Literally translated from Cantonese, Hong Kong means ‘Fragrant Harbour’, a testament to the city’s ancient trade in incense. The gateway to China and beyond, Hong Kong is a hedonistic playground, full of lively markets, glittering nightlife and historical sites reminding one of its British colonial-past. Its food scene needs no introduction: whether it’s on the streets of downtown Kowloon or at a Michelin star restaurant in Central, we’ll ensure you have the best seats in the house.
-
Charismatic and sophisticated, Hong Kong is one of Asia’s most exciting, energetic hubs, where East and West collide, and shiny high-rises rub shoulders with colonial architecture and traditional markets. This modern metropolis is split in two, divided by Victoria Harbour, across which sails the iconic Star Ferry. Hong Kong Island is the historical, political and economic epicentre, very much the heart of the city. Kowloon, to the north, on the Chinese mainland offers a grittier, frenzied and fascinating atmosphere. Whether you’re here for a night’s layover or for an extended trip, you’ll be sure to fall in love with its cultural fusion and cosmopolitan chic.
Hong Kong excels in exceptional views, whether it’s from the latest rooftop bar, from the city’s highest point, The Peak, from a private helicopter or from the waterfront watching the skyline light up at night. Zoom in and a multitude of activities await, from the designer stores to the antique showrooms on Hollywood Road, the traditional Dim Sum halls, the southern beaches, secret temples, bustling markets and world-class hotels. In contrast to the neon-lit streets, mist-covered islands lie nearby, home to traditional fishing villages, seafood restaurants, hiking trails, pink dolphins and an altogether more laid-back atmosphere.
Wix Squared has some exceptional guides to get you under the skin of the country including:
- Art collectors to reveal the length and breadth of Hong Kong’s art scene
- Local residents to take you to all the trendiest places in town
- Personal shoppers with contacts all over the malls and markets
- Foodie guides to introduce you to the city’s culinary arena, from street food snacks to Michelin menus
- Historians to uncover Hong Kong’s colonial past through walking tours
- Tea connoisseurs who will provide access to the specialty markets and merchants
- Adventure enthusiasts to take you hiking up the island’s peaks and over to the New Territories
- Expert guides who know the intricacies of Hong Kong’s many temples like the backs of their hands
-
Itinerary Starting Price
Itinerary starting price: From £800 per person, for 3 days including accommodation and private transfers (not including flights).
Random Fact
In proof of the city’s extreme wealth, Hong Kong has more Rolls Royces per person than any other city in the world.
Festival
Chinese New Year (January/February) transforms the city with a sky full of red lanterns, packed temples and dragon boat races.
What to Eat
Hong Kong’s Unofficial National Dish, Char Sui Bao, consists of a fluffy white bun stuffed with sticky, slow-roasted barbequed pork.
What to Read
‘The Piano Teacher’ by Elfriede Jelinek, explores Hong Kong’s high society under colonial rule. It zig-zags seamlessly between the 40s and 50s, examining the concept of love in different historical contexts.
What to buy
Some of the world’s best tailors can be found throughout the city and can create a bespoke suit or dress in only 48 hours for a bargain price.
-
Hong Kong Island
A favourite of Wix Squared is the original Mandarin Oriental, the heart of the city’s social and business scene since 1963, and its stylish younger sibling, The Landmark, both offer old-school glamour and faultless service. With wonderful views over Victoria Harbour, the Four Seasons is our first pick for fine-diners, home to two three-Michelin-star restaurants and The Rosewood’s eight restaurants give it tough competition. The Murray offers great value for money with spacious rooms.
Kowloon
The Peninsula, grand dame of the city’s hotel scene, boasts an historic atmosphere evoking the Golden Age of Travel, its white colonial façade towering over the fleet of Rolls-Royce Phantoms lined up outside. Not to be outdone, the Ritz Carlton offers the world’s highest swimming pool and bar while The Langham, all marble floors and glittering chandeliers, is an oasis of calm to retreat to after exploring the frenetic streets of Tsim Sha Tsui.
Boutique Hotels
We love the boutique, intimate feel and spacious guest rooms of The Upper House, creation of one of Asia’s hottest designers, Andre Fu. Its contemporary style contrasts with The Pottinger, which reflects the city’s East-meets-West heritage, embracing the charm of old Hong Kong with a modern twist. Across the water, Hotel Icon boasts serious eco-credentials, combining contemporary flair with ecological designs such as vertical gardens.
Family Friendly
The Grand Hyatt offers many of the indulgences of a traditional resort including tennis and squash courts, a heated outdoor pool and an 11th floor rooftop playground. Up the road, the Island Shangri-La offers a sense of place with the added bonus of being located right next to Hong Kong Park. It provides excellent, child-friendly facilities including a pool, guaranteed connecting rooms and children’s in-room amenities.
-
Colourful cuisine
Asia’s culinary capital, Hong Kong, boasts thousands of restaurants and an unbelievable variety of food. You may come for the Dim Sum, still served by little old ladies pushing trolleys laden with steamer baskets, but equally mouth-watering is the fabulously fresh seafood, fluffy egg waffles and Chinese BBQ. Besides the many upscale joints on Hong Kong Island – over 50 with Michelin stars – Kowloon offers a more atmospheric foodie neighbourhood, where we can arrange private street-food tasting tours through the markets and visits to small, family-run restaurants.
