Hong Kong Travel & Vacation Guide

At 20:00 every night, you can admire a dazzling multimedia show outdoors with laser lights in a multitude of colours; the show involves more than 40 buildings by the harbour. This is a beautiful and unforgettable experience that should not be missed when vising Hong Kong. The best views are along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront between the Avenue of Stars and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and the promenade at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai.

You will find the Big Buddha on Lantau Island which is the largest island in Hong Kong. Big Buddha is the world's largest seated outdoor bronze Buddha statue, which is more than 34 metres high. After the visit, head to the monastery nearby where you can eat a vegetarian lunch with the monks.

Hong Kong's Dragon's Back Trail is a 2-3 hour hiking trail that cuts through stunning landscapes and offers views over the southern part of Hong Kong, with opportunities for a swim or surf at Big Wave Bay. This hike is the last section of what comprises a total of 8 legs of the entire Hong Kong Trail, so if you feel up to a more extensive adventure, simply enter at an earlier point.

Hong Kong Disneyland is the perfect place to enjoy a full day with family and friends. Here, dreams are brought to life for both the young and the ones young at heart. Meet your favourite Disney character, spice up your day with parades and fireworks, and try out all the thrilling rides. The park is divided into seven main areas: Adventureland - into the heart of uncharted jungles Fantasyland - the "happiest kingdom of them all" Grizzly Gulch - look for gold and glitter in an abandoned mining town Main Street, USA - the picturesque boulevard of dreams Mystic Point - a mysterious rainforest Tomorrowland - like our dreams - is timeless Toy Story Land - a chance for you to become a toy

If you're interested in classical Chinese art and calligraphy, the Hong Kong Museum of Art is the perfect destination. Recently reopened after several years of refurbishment, it now boasts expanded exhibition spaces and collections. While it has a solid collection of classical works, the highlight is its display of old photographs and prints from the Colonial era.

This museum narrates the history of Hong Kong. Go through the eight rooms that range from prehistoric times to the hand-over to China in 1997. Here you can see everything from traditional Chinese clothes and an old reconstructed street from 1881 to toys from the 1970s.

Hong Kong Science Museum opened its doors in 1991 and is truly a place where you can learn science in a fun way. The museum houses over 500 exhibits including the Energy Machine - the largest device of its kind in the world - and the DC-3 airplane (the first local airliner). There are also many games and activities suitable for visitors of all ages.

At the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, you will find hundreds of species of birds and exotic plants in a beautiful setting filled with fountains and sculptures. On the West of Garden Road, which runs straight through the gardens, you will find a zoo with an impressive collection of endangered species.

This bar lives up to its name: a good place to hang out with friends all night long. Eight in-house rock bands, their live music after happy hour with a dance floor is undoubtedly a highlight. Yet, if you would like to have a heart-to-heart over beer, wine, or cocktails till dawn, the sound-proof door prevents you getting distracted from the conversation.

Boba Bear is a hookah lounge in Soho with bubble tea inspired cocktails. Shisha comes with fancy glowing light with various choices of flavours. If you are not sure which one will work best for you, ask the staff for a popular mix. Remember to arrive early, or expect to stay in line for a while. Another Boba Bear Shisha bar is in Causeway Bay.

Conveniently located in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, Delaney's Kowloon has brought a piece of Ireland into Hong Kong's nightlife since 1995. Choose from the ground floor’s very popular Irish pub in black and white, or the restaurant and sports bar on the floor above, with its rustic quality Irish pub food.

Dragon-I serves Japanese and Chinese fusion cuisine during the day but in the evenings, it turns into a nightclub. Have a drink with Hong Kong’s film and pop stars in this small but cosy designer club in Soho. It may be difficult to get into Dragon-I, but it is well worth the effort. For those who don’t manage to squeeze in, an alternative is happy hour from 5pm to 9pm on Wednesdays to Fridays.

Take the elevator up and prepare yourself for a wow-moment! The city skyline view from up here is just amazing and the bar is decorated in contemporary chinoiserie with beautiful turquoise and gold patterned floors. The Eyebar is a perfect place to have an evening drink (try their signature cocktail the ‘Suzie Wrong’).

All-day dinning and fancy cocktails in a sophisticated ambiance - this is what you can expect at MO Bar. The interior designer for this bar, Adam Tihany, specialises in luxury spaces and it is easy to tell by the way this unique bar is designed. The clientele is largely bankers and celebrities who know what they want and where to get it.

OZONE is the highest rooftop sky bar in the world, and offers an unbelievable view of the Victoria Harbour from the 118th floor. The bar is stylishly decorated, aiming to bring you a memorable night with their inventive food and drinks and outstanding service.

Looking for a world-class experience? Then head over to Quinary - no 41 in World's 50 Best Bars and no 6 in Asia's 50 Best Bars in 2016. Sip on award-winning cocktails that offer multi-sensory enjoyment - it is playful, innovative, somber, soothing and exotic at the same time. Allow this chic bar to put a perfect end to your day with their excellent service and magical drinks.

Upper Lascar Road is known as Cat Street, was named during the open trade of Hong Kong in the beginning stage. As a street featured antiques, it is a fantastic place to find treasures for different ancient stuffs and gifts. Here, you can also discover and bargain in traditional art crafts, like silk products, embroideries and jade.

