The Hong Kong Tourist Bureau describes its city as “a dynamic metropolis steeped in unique blends of East and West”.  This is an accurate description, but no more so than many thousands of others, most of which incorporate words such as ‘thrilling’, ‘stunning’ and ‘fabulous’.  Hong Kong is all of these and much, much more.

One tour guide suggests 196 absolutely not-to-be-missed experiences for the visitor to Hong Kong, the most major of major Asian cities.  We cannot mention even a fraction of the must-do’s and must-see’s of this amazing metropolis; just a few of the highest highlights.

Hong Kong is known as the “Hollywood of the Orient”, and movie fans should visit the Avenue of Stars along the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade.  The history of the movie industry in Hong Kong goes back about 100 years, and famous personalities as well as industry milestones are commemorated with plaques along the Promenade.

The film industry has brought much of the fascination of Hong Kong’s history and mix of cultures to the movie-going public, and the chance to visit locations where favorite scenes were filmed is a big draw for tourists all over the world.  Probably the most spectacular (and familiar) of these locations is Victoria Peak, known simply as ‘The Peak’.

From a vantage point atop the Peak, which is located on Hong Kong Island, the whole panorama of Hong Kong and its world-renowned harbor is spread out for the viewer’s delight.  One can reach the top of the Peak by tram or by a dizzying ride up the access road, which makes well over twenty 90-degree turns on its way up the mountain.

Hong Kong is a fabulous place to take a walk, if you’re in reasonable physical condition and have some good walking shoes.  Taking the easy, well-maintained path around the Peak will greatly enhance your perspective of the city’s skyscrapers as well as the gorgeous green mountains surrounding them, and the immense and bustling Hong Kong Harbor.

If you choose, you can take another path down the mountain and back into the city, where you can visit some of the other alluring spots in and around the city, also on foot.   The Tourist Board will give you maps, directions and advice about where to go for shopping, dining, special cultural events, and places off the beaten track where you can get a sense of Hong Kong’s 150 years of colonial history and the many cultures thriving here.

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Hong Kong, with its fascinating history and rich mix of cultures, is the Asian city of major interest to travelers from all over the world.  Visitors would be well advised to make Victoria Peak their first destination, just to view the spectacular possibilities for exploration in this one of the worlds major cities.