Hong Kong

For a grand bird’s-eye view of the city that is especially enjoyable at night, a good way to start your visit is with a trip to Victoria Peak. Sitting high above the harbour and the city itself, the Peak is accessible by trolley in only eight minutes.

Once at the top, there’s plenty to do – Madame Tussauds Hong Kong contains over 100 celebrity waxworks, and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium is a museum to bizarre exhibits from around the world.

One of the largest museums in Hong Kong is the Museum of Coastal Defence. It covers a period of history dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), with a series of fantastic themed historical exhibitions. You can follow the historical trail that takes in former battlefields, as well as see military installations and an ammunition depot.

Ocean Park is one of Hong Kong’s biggest attractions and is one of the largest sea parks in the world. It has marine themed areas with a Grand Aquarium that is three storeys tall, with over 5,000 fish inside.

Every night, the fountain show Symbio dazzles audiences as clowns, acrobats and jugglers perform for the crowds. The park is huge, taking in all kinds of wildlife, and the jewel in the crown is Ocean Theatre, an open-air theatre where you can watch sea lions and dolphins perform in a massive pool.

If you’re looking for something to keep the kids enthralled while in Hong Kong, you can’t pass up the opportunity to visit the world’s newest Disneyland. As with other global examples of this famous resort, Disneyland does a surprisingly good job of mixing the familiar cartoon characters and legends with local culture.

If there’s one thing that’s plentiful in Hong Kong, it’s shopping. The city’s status as a free port means that there are products for sale from all over the world. There are numerous malls across the city which often have a more relaxing air than you might be accustomed to, with cafes and restaurants for some well-earned chill out time.

Designer labels and technology are popular here – and tariff-free. However, you can also pick up items that are native to China, including antiques and seafood. Bargaining is recommended, but be careful to shop around and ensure that you check warranties on high-priced items like electricals.

Hong Kong has more festivals than you could keep track of, which means that no matter what time of year you visit, there’s likely to be some kind of celebration to experience.

The Dragon Boat Festival takes place in May or June (depending on the year) and have colourful dragon boat races accompanied by drummers, as well as a host of other activities.

The Mid-Autumn Festival Lantern carnivals usually take place around September or October and are a wonderful experience, similar to American Thanksgiving. Beautiful coloured lanterns are lit and performers, dancers, singers and Kung Fu masters put on incredible shows. All of these activities are free, too.