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Yum Cha

No trip to Hong Kong is complete without a yum cha (translates into “drink tea”) experience. Along with their tea, guests nibble on small plates of delicacies and bamboo steamers of designed-to-share dim sum. Traditionally, yum cha is available for breakfast and lunch, but there are many dedicated restaurants that serve made-to-order dim sum all through the day.

Ride the Star Ferry

The iconic Star Ferry has been shuttling passengers across Victoria Harbour for more than a century. Today’s green and white boats are relics of the 1950s and ’60s. Take one from either Wan Chai or Central to Tsim Sha Tsui, then turn around and admire that famous Hong Kong skyline. At night, catch the 8 pm Symphony of Lights show.

Take the Tram

These rattling cars have become giant rolling advertisements, carrying everyone from schoolboys to grannies through all the main street action straight across Hong Kong Island. Climb aboard at off-peak hours on an early weekday afternoon for a leisurely ride from the busy Western Market terminus to the green fields of Happy Valley or Victoria Park.

Nightlife in Lan Kwai Fong

Hong Kong has no shortage of after-hour hangouts but for the most concentrated stretch of clubs and bars, head to Lan Kwai Fong. Options here range from casual beer joints to happening dance clubs, and everything is concentrated in a small area so it’s easy to hop from one venue to the next.

Mid-Levels Escalators

The longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world covers half a mile of moving stairs, walkways, and passageways from the business hub of Central to the residential heights of Mid-Levels. Step off a few flights up from Central in SoHo or on Hollywood Road to check out the galleries, restaurants, and bars. Note that the escalators go in only one direction during rush hour, so you have to take the stairs in the opposite direction.

Go to the Races

Even if you’re not a gambler, it’s worth heading to Hong Kong’s tracks in Happy Valley and Sha Tin. It’s a multimillion-dollar-a-year business, and the season runs from September through June and draws serious crowds. In the public stands the vibe is electric and loud, thanks to the gamblers shouting and waving their newspapers madly.

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