Frommer's Portable Hong Kong

188 Pages·2003·4.528 MB·English

by  Beth Reiber

P O R T A B L E
Hong Kong
2nd Edition
by Beth Reiber
A New Star-Rating System
& Other Exciting News
from Frommer’s!
In our continuing effort to publish the savviest, most up-to-date,
and most appealing travel guides available, we’ve added some great
new features.
Frommer’s guides now include a new star-rating system.Every
hotel, restaurant, and attraction is rated from 0 to 3 stars to help you
set priorities and organize your time.
We’ve also added seven brand-new featuresthat point you to the
great deals, in-the-know advice, and unique experiences that sepa-
rate travelers from tourists. Throughout the guide, look for:
Finds Special finds—those places only insiders know
about
Fun Fact Fun facts—details that make travelers more
informed and their trips more fun
Kids Best bets for kids—advice for the whole family
Moments Special moments—those experiences that memories
are made of
Overrated Places or experiences not worth your time or money
Tips Insider tips—some great ways to save time and
money
Value Great values—where to get the best deals
Here’s what critics say about Frommer’s:
“Amazingly easy to use.Very portable,very complete.”
—Booklist
“Detailed,accurate,and easy-to-read information for all price
ranges.”
—Glamour Magazine
“Hotel information is close to encyclopedic.”
—Des Moines Sunday Register
“Frommer’s Guides have a way of giving you a real feel for a place.”
—Knight Ridder Newspapers
P O R T A B L E
Hong Kong
2nd Edition
by Beth Reiber
Published by:
WILEYPUBLISHING,INC.
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product or vendor mentioned in this book.
ISBN 0-7645-6749-7
ISSN 1532-9933
Editor: Kendra L. Falkenstein
Production Editor: M. Faunette Johnston
Photo Editor: Richard Fox
Cartographer: John Decamillis
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5 4 3 2 1
Contents
List of Maps vii
1 Planning Your Trip to Hong Kong 1
1 Visitor Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
2 Entry Requirements & Customs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
3 Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
4 When to Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Hong Kong Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
5 Health & Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
6 Tips for Travelers with Special Needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
7 Getting There . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
2 Getting to Know Hong Kong 20
1 Orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Neighborhoods in Brief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
2 Getting Around . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Fast Facts: Hong Kong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
3 Where to Stay 39
Choosing a Place to Stay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
1 Very Expensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
2 Expensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
3 Moderate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
4 Inexpensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
5 Rock-Bottom Accommodations (Guesthouses
& Youth Hostels) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
4 Where to Dine 74
1 Kowloon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
2 Central District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
3 Causeway Bay & Wan Chai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
4 Around Hong Kong Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
5 Exploring Hong Kong 106
1 Hong Kong’s Top Attractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
2 Museums & Galleries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
3 Temples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Life on the Water in Aberdeen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
4 Parks & Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
5 An Amusement Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
6 Organized Tours & Cultural Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
7 Outdoor Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128
8 Spectator Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130
9 Lantau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131
6 Shopping 135
1 The Shopping Scene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
A Shopping Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136
2 Great Shopping Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
3 Shopping A to Z . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141
7 Hong KongAfter Dark 158
1 The Performing Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .158
2 The Club & Music Scene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .161
3 The Bar Scene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163
4 Only in Hong Kong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .170
Index 172
General Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172
Accommodations Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176
Restaurant Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176
List of Maps
Hong Kong Orientation 21 Causeway Bay & Wan Chai
Kowloon Accommodations Dining 99
45 Kowloon Attractions 111
Central District Central District Attractions
Accommodations 47 115
Causeway Bay &Wan Chai Attractions Elsewhere on
Accommodations 51 Hong Kong Island 123
Kowloon Dining 77 Shopping in Tsim Sha Tsui
Central District Dining 89 139
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank some fine and very special people who graciously
extended their help in the preparation of this book: Lillibeth Bishop, Diana
Budiman, Elven Ho, and Mandy Lo of the Hong Kong Tourist Association;
and Teresa Costa Gomes of the Macau Government Tourist Office. A special
thanks goes to my sons, Matthias and Johannes, for putting up with my long
absences ever since they can remember.