Head to the tropical climes of Hong Kong and enjoy a wonderful mixture of East and West. The Fragrant Harbour is renowned for being a shopping paradise, and you’ll definitely find something to suit your budget, from bargains at the raucous night markets to the hushed boutiques with their perfectly made-up sales assistants. It’s a city of fantastic contrasts, from gleaming skyscrapers to sleepy little fishing villages with stilt houses. There is also a great wealth of tasty food available, from dim sum spreads and street hawkers, to haute cuisine with prices to match.

See
Tai O Village – Make a day trip to the ‘Venice of Hong Kong’ and explore a slower side to this often fast-paced city. Situated on the western part of Lantau Island, Tai O is a quiet fishing village, with many houses on stilts. It’s a popular starting point for tourists to hop on a boat in search of pink dolphins that inhabit the waters nearby. For the landlubbers, there are two museums here – one run by the Tai O Rural Committee, and a slightly more interesting one, single-handedly managed by a local resident. There are also some shops; mostly selling dried seafood and souvenirs. The narrow streets can often present tourists with some interesting sights, such a rows of fish hung up to dry on strings.

Eat
Yung Kee – This Hong Kong culinary institution is spread out over five levels, and there’s always a line to get in. Yung Kee is perhaps most famous for its Roast Goose – the juicy bird is perfectly cooked, with the crispy, savoury skin covering succulent, tender meat. There are other specialties available too, like dark, creamy ‘Thousand Year Eggs’, a hearty chicken soup with plump abalone bits floating about in it, and delicious baked crab in a ginger and spring onion sauce. It’s fairly light on the dessert front, but do try the some of the egg custard tarts – the brilliant yellow custard, encased in a light, flaky pastry shell, is just the thing to complete your meal.

Stay
The Langham Hotel – The Langham is a haven of tranquillity in the midst of Tsim Shat Sui’s bustle. You’ll find rooms that are comfortable and elegant, with lots of closet space (to shove all that shopping in) and clean, classic furnishings. The rooftop swimming pool is a great place to cool off after a sweaty day exploring the city, and the hotel is equipped with a huge fitness centre, should you feel the need to work off some calories after indulging in one too many portions of dim sum. Room rates start from about £140.

Check here for cheap flights to Hong Kong.

(Photo: chinaodysseytours.com)

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