Leap September and Occupy Central in Hong Kong

Leap September and Occupy Central in Hong Kong

If you’ve observed the Chinese Lunar Calendar, you may realize that there are 7 “leap months” every 19 years.  In 2014, we have a rare leap month of September.  How rare?  The last was 182 years ago, i.e. 1832, and the next being 2109, i.e. 95 years from now.  If you have a baby to be born in the leap month of Lunar September (October 24 – November 22), he or she would have to live to the age of 95 in order to celebrate a real birthday.

How Does a Leap Month Occur?

In China’s Lunar Calendar, Otsuki months has 30 days, Satsuki 29 days, 12 months a year of 354 days or 355 days, running short of about 11 days comparing to a normal calendar year.  3 years down, there will be a short of about one month. In the long term, there will be days of confused timing and strange phenomenon. To solve this problem, the “intercalary” approach is being used. i.e. to add one month to that year, and that added month is called intercalary month or leap month.  Hence the leap year will have 13 months.  2014 is one of such leap years and has two Lunar Septembers.

How is the leap month being determined?

The Lunar Calendar has 24 solar terms, the odd number as "jie-qi", even as "zhong-qi." The odd and even appear alternately every 15 days.

According to regulations, each ordinary Lunar month must have a combination of jie-qi and zhong-qi. Only those months lacking one will be defined as the Leap Month.  For example, in 2014, Lunar September has only one solar term, and the next one falls on the 1^st of Lunar October, hence September becomes a leap month, and there will be two Septembers in the Lunar Calendar.

In fact, there is scientific explanation for the rare occurrence of leap September. It is understood that due to the Earth's perihelion at different speeds and movement, the possibility of leap month occurs toward winter is very small.

According to statistics, the Lunar March, April, May, June, July has more occurrences. Leap November only occurred once in 1650, leap December and January had never happened.

Occupy Central - September 2014

The Implications of a Rare Leap September

Metaphysicians believe, "Chinese people are traditionally scared of rare phenomenon”, hence many seniors give red packets to their young family members as a means of safeguarding.

Mid Autumn Festival usually occurs in September of western calendar. However 2014 Mid Autumn falls on September 8th which is the earliest in the recent 38 years.  Why?  Due to a leap September.  The leap September also induces two Chung Yeung (double-nine) Festival.  According to tradition, people will only celebrate the first one and not the one on the leap month.  

Some Chinese believe if you were born in a leap month, and if that leap month occurs again ever in your life, you should go buy gold and that will bring you great fortune.

Many believe leap September brings disasters and political instability.  Believe it or not, ‘Occupy Central’ was kicked off on September 28 (September 5 in Lunar Calendar), although not in the Leap September.  I was forced to work from home yesterday, due to the road blocks.  Many shops in Central, Admiralty, Causeway Bay and Tsimshatsui were forced to close.  It’s really a great threat to the general public of Hong Kong. Well, no one knows how long this is going to last!

Others believe political instability may not be due to a leap September, it could be the effect of the year of Horse and Goat.  Looking back, China’s Cultural Revolution happened in 1966 (Horse) and Hong Kong’s Riot happened in 1967 (Goat).  Will you consider it as coincidence or superstition?

Hong Kong Travel Blog - Leap September and Occupy Central

City of Demonstration – Hong Kong

Hong Kong dominates the headlines of most media worldwide today. July 1, the date of the establishment of the HKSAR, has been an important date for demonstrators in Hong Kong since 1997.

If you want to visit Hong Kong to see something which is REALLY UNIQUE here, July 1 is a good date.  However you have to be SERIOUSLY responsible for your own safety.  Look for some safe places or book a hotel along Hennessy Road and request a room overseeing the Hennessy Road.  I would say this is the safest way.  But mind you, you won’t be able to leave the hotel between 2 and 9pm, as there are road blocks for the demonstrators.

Hong Kong - July 1, 2014

Along Hennessy Road

Depart from the Victoria Park

Gathering at Central

Photo source:  Bloomberg

How Many Protestors Are There?

Was about 500,000 yesterday (July 1, 2014)

Was about 1,000,000 some ten years ago (July 1, 2003)

With these numbers, do you think you want to come to Hong Kong and see it yourself?  The good thing is, it happens VERY PUNCTUALLY once every year on the same date July 1, regardless of weather or anything.

News Headlines for Hong Kong, July 1, 2014

Now let’s review some of the headlines from some major media.

The Guardian

Hong Kong pro-democracy march attracts tens of thousands.Organisers expect 500,000-strong 1 July rally, and student activists plan 24-hour occupation of business district.

New York Times

Huge Crowds Turn Out for Pro-Democracy March in Hong Kong, Defying Beijing.

Wall Street Journal

Massive Hong Kong Democracy Protest, Unwanted Party-Crashers.

CNN

After almost 800,000 Occupy Central 'votes,' Hong Kong readies for massive protest.

Bloomberg

H.K. Police Clear Protesters After Decade’s Biggest Rally.

July 1: a short history of Hong Kong's march for democracy

South China Morning Post has this video article.  Sit back and take one step further to get to know the history of Hong Kong demonstration.  Highly recommended.

