Attractions
A trip to Hong Kong is just not complete without a cable car ride to Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island. It costs about twenty U.S. dollars roundtrip per person, and is well worth the cost. The cable car travels from the Tung Chung MTR subway station to the peak of Lantau Island, and the ride is quite spectacular, especially when there are low-lying clouds. At the peak is the monastery where you will find a temple and monks residing, and adjacent is the largest outdoor sitting Buddha statue in all of Asia. Give yourself a few hours for this trip, and make sure you have a good pair of shoes on, as the stairway up to the Buddha statue is quite long.

During your trip to Hong Kong, you need to spend a moment at Victoria Harbor. The best place to enjoy the dazzling view is from the Kowloon waterfront looking over towards Hong Kong Island. The iconic skyline makes for a fantastic photo. A great place to enjoy the view during the evening is from the lobby of the Intercontinental Hotel in Kowloon where you can enjoy a drink and a snack while taking in the lights.

Shopping
Many people visit Hong Kong to shop. If brand names like Gucci and Louis Vuitton are what you are looking for, then you will not be disappointed. However, many visitors prefer to visit the markets where haggling is commonplace and knockoffs are available. There are numerous markets throughout Hong Kong but the two biggest are the Temple Street market and Stanley Market. The third option is Nathan Road in Kowloon, but you will mostly find camera shops and tailors offering to stitch you a suit.

The Temple Street Night Market is the biggest market in Hong Kong and the most popular. Here you can find all kinds of knock-offs and small trinkets and memorabilia at a reasonable price. The market is just south of the Yau Ma Tei MTR station in Kowloon along Portland Street, a couple of blocks West of Nathan Road. Stanley Market on Hong Kong Island is similar, but a bit smaller, and runs during the daytime. Most tourists leave with something or another, but travelers who have been around Southeast Asia and have visited the higher quality night markets in Thailand and Cambodia will be a little disappointed with what is available in Hong Kong.

Transportation
When you arrive at Hong Kong airport, you might feel naturally inclined to jump into a taxi to enter the city. Do not do this. Take the Airport Express train instead. There’s a ticket agent outside of baggage claim and the platform for the train is connected to the airport so you do not need to step outside. However, once you are in the city, the taxi is not a bad transportation option for short distances. The drivers are honest and the taxis are easily identifiable by their red and white colors.

The best way for a visitor to get around Hong Kong is by ferry or subway. The subway system is extensive and clean, and can take you to most parts of the island that are worth visiting. The ferry is the most scenic and enjoyable way to travel across the harbor between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Star Ferry is the popular company that has operated in Hong Kong for over a hundred years, and their iconic green and white ferry boats depart to most destinations every ten minutes.

All makes of cars are available, with some models possibly differing from your home country. The most common vehicles on Hong Kong roads would be BMW, Mercedes and Toyota. Most of these vehicles can be found, as used cars, for reasonable prices, although not many dealers offer any kind of warranty.

One thing many expats find confronting when dealing with local used car salesmen, is that many of them who are not used to dealing with us will require you to negotiate and decide on a price for the car before you test drive it. This is standard practice for many used car dealers here as to them it shows that you are serious about buying the car. Of course it should be understood that you are free to change your mind or renegotiate should the used car’s test drive not be up to expectation.

If you’re thinking of buying a used car in Hong Kong you must have somewhere to park it. May sound obvious but many apartments will not have a parking space included, or even available. There is a healthy market for car parking spaces as many people who are not using theirs often lease or sell it.

It is important to learn the Hong Kong business culture before doing any business in the country because it will definitely affect your relations with them. Know that Chinese culture is the dominant business and social influence in the environment. The pace of life in the country is hectic and its residents are highly entrepreneurial with strong commercial instincts. Chinese are also hardworking and very competitive. They are also very conscious of their face or image that is why they highly value their education which according to them will ensure one’s social and economic mobility. Families are hierarchical and members are committed to upholding the family’s honor through loyalty, respect and obligations. Introductions and connections are not essential in Hong Kong although they help in establishing credibility for business. Hiring a local representative to initially develop the business is advisable.

It is good to learn how to do the proper Chinese way of greeting so as to show respect for the culture and establish a good impression on them. Bowing is their way of greeting and when a handshake is made be gentle because they are not used to close and intimate interactions with foreigners or strangers for that matter. Because they recognize seniority, be conscious of greeting the most senior member first.

Hong Kong Business Culture may also be described as results or role-oriented rather than that of the Western values of personal and social growth. Avoid confrontation and aggression. Remember to use language diplomatically. Refrain from directly refusing anyone by saying “I will try” or “I will see.” Be modest in all you behavior and also keep you calm.

Gift giving is also a part of doing business in Hong Kong. It helps establish or maintain relationships. Avoid giving clocks, books, green hats and anything unwrapped or wrapped in blue. Gift money in a red envelope is known as hong boa. Accept gifts with both hands and remember that gifts are to be reciprocated. A meal could also be a form of gift for the Chinese.

Be punctual and courteous in meetings. Do not set appointments on Chinese New Year because they look forward to this time for vacation.

Next only to the Philippines and India, Hong Kong is one of the best English-speaking regions in Asia. The street language is a delightful mix of English and Cantonese, so it is fairly easy to ask for directions, get a meal from restaurants, or haggle in the marketplace. Most educated Hong Kong locals are very well-versed in English, especially now that ‘English as a Second Language’ is already being taught in Hong Kong schools.

If you enjoy culinary variety, then Hong Kong is the place for you. Uniquely Chinese dishes such as special dim sum are a must-try. Other Chinese specialties include chicken lo mein, Peking duck, stuffed scallops, mouth-watering Tong Cho oysters, tofu dishes, fried whole trout, and exotic seafood plates of soft-shell crab topped with crawfish tails. If you get tired of Chinese food and miss Western food, do not worry – there are hundreds of McDonald’s outlets and several Western-style restaurants that offer American and European food.

Hong Kong is fairly expensive compared to other Asian travel destinations, but it is well worth it. To save on accommodations, you may choose to stay in dormitories. You can also eat budget meals (usually Chinese delicacies) instead of going to fancy restaurants. An allowance of about HK 250 dollars per day should be enough. But remember – Hong Kong is a shopping paradise and it can get very hard to resist the urge to buy, so hold on to your money if you do not want to overspend.