Getting into Cyberpunk: A Hong Kong Travel Guide

How to get there

Aeroflot’s direct flights from Moscow to Hong Kong (from 77,000 rubles in both directions), or by Air China and China Eastern Airlines with transfers in Beijing or Shanghai (from 47,000 rubles in both directions). You will have to fly from other Russian cities with transfers in Shanghai, Beijing or Moscow. We have given the ticket price as an example to show the minimum amount of a flight in the spring of 2024, available at the time of publication of the article. 

You can get to Hong Kong by direct Aeroflot flights from Moscow. Photo: zhu difeng/Shutterstock.com

Where to stay

Hong Kong is located on 260 islands and the Jiulong Peninsula in southern China. Those who have planned a trip to this autonomous region need to remember three locations: Hong Kong Island, Lantau Island and Kowloon district in the very south of the Jiulong Peninsula.

Hong Kong International Airport is located on Lantau, from here you can reach the central areas by express train or buses. However, there is practically nowhere to settle here, since most of the island is occupied by national parks.

The financial and administrative center is located on Hong Kong Island — it is here that the main skyscrapers, shopping malls and expensive hotels are located.

The financial and administrative center is located on Hong Kong Island. Photo: estherpoon/Shutterstock.com

Where to stay on Hong Kong Island:

Renaissance is a five—star hotel in the center of Hong Kong’s main waterfront with excellent view rooms.
• Crowne Plaza is a high—quality four-star hotel in the financial center of the region. There are rooms with views of the city and the embankment.
• Nina Hotel is a four—star hotel surrounded by parks, a little away from the busiest part of the island. There is a rooftop view pool.
• Burlington Hotel is a three—star hotel with compact rooms and windows overlooking the city.
• Madera Hollywood is a three—star hotel with unusual bright rooms in the style of “Hollywood glamour”.

Renaissance.

Look for more budget hotels and apartments on the other side of Victoria Bay in the Kowloon area. Most Hong Kongers live here, and the local streets are full of inexpensive cafes and supermarkets. In addition, it offers the best views of Hong Kong Island and its famous skyscrapers.

Where to stay in Kowloon:

• Kowloon Shangri-La — “five stars” on Kowloon Waterfront. Some rooms offer the best views of Hong Kong’s main skyscrapers.
• Prince, Marco Polo Hotel is a high—quality “four” right on the waterfront of Victoria Bay.
• Hyatt Regency Hong Kong is an excellent four—star hotel with view rooms and two outdoor pools.
• The Perkin Hotel is “three stars” at a short distance from the embankment, but with the quality at the level.
• Maple Leaf Guest House is an economical option that is located in the most popular part of Kowloon — on Nathan Road.

Kowloon Shangri-La.

How not to get lost in Hong Kong skyscrapers

It is difficult to find a building with less than 30 floors in Hong Kong. In order not to get lost in the labyrinths of local high-rise buildings, you need to use elevators. Some of them go only to the even floors, the other stops only at the odd ones. The option “I’ll get there and go down/up one floor by stairs” will not work here — try to find the right stairs in these corridors! So be patient and get in line for the right elevator. On which floors something stops, they write on special signs above or next to the elevator doors.

What to do

Take a picture with Bruce Lee on the “Alley of Stars”

First of all, go to the Kowloon area, where there is a pedestrian “Alley of Stars” with memorabilia to Hong Kong artists and directors, including Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Wong Karwai. By the way, don’t forget to take a picture at the Bruce Lee monument in a fighting stance.

It also offers the best views of Hong Kong Island and its famous skyscrapers. Every day at 20:00, you can see the light and sound laser show “Symphony of Lights”, which is broadcast to the facades of buildings on the opposite shore of the strait. However, do not expect much from this show, especially if the day turned out to be foggy and cloudy. And by the way, it only takes 10 minutes.

