Seven reasons Hong Kong should be your next escape
From skyline to street food, this vibrant city has a lot to offer.
SHAH SHAMSHIRI
The city of Hong Kong has always been a popular tourist destination for visitors from all over the world.
With a rich history shaping the island’s present prosperous state, this Special Administrative Region, which falls under the sovereignty of China, is a mega-lifestyle hub offering some of the best modern-day conveniences to its residents and visitors alike.
Here are seven reasons why many love the vibrant city of Hong Kong.
SHOPPING HAVEN
If there is one thing Hong Kong is renowned for, it would be shopping! Every year thousands of visitors flock to Hong Kong just to buy their favourite items.
With countless night markets all over the city, they offer some of the best quality products and knick knacks for everyone.
From the busy streets of Mongkok to an actual street known as ‘sneaker street’ which is known for selling affordable well-known sneaker brands, right up to their famous outlet malls like City Gate Outlets, visitors can be certain that they will definitely find something they love to purchase and bring home.
HONG KONG DISNEYLAND
How can anyone not love the theme park known as the ‘happiest place on Earth’? Hong Kong Disneyland is the closest Disneyland theme park for Southeast Asians.
The park is a favourite as the lines here are not too long and the weather is usually perfect to enjoy the rides all year round! They are also the first Disney theme park to introduce the ‘World Of Frozen’, themed from the famous animation movie Frozen.
It is also the world’s pioneering Muslim-friendly Disneyland featuring a food outlet that serves Halal delicacies. It also has a facility known as the ‘quiet room’ for Muslims which is built complete with an ablution area for those who wish to perform their daily prayers.
This means everyone can enjoy a whole day of fun at this magical place!
WELL-CONNECTED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
It is so convenient to get around the city as Hong Kong is very well connected through a meticulously planned train system by the local authorities. Visitors can get to any point in Hong Kong just by hopping on the trains or their famous double-decker bus.
Purchase the ‘Octopus Card’ to ease your city adventure.
EASE OF COMMUNICATION
Being a former British colony, most people in Hong Kong can either speak or understand English. So fret not if you do not speak a word of Cantonese or Mandarin, as long as you can speak English you can go almost anywhere in Hong Kong without the fear of getting lost.
MUSLIM-FRIENDLY AND INCLUSIVE
Hong Kong is also fast becoming a very Muslim-friendly destination for tourists. This makes it more appealing to tourists from other Muslim countries around the world.
With countless Muslim-friendly and halal dining options, Hong Kong is also no stranger to mosques and Muslim-friendly accommodations.
For dining, some of the recommended spots include Cuisine Cuisine, a high-end establishment of The Mira Hotel which has a special halal Cantonese tasting menu serving some fancy delicious treats, Marouf Coffee which takes pride in halal pastries and sandwiches, and Pasteako which serves halal meat in their renowned pasta dishes.
ARTISTIC HUB
Hong Kong is also a famous hub for rising stars of the creative arts. From museums to galleries, it is also the place for many designers to take flight. Local Asian fashion designers are also known to come from Hong Kong and one of the best places to scout for new independent designers would be the Police Married Quarters or PMQ.
Originally built in 1951 as Police Married Quarters (PMQ), the site was redeveloped in 2010 to support Hong Kong’s creative industries. It is now a hub for young local designers to sell and promote their creations. PMQ offers a variety of new local brands, selling everything from fashion to other creative products.
COUNTLESS UNIQUE ACCOMODATION CHOICES
Don’t expect any less from a vibrant city like Hong Kong. The island offers some of the best forms of accommodation from the most luxurious hotels to the more humble abodes.
For those who wish to indulge in the lap of luxury, check out The Cordis Hong Kong. Situated in the happening Mongkok vicinity, the hotel towers above the area giving a spectacular view of Hong Kong’s skyline. Sprinkled with countless unique artworks all over the hotel, they also have a gorgeous rooftop pool which is perfect for social media records!
The hotel offers four one-of-a-kind complimentary experiences and exciting activities for in-house guests to explore and adventure inside and around the hotel.
The activities include the daily poolside Tai Chi Class, the Mongkok Market Tour and also the Wine Tasting at their Michelin starred restaurant Ming Cellar.
And those who prefer to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, relax at The Southside by Ovolo situated on the southern part of Hong Kong. The hotel is so disturbingly chic that every corner screams for a photo.
Southside by Ovolo is a design-driven boutique hotel, breathing new life into a converted warehouse in one of Hong Kong’s most vibrant neighbourhoods.
The hotel showcases bold, modern art, featuring works by artists like Patrick Rubinstein and George Mead. With 160 rooms and eight unique room types, including the signature Rockstar Suites, Southside exudes a stylish, edgy atmosphere perfect for creative minds.
For stunning views, ABOVE, the hotel’s rooftop bar, offers a panorama from Ocean Park to Repulse Bay, ideal for relaxation.
