Hong Kong, Asia’s World City on the southern coast of China, thrives on contrasts. Around seven million people call the city home. In centuries-old neighbourhoods such as Old Town Central or Sham Shui Po, the contrasts between Eastern traditions and Western lifestyles are consciously lived and celebrated.
The many cultural influences of the past continue to shape Hong Kong to this day. Towering skyscrapers frame incense-filled temples, futuristic shopping centres stand next to bustling street markets, and mysterious esoteric traditions meet disciplined business acumen. Hong Kong’s culinary scene is just as diverse as its vibrant culture. With more than 15,000 restaurants, the city has one of the highest restaurant densities in the world – ranging from simple street food stalls to three-Michelin-starred gourmet restaurants.
But Hong Kong also has another side. Just a few minutes beyond the world-famous skyline, the landscape turns green. Around 40 percent of Hong Kong’s land area is protected countryside. Across the New Territories and roughly 240 islands, hundreds of kilometres of hiking and cycling trails stretch through the landscape. Secluded bays and beaches, mountain villages where time seems to have stood still, and even a UNESCO Geopark are just as much a part of Hong Kong as the glittering skyscrapers surrounding the famous Victoria Harbour.
Even Hong Kong residents are often surprised by the green side of their megacity: two thirds of the territory consist of undeveloped land, with 40 percent protected as countryside. Around 240 islands belong to the Special Administrative Region, many of them uninhabited.
The best way to discover Hong Kong’s green side is along its countless hiking and cycling routes. Hundreds of kilometres of trails lead through wetlands and river landscapes, eucalyptus forests and bamboo groves, and up lush mountain slopes overlooking the sea.
Beach lovers and water sports enthusiasts can choose from more than 40 beaches in Hong Kong, many of which can only be reached on foot or by boat.
Rising to 957 metres, Tai Mo Shan is the highest mountain in the heart of the New Territories. From its summit, visitors can enjoy sweeping 360-degree views extending all the way to mainland China.
Around 20 kilometres to the east, the UNESCO Global Geopark in Sai Kung reveals an entirely different world. Numerous small islands with secluded sandy beaches and green hills rise from turquoise waters. They also preserve traces of the historic Hakka settlers, many of whom left these islands long ago in search of opportunities in the city. Geologically, the islands are fascinating witnesses to volcanic activity and erosion.
No trip to Hong Kong is complete without a visit to Lantau, Hong Kong’s largest island. Its most famous landmark is the Tian Tan Buddha and the neighbouring Po Lin Monastery. Nearby, visitors can also explore the Wisdom Path and the stilt village of Tai O.
Life moves at an even gentler pace on Lamma Island. Traditionally shaped by fishing, the island is known not only for its excellent seafood but also for its numerous hiking trails, mountain bike routes and beaches.
Just a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong lies the Dragon’s Back hiking trail on Hong Kong Island. Many other trails, including the more than 100-kilometre-long MacLehose Trail, take residents and visitors into another world – far removed from, yet incredibly close to, the city.
Incense-filled temples between gleaming skyscrapers, futuristic shopping centres alongside lively street markets, and ancient esoteric beliefs combined with disciplined business thinking: few cities in the world bring such contrasts together as directly as Hong Kong.
Eastern traditions and Western lifestyles exist side by side, blending every day into a constantly evolving and vibrant culture. Influences from both Britain and China continue to shape the cityscape and its people.
Many Chinese customs and traditions have endured throughout Hong Kong’s 2,000-year history. It is therefore no surprise that Chinese pharmacies still sell traditional remedies such as dried roots and mysterious herbal tinctures. Traditional Chinese medicine remains an integral part of society.
The ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui is equally inseparable from Hong Kong. Many residents believe that good Feng Shui attracts prosperity and protects against misfortune. It is not only Hong Kong’s skyscrapers that follow strict Feng Shui principles. The city itself is said to benefit from excellent Feng Shui thanks to its remarkable geographical setting.
In the early morning, stressed businesspeople and active senior citizens alike seek physical and mental balance through Tai Chi in the city’s many parks.
Buddhist and Taoist temples remain busy, while ancient rituals such as ancestor worship and the tradition known as “Petty Person Beating” continue to play an important role in society. During the latter, older women symbolically punish troublesome people on behalf of their clients by cutting out a paper tiger and striking it repeatedly with a shoe.
Hong Kong is a culinary melting pot where Chinese and European influences have both left their mark. More than 15,000 restaurants compete for the attention of hungry diners.
Among them are many Dai Pai Dongs, traditional street food stalls, and Cha Chaan Tengs, Hong Kong-style fast-food cafés that have often served generations of customers with quick and delicious dishes. Modern street food markets have also become increasingly popular in recent years.
