Our members choose Hong Kong to:
- Get the most out of a stopover to Sydney
- Indulge their love of shopping and eating
- Marvel at the mix of East and West
Glittering skyscrapers, Chinese temples and pampering in the form of spas, eating and shopping: Hong Kong is a bustling, affluent and multicultural city. Ten travel expert Peter Cook says:
EAST-WEST FUSION
The gateway to China, Hong Kong has thrived since the handover of British power in 1997, but it remains a fusion of East and West. The drive from the hi-tech airport to the centre of Hong Kong puts it all into perspective, passing sea and hills until the billion-dollar skyline of high-rise office towers and temples comes into view and the bustle of tens of thousands of people hits you.
Members often take advantage of the fact that this city has the world's largest Rolls Royce fleet: Ten can arrange to whisk you from the airport to your hotel.
Visiting in September to early December will be less exhausting than the going in the summer when it's hot and humid (temparature in the low 30s with 95% humidity) and prone to typhoons.
HOTELS
Rental prices are as high as the skyscrapers, so you don't get much space for your money. The choice of hotels can be daunting. For ‘old world charm' we recommend the Peninsula on Kowloon with its Philippe Starck-designed Felix bar on the 28th floor. Afternoon tea in the hotel's The Lobby venue is an institution.
Members tell us ‘some of the largest rooms in the city' are found at the five-star Landmark Mandarin Oriental, near Central MTR Station and next door to Harvey Nichols. The traditional Mandarin Oriental has rooms overlooking the harbour, so you can wake up to a view of traditional junks, the famous Star Ferry, and luxury yachts and container ships in the distance. Talk to our team about the best places to stay.
Talk to our team about where best to stay. Ten's Hong Kong office can arrange upgrades, special offers and reservations, and give members insider information about the city, including tips on what to do and see, and where to eat and drink.
MOUNTAINS AND MONASTERIES
Certain attractions are long-time favourites with members: a visit to the Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas or a trip to Victoria Peak, the city's most popular landmark, on the Peak Tram (try to ride on the right-hand side for a better view - it's so steep that buildings are on a 27-degree angle). Members report that Hong Kong offers a new experience every day.
On Lantau, Hong Kong's biggest island, the new Ngong Ping cable car gives views of sea and mountains, as well as the Po Lin Monastery and the Tian Tan Buddha, the world's tallest statue of the Buddha.
RESTAURANT CAPITAL
With over 9,000 restaurants, it's no surprise Hong Kong is known as the restaurant capital of the Far East, attracting the best international chefs. You can eat food from all over the world, as well as exceptional regional dishes.
The extraordinary choice of local food spans authentic teahouses and dim sum bars to innovative modern Cantonese. The intense competition among restaurants means that the quality is generally high. The streets around Lan Kwai Fong and SoHo (south of Hollywood Road) are lined with restaurants that cater to everyone's taste and budget, members say.
Hong Kong's famous seafood deserves a special mention: take the ferry to Lamma Island (also called Pok Liu Chau) where you can pick out your prawns or lobster from the tanks, have them cooked freshly and have them brought to your waterside table. Many of our members also highly praise the food in the hotel restaurants, especially in high-end ones which often feature star chefs. A particular favourite among members is the Cantonese food, including dim sum, at One Harbour Road (Grand Hyatt Hotel). Dragon-I and Kee Club are also popular among locals and partying visitors.
NIGHTLIFE
Drinking is expensive but bars stay open until around 3am at weekends. Two-for-one happy hours are standard, and many clubs and bars have Ladies' Nights between Monday and Thursday, with free drinks for women. Lan Kwai Fong and SoHo are the main nightlife zones, but NoHo (North of Hollywood Road) is a new place to watch.
Hong Kong's nightlife is constantly changing, but Club 97 (9 Lan Kwai Fong) is perfect for a mixed, casual crowd (and even the occasional Hollywood star). Members also adore Aqua on the 30th floor of One Peking Road tower. Its top-to-toe windows and great Martinis guarantee a glamorous start to any evening.
SHOPPING
Shopping comes cheap (there's no sales tax ), and Hong Kong is in love with it. Members covet the newest computers in Windsor House in Causeway Bay , bangles from the Jade Market, knock-off handbags in the Ladies Market, and brand names in the numerous shopping malls, such as| Elements, IFC and Landmark to name a few of the top end ones. .
Temple Street Night Market starts at 2pm but comes to life after dark. Members say it's good for touristy bric-a-brac, fortune-tellers, Cantonese opera singers and people watching. Incense sticks, lanterns and the bustle of activity provides an atmospheric backdrop. Beware of pickpockets though.
Our team in Hong Kong can also advise on where to find the best cameras, opticians, shoe makers, tailors and other high-quality services and goods for a fraction of the price you'd pay in the UK.
HARBOUR CRUISES
Hong Kong is a compact city, so you're never far away from a restaurant, mall or MTR metro station. The MTR is clean, cool and efficient. Transport announcements are in English, which makes getting around very easy.
On water, you can cross from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island on the famous Star Ferry. It only takes 10 minutes and is a must for any visitor to Hong Kong, especially at dusk when the skyscrapers light up.
Ten books members on board the Aqua Luna Chinese junk for a 45-minute cruise with food and drink. Members praise Aqua Luna's roasted dried squid and its signature cocktail, the Luna Twilight: Chinese yellow wine, champagne and Chinese preserved plum. This trip gets busy, so ask our team to arrange a booking.
SLOW DOWN
Every frenetic city needs a more serene and spiritual side. The best places to find this are in the temples and parks. Wong Tai Sin Temple is best known for its peaceful gardens and Confucian hall, while members say the walk through Kowloon Park and early morning tai chi lessons (free) ‘slow the pace and mind down'.
There's a huge spa culture that brings balance to the frenzied streets, blending traditional Chinese medicine and Western therapy. Spas are walk-in and most have reputable therapists who knead weary bodies for around £10. Talk to our team about the best places to go.
We often recommend the I-Spa at the InterContinental or Plateau at the Grand Hyatt as good hotel-based options. Sense of Touch and the Acupressure and Massage Centre of the Blind, which offers skilled and affordable massages, are also popular.
