Top tips for visiting Hong Kong from an expat

Virginia Chan was born and raised in Vancouver, then ditched her corporate job to move to Asia and start a tour company. Here are her top tips for seeing the best of Hong Kong.

With so much to do in Hong Kong, the question is where to begin. 

Junkboat of Hong Kong at night

What makes Hong Kong such a unique destination is…

Its vibrancy in a bustling atmosphere that blends the old and the new, as well as the East and the West, with traditions going back to the days of being a British colony. Hong Kong is where tradition meets innovation, so you can have a new glass skyscraper next to a row of houses made from bamboo.

Most of our tour visitors are from…

Australia, North America and the UK, as we offer English-speaking tours. In recent years, we’ve seen one-third of the tourists being expats living in Hong Kong who want to explore more of their backyard.

Hong Kong city view at sunrise

The three places that are a must-visit are…

The Peak will always be No.1, and the funicular that climbs the hill to the top is my favourite thing in the entire city. Then there’s the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, near the Star Ferry Pier, where you get that iconic Hong Kong skyline photo. Lastly, head out of the city to Lantau Island for the Nong Ping 360 cable car, which takes an amazing 25-minute trip to the Big Buddha.

The place I most love showing off is…

Wong Tai Sin Temple, as it’s so full of tradition, and I love explaining the incense stick rituals and how to use the fortune sticks. This is also where to see a statue of the god of cupid love and possibly make a wish for romance.

Wong Tai Sin Temple

The best new attractions are…

Tai Kwun, which is the old police station and prison that has been transformed into a dining, drinking and shopping area. It reopened in 2017, but as we had so much turmoil since, it’s only now a lot of people are discovering it. For something newer, the contemporary art M+ is a world-class museum.

For good local food, head to…

A cha chaan teng, which is basically a Hong Kong version of a diner. The food is good, it’s cheap and fast, and then you can keep going with your day.

Hong Kong is a food lover's paradise

The one local dish you must try is…

Dumplings and dim sum, and a place I think is great is Lin Heung Lau in Central. Another food we’re famous for is roasted goose, and be sure to try it in November as it’s cooler then, and that makes it crispier. Drop in to Yue Kee Restaurant in Sham Tseng as that’s a favourite place to try it.

Deciding on which side of the harbour to stay…

Really depends on what you want out of Hong Kong. If you’re going to be drinking, dining and partying, then be on the Hong Kong Island side. But if you plan to spend your days shopping and enjoying street food, then you want to be in Kowloon.

Tourist tram at the Peak

The best time of day to enjoy the spectacle of the harbour is… 

At golden hour, just before sunset, so that you see the day fade with all the colours, and then the lights come on as night falls. That way you get a day and a nighttime view.

A good day trip out of Hong Kong is…

To Macau as it’s only a short ferry ride away and it has a lot to see that’s different to Hong Kong. Away from all the casinos is the Portuguese World Heritage area, which is beautiful and a great step into a very different European past.

Virginia Chan is the founder of Humid with a Chance of Fishballs, which runs tours seven days a week. 

Originally published as Top tips for visiting Hong Kong from an expat