First of all, go to the Kowloon area, where there is a pedestrian “Alley of Stars” with memorabilia to Hong Kong artists and directors, including Bruce Lee. Photo: aphotostory/Shutterstock.com

Walk along the Golden Mile among neon signs

In general, in the Kowloon area you can see the very firstbuildings in Hong Kong, including, for example, the Clock Tower. Here, one of the first streets of Hong Kong, Nathan Road, goes deep into the area from the embankment. Both attractions were built in the 1880s.

Nathan Road is also called the Golden Mile of Hong Kong because of the many shops and shopping malls that are located on it. Even if you are not interested in shopping, you need to come here in the evening and walk among thousands of neon signs. Because of this local illumination, this part of Kowloon is also called Hong Kong Times Square.

Nathan Road is also called the Golden Mile of Hong Kong because of the many shops and shopping malls that are located on it. Photo: Ronnie Chua/Shutterstock.com

Take a ferry ride along Victoria Bay

The most convenient way to get from one side of the strait to the other is by metro. However, do not forget about the traditional ferries. Boats depart from the Kowloon pier every few minutes to Hong Kong Island — this is a great option to sail along the famous bay and see the panorama of both coasts at once. Well, after sunset from the ferries, you can also admire the illumination of the Hong Kong Sky Line (so romantically called the urban panorama formed by skyscrapers).

Hong Kong Subway

The subway in Hong Kong is the most convenient way to travel around the region. You can use it to get to any part of the city, including the airport and Disneyland. It will not be difficult to recognize the stations — they are marked with a logo resembling the Russian letter “Z” on a red background. On the metro website, you can plot a route and calculate the cost of the trip — it depends on the distance and ranges from 60-350 rubles (5-30 Hong Kong dollars).

Climb Victoria Peak

Victoria Peak is the highest point in Hong Kong. Photo: WR studio/Shutterstock.com

Walking in city parks

Parks in Hong Kong are a separate art form. Here it seems that you are in a real nature reserve. So, in the City Park on Hong Kong Island, you can admire ponds with turtles and huge red and yellow carp. In addition, you will find landscaped gardens, waterfalls, alpine slides and fountains. In Kowloon Park, in addition to the picturesque ponds and landscape compositions, you can see pink flamingos walking freely.

To enlighten at the Big Buddha on Lantau Island

Most of Lantau Island is occupied by national parks. Hong Kongers come here for trekking and relaxing on the compact local beaches. Well, in the center of the island, on top of a hill, sits an impressive-sized Large Buddha. There are excellent views of Hong Kong and the surrounding area from the platform at its foot.

In the center of the island, an impressive-sized Large Buddha sits on top of a hill. Photo: Lewis Tse/Shutterstock.com

Having fun at Disneyland

A trip to Hong Kong is unlikely to be complete without a day spent at Disneyland. Get on the orange metro line and go to Lantau Island in the magical land of cartoons familiar to everyone since childhood. Do not forget to buy on the spot, if not the dress of your favorite princess or the prince’s costume, then certainly the ears of Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

The main attractions of China

If after visiting Hong Kong you want to explore mainland China, then take a closer look at this collection. The good news is that in the same article we have analyzed all the options for how to get to China without a visa.

What to try

In Hong Kong, the chances of ordering something questionable in a cafe or restaurant skyrocket! They don’t really like to accompany the menu with photos here, and often translating the names of dishes does not help at all to understand the ingredients. 

Catch proven dishes that you definitely need to try in Hong Kong:

• Dim sum — dumplings stuffed with meat, vegetables or seafood, steamed in bamboo plates.
• Duck or goose is one of the main dishes of Cantonese cuisine, the bird is baked and served with rice or noodles.
• Hong Kong waffles — these bubble waffles are already being prepared all over the world. However, you definitely need to try them at home — look for street stalls by the smell of vanilla.
• Egg tarts are a Hong Kong version of Portuguese pate with a sand basket and custard.
• Sago or tapioca pudding — balls with different fruits, most often with mango.