Hong Kong Travel Blog - City of Demonstration

Hong Kong Chinese New Year Weather

If you want to find how the Hong Kong Chinese New Year weather is, you probably want to visit Hong Kong to experience the New Year atmosphere here. If that’s the case, I have something interesting to tell. 

Statistics indicates every three Chinese New Year (CNY), two of them fall on February. In the past ten years (2004-2013), there were 6 CNYs fall on February. 

Going through the internet, it’s easy to find some general information about Hong Kong weather in February, such as cool, dry, sunny, etc., easily accessed information that I don’t want to repeat here. But weather is sometimes predictable while sometimes not. The cool February here did have a record of 28C degrees in 2009. Dry February is also not true all the time.

Chinese has a saying of ‘dry winter wet year’. If this is your first time hearing about this, let me explain a bit. 

December 21 is the Winter Solstice. Chinese tradition weights Winter Solstice heavier than New Year, Hong Kong is no exception. Some companies even arrange for staff to finish work early in order to go home to prepare family dinner. Chinese believe if Winter Solstice has no rain, the upcoming Chinese New Year will rain. No one knows how this relationship is being established. One of the reasons could be due to its recurrence. 

While Winter Solstice is always December 21 (occasionally 22), Chinese New Year may be as early as January 22 (2004) or as late as February 20 (1984), the days between Winter Solstice and CNY ranges between 31 and 61 days. What has caused a relationship between a dry day in December and a wet day in the following year 31 to 61 days apart is something interesting to discuss. 

Let’s first of all define dry and wet. 

Let say dry means rainfall of less than 0.1mm; wet means rainfall of 0.1mm or more. Interestingly, over the past decade (2004-2013) were all "dry winters" in Hong Kong, and seven were sunny. However there were only four years of "wet year" and therefore "the dry winter and wet year" accuracy rate is only 40%; if we count in new year eve and the 2nd and 3rd day of CNY, the accuracy goes up to 60%. 

On climate science, Hong Kong in December by the cold and dry continental air, the higher the chance fine; began in January, warm and humid maritime airstream start to affect the south China coastal areas, the weather became cloudy with occasional fog, falls cold air southward, the two streams meet they form clouds and rain, so the "dry winters" and "wet years" is actually not directly related. 

Even so, ‘dry winter wet year’ did happen 5 years in a row (1992-1996).

Flower Market at Hong Kong Chinese New Year Eve 2010 - February 13

So how is the Hong Kong Chinese New Year weather like?  Apart from cool, dry and sunny, it may rain due to the ‘dry winter wet year’ effect.

2013 winter was dry; 2014 CNY falls on Jan 31, which means Feb 1 is the second day of Chinese New Year.  Considering the 60% accuracy of ‘dry winter wet year’, you’re on the safe side to visit Hong Kong with an umbrella, if you tend to come here to experience the Chinese New Year atmosphere.

Hong Kong Travel Blog - Dry Winter Wet Year

Star Ferry on Sunday

Star Ferry is not only a ferry!
When you are told of Star Ferry, you may think of a ferry ride from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon and vise versa.  Of course this is true, but if you come on Sunday, Star Ferry has a lot more to offer.

Last Sunday a friend of mine was invited to do a show there.  So I went there to support her and took a video around what's happening at the Star Ferry at Central.  Click on the video below, and I'll tell you more.

 

When I got off the tram in Central at Worldwide House, I walked over the footbridge to Star Ferry.  On the footbridge level there was weekly organic vegetable market which were held every Sunday where local organic produce are sold.  This level is where you actually take the ferry, visit the visitor's centre, take a break at the Subway coffee shop or fine dining at the WaterMark.  There are spacious observation decks around.  You can relax and admire the beautiful Victoria Harbour.

On the ground level, my friend and her team were invited to do some cultural performances.  The video above captured some Cantonese music, while my friend was invited to sing.  Some dragon dances and other local cultural shows were held.  There were also many other mini stores where you can learn to fold a grasshopper, do some mini handicraft, or learn some organic cooking.

On the ground level is also the terminus of the Big Bus.  You can start a hop-on hop-off bus tour around Hong Kong.  I have copied the video from the Big Bus website to give you an idea of what a Big Bus Tour has to offer.

  

Right next to the Big Bus terminus is the Hong Kong Maritime Museum.  Hong Kong is a harbour.  Hong Kong people's lives are closely related to the sea.  You'll find interesting facts and history here together with a very nice souvenior shop.

Come share the fun at Star Ferry!

Daily 06:30 - 23:30
Upper Deck adult - HK$2.5 on weekday and HK$3.4 on weekends

On the footbridge it is connected to the IFC Shopping Mall.

Hong Kong: Big vistas and even bigger ambitions

The region has long been a thriving hub, but it's still looking to the future, says Tom Peck

When Batman flew by helicopter over Hong Kong harbour five years ago, he made minor movie history. Film aficionados will know that the scene from The Dark Knight was the first in a major feature film to be shot with an IMAX camera. The director, Christopher Nolan, chose it for one reason – the pictures it captures are simply enormous.

It was a wise decision. A single glance doesn't really do Hong Kong's iconic panorama justice, but by taking to the skies, the Caped Crusader was being a bit of a wimp. In 1881, a Scottish railwayman called Alexander Findlay Smith became convinced of the possibility of building a funicular railway up the impossibly steep Victoria Peak, the island's highest mountain. Now, his engineering is Hong Kong's most popular attraction.