The largest outlet shopping mall in Hong Kong, Citygate Outlets is located next to the Hong Kong Airport and near The Ngong Ping 360. Here you will find more than 80 international brands with discounts of30%-70%. Check-in with one of the largest outdoor kinetic fountains in Asia at the gate.

Dragon Centre is where the locals would always love to go and shop , searching their favorite items in reasonable price in this shoppers' paradise of Sham Shui Po. The vibrant shopping mall has the largest number of sales kiosk in Hong Kong, wide collections of chic knick knacks and accessories especially for ladies. It also featured an indoor ice skating rink and an arcade centre.

As designed with the five Chinese elements of water, fire, earth, wood and metal by world-renowned Benoy, Elements provides brands from middle price to luxury of accessories and cosmetics products, as well as large variety of fashion brands. The mall also has the largest organic food supermarket in Hong Kong. The mall is linked with the city's tallest building- International Commerce Centre. Here you can get to sky100 and explore the impressive view of Hong Kong Island and Victoria Habour.

Golden Computer is a four-storey shopping centre at the heart of Mong Kok, famous for its all-inclusive electronic gadgets from computers, notebooks, phone supplies, computer games, to camera gear, all at reasonable prices.

Are you a big fan of shopping? You may consider having an empty luggage with you. Here's the largest shopping centre in Hong Kong featuring 450+ shops and stores, located along the Victoria Habour. This vast plaza is not a maze but you would definitely forget your way out. There are five sections: Gateway Arcade and Ocean Centre: Luxury brands. Ocean Terminal: Kids & Toys, Sportswear, Cosmetics. Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel Arcade: Lane Crawford, Cinema. Star Annex: the bookshop Eslite

This plaza is adjacent to Kwai Fong Plaza and Metroplaza. It is a favourite haunt of teenagers and young adults in search of cheap clothing, beauty products, fusion snacks and special drinks at the best price. If you are a budget traveller, you must bookmark this amazing place.

Lane Crawford, the first western department store in Hong Kong selling luxury fashion, beauty, and lifestlye goods, is well-stocked and well-organised with its excellent retail design. Some think it a trifle expensive, but it may be worth it for the good service.

Weather-wise, the best period to plan a trip for is between October and December. It does get chilly during the winter, although not critically so, and temperatures rarely fall far below 10 degrees Celsius.

Hong Kong's visa policy is more liberal than that of mainland China. Citizens of most world countries may enter Hong Kong without a visa for periods ranging from 14 to 180 days.

Hong Kong’s airport was previously in the city centre and it was an experience to fly in among the skyscrapers. The new airport, built on an artificial island, is still a major sight. Feted as one of the most ambitious engineering projects ever, this large airport really is proof that the construction of an airport is a prestige project and a work of art, too. The British architect, Sir Norman Foster, has described the building as homage to travellers in modern times. The new high-tech airport lies a little way outside Hong Kong, but the Airport Express leaves every twelve minutes and takes you downtown in 24 minutes. A number of public buses also take you into the city. At the airport there is also an Airport Ambassador Programme and a Customer Service Centre you can turn to for more information and help.

The clean, modern and efficient MTR (metro) is often the quickest way to get around. A smart way is to buy an Octopus Card which can be used on most of the local buses, trains, trams, and ferries. You can buy the Octopus Card at any MTR Customer Service Centre and Airport Express Customer Service Centre. You can reload the card at any convenience store, supermarket, or Add Value Machine at the station. If you do not want it as a souvenir, return it to the centre and get the refundable deposit. You can also buy a one-day card on MTR, or an Airport Express Travel Pass for any 3 consecutive days of unlimited rides on the MTR with Airport Express. The bus fare depends on how far you travel, but remember that you need the exact amount or an Octopus Card to pay. There is also a small minibus which is a mix of taxi and bus and takes slightly longer but might take you closer to where you want to go. Trams are also a pleasant way to get around: double-deckers run east to west and vice versa on Hong Kong island, and can be used as a cheap alternative to sightseeing tour buses, especially if you can score the front seats by the panoramic windows on the upper deck.

It is relatively cheap and simple to travel by taxi in Hong Kong — just flag down the first taxi that comes down the street. The colour of the taxi indicates its geographical area. Red taxis are for most of Hong Kong, except Tung Chung Road and Lantau Island South. Green taxis are for the New Territories. Blue taxis are available on Lantau Island. All taxis provide service to the Hong Kong International Airport.

Hong Kong uses a three-pin plug known as plug type G, same as in the UK. The average voltage is 220V at 50Hz.

There are around 600 pharmacies in Hong Kong. If you want to see a pharmacist, look for the "Rx" sign with a red cross outside the pharmacy. You can also get medicine at Mannings, Watsons, or any convenience store. SOS International Alarm +852 2528 9900 For general enquiries and advice, call +852 2300 6555 or go to Hong Kong Central Hospital, 1b Lower Albert Road, Central, +852 2537 8441.

The main post office is adjacent to the Star Ferry Terminal on Hong Kong Island. Opening hours vary from office to office. Stamps are available in convenience stores. You can also find post boxes on most streets.