Monday December 14, 2009
Well, no bus rides quite yet; but construction does start this week on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge, scheduled to open its gates to traffic as early as 2015. At nearly 30km long, the bridge will span the Pearl Rover Delta and be one of the longest in the world, cutting travel time between Zhuhai, on the Chinese mainland, and Hong Kong from 3 hours to just 30mins. Macau's ferry operators will also be worried as the bridge is going to reduce travel time between Hong Kong and the former Portuguese colony to 30mins.
More on China and Macau
Sunday December 13, 2009
Whether you're spending Christmas in Hong Kong or just visiting before the festive period, the city is an excellent spot to fill Santa's sleigh with presents. All this week we'll be bringing you our five favourite gifts from Hong Kong, starting today with suits.
Hong Kong tailors are famed for suiting and booting some of the world's biggest stars, as well as an army of businessmen from Minnesota to Manilla. Low-cost and high-quality, Hong Kong has long been a world-leader in producing bespoke suits at half the price and at twice the speed of their London and New York counterparts.
Whether it's a smart, wool number for work or an Italian inspired silk creation, if you know the measurements, a suit can make a great gift. Before you dive in to the buckles and buttons, check out the links below to help you choose both a suit and a tailor.
More on Hong Kong Tailors and Suits
Monday December 7, 2009
Michelin starred restaurant's are usually associated with snobby chefs, a guest list that reads like the line-up at Madame Tussauds and prices that can induce cardiac arrest. Not any more.
Michelin's second guide to Hong Kong has just been released and, alongside the swanky, five star hotel restaurants, a handful of more modestly priced restaurants have been endowed with a star. These include Tim Ho Wan (G/F Tsui Yuen Mansion, 2-20 Kowng Wa Street, Mongkok), in Mongkok, a tiny canteen style eatery that offers Dim Sum for as little as HK$10 (US$1,29). That's the cheapest Michelin endorsed meal you can get your hands on anywhere in the world.
Last year the guide was roundly criticised for focussing on upmarket eateries and European cuisines in what's considered the world's best city for Cantonese food, often at budget prices. This year they acknowledged their critics and added a number of Hong Kong's trademark eat and run food stalls, under the "simple shop category".
Read More
Idiot Proof Guide to Dim Sum in Hong Kong
Michelin Starred Restaurants in Hong Kong
Visit Mongkok (home of Tim Ho Wan)
Wednesday November 25, 2009
Real deals can be hard to come by in Hong Kong so it's a relief to see the Hong Kong Card has some genuine savings up its sleeve not just the usual promotional promises.
The card offers 50% off or buy one get one free at some of Hong Kong's best restaurants and spas and claims to offer an average saving of HK$200 in restaurants and HK$1000 in spas. That doesn't seem like an idle boast considering the price of a meal at many Hong Kong restaurants, and with the card selling for HK$250 for a months validity, you'll likely make your money back in your first two restaurants.
Here's my favorite thing about the card, there are no restrictions. You don't need to spend the best best part of a day trying to decipher the small print with a magnifying glass; the card has no minimum spend, you don't need to book in advance and it can be used as often as you like.
They've also managed to include some of Hong Kong's best and best loved restaurants, with highlights including Lan Kwai Fong institution California, the sleek Scandinavian style of FINDS and the spicy Indian cuisine at Jashan. You can see a full list of where the card is valid and find out where to pick one up over at Hong Kong Card.