The Peak Tram, as it has become known, has its Lower Terminus on Garden Road (00 852 2522 0922; thepeak.com.hk/en; return HK$40/£3.50). It takes around five minutes to travel the 1,400 metres to the top, gaining more than 400 metres in height as it does so. Suddenly, the entire city spreads out before you like a tablecloth thrown over the earth.

Rows of gleaming metal towers shoot from beside the calm waters of the harbour up to the rolling forested hills – indeed it's the kind of vista that does demand an IMAX lens to take it in.
After experiencing this overview, take the tram back down and from the terminus in Central – Hong Kong's glistening business district – head up Garden Road until you reach the Bank of China Tower whose triangular glass panels make it stand out from the crowd. This is Downtown – the belly of the beast, but its historical centre too. Turn left on to Queens Road Central, left again on to D'Aguilar Street, and then take your first right on to Stanley Street. The sound of greedy slurping indicates your arrival in one of the last vestiges of Hong Kong's once thriving street food scene. Not so long ago, you'd find hundreds of dai pai dong in Hong Kong, but today only 28 official open-air food stalls remain.

The words translate as "big licence"; after the Second World War, special street food licences – with larger badges than usual – were given out in haste to the struggling families of deceased soldiers or civil servants so that they could earn a living. But almost all have since fallen victim to air-conditioned progress. However, several stalls serve authentic dim sum, which roughly means "a little bit from the heart". Sing Kee, at Nos 9 & 10 is the busiest, and with good reason. The service is a little brisk, but the food is authentic. Cuttlefish is popular, as are fish-skin dumplings. There's also eggs with shrimp for the less adventurous.

Carry on west to where Stanley Street crosses Cochrane Street and take the Mid-Levels Escalator up to Hollywood Road, right at the top. These 800-metre-long, covered escalators, opened in 1993, are now an important commuter route which tackles Hong Kong's hilly terrain and bustling traffic. From 6am to 10am, they run downhill, after which point they are switched in the other direction.

Head west along Hollywood Road as it, and the surrounding streets, transform into a long stretch of stalls and antique shops, some cheap and cheerful, many eye-wateringly expensive. A few hundred metres further on, you'll find the largest of Hong Kong's Man Mo Taoist Temples that honour two of the many hundreds of gods: War and Literature. Here the two figures sit side by side, one brandishing a pen, the other a sword. Behind the red and gold doors, the air is alive with incense smoke. As recently as 100 years ago, it is maintained that when disputes could not be solved by British law, they would be settled here using a curious game of chance involving chicken's blood and pieces of yellow paper.

A little further along Hollywood Road, turn right and take the stairs down to Queens Road Central. Turn left on to the escalators down to Connaught Road and then turn right to Hong Kong Central Station. This might seem an unusual location for a bite to eat, but it contains the third and newest branch of a Hong Kong institution, Tim Ho Wan (Hong Kong Station Podium Level 1, IFC Mall; 00 852 2332 3078; timhowan.com). The original (in nearby Kowloon) is the world's cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant. A di m sum meal, including the signature barbecue pork buns, can be bought for around £5.

Come out of the other end of Hong Kong Central Station and walk along the harbour front at Lung Wo Road to Hong Kong's Exhibition Centre, a little low-rise blob framed by the skyscrapers that surround it. From 23-26 May it will be hosting, for the first time, Art Basel. More than 250 galleries from 35 countries will be exhibiting at the contemporary art show, and leading artists will be involved in panel discussions.
Where the world's riches go, high-end art follows, and China is now the world's second-largest market. Hong Kong might just be embarking on the most exciting chapter in its history.

Fresh cuts
Art Basel is at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive (00 852 2824 2381; artbasel.com) from 23-26 May. Other galleries throughout the city are also taking part. Tickets HK$250 (£21).
Rula Bula (58-62 D'Aguilar Street; 00 852 2179 5225; rulabula.com.hk) deals in "molecular cocktails" and DJs of world renown. An abbreviation from the Irish expression "Ri Ra agus Rúla Búla", meaning "uproar and commotion", it is the latest in a long line of offerings to the Hong Kong social scene from expatriate Irishman Cathal Kiely.
Enomod (1-5 Elgin Street; 00 852 2555 6065; facebook.com/enomod) is a new Mediterranean "social dining experience". Cheeses, cold cuts, delicate tapas-style fish dishes and wine by the carafe set among seven different areas – including charcuterie counter, lounge area, communal dining tables and draught wine corner.

Travel essentials

Getting there
Virgin Atlantic (0844 209 2770; virgin-atlantic.com) flies daily from Heathrow to Hong Kong. Returns start at £659. Cathay Pacific (020-8834 8888; cathaypacific.com) and British Airways (0844 493 0787) also fly Heathrow-Hong Kong. Many connecting flights are available.

Staying there
The Marco Polo Hotel, 13 Canton Road, Harbour City, Kowloon (00 852 2113 0088; marcopolohotels.com). Double rooms, with spectacular views over Hong Kong harbour, start at HK$1,700 (£144), without breakfast.