Green spaces
Ensconced within this concrete jungle, it’s easy to forget you’re surrounded by water, not to mention great expanses of natural landscape just waiting to provide you with a break from the city buzz. Hidden hiking trails lead to lofty green peaks offering epic views over the city as well as dozens of beautiful beaches, often only accessible by trail or boat. Further afield, there are rolling mountains, the pristine peninsula of Sai Kung, the city’s ‘green lung’, a vast wetland park and sleepy, outlying islands, home to quaint little fishing villages.
Art & Architecture
Hong Kong’s mesmerising collection of high-rises lures photographers and architecture enthusiasts from all over the world. Saved from demolition and sensitively restored, you’ll also find historic 1920s shop-houses, Grade II* listed colonial-style buildings and pawn shops which take you back in time. The burgeoning local art scene is now the third largest in the world: independent galleries have blossomed, and thousands of artists, curators, buyers and enthusiasts gather here for high-profile art fairs such as Art Basel, where we can provide exclusive, behind-the-scenes access.
History and culture
Despite its continuous quest for modernity, Hong Kong still shelters relics of its not-too-distant past. Our guides can reveal the remains of old Hong Kong through 19th century chapels, abandoned village houses, Edwardian edifices, colonial-era trams and former prisons. There’s a multitude of temples too, some dating back to the 12th and 15th centuries, still pumping out incense and holding elaborate ceremonies. Whether its Chinese medicine, tea ceremonies, feng shui or tai chi that piques your interest, we can bring the living culture of Hong Kong to life.
Entertainment
Hong Kong’s entertainment scene is healthier than ever, with a jam-packed cultural calendar including live music, opera, sport and festivals. There’s the weekly pilgrimage to Happy Valley Racecourse where the turf, surrounded on all sides by glittering skyscrapers, is a sight in itself, the Symphony of Lights, a nightly illumination of the city and best viewed from one of our traditional, red-sailed junk boats on the harbour, drink in hand, and the biggest party of the year, The Rugby Sevens, for which we can arrange tickets to with advance notice.
Family fun
Hong Kong is a smorgasbord of activities, attractions and excursions for children of all ages. We can arrange a child-friendly programme of adventure including dumpling making classes, dragon boat painting workshops, encounters with Giant Pandas at Ocean Park, heart-pumping rollercoaster rides at one of the many theme parks, mountain biking in the New Territories, riding the cable car to visit the Big Buddha on Lantau Island and an introduction to the weird and wonderful snacks on offer at Temple Street Market.
-
Spend a few days adjusting to a new time zone and climate in Hong Kong, a great place to bridge the gap between East and West. This is an international city where you’ll still find many home comforts before plunging headlong into the heady, exotic culture shock that is China.
Stopping in Hong Kong for a few days on your way Down Under helps break up the mammoth journey. Immerse yourself in the vibrant mix of traditional and modern culture before taking a breath and enjoying the staggering scenery and wide-open spaces on your antipodean adventure.
World class airlines like Cathay Pacific and Garuda make travelling between Hong Kong and Indonesia a breeze, whether you’re seeking a cultural fix on Java or the beaches and paddy field scenery of Bali. The greatest contrast is perhaps the difference in pace of life between the destinations.
-
Guaranteed to give your guests the wow-factor, Hong Kong is the destination event planners dream of. There’s no shortage of show-stopper venues and the city’s slick operations mean things tend to work like clockwork.
We have contacts at some of the city’s most exclusive addresses and can arrange anything from a Michelin-star tasting menu followed by an audience with the chef to a vintage, open-top tramcar with 360-degree views of the city or a privatised traditional junk boat, complete with cocktails and canapés. The possibilities are endless.
Find out more about Events by Wix Squared
Weather
Hong Kong is a year-round destination and a great hub to access so much of Asia.
The best time to visit is October-early December for cool, sunny days.
Spring is very foggy and cloudy, whilst May-October often sees typhoons and thunderstorms.
- This is the coldest but also the driest month of the year with some cloud cover. It is a fantastic time to hit Hong Kong’s shops during the January sales or take a walk between the Peak and Aberdeen.
- Tet (Chinese New Year) is normally in February when there are numerous celebrations, horse racing and fireworks over Victoria Harbour. There will also be some light rain showers at this time of year.
- The humidity increases and the showers get a little heavier. Take a cable car to see the lush green countryside on Lantau Island and tag on some time in Vietnam where the weather is more predictable.
- Charter a junk for the day to discover the beaches around Repulse Bay or explore the city for a few nights before flying on to the Maldives for idyllic beaches.
- The weather starts to get hotter, more humid and it is the beginning of the typhoon season. Hong Kong is still great for a city break or take a connecting flight to Koh Samui for better weather on the beaches.
- Hong Kong can be great for kids during the summer holidays with the June Dragon Boat Festival and free access to the science and history museums every Wednesday. However, be prepared for very hot weather conditions.
- This is one of the hottest months to visit Hong Kong with high humidity and intermittent showers. With direct flights to Bali, use Hong Kong as a stop-over before exploring the culture and beaches of Indonesia.
- August is often the wettest month of the year, so use Hong Kong as a hub to access more guaranteed weather locations in Asia such as Thailand and Indonesia.
- There is a strong chance you will experience a tropical cyclone in September but there is also the mid-autumn festival when you can sample incredible mooncakes and other Chinese food on Temple Street.
- October is one of the best months to be in Hong Kong when the rainstorms decrease, and you can see incredible views from the Peak.
- Take advantage of the good weather in November with some hikes in the surrounding countryside, barter your way through the markets or charter a private junk for the day.
- Hong Kong is a great party city to visit over New Year’s Eve with plenty of fireworks in Victoria Harbour and we can arrange a number of interesting activities for children at this time of year.