Much of Hong Kong’s cuisine is Cantonese, with fresh ingredients traditionally cooked in a wok and served with rice. The cuisine places particular emphasis on stir-fried and steamed dishes, helping preserve the flavour and nutrients of fresh ingredients.
Dim sum is particularly popular. These small filled dumplings can be found on almost every street corner in Hong Kong, and there are said to be more than 2,000 different varieties.
Desserts and sweets often combine Chinese and Southeast Asian flavours. Egg bubble waffles are another much-loved local speciality and are widely sold as street food.
Thanks to its many international influences and adventurous diners, Hong Kong attracts chefs from all over the world and has developed a world-class fine dining scene. With currently 77 distinguished restaurants, the city offers an impressive selection for even the most discerning palates.
Hong Kong is therefore rightly considered one of Asia’s culinary capitals.
Visitors wishing to explore Hong Kong’s culinary scene should consider travelling in autumn, when numerous food and drink events take place. At the end of October, the three-day Wine & Dine Festival invites visitors to indulge from 29 October to 1 November.
Two more hot tips for night owls: Bar Leone has been named the world’s best bar, while Ozone is the highest bar in the world.
Hong Kong’s art scene reflects the city’s eventful and multifaceted past, offers insight into the minds and creative processes of contemporary artists, and demonstrates the city’s growing influence on the future of global culture.
More than 2,000 years of Chinese history and 155 years under British rule have shaped every aspect of Hong Kong’s artistic development, from historic museums to modern street art.
Hong Kong’s role as a major trading centre has also influenced the diversity of its creative scene. Its harbour has long served as East Asia’s gateway to the world and as a key point of exchange between local and international artists.
It therefore comes as no surprise that, following Basel and Miami Beach, Hong Kong was selected as the third location for Art Basel in Asia in 2013.
The city attracts not only international art dealers and collectors, but also creatives from around the world. Artists, gallery owners and supporters of scholarship programmes alike are drawn to Hong Kong’s energy and dynamism.
The importance of Hong Kong’s art scene extends far beyond traditional definitions of art. In addition to museums, galleries and cultural institutions, entire districts such as the new West Kowloon Cultural District are dedicated to culture and creativity.
Street artists give the cityscape a distinctive identity, festivals and events form an important part of Hong Kong Arts Month, and the city’s diverse urban backdrop provides fascinating settings for films and books.
If travellers could spend an entire year in Hong Kong, every month would bring fascinating experiences and opportunities to learn about customs, some of which date back thousands of years.
Why are oranges thrown into trees? Why do families and friends gather to admire the moon? What is the meaning behind thousands of hanging lanterns? And how do residents honour their deceased ancestors?
Visitors can experience a wide variety of traditions during Chinese New Year. There is no need to rush, as the celebrations extend over several days. The exact start of the festivities depends on the lunar calendar.
On the day before New Year, visiting a flower market is an important tradition. Cherry blossoms, for example, are believed to bring luck in love, while lilies symbolise wealth.
On New Year’s Day, many Hong Kong residents climb one of the nearby mountains or walk up to the Buddha statue, as ascending symbolises progress in life.
In the evening, the Kowloon district of Tsim Sha Tsui comes alive with a colourful street parade that continues into the early hours of the following morning.
On the first day after New Year, many residents travel to Lam Tsuen in Tai Po in the New Territories to take part in a traditional village custom.
They write wishes on pieces of paper attached to oranges and throw them into trees. The higher the orange remains hanging in the tree, the greater the chance that the wish will come true.
The theme of future happiness continues in the evening, when fireworks over Victoria Harbour create auspicious symbols and images in the night sky.
On the second day after New Year, many Hong Kong residents visit temples to pay tribute to their faith. At Che Kung Temple in Tai Wai, for example, turning a copper windmill is believed to bring good fortune for the year ahead.
Many people also attend the New Year horse races at Sha Tin Racecourse. Taking part is another long-standing tradition – and with a little knowledge of horses, it may even bring financial luck for the new year.
Valentine’s Day is celebrated twice in Hong Kong. In addition to 14 February, the final day of Chinese New Year festivities is also regarded as a day for lovers.
Colourful lantern decorations fill parks and streets, while large flower markets offer an abundance of blossoms.
The Ching Ming Festival takes place primarily in Hong Kong’s cemeteries. So many people travel to visit family graves that public transport operators even provide additional services.
The literal translation of “Ching Ming” means “clean and bright”, and this is reflected in the tradition of carefully cleaning and maintaining the graves of ancestors.
Inscriptions are restored, food is offered, and incense sticks are lit in remembrance of deceased family members.
During the festival, various paper offerings are burned in the belief that they will reach ancestors in the afterlife and provide them with a comfortable existence.