More information
Hong Kong Tourist Board: discoverhongkong.com

Article source:  Independent

Hong Kong Tops Asia’s Shopping Destinations

Hong Kong’s Tourism Board has long called the city a shopper’s paradise. Now, it can point to a study that hails the former British colony as Asia’s top shopping destination.

Global Blue, a Switzerland-based company that helps foreign shoppers to obtain tax refunds, teamed up with the Economist Intelligence Unit to rank 25 cities in Asia-Pacific on their shopping offerings for visitors. The researchers made their rankings based on five categories: Shops, affordability, convenience, hotel and transport, and culture and climate.

In the resulting study, titled the “Globe Shopper Index Asia-Pacific,” Hong Kong came out on top, scoring 68.5 out of 100 thanks to its convenience and wide selection of shops. The city was also praised for factors such as its long sales periods (the city’s stores marked down items for 22 weeks last year) and its shops’ multilingual staff.

Hong Kong’s one weakness was in the affordability category. Owing to its popularity as a tourist destination, especially among mainland Chinese, the city’s hotels are often full, which in turn pushes up room prices. Taxis are also relatively expensive compared to other Asian cities. On the other hand, the cities that performed well on the affordability ranking – Ho Chi Minh City and Dhaka were the top two – often ranked low in other categories, such as convenience and variety of shops and brands.

Last year, 41.9 million tourists flocked to Hong Kong, up 16% from 2010, and spent 253 billion Hong Kong dollars ($32.6 billion), according to the city’s tourism board. Sixty-seven percent, or 28.1 million, of the city’s visitors came from mainland China.

The study put Kuala Lumpur in second place with a score of 65.1, while Shanghai and Beijing scored 63.1 and 60.7, respectively. Singapore came in fifth, followed by Sydney, Bangkok and Tokyo.

While Kuala Lumpur doesn’t have Hong Kong’s international reputation as a shopping haven, the researchers pointed out that the city’s goods are cheap, the hotels are plentiful, and the metropolis has several gigantic malls, including three of the world’s top 10 shopping centers by size. Air-conditioned malls also help to make up for the Malaysian capital’s biggest weakness: The city ranked third to bottom in the study’s climate category.

Global Blue, which tracks world-wide movements of tourist shopping dollars, projects that the rapid rise of travelling shoppers from mainland China will continue despite the economic uncertainty in the country.

“We don’t see a slowdown at all,” said Per Setterberg, the company’s president. He added that while Hong Kong is a top shopping destination in Asia, many Asian shoppers still see the European capitals as their favorite places to shop in the world. “Those cities are the home to the large brands, and they want to go for the experience of shopping there.”

The company’s first “Globe Shopper Index” study, released last year, focused on Europe. London ranked as Europe’s top shopping destination, followed by Barcelona, Madrid, Paris and Rome.

Source:  WSJ

Soho Restaurants in Hong Kong

How many Soho restaurants are there in Hong Kong? And what is special about them. These mini to medium size restaurants in Central Hong Kong are mainly situated around Elgin Street, Staunton Street, Shelly Street, all easily accessible via the Central escalator. One thing special about these restaurants is that they are all very cosy, stylish and with wide range of international foods.

My office is nearby this area. Today I make use of my lunch hour to explore the Soho restaurants and here is a summary.

Pampas - Argentinian Steak House

G/F, 32B-C Staunton Street, SoHo, Central, Telephone: 2868 6959

They claim to offer fresh organic prime beef cuts flown in direct from Argentina

 

 

Enoteca

G/F, 47 Elgin Street, SoHo, Central, Telephone: 2525 9944

60-seat Mediterranean tapas and wine bar

 

Olive

G/F, 32 Elgin Street, SoHo, Central, Telephone: 2521 1608

Contemporary Greek and Middle Eastern cuisine with an Australian flavor

F.A.B French American Bistro
G/F, 30 Hollywood Road, SOHO, Central
Telephone: 2810 1600

Quite a cozy Italian restaurant.  There are many Italian restaurants lining up at Soho.

 

El Taco Loco, 9 Lower Staunton Street,
(Off Central Escalator) Central, Hong Kong, Tel: 2522 1239
Mexican Cuisine - Signature dishes include Frijolesy, Carne Asada as well as Tacos, Burritos, Quesadillas and Nachos. Margaritas and Mexican beers are a specialty.

 

Marouche Lebanese Cuisine

G/F, 46-48 Cochrane Street, SoHo, Central

Telephone: 2541 8282

The meat is mainly sourced from the US and New Zealand, but the spices and ingredients used are imported directly from Lebanon, and even the chef is Lebanese.

Nepal

G/F, 14 Staunton Street, SoHo, Central, Telephone: 2869 6212
Evolving from the Royal Nepalese cuisine, into an assortment of contemporary dishes

I’m curious about Nepal food, so I took a photo of their menu.  Main course is BBQ/curry, your choice of meat/vegetables.  Starter is Bhenta Tareko (fried eggplant with Nepali herbs); Samosa (stuffed deep fried cone pastries with light spices) or soup of your choice (pumpkin, tomato, lamb, mixed beans), coffee and tea.  HK$98+10% service fee.

If you want to spend reasonable money and enjoy unique food in unique stylish comfortable restaurants, you may want to spend a month to do your lunches in this area.

The set lunches for most restaurants are set around HK$98+10% service fee.  This may be the way shop owners keep themselves competitive.  Please prepare to pay a little more if you choose to go a la carte.   

