Travel to Hong Kong

by PhotoMann

Hong Kong is one of the most fascinating and exciting destinations in Asia. It offers a fascinating blend (and contrast) of ancient China, British colonialism and modern capitalism. Hong Kong has been a British colony since 1841 and will soon revert to Chinese control in June 1997. There is considerable debate on what effect Chinese control will have on this center of capitalism. Only time will tell.

I have had the opportunity to visit Hong Kong three times since I moved to Okinawa. It my favorite city (territory) in Asia to explore. Most people think of shopping when Hong Kong is mentioned. However, shopping is a low on my priority list. Hong Kong offers a rich, colorful environment for shooting pictures. The territory can be divided into three distinct area; Hong Kong island, Kowloon and outlying islands.

Hong Kong Island

Hong Kong island offers a wide variety of picture taking opportunities. Although there are limitless opportunities you should initially concentrate on Victoria Peak (day and night), Aberdeen, and Stanley. Victoria Peak has a view that can only be described as breathtaking. Take the peak tram up in late afternoon for a glorious daytime view. On the return leg take a double decker bus back to the Star Ferry station. If you sit on the upper deck you will have an opportunity for several fantastic shots. Set your camera to maximize your shutter speed to minimize the effects of the bumpy bus. A second visit to the Peak at night is a must. The skyline lit up at night offers it's own unique glory. Be sure to take a mini-tripod for taking night pictures.

Aberdeen is the second most popular tourist attraction in Hong Kong after the Peak. The bustling harbor is full of fishing boats and traditional Chinese junks. Several thousand people live and work on the boats in the harbor. The famous floating restaurants are also anchored here. You can explore the harbor by hiring a sampan. Don't worry about finding them, "they'll find you". If you're not interested be prepared to beat them off with your tripod! My preference is to head to the pier marked "Jumbo". From there you can catch a free shuttle to the floating restaurants. It will give you a brief view of the harbor. If you want to see more then consider hiring a sampan but remember to bargain hard. Aberdeen can be reached by taking bus number 7, 70 or 73 which depart from the Central bus terminal near the Star Ferry.

Stanley is traditionally a shopping stronghold but it also offers a charming seascape for picture taking. I would recommend leaving your shopping to last; otherwise you'll end up lugging your new found treasures while taking pictures. Don't just limit your exploration to the market area wander over to the opposite side of the peninsula to the beach. After you've exhausted your picture taking ambitions in the area, head to the market. If you're hungry or in need of an ice cold beer visit one of the British style pubs on the waterfront. You can get to Stanley by taking bus number 6 or 260 (air conditioned) from the Central bus terminal near the Star Ferry. Other picture taking opportunities can be found by hopping one of double decker trams near the Star Ferry and just go for a ride. You may find something interesting. To get back just hop a tram in the opposite direction back to Central.

Kowloon

Tsim Sha Tsui at the tip of Kowloon has an incredible variety of stores, restaurants, bars, hotels in a densely congested area. There are numerous possibilities for shooting the masses of people that are concentrated in this area. Night-time pictures of the brilliant lights are a must. A visit to the Wong Tai Sin temple which is the biggest and most popular temple in Hong Kong should be at the top of your list for taking pictures. It is often crowded with worshipers burning joss sticks and making offerings of food. Bring a zoom lens, 80-200 would be a nice range, so you can take pictures without intruding on the worshipers. A tank of oxygen might be advisable for those bothered by high concentrations of burning incense.

If you enjoy visiting 'touristy' villages you can journey to the Sung Dynasty Village which is an 'authentic' recreation of a Chinese village from 10 centuries ago. A visit the Jade Market just off of Nathan road will give you a splendid chance to take macro shots of intricately carved pieces of jade.

Outlying Islands

When most people think of Hong Kong they think of Hong Kong Island and Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon but the colony is actually comprised of 236 islands. Two popular day trips include the islands of Cheung Chau and Lantau. My favorite destination is Cheung Chau. It's a dumbbell shaped island which is a one hour ferry ride from Hong Kong. This densely populated fishing community allows no vehicles so bring your walking shoes. Opportunities for photographing junks, sampans, lush flora, scenic views, temples and local markets abound. Lantau island is lies just 35 minutes from Hong Kong by ferry. On Lantau you can shoot ancient Chinese stilt houses, beautiful beaches, fishing villages, temples and of course the huge 250 ton Buddha statue that overlooks the landscape.

Macau, an interesting Portugese colony is just a one hour jet-foil ride away from Hong Kong. It's worth a day trip to see the cobble stone streets, baroque churches in addition to Portugese architecture and fortresses.

Fenwick Pier

For US military personnel a visit Fenwick Pier is a must. Here you'll find a fair selection of goods for sale in the small shops but more importantly it has an APO from which you can MPS your treasures back to Okinawa. Fenwick Pier is located on the water (obviously) near the intersection of Arsenal Street and Queensway. You can also reach it by taking the subway to Admiralty station. Just walk towards the water and look for the American flag.

Shopping

Shopping, shopping everywhere! Hong Kong is a huge duty free zone which offers you the opportunity to buy almost anything you can think of. When buying cameras and other electronics, however, buyer beware. You should know what you're looking for and how much you're willing to pay. Be cautious about accepting substitutions. I have first hand experience in shopping for deals on cameras and computer components. You'll have to bargain hard unless you buy from the camera store at Fenwick pier or the computer shops in the Golden Shopping Arcade (Sham Shui Po subway station). I purchased my Minolta 9xi for about $700 three years ago when it wasn't available in the states yet and they were selling it for $1100 in Tokyo (130Yen/$!!). If you buy at Fenwick pier you'll get what you pay for and a warranty you can count on. I just recently discovered the Golden Shopping Arcade. Unfortunately this was a couple of hours before I was due to fly and I was low on HK$. This 'arcade' is a building with at least three floors of small computer stores selling everything from computer chips, cables and boards to peripherals and software. If they don't have it here it's likely not made yet. The prices are quite reasonable.

Recommendations

Finally, I would recommend taking a small tripod or clamp for taking night pictures of the harbor from the Kowloon side, the old railway station clock tower, Kowloon streets by night and of course the view from the peak. Take a cable release if you have one and be sure to bracket. Lastly, don't change money at the airport. Wait until you get into town. Even the hotel will give you a better rate!

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Suggested Hong KongTravel Guides

(Order directly from Amazon Books - Click on the title)

Insight Pocket Guide Hong Kong

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Lonely Planet Hong Kong, MacAu & Guangzhou

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Fodor's 2001 Hong Kong