These offerings range from imitation banknotes to paper versions of mobile phones, laptops, refrigerators, air-conditioning units and even luxury cars.
The birthday of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, is celebrated for an entire week in Hong Kong.
One of the best-known rituals is the “Bathing of the Buddha”, during which worshippers pour water over small Buddha statues as a symbolic act of spiritual purification.
Also worth trying are the traditional green cookies. Their bitter taste is intended to remind people that hard work in life will ultimately be rewarded.
Fishing played an important role in Hong Kong’s development.
During the Yuan Dynasty, from 1206 to 1368, fishermen and sailors are said to have revered a man who, according to legend, could predict the weather and even heal the sick.
Each year, the birthday of this patron saint, Tam Kung, is commemorated with a spectacular lion and dragon parade in Shau Kei Wan.
Readers of Time magazine may already be familiar with it: the Bun Festival on Cheung Chau was once named among the ten most unusual festivals in the world.
Between the fifth and ninth days of the fourth lunar month, visitors travel to the island of Cheung Chau to see the giant papier-mâché figures of the Piu Sik Parade.
Historically, these figures were created as offerings to help end a plague epidemic. The papier-mâché tradition has survived, as has an impressive bun-baking marathon.
Bakers are said to have produced tens of thousands of buns, which were also believed to help drive away disease.
Today, the buns are used in a lively competition. Courageous participants climb a 14-metre-high bamboo tower and attempt to collect as many bun replicas as possible.
Hong Kong’s Dragon Boat Festival attracts thousands of enthusiastic spectators.
The origins of the festival are associated with the poet Qu Yuan, who is said to have drowned himself in a river in 278 BC after suffering an injustice.
Today, spectators watch around 5,000 costumed paddlers compete, while food stalls and accompanying events create a festive atmosphere.
Tradition still plays an important role: followers of Qu Yuan are said to have thrown rice dumplings into the river so that the fish would eat them rather than his body. This custom is still remembered today.
Ancestor worship lies at the heart of the Hungry Ghost Festival.
One of its most fascinating rituals is the burning of imitation money and other offerings, based on the belief that ancestors may use these items in the afterlife.
According to traditional Chinese beliefs, restless spirits wander the earth during the seventh month of the lunar calendar.
Many Chinese people honour their own ancestors in an effort to appease these wandering spirits.
The festival has been celebrated for more than 100 years and forms part of China’s intangible cultural heritage.
The Fire Dragon Dance is another tradition centred around the pursuit of good fortune.
According to the story of the village of Tai Hang, courageous residents ended a run of bad luck in 1880 by performing their own dragon dance.
The tradition continues to this day.
Around 300 volunteers carry a 70-metre-long dragon covered with burning incense sticks.
For three moonlit evenings, the spectacular procession moves through the narrow streets of Tai Hang on Hong Kong Island amid fire, smoke and festive energy.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is, after Chinese New Year, one of the most important celebrations for Hong Kong residents.
On the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, when the moon is believed to be particularly bright and full, people consciously take time to gather with family and friends.
Together, they admire the moon and express their wishes for a happy life.
Enjoying small mooncakes is another important part of the tradition. Traditionally, these pastries are filled with nuts and sugar.
The official currency in Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Dollar (HKD). Currently, approximately ten Hong Kong Dollars are equivalent to one Swiss Franc.
International credit cards are accepted in larger hotels and shops, and withdrawing cash from ATMs is generally straightforward.
Swiss citizens may enter Hong Kong without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
Travellers should carry a passport valid for at least six months, a return or onward flight ticket and, if requested, proof of sufficient funds for their stay.
The flight time from Europe to Hong Kong is approximately eleven hours. Direct flights are currently offered by Cathay Pacific and SWISS.
The Airport Express connects the airport with the city centre in around 20 minutes. Taxis and buses are also available.
Thanks to its compact size and one of the world’s most efficient public transport systems, Hong Kong is particularly easy and convenient to explore.
Street signs are generally written in both English and Chinese.
With an Octopus Card, travellers can easily use ferries, the MTR underground system, buses and trams.
High humidity, daytime temperatures around 20°C and cooler nights.
Very high humidity, daytime temperatures of around 30–35°C, generally sunny with occasional showers.
Pleasant temperatures, plenty of sunshine and a comfortable breeze.
Daytime temperatures around 15°C and a dry climate.
7.5 million residents
More than 1,300 skyscrapers
More than 240 islands
1,104 km² total area
More than 8,000 high-rise buildings
More than 70 beaches
More than 15,000 restaurants
40% of the land area is protected countryside
More than 2,000 years of history
For the travel industry
PartnerNet – Hong Kong Tourism Board