There are places lining up with Italian restaurants, Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, British…you name it and you’ll find it.  If you want to explore more about Soho restaurants, click here.

Hong Kong Travel Blog - Soho Restaurants

Hong Kong Transportation - Octopus Card

Octopus Card
If you are going to explore Hong Kong on your own, this is your first thing to do – buy an Octopus card.

Upon your landing at the Hong Kong International Airport, you can buy an Octopus card from the Airport Express customer service counter. If you are in town already, you can buy one from any MTR station customer service centres.

This is an extremely convenient tool for you to get on any public transportation in Hong Kong without worrying about coins and changes.

The Octopus Card is a stored valued card which requires a HK$50 refundable deposit plus a basic ticket value of HK$100, your initial investment is HK$150. However the value shown on the card wouldn’t include the deposit. You are allowed a maximum of HK$35 overdraw. You can add value to the card of not exceeding HK$900 at a time.

Hong Kong transportations that accept Octopus payment are:
Airport Express, MTR, Light Rail, Star Ferry and other ferries, Tram, Peak Tram, green van and limited number of taxis.

The beauty of the Octopus Card does not only limit to Hong Kong transportation. Actually a lot of retail shops accept Octopus payment, such as MacDonald’s, 7-Eleven and many others.

You can purchase an Octopus Card at any of these locations:
• Airport Express Customer Service Centres
• MTR Customer Service Centres
• Light Rail Customer Service Centres

• Add value points - All outlets of 7-Eleven and Circle K Convenience Stores

Hong Kong Travel - Transportation

Hong Kong Transportation - MTR & Airport Express

Hong Kong MTR and Airport Express

Whenever time is of essence, I take MTR. It has proved to be a safe, reliable and efficient public Hong Kong transportation. Its air-conditioned cabin does not allow eating and drinking. This makes your journey to be extra comfortable.

Minimum fare is HK$4 (US$0.5). Within major urban area is just HK$11 (US$1.4). MTR offers around 10% discount to Octopus users. MTR is extremely convenient to take you to everywhere in Hong Kong.

MTR Route Map & Fare Table
The whole of Hong Kong, Kowloon, New Territories and Lantau Island are connected by a very well developed railway system which consists of MTR, KCR, Light Rail, Airport Express, Disney Line and Shatin racecourse. Find out the interchange stations on the map, and you are able to go to almost anywhere in Hong Kong.

Click the small MTR route map to gain access to a full-scale full-colour route map with interchange station info. Here are the major MTR routes:

Hong Kong Line – between Chai Wan (east) and Sheung Wan (west)

Tsuen Wan Line – between Central (HK) and Tsuen Wan (New Territories)

Kwun Tong Line – between Yau Ma Tei (Kowloon) and Kwun Tong (Kowloon)

Tung Chung Line – between Central and Tung Chung (Lantau Island)

Disney Line – change at Sunny Bay along Tung Chung Route

Hong Kong Airport Express
Airport Express is a high speed rail operated by MTR. It takes you from Airport to Central in just 23 minutes at a toll of HK$100 (US$12.8). Airport Express provides free porter service, free shuttle bus and free MTR connections. Airport Express is luxurious, comfortable, fast and reliable.

MTR Interchange Station: Central, Kowloon, Tsing Yi

Special Note:

As soon as the Airport Express leaves Lantau Island, it will run through the state-of-the-art Tsing Ma Bridge (which is the logo of my blog) and continues its way into the city. As you might know that the Hong Kong International Airport was built from 0 on the land of Lantau Island. The Tsing Ma Bridge is an important part of the airport transportation network, and has now become a landmark of Hong Kong.

Airport Express Tickets Online
Though it is extremely easy to buy an Airport Express ticket or Octopus card at the arrival hall of the Hong Kong International Airport, you can choose to buy tickets on line.


Hong Kong Travel - Transportation

Hong Kong Transportation - Star Ferry

Hong Kong Star Ferry
is one of the most important Hong Kong transportations for locals and visitors. It takes passengers from Central or Wanchai to Tsimshatsui. Its upper deck costs only HK$2.2 (US$0.28).

Star Ferry is cheap, but it is great. The five-minute ride between Central and Tsimshatsui is the best way to view the Hong Kong skyline and the world-famous Victoria Harbour. The view on board is extremely stunning especially at night. Locals like me always make excuses to ride on Star Ferry, only for the view.

Star Ferry Locations
Star Ferry is a famous place in Hong Kong. Hence taxi drivers all know. But please specify which Star Ferry you are going to (e.g. Wanchai, or Central), as there are two piers on Hong Kong side and two on Kowloon side.

Hong Kong side

Wanchai – Access by footbridge from Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

Central – Harbour front outside the Two International Financial Centre

Kowloon side
Tsimshatsui – next to Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Hung Hom – residential area

Route Map and Fare Table

Recommended Route
The route connecting Central and Tsimshashui is highly recommended. Not only it is cheap, it also offers the best views of Hong Kong and the Victoria Harbour. Also Central and Tsimshatsui are both connected to major tourist spots in Hong Kong. Have fun. Mark this is a ‘must’ for your Hong Kong travel.

