A Review of Hong Kong

If you like food and shopping you'll have a good time in this coastal city. If you like traveling on a budget and exploring unique cities, you may be disappointed.

For a year I lived in Shenzhen, China, which is only about 30 miles from Hong Kong. Of course it takes about two hours to get through the border so it's not like my friends and I went there all the time, but we usually made it to the city about once a month.

This review is aimed more at younger travelers traveling on a budget. I realize that many in this demographic are not likely to choose Hong Kong as a destination site, but it could come in handy for people just passing through on their way to more scenic (and less expensive) locations in southeast Asia.

Anything a person might find interesting to do in Hong Kong will probably be located in one of two locations. Kowloon, found on mainland Hong Kong; or Hong Kong Island, just across the harbor. There are additional smaller islands that have more of a nature feel, but I'll focus on the more urban areas.

The heart of Kowloon is Nathan Road which stretches far, all the way to the harbor. The several blocks just before the harbor are the most concentrated with shopping and restaurants. If you're taking the subway this is the Yao Ma Tai stop.

In this area there's lots of expensive, designer stores such as Armani and Prada. There's also a lot of shady electronic stores, good for buying digital cameras and the such. You'll have to do a lot of bargaining though or you'll get ripped off.

In this area of Nathan Rd. there is a hostel where my friends and I frequently stayed. The Mirador Mansion, on the corner of Mody and Nathan Roads in Tsim Sha Tsui, is sixteen stories tall and has a different guest house on nearly every floor. I always stay on the 16th floor in the First-Class Guesthouse. Sure the name is an exaggeration but the owner is very friendly and it's pretty safe. It's cheap at about $120 HK for a single and $225 HK for a double. There's even a TV in each room.

Eating out in Hong Kong can get expensive very fast, but there's a couple of places in this area that aren't too pricey. My boyfriend and I often ate at "Delaneys", an Irish pub that serves great cheeseburgers. It is located in the basement of the Mary Building, 71-77 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Tel 2301 3980). American restaurant Ruby Tuesday is located in Shop Unit 26, Telford Plaza, Kowloon Bay. And for those really on a budget, walk to the end of Nathan Rd. (toward the water), turn right and keep going to find McDonalds.

For cheap entertainment there's a couple options. For an educational outing, try the art and science museums, both found at the end of Nathan Rd. I don't know the exact price for the art museum, but the science is only $5 for students. Right next door is the Cultural Arts Center, where you may find a ballet or opera. There's a movie theater nearby that is usually playing a couple of new American movies. Take Nathan Rd. to the end, turn right, then walk to the next block and make another right. It's on the left side of the road.

My favorite place to go in this area is very relaxing and doesn't cost a penny. It's the Star Ferry Harbor. Just walk to the end of Nathan Rd., make a right and keep walking until you come to the water. Just across the harbor is Hong Kong Island, and the view of the skyline is really amazing, especially at night. If you happen to be in Hong Kong with your significant other, you'll find this spot is very romantic. It's very peaceful to sit at night listening to the water, watching the ferries go back and forth.

Across this water on Hong Kong Island, a person will find an abundance of things to do. I haven't spent much time on the island, but I do know a couple areas. Take the subway to Central and nearby you'll find the Soho District, filled with bars and restaurants. There's a variety of food, including Cajun and Italian. There's also a lot of bars. This area is very trendy and expensive. You'll rarely spot a Chinese person. Another area known for its nightlife is Wanchai. Here there's many discos and bars. Many places have high cover charges. But some have a charge at the door for all you can drink inside. I've heard good things about Joe Banana's and the ING club. Hong Kong is often referred to as a "food paradise" by tourists, and this along with the shopping are really the only aspects that a tourist would find appealing.

There are plenty of ways to keep your time occupied in Hong Kong, and there's certainly plenty of ways to spend a lot of money, but Hong Kong somehow just doesn't measure up with the coolness factor. It doesn't compare to New York City. One interesting thing about the city is the diversity of people you will find. Walking down the street you can easily hear 10 different languages and a countless number of accents.

Other than the amazing nighttime view of Hong Kong Island, there isn't much in Hong Kong that appeals to me. Since I lived on mainland China, I went to Hong Kong simply to have western food and hear people speak English. But for the person traveling from America, Hong Kong doesn't offer much in the way of diverse or unique entertainment.