5 Great Things To Know Before You Travel To Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a major, compact, cosmopolitan city; however, if you compare it with high tech cities like New York or London, you’re not getting the entire picture. 

To truly get a feeling of Cantonese culture, you need to escape Central and investigate the distant islands, New Territories, and encompassing fishing towns—and to assist you with taking advantage of your next outing, this guide addresses the essential things you need to know before your trip to Hong Kong. Our tips are based on travelers and more importantly, local resident recommendations. 

The most effective method to Get Around 

Using Public Transit—it’s practical, clean, and moderately priced. For just a few Hong Kong dollars, you can ride on the famous Star Ferry across Victoria Harbor. Another popular method of transport for tourists, the Ngong Ping Cable Car, costs as little as $20 for a ticket. 

However, before you do anything, purchase an Octopus card. Octopus cards are the most common method of payment for public transportation. These cards work flawlessly. Just zapp your card, and you’ll be able to board your public transportation of choice. You can also use octopus cards at convenience stores, and even at some cafés. In addition, Hong Kong has Uber and also has really decently priced taxis (beginning at just $24). 

The most effective method to Greet People 

A benevolent “Joh sun” (great morning) is a simple expression to learn before anything else. For something more complex, Hongkongers frequently welcome each other with “Nei hou mama? Sek jor faan mei?” (How do you do? Have you eaten rice yet?). “Indeed, we truly are this fixated on food,” says the responder. 

What to Pack 

Bring loads of layers—Hong Kong never kills its air-conditioning. In July, you’ll be sweating bullets just standing still on a downtown street one moment and then shuddering from the cold inside a retail store.  Come springtime (late March-early June), carry an umbrella, and pack a rain jacket to get ready for the relentless downpour. 

Proceeding onward, we head on to the vital purpose of this article. 

5 Great Things To Know Before You Travel To Hong Kong

Visit in the fall. 

Hong Kong has a subtropical atmosphere, which means summers are typically hot. It almost feels like you’re strolling in a thick, cauldron of bubbling soup — you can expect to be sweating through your shirt. Spring rain downpour has destroyed numerous travel plans and Hong Kong bus tours will be the best option, while winter skies appear to be obstructed with pollution. 

Be that as it may, there’s fall: the ecstatic season. Visit from October to November when the sun’s out, the mercury floats around 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit and Hong Kong turns on the entirety of its charms. 

Get an Octopus card. 

The Octopus card is probably the most important purchase you will make in Hong Kong (well, except food, of course). You’ll need to pay a HK$50 deposit when you purchase an octopus card, but this is refundable upon return. You can buy these cards at the airport’s terminal, and all MTR stations. The little plastic card will let you tap onto any transportation, so you won’t have to handle a lot of coins to buy a physical ticket. Octopus cards are additionally helpful for snappy buys such as a jug of Tsingtao brew at 7-Eleven or a double shot Americano at Starbucks. 

Carry Cash. 

Yeah, I know. Just now, we spoke of octopus cards. Still, it’s a good idea to always carry cash. Hong Kong is a developed city from numerous points of view, yet a huge number of restaurants and payment points don’t accept card payments. For visitors, the most significant hurdle will probably be taxis, which almost always require instant monetary payment. There’s an HSBC bank generally every two blocks away, so you are never a far way from an ATM. 

Understand The History

Hong Kong was established in 214 BC by the Qin Dynasty. Later Hong Kong was surrendered to Great Britain in 1842 through the Treaty of Nanking following the three-year First Opium War. Hong Kong’s status as a British province continued for 156 years until the ‘handover’ back to China in 1997. 

The city is now a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China. It will hold fast to the Basic Law, specifying “one nation, two system” until 2047.  

Gain Proficiency With Some Lingo

Or, on the other hand, in any event, a couple of expressions. English and Chinese are both authority dialects of Hong Kong. However, the last is the native language. About 90 percent of the populace communicates in Cantonese—not Mandarin, which is generally spoken in P.R.C. Cantonese has nine tones (nine!), making it a difficult language to learn to speak fluently, yet you can, without much of a stretch, get a couple of expressive phrases to use around town. For example, ng-goi (pronounced, mmm-goy), means thank you. Jou-sen (joe-san) implies great morning; and hou-hou-sihk (ho-ho sick), signifies ‘yummy.’ That last one will prove to be useful. Also, for no reason, in particular, you can include ‘la’ to pretty much any expression to create accentuation or express overwhelming exasperation. 

Bonus Tip 

The Hong Kong train system (MTR) is your most ideal transportation method. Nonetheless, you ought to, try to avoid it during rush hour. 

During these times, you will be pressed against a lot of bodies in a small compartment. And if we learned anything this year, this isn’t ideal.  

Conclusion

Hong Kong is a dream destination for a lot of people. Hope this quick guide will be helpful in planning Hong Kong trip. And specifically, if you are looking for a modernized city with a lot of history and cultural charm, Hong Kong is a great option.   

We hope you find this guide helpful and share with other readers!