Star Ferry Fare
Central/Tsimshatsui - Adult: HK$2.2 (upper deck) / HK$1.7 (lower deck)
If you want to stay close to water and enjoy the harbour breeze, please go on the lower deck. However you would have to put up with a bit of noise, as the engine room is there.

Operating Hours
06:30 – 23:30 – every 6 to 10 minutes


Hong Kong Travel - Transportation

Hong Kong Transportation - Peak Tram

Hong Kong Peak Tram
The Peak Tram is one of the earliest public transportations in Hong Kong. It is a funicular railway and is the shortest yet most scenic route to the Peak of Hong Kong. The whole journey takes seven minutes with four stops.

Peak Tram is not only a vehicle, it is a unique experience of your Hong Kong travel.

It takes you up an incline as steep as one in two, almost perpendicular at some points. Buildings look like they are leaning at a 45-degree angle. They just look like a jungle of buildings with extreme density. It’s going to be an unforgettable experience.

Hong Kong Peak Tram Fare
Single journey: HK25 (c.US$3.2)
Return journey: HK$36 (c.US$4.6)
Children (3-11) / Senior (65 or above): HK$9 for single / HK$16 for return

Operating Hours
07:00 – midnight – every 10 to 15 minutes

Peak Tram Connection Bus 15C
Peak Tram town station is located at Garden Road in Central. It is just a minute’s walk from the Bank of China Tower or the Cheung Kong Center.

It is connected to Central Pier 7 (next to Star Ferry) by open-top bus number 15C.

If you want to go to the Victoria Peak, this is a great way to experience Hong Kong.

Open top bus 15C: HK$4.2 (Air-Conditioned or Open Top)

Hong Kong Travel - Transportation

Hong Kong Transportation - Tram

Hong Kong tram is one of the most historical local transportation. It’s been running on the northern coast of Hong Kong island since 1904 - From Shaukeiwan in the east to Kennedy Town in the west These east-west bound double-deckers run on rail have a fleet of 163 plus two antique trams.

Tram Tour
Trams run at a relatively slow pace through major residential areas and major commercial / shopping areas of Central and Causeway Bay.


Hong Kong trams are sometimes crowded, especially during peak hours, Sunday and holidays. They are not air-conditioned, you might feel uneasy during summer time. However their speed is slow, therefore they are good for sight seeing.

I would suggest a trip from Central to Causeway Bay where you can see the busiest and the most interesting part of the Hong Kong city. From Central, hop on any east-bound route, or vise versa from Causeway Bay. In either cases, avoid the Happy Valley route, or you won’t be able to see the best city views of Hong Kong.


Tram Stops / Route Map
You will notice that tram stops are sometimes very close to each other. Therefore if you are in a rush, this might not be the best choice of transportation. Some of the major tram stops have covers (see photo) while some others don’t. There are route maps at each of the stops indicating where you are and what the next and previous stops are. However some of them are not quite noticeable, you need to find them.


Download Hong Kong Tram Route Map

Hong Kong Tram Fare
Adult: HK$2 (c.US$0.26)
Child & Senior : HK$1 (c.US$0.13)

This is probably one of the cheapest means of transportation in the world.

You have to pay exact fare – drivers are not responsible for changes. You can pay by your Octopus card.

Operating Hours
06:00 – 24:00

Environmental Friendly
I am the green representative at the company I work for. I go to work everyday on tram and walk home after work. Hong Kong tram is one of the most environmental transportations that I recommend.

Hong Kong Travel - transportation

Hong Kong Transportation - Taxi

Hong Kong Taxi

In Hong Kong, taxi is the most convenient point-to-point transportation. However due to the small area of land and high density of vehicles, there are lots of restricted areas where taxis cannot stop in certain hours of a day.

Taxi passengers are required by law to wear their seat belts.

Hong Kong Taxi Fare
First 2 Kilometers: HK$18 (c.US$2.3)
Every subsequent 200 metres:
* HK$1.5 (For meter fare below $70.5)
* HK$1 (For meter fare $70.5 and above)
The fare system is designed to lower the expenses for long-journey customers. However due to the inflation in international oil price, taxi drivers had been kept yelling for fare raising.

The taxi fare from Airport to Central in Hong Kong would be around HK$350 (c.US$45).

Additional Charges
* Cross Harbour Tunnel Fee
* Baggages
* Birds and pets
* Wheelchairs

* Any other chargeable items
See detailed Hong Kong Taxi Fare Table

Taxi Receipts and Tipping
Receipts are available, but you need to ask for it, or the taxi driver won’t give you one proactively.

Tipping is not necessary. However some drivers might not give you exact change due to shortage of coins.

Red Taxi and Green Taxi
Hong Kong Taxi has two colours – red and green. The red ones are urban taxis which can run everywhere. The green ones are only allowed to operate within the New Territories and Lantau Island. Green taxi fare is slightly lower with the first 2 kilometers of HK$14.5 only (c.US$1.85) but you need to change to a red taxi at some point if you are going from the New Territories to Kowloon or Hong Kong island.

Hong Kong Travel - Transportation

Hong Kong Weather

Time zone:
GMT +8 (+7 during summer)

Longitude: 114.6 E

Latitude: 22.4 N

Flower of Hong Kong: Bauhinia

Hong Kong weather carries the typical feature of oceanic climate with hot and humid summer; cold and dry winter. Hence the best season to travel Hong Kong is spring and autumn, namely February/March and October/November. In these days, you are almost guaranteed of good weather and less number of tourists and relatively low hotel rates.

