Asian News on Travel and Hotels

Perfect for business, pleasure, leisure or all of the above, our top 15 luxury hotels in Hong Kong evince the very best in the category and, indeed, match up with the very best in the world.

Hong Kong skyline – Photo credit

Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
8 Finance Street, Central

With so much to swoon over, the one feature that stands out at the singular Four Seasons is the open-air, infinity pool terrace, with WiFi, butler service and expansive views of Victoria Harbour. Two three-star Michelin restaurants help too.

Grand Hyatt Hotel Hong Kong
1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai

Plush suites with top-to-bottom windows and contemporary décor make stays at the Grand Hyatt most enjoyable. The Plateau Spa is a Hong Kong oasis. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Asia, Hong Kong |

In Hong Kong, people who find themselves somewhere along Tsim Sha Tsui Harbour at exactly 8:00 p.m. each night get to watch the highly acclaimed Symphony of Lights.  While waiting for the show to start, visitors usually browse through the different high-end boutiques at Harbour City Mall.  There are also superb Hong Kong hotels in the area, like the Marco Polo, that offer fantastic buffet dinner spreads.

Photo credit

Throngs of tourists head to the heart of the action to witness how music is beautifully synchronized with spectacular lights originating from over 40 key buildings in both Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. It is truly a stunning show that is set against Hong Kong’s gorgeous glowing skyline.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Hong Kong |

Travel photographers may have the best equipment and years of experience but the choice of subject matter can spell the difference between a successful photo shoot and a drab one. Some cities are perpetually beloved by photographers for the richness of their visual impact and the variety of contrasting elements they offer.

Here are six cities around the world that give street photography a good name.

Photo courtesy of  Ryan Holst.

Hong Kong

This dynamic economic centre is a sparkling jewel from afar and a startling contrast of oriental and occidental influences. Nothing captures the magnificence of the city like the view from the Kowloon side at night, as the mighty edifices blot out the darkness with sparkling radiance. Walking the streets of Hong Kong offers glimpses of historic temples, modern skyscrapers and British colonial sites together with dazzling commercial establishments. Finally, the sheer density of the island means you can snap away as soon as you step out of your Hong Kong hotel.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Hong Kong, Things to do |

As the most vertical city in the world and with a population density well over 6,000 per km², Hong Kong is a place where it pays to know a good massage therapist. A frenetic hive of activity, Hong Kong throbs with a vertigo-like pace that thrills and, indeed, exhausts even the most ardent adrenaline fiend.

This, of course, is where the best spas in Hong Kong come in.

The Peninsula Spa by ESPA
Salisbury Road,
Kowloon, Hong Kong

The Peninsula is synonymous with genteel colonial charm in Hong Kong and is the most historic hotel in the special administrative region. ESPA, a haven of wellness sensibility, is a plush destination in the city, with fourteen distinct treatment rooms that overlook Victoria Harbour.

The Peninsula Hong Kong – Photo credit Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Hong Kong |

While Hong Kong is a thoroughly modern city, it retains many traditional customs from the mainland. Chinese New Year, for starters, is one event that truly stops the city in its tracks and a perfect time to arrange accommodations in Hong Kong.

Photo courtesy of antwerpenR.

To kick off 2011, the Year of the Rabbit, visit famous Wong Tai Sin Temple. The important shrine attracts 30,000 devotees for Chinese New Year and features a vital ritual, wherein each visitor grabs a tube of fortune sticks and shakes it until one drops. Each stick has a number, which, with the aid of nearby fortune tellers, supposedly guides your fortune throughout the new year.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Events, Hong Kong |

Hong Kong will transform into one huge party on December 31, 2010. If you want to celebrate in style on New Year’s Eve, read on.

Photo credit

Victoria Harbour Fireworks

The Hong Kong government will treat residents and visitors to a spectacular night display of pyrotechnics at Victoria Harbour at midnight. Crowds will form on the Kowloon side of the harbour at Tsim Sha Tsui, near the Avenue of the Stars. There are already viewing platforms constructed for the nightly Sympony of the Stars that will be used for viewing the fireworks. On the island side, spectators will congregate at Wan Chai around Golden Bauhina Square, as well as around the Central piers. Those who find a place on Victoria Peak can watch the sky erupt in color from their lofty viewpoint. Finally, a very good place to watch the fireworks is aboard a cruise ship passing along the harbour, as wine and tidbits are served to passengers. Besides the fireworks, the International Finance Centre will display a huge countdown clock so that everyone in attendance can ring in the New Year in unison.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Events, Hong Kong |

Talk to someone who has just been to Hong Kong and for sure you will hear stories about Ocean Park, Victoria Peak, shopping on Nathan Road or a fun-filled day in Disneyland Hong Kong.   It is quite rare to hear about laid-back Tai Tam Country Park.

Photo credit

For those who are looking for the perfect combination of sparkling blue green waters, rolling hills and lush tropical forests in Hong Kong need not travel far.  Tai Tam Country Park has all these to offer and a lot more.  It can be found at the eastern corner of Hong Kong Island which is just about 10 minutes away from the famous shopping district of Stanley.  So after a tiresome morning going around Stanley Market, tourists can take the trip to the park to relax and enjoy some fresh clean air.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Hong Kong |

The popular Hong Kong party street Lan Kwai Fong will rock harder than usual during the Lan Kwai Fong Street Carnival. Two days of Mardi Gras-style fun and excitement mark this pre-eminent Hong Kong event. While it does celebrate special events throughout the year, from Chinese New Year to Christmas, the Street Carnival is a supreme attraction.

Photo courtesy of chika.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Events, Hong Kong |

Victoria Harbor, … errr, excuse me, Harbour, is Hong Kong’s famous body of water, a 42-square kilometre division between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula. From majestic towers to historic transports, this natural wonder provides plenty of things to see for visitors and is a must-visit for any traveler in the region.

Here are seven things to see in and around Victoria Harbour:

The Hong Kong Skyline

Dominating the view of Victoria Harbor are the numerous skyscrapers all huddled together on Hong Kong Island, a symbol of the region’s vast financial wealth and economic might. The standout buildings here are the ICC Tower, the tallest building in the city; Two International Finance Centre, previous title-holder for the city’s tallest structure; and the Bank of China Tower, a triangular-framework skyscraper designed by the renowned architect I. M. Pei.
Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Hong Kong |

The Hong Kong Jockey Club is an iconic landmark in Hong Kong and an organization which coordinates nearly seven hundred horse races at Happy Valley Racecourse and Sha Tin Racecourse. All visitors are encouraged to experience this classic side Hong Kong and get caught up in the thrill of horse racing. Over a thousand horses are trained to compete in these races, and with over fifteen million dollars wagered on every race, the HKJC transacts the most bets in the world.

Photo courtesy by matt.hutchinson

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Hong Kong |