Hongkong Hotels

Das kürzlich eröffnete Disneyland, das zweite in Asien, ist nur eines der Höhepunkte dieser Stadt, und es nicht verwunderlich, dass Hongkong eines der beliebtesten Reiseziele Asiens ist.

Diese stark kommerizialisierte Stadt ist berühmt für ihre hohe Verkehrs-, Bevölkerungs- und Baudichte, doch für Großstädter ist dies eher ein Segen als ein Fluch. Die ansteckende Aura Hongkongs ist einzigartig: überfüllte Straßen, moderne Einkaufszentren, die über Märkten aufsteigen, ein malerischer Hafen und ein effizientes MTR Nahverkehrsnetz – überall hier findet sich Hongkongs einzigartiger Charakter!

Attractions

Victoria Peak is the most popular stop on the tourist front - Take the scenic path whilst riding the 100-year old tram from Central. At daytime, you will be afforded a bird’s eye view of the city with buildings jutting out in different heights. If you’re more of a nightowl, then a playful laser light show in Saturdays is fun to watch reflecting against the city lights below.

Kowloon peninsula offers street markets, the grand old lady of Hong Kong hotels, and the most recognisable harbour view captured in magazines and travel books. At the tip of Kowloon lies the Promenade looking out to the skyscrapers of the business district right across the waters. From this vantage point, you can see ferries shuttling people back and forth between the two islands. Mind your step though as you might be resting on some famous handprints of Chinese superstars imprinted on the Stars Avenue pavement.

Nearby you can find the legendary Peninsula Hotel, famous for its old-world style architecture and the Rolls Royce limousines parked in the driveway leading to the grand entrance.

Shopping in Hong Kong is in another level of existence. The propensity to shop is well alive be it for funky, cheap finds or swishy designer brands. Big spenders go to Shanghai Tang in Pedder Street, Landmark and Prince’s Building in Central. In Tsim Sha Tsui, Harbour City beckons with 700 shops and in Causeway Bay, Times Square offers 16 levels of clothing stores and restaurants. Nathan Road is lined with a variety of bargain items, souvenirs and luxury goods. For arts, crafts and fabrics, the Western market in Sheung Wan is the place to go to.

Away from the city’s bustle, there are attractions that offer a tad bit of calm. The Wishing Trees of Lam Tsuen village holds bunches of oranges hurled by devotees who seek fruition for their wishes. Lantau Island’s Po Lin monastery has the gigantic statue of Buddha and fantastic view of mountains and seas for the taking. And this island has rolled out the red carpet for the fun, loveable characters from Disney with the opening of Disneyland!

Events

The Bun festival on April and May is Hong Kong’s feast for the eyes. Buns are stacked in a giant tower and children decked in traditional finery are paraded around the streets in platforms carried by the people. Mid-Autumn festival brings out mooncakes and lanterns to commemorate the revolt against the Mongols during which secret messages were placed inside the small cakes.

On the sporting side, look forward to a flurry of fans during the Hong Kong Sevens which sees rugby fans flock to hotels and watering holes! Dragon boat races celebrating the chivalry of the hero Ch'u Yuen who drowned himself in the river as an act of protest against the government, are held in June with major events in Stanley, Tai Po and Sha Tin and the official races in the harbour itself. Horse-racing season runs from September to May putting the racetracks of Happy Valley (and the areas nearby) in a frenzied atmosphere.

Klima

Frühjahr (März - Mai) 22oC; sonnig und trocken

Sommer (Juni – Mitte September) 28oC; heiß, hohe Luftfeuchtigkeit und die meisten Regenfälle

Herbst (Mitte September - Mitte Dezember) 22oC; wegen des allgemein warmen und trockenen Wetters die beste Zeit für einen Besuch

Winter (Mitte Dezember – Mitte Februar) 14oC; weniger hohe Luftfeuchtigkeit mit seltenen Regenfällen, relativ kühle Temperaturen