You must agree that weather is an important factor that will seriously affect your travel pleasure. So let’s get to know more about the weather of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Weather - General
Hong Kong weather is never too extreme. In summer, it seldom goes beyond 33ºC, and in winter, it seldom goes below 10ºC.

Though summer is hot, Hong Kong is fitted with air conditioning everywhere. Once you are indoor, you are fine. As Hong Kong weather is never too severe in winter, public places don’t have heaters on.

English Hong Kong weather information: dial 18501 when in Hong Kong. Expect some advertising to begin with.

Hong Kong Weather - Typhoons
One important thing you need to know about Hong Kong weather is typhoon. Typhoons occur between May and October every year. When signal number 8 is up, offices close and transportation services stop. Flights may be disrupted or cancelled. You are advised not to venture outdoors.

Typhoon signals are ranked 1, 3, 8, 9 and 10. While 9 and 10 denote a direct hit, it rarely happens. Our last number 10 was in 1999 and the previous one was in 1983. But there is generally a couple of number 8’s annually.

Nevertheless, please have an umbrella with you while visiting Hong Kong in summer. It protects you from sun and rain.

Hong Kong Weather - Rainstorms Warning
Another typical feature of Hong Kong weather is rain. Hong Kong rains quite a lot in summer. We have four levels of rainstorm warnings: thunderstorm, amber, red and black. Black rainstorm warning is somewhat like typhoon signal number 8. Most people don’t have to work when a ‘black rain’ is up. As a tourist, you are advised not to leave your hotel.

Anna’s Notes
Hong Kong is safe to be visited in summer. Though it rains a lot, flooding and landslide rarely happens nowadays. Be prepared to put up with the heat, or choose to visit in autumn.

Hong Kong Travel - Weather

Hong Kong Airport

World’s Best Airport 2001–2005, 2007, 2008
Hong Kong International Airport (Chek Lap Kok Airport) is the World’s Best Airport.

In July 2008, it was voted the world's best airport for the seventh time in eight years in the annual Skytrax survey.

This state-of-the-art airport not only impressed passengers by its design and facilities. The traveling public is obviously more convinced by its customer services and efficiency in immigration and customs checks. All these together convinced millions of travelers ranking Hong Kong International Airport number one.

Hong Kong Airport Information
Open in July 6, 1998 by Chairman Jiang Zemin. Prior to its official opening, former US President Bill Clinton flew in from China and became one of the pioneer passengers to use the Hong Kong Airport.

* Distance from city - 34 km
* Free luggage cart
* Free porter service
* Facilities for passengers with mobility and sensory disabilities
* No-driver shuttle train connecting passengers to distant boarding gates
* Travelex Worldwide Money – 11 outlets at convenient locations.

From Airport to city

Airport Express - luxurious, comfortable, fast and reliable

Airport Express takes you to the city in Central in 23 minutes. You can choose to get off at Kowloon Station if your hotel is on Kowloon side.

After exiting the customs check, just walk about 50 meters straight ahead, the Airport Express is there waiting for you. You don’t need to pre-book any ticket. Simply buy a ticket at the ticket booth right after the customs check or at a vending machine. There is no need to queue for a ticket.

Airport Express offers the following free services to their passengers:
* Free Airport Express shuttle bus service
* Free porter service at Airport, Tsing Yi, Kowloon and Hong Kong stations
* Free in-town check-in service
* Central Station provides check-in service 24 hours ahead of your departure time
* Free MTR connections

Taxis
Taxi is the most convenient door-to-door transportation, though relatively pricy. From airport to central Hong Kong is around HK$350. You would have to pay for cross-harbour tunnel toll and luggage fee. Taxi passengers are required to wear seat belts by law.
Tipping taxi drivers are not necessary.

Airport Buses
Airport buses are comfortable, reasonably fast and economic. They are air-conditioned with in-bus display and announcement to ensure you get off at the right stop. The following two routes run pass major hotels on Hong Kong Island.

A11 – HK$40, operate 06:10 – 24:00 daily Hotels on the route: Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Ritz Carlton, Marriott, Island Shangrila, Conrad, Empire, New Harbour, Wesley, Wharney, Century, Excelsior, Park Lane, Regal HK Hotel, Rosedale, City Garden Hotel, Newton Hotel, South China Hotel.

A12 – HK$45, operate 06:00 – 24:00 daily Hotels on the route: Mandarin Oriental, Ritz Carlton, Harbour View International House, Grand Hyatt, Renaissance, Luk Kwok Hotel.

Departing Hong Kong
Departure process is simple and fast. Once you get your boarding pass, you can proceed to the Immigration. You would go through simple x-ray security screening of your hand luggage. You have to put your laptop, wallets and other valuables on trays. Customs officers give each passenger a numbered card in exchange of each tray at the other end. The process is simple however safeguards your valuables while temporarily unattended.

Facilities at the Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok Airport

Eating at the Hong Kong Airport
The Hong Kong Airport is lovely, spacious, light and clean with great shops, good lounges and restaurants. You must be pleased by the choice and quality of food here.

