Hong Kong is a great place to live and visit. There are so many things to do in Hong Kong. There is culture, nightlife, employment opportunities, and great restaurants. There are many reasons why I love Hong Kong. One of the best things about living in this city is the nightlife. The nightlife in Hong [...]
Living in Hong Kong – A Guide for Expatriates Living, Working and Visiting Hong Kong
Whether you’re a tourist or someone on business, life in Hong Kong can be very different from the western world. The horizon is littered with skyscrapers and space is a very precious commodity when it comes to Hong Kong. However it’s also a very vibrant city with an easily accessible public transport system and you will soon find that life in Hong Kong has its perks along with the bad.
One of things that westerners find hard to come to terms with is the tiny amount of living space