Hong Kong, Famous for its space-age cityscape, and warm nature, Hong Kong can overwhelm any visitor: neon lights twinkle on the skyline along with the stars, the air is abuzz with endless sounds; excited chatter, traffic and blaring music. This is essential Hong Kong, where lights, life and legacies somehow find place near each other.

Lose yourself in the crowds in reckless abandon without a care. Take in the view from Victoria Peak, the highest mountain in Hong Kong, or feel the buzz as the late evening crowd edges its way into popular bars, and succumb to the glitz and energy of Lan Kwai Fong district. Modern, groovy and stylish, the motto of everyone who heads to Hong Kong is loud and clear–live and let live!

Sight Seeing

Hong Kong is a minefield of pleasure; there is something for everyone. Victoria Harbour is where most people start their tour of the island. The star ferry ride is an iconic Hong Kong experience, especially at nights when the Symphony of Lights light up the harbour. Beach lovers will love the atmosphere at Repulse Bay, where you can enjoy a long lazy afternoon stroll or sunbathe.
There are plenty of hiking trails all through the countryside, and in late autumn or early spring, there’s nothing like feeling the sun on your face and sand in your shoes. The Hong Kong trail, the Dragon Back trail, and the MacLehose trail are the most popular among those who yearn to discover the great outdoors. Lantau Island has a wild countryside that is perfect for exploring. Mountain bikers will find their favourite trails in Sai Kung and Tai Lam Chung Country Parks.
Hong Kong Disneyland makes for a fun trip if you are travelling with family and the Ocean Park with its thrilling water rides are both adult and child friendly. Some of the lesser known delights in Hong Kong are its beaches, which don't get as much attention as it should.


Shopping

There are plenty of huge shopping malls that run bargains in every locality within easy reach. Causeway Bay is an inevitable crowd puller. A few famous shopping malls here are the Times Square, the World Trade Centre and the Lee Gardens. Stanley Street in Central Hong Kong has a bustling hawker colony where you can buy everything from electronic goods to clothing and footwear. Indulge as much as you bargain! Li Yuen Street East and Li Yuen Street West have a fascinating hodgepodge of shops.
Many shoppers in Hong Kong follow the simple rule of area-wise shopping. Branded goods are best bought at Causeway Bay, while electronics can be found at Apliu Street Market in Kowloon. Cheung Sha Wan Road Fashion Street in Kowloon has fantastic clothing bargains.
If you'd like to explore the quirkier side of the city, head to Goldfish Market Street in the Mong Kok area. Everywhere you look, you will find packets of colourful tropical fish that you can choose to take home as a pet. If there is one city where locals take their love for the ocean and its marine life seriously, it is Hong Kong.

MACAU

Far on the southeast coast of China, Macau has a long-standing reputation of being Vegas of the East. This dream villa that balances both Eastern and Western cultures is a towering paradise of gambling, women and sky-high living. Oodles of grandeur, lip-smacking delights, glitz and glamour, the city offers its visitors an experience that is unmatched.

If you want to enjoy a stroll in the morning, head to Largo Senado Square's central stretch or grab some coffee in one of the sophisticated cafés that dot the streets. The Leal Senado (Loyal Senate) sits regally at one end of the square and attracts hordes of tourists all year round. Macau's Outer Harbour area and the outlying islands of Taipa and Coloane are a break from the peninsula. Other fascinating sights like the cream-coloured Santo Domingo Church with its perky green doors and windows, and the Lou Kau Mansion are splendid reminders of how many influences lie layered in Macanese culture and co-exist within the populace.

Try the Bacalhau, tossed in parsley and potatoes or the crumbly Portuguese style Egg Tart; you can never quite have enough! The Monte Fort, the ruins of St Paul's, and Museum of Macau are great sights along the way. Try your luck and experience the grand splendour of The Venetian at night. Every year this is exactly what brings Macau its millions of tourists: the belief that this might be their chance to get lucky. The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel is not just a fantastic casino but has famous gondola rides that let you relive the beauty of yesteryear Venice. The indoor artificial sky above is beautifully speckled with puffy white clouds against a stretch of azure blue and will take your breath away. It is another world, time and place here. To many, being in Macau is like taking refuge from reality. Or as other's simply say, this is where life is one party that never ends.

Sight Seeing

The A-Ma-Gao Temple, tucked away at the south-western tip of Macau city, overlooking Barra Square and the seashore, is the oldest Taoist temple in Macau and is a great spot to start your visit. Legend has it that Mazu, Taoist Goddess of the Sea, in the guise of a young girl sought refuge in a kind fisherman's boat to cross the South-China Sea. Unfortunately, the boat found itself in the middle of a brewing storm. The girl who was in reality a young goddess immediately stood up and calmed the seas. The locals, who built the temple in 1488, named it A-Ma-Gao, after the goddess. But when Portuguese settlers first landed and asked locals about their land, they mistook the name A-Ma-Gao for 'Macau', and thus the city's name eventually stuck.

There are plenty of activities in Macau to keep anyone occupied through the day like lounging at the beach or traipsing a trekking trail like the Hac Sa Reservoir Circuit and Altinho de Ka Ho. But nothing is as good as gambling; one of the main activities in Macau. However, when visiting a casino, keep in mind that you are dressed well as most casinos follow a strict dress code. The Venetian is, by and far, a one-of-a-kind experience.
Macau now boasts of the largest casinos in the world and has more casinos than anywhere else. So much so that a few even joke that Vegas should be called 'America's Macau'. It doesn't come as a surprise that while Macau is continually called 'The Las Vegas of the East', Las Vegas might soon be known as the 'Macau of the West'.

Shopping

Macau is a shopper's paradise. International brands, gadgets and jewellery come cheap and are found in plenty. The Red Market, which is snug between two of Macau's famous streets, Almirante Lacerda and Avenida Horta e Costa, is a popular wet market bustling with vendors selling everything from watches and shoes, to clothing and gadgets. The Three Lamps District (Sam Jan Dang) nearby, is just as interesting with its many jewellery and gadget stores. Indulge in the hawker stalls along the way to rest your feet. Flea markets like the Rua De Tercena and Bombeiros Square Market are generally crowded but worth your while nonetheless.
Duty-free shopping draws many to stores inside popular casinos. The Venetian, the Wynn Macau, and the Landmark have numerous international labels for the style conscious. Fisherman's Wharf has over a hundred stores that you can enjoy along with a day of fun at the amusement park.