution is never forgotten – except by the government.

Shuffling through Hong Kong’s districts and villages often feels like rummaging through a Salvation Army storage depot housed inside a hospital operating room. Dirty, faded and grey apartment blocks rise above cluttered shops, stalls and sidewalks.

Despite the gritty, chaotic streets, a consequence of Hong Kongers’ desire to save, reuse or sell everything, Hong Kong is a remarkably clean city. Since SARS devastated the local economy in early 2003, streets and sidewalks rarely have noticeable trash. The army of government sweepers constantly tidy up the streets down to the last cigarette butt.

Moving through the regions and islands, while not always relaxed, is typically seamless and cheap. For seemingly every form of transport that exists, (including taxis, ferries, trams, trains, double-decker buses and mini buses) there is a line of people. However, since it is Hong Kong, the queue often moves quickly. On many occasions, walking proves the best form of transport – but it is not without its own challenges.

Hong Kong’s side streets, narrower than shucked dental floss, typically require lurching and sidestepping to maneuver around the constant crowds – especially the elderly women. Bow legged and hunched, the elderly women look like they are auditioning as question marks as they slowly zigzag along tight sidewalks searching for nothing in particular. Bumping into other people isn’t unusual – but don’t wait for an apology, they aren’t offered or expected.

While Hong Kong Island fuses diverse Chinese, pan-Asian and western traditions, moving off the Island reveals how most of Hong Kong is Chinese. Cantonese language, music and cuisine have a stranglehold over Kowloon and New Territories to such an extent that conversations and menus are almost exclusively in Cantonese. Bringing a map and destination address (written in Chinese) will aid your travels.

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