There are plenty of choices if you want to eat at the Hong Kong International Airport. Chain stores like McDonald's and 7-Eleven sell at same prices as their other shops in town.

Coffee lovers will be happy to find five beautiful and comfortable Starbucks here (Airport Gate 2, 16 & 28, Airport Level 5 pre-immigration hall and restricted area). Pacific Coffee also has two shops at the Departure Level.

Shopping at the Hong Kong Airport
Hong Kong is a shoppers’ paradise. The Hong Kong International Airport has seven floors of and over 100 shops and services to meet travelers’ needs. If your schedule allows, I would recommend you come three hours ahead of your departure time and explore this award-winning airport.

Relaxing or Working at the Hong Kong Airport
Want to relax or still need to work while waiting? Well, here is a suggestion. For just a fixed fee, all these are yours: hot showers, food & beverage buffet, internet and e-mail, movies and music, CNN area, magazines and newspaper, massage chairs and seated massage.

Fee schedule: HK$400 for 2 hours; HK$500 for 5 hours; HK$600 for 10 hours.
Hong Kong Airport - Plaza Premium Lounge
Open 24 hours daily

Hong Kong Travel - Hong Kong International Airport

Hong Kong Flights

It is extremely easy to look for Hong Kong flights to travel Hong Kong. As a major Asia transportation hub, there are numerous daily direct flights connecting Hong Kong to major cities in Europe and N. America.

Boeing long-range aircrafts 747, 767, 763 are widely used.

I have short-listed some major carriers for your reference.

Daily Non-stop
Cathay Pacific – from London, New York, San Francisco, Vancouver, Tokyo, Sydney and Johannesburg
British Airways and Virgin – from London
Lufthansa – from Frankfurt
S. African Airline – from Johannesburg
Qantas – from Sydney and Melbourne

Other Non-stop Hong Kong Flights
Cathay Pacific – from Frankfurt to Hong Kong every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Travel Hours Required To Fly To Hong Kong
New York - 16.20
San Francisco - 14
Vancouver - 13.25
Johannesburg - 13.10
London - 11.45
Frankfurt - 11
Sydney - 9.20
Tokyo - 4.45

Find the best flight/hotel deal in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Travel Blog

Hong Kong Visa

Hong Kong is one of the easiest accessible places in the world. We have a liberal visa policy. Nationals of more than 170 countries can travel here without a visa and stay from seven days to six months.Click here for details of Hong Kong visa requirements.

Below is a short list for your quick reference.

Visa is not required if visit not exceeding 14 days
India, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Vatican City

Visa is not required if visit not exceeding 30 days
Indonesia, South Africa, Thailand, UAE

Visa is not required if visit not exceeding 90 days
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Britain (British Overseas Territories citizens, British Overseas citizens, British subjects and British Protected persons), Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA

Visa is not required if visit not exceeding 180 days
United Kingdom (British Citizen)

Visa is required for whatever purposes including those who are in transit and remain on the airside
Democratic Republic of Congo (Formerly known as Zaire), Republic of Cote D’Ivoire, Eritrea, Iraq, Liberia, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Somalia

Visa is required for whatever purposes including those who are in transit and remain on the airside (except holders of Diplomatic and Official passports)
Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

Hong Kong Visa Requirements
It takes usually four weeks to process a visa for Hong Kong. You should acquire a visa before traveling to Hong Kong. Visa fee is HK$135.

More details about Hong Kong visa

Hong Kong Travel

Hong Kong Overview

As the Chinese New Year celebrations are over, let’s start to get familiar with Hong Kong with some basic facts. We will then follow by ‘where to stay’, ‘where to go’ and ‘where to eat’.

Best Time to Travel Hong Kong
Autumn - October and November. These two months are relatively cool and without much rain. If you come in the rainy season of June, July and August, you would have to put up with high temperature (over 30°C) and humidity, heavy rain or even typhoon.

Hong Kong Geography
At the southeast coast of China, Hong Kong is basically built around the world famous Victoria Harbour. It consists of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories and some outlying islands. Total area is around 1,092 square km. However we have a population of almost 7 million. So when you travel Hong Kong, you would expect to see a lot of people everywhere.

The Hong Kong International Airport is located on one of the largest outlying islands Lantau. It went into operation in 1997 and has been continuously voted as the World’s Best Airport since 2001. It is connected to the city in Central by Airport Express and the whole journey is only 23 minutes.

click picture for larger view

Languages
Hong Kong is a completely bilingual city. Chinese and English are the official languages. Most of locals speak Cantonese. As a matter of history, English is widely spoken and you would have no difficulties traveling here speaking English.

Currency
Hong Kong Dollar. Packed exchange rate HKD 7.8: USD 1 – since 1983.

Brief History
Hong Kong, one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, was actually a small fishing village some 150 years ago. Opium War in the 19th Century was responsible for all the changes – when British took over the sovereignty, turned this quiet, out-of-the-way village into a modern, vibrant and sparkling jewel of a city which is nowadays Asia’s World City.

In July of 1997, China re-gained her power of sovereignty over Hong Kong and established a Special Administrative Region (or SAR). In the exchange, China agreed with the British Government that until 2047, Hong Kong will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters, except foreign and defense.

More of Hong Kong history – visit my other Hong Kong Travel website