Hong Kong / Macau Travel

Celebrating their 1861 birthday, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce will be splashing out on the public's behalf and sponsoring a free ride day on May 29^th on both the Hong Kong tram and the two primary Star Ferry routes.

Now , while it's always good to see the city's businessmen digging into their deep pockets, for the individual there are no great savings here - the Hong Kong tram costs just HK$2.30 - but we couldn't pass up an opportunity to promote these grand Hong Kong attractions.

The double decker Hong Kong tram passes along Hong Kong Island's north shoreline, passing through some of the city's key districts, such as Central, and some of its most vibrant, such as Wan Chai. It's the ideal way to get a birds eye view over Hong Kong's bustling city streets.

Its counterpart, the Star Ferry, is a Hong Kong icon, and has been plying the waters from Central to Kowloon for more than a century. The beautiful, deep green boats with fairtale names such as Wishing Star are as much of an attraction as the views of the cityscape they offer.

So on May 29^th roll up for a free ride on one of Hong Kong's two best tourist attractions.

Photo: Star Ferry Seamen. Copyright Martyna Szmytkowska

Seen in cities around the world, bus tours have only arrived in Hong Kong in recent years. Now three firms are battling it out for the dollars of time pressed tourists looking to fit in all the essential sights on one trip.

We're not a huge fan of bus tours, especially not in Hong Kong. This is a city to be experienced, not to be passed by on the top deck of a double decker bus. Things need to be tasted, smelt and shopped. But, for some, bus tours are an irresistible opportunity to see the city in one quick trip.

In our Hong Kong bus tours article we've rated and reviewed all of the main competitors and documented just what they offer.

Do you like food? Do you like boats? Yes. Read on. Jumbo Kingdom is a floating restaurant on a grand boat moored off the Aberdeen coastline. It's also been one of Hong Kong's most popular tourist attractions since 1976.

This gargantuan vessel seats 2000+ diners and is decked out like a traditional Chinese Palace meets Moulin Rouge - all fairy lights, glowing neon signs and gold, grinning dragons. It's less a restaurant, more an event.

If the décor has always attracted superlatives, the food has mostly attracted derision. Overpriced is the criticism most kindly levelled at Jumbo - tourist trap for the less polite. In recent years it's had an overhaul and claims more quality in the kitchen.

Find out what we made of the new, improved Jumbo and whether it's worth putting on your itinerary in our review of Jumbo Kingdom.

Photo: Jumbo Kingdom Hong Kong. Copyright Jumbo Kingdom

Hong Kong must be about the only major city in the world missing a Ferris wheel. Crazy really, when you think about it. Since the London Eye took its bow the things have been springing up like mould across the globe, so for Hong Kong - one of the greatest cityscapes ever crafted - to not have its own seems, well crazy.

What Hong Kong does have is the DHL balloon. This giant hot air balloon floats tourists 300 feet into the air for an unrivalled view of the skyline. But is it worth it? In our DHL balloon review we take a look at the views, the experience and ask if you really need to pay to see the Hong Kong skyline?

Photo: DHL Balloon and the Hong Kong Skyline. Copyright DHL Balloon

Hong Kong's great green outback is often overlooked for the more cinematic skyscrapers and shop lined streets of the city. Yet Hong Kong - as a territory - remains 75% rural. There are golden beaches, furry green valleys and rocky mountains - well - very big hills.

Nowhere takes better advantage of Hong Kong's outback than Hong Kong Wetland Park. Set on the mudflats of the Mai Po Marshes, this fragile ecosystem ranks as one of the finest nature reserves in Asia. Flora and fauna thrive here and each Spring and Autumn thousands of migratory birds land here for some rest and relaxation.

The park is set up with themed trails to show off the best of the area's wildlife - including Pui Pui the local crocodile. Find out more in our Hong Kong Wetland Park review.

Photo: Stream at Hong Kong Wetland Park. Copyright Hong Kong Wetland Park

There's been few kind words about Macau's nightlife. Historically, if you wanted a drink, you needed to head into one of the seedy bars found inside the city's casinos. Here you'd meet shipwrecked gamblers, watered down beer and staff trying to nudge you back to a slot machine. Fun.

Improvements in Macau's nightlife have been heralded for years with little real impact on the ground. Things are changing, if slowly. The Docas area can actually claim a string of bars, although boastful claims of Lan Kwai Fong are wide of the mark. More encouragingly there are some great bars actually inside the casinos, while Macau Soul in the heritage quarter is the sort of wine lounge Macau has been crying out for with its fine history of cheap Portuguese wine.

Find out more in our guide to Macau nightlife or see our pick of the top 5 bars in Macau.

There is a perception that Chinese airlines still run on propellers and a prayer. Things are much improved. This is a country that is booming and modernizing at a phenomenal pace; the travel industry is ballooning. China can't put planes up in the air quick enough. There has also been a revolution in safety and service.

China Southern Airlines is China's biggest airline and the sixth biggest in the world; it's also a cheap way to get to Hong Kong or Guangdong province. From its hub in Guangzhou, the airline has launched a number of international destinations, including flights to the Middle East, Europe and the US and is continuing to expand.

Ticket prices are substantially cheaper than other carriers running the Hong Kong route and with Guanzghou and Hong Kong connected by a regular, 2 hour train journey, there is little hassle in getting down to the city.

Read our full China Southern Airlines review to get the lowdown on what to expect onboard.

When compared to rivals like NYC with the Statue of Liberty or Sydney with its Opera House, Hong Kong often seems a little bare on bonafide sights. Past the skyline, there's not much to put on the front of a guidebook.

Instead, this is a city of doing, of experiences, of trying new foods, getting crushed in crowds, shopping at 2am in the morning. So here's our definitive list of the top 10 attractions in Hong Kong - the ten things you should do, try or see - yes there are some sights in there - on a first visit to Hong Kong.

We've spread the picks from must do classics to some of the city's less appreciated and often overlooked attractions.

If you're staring at us through a computer screen in South East Asia and thinking it's finally time to come and see the HK for yourself, a package holiday could be a good investment.

Combining hotel and flights, these packages can offer you a good deal, but you have to shop smart. From the days you fly to the confusing names Hong Kong hoteliers use to price their rooms, you need to look at the small print before you buy.

We've put together ten essential tips for anyone considering a package holiday to Hong Kong.

Renting out a private apartment when heading on holiday has become a tourism phenomenon in recent years. From Chicago to the Tuscan countryside, travellers have embraced the chance to shave a few - or many - bucks off the price of a hotel room.

Air B&B, Couchsurfing and Wimdu all offer the opportunity to rent out someone's couch, room or whole flat. Arrangements vary, but in many cases, the opportunity to stay with a host is part of the attraction - a ready-made expert source of information on the city.

Hong Kong has been slow to pick up on the trend, but things are improving. Wimdu offers nearly 500 listings for Hong Kong in June. We've put together some top tips on apartments in Hong Kong, whether you want to stay for a week or you're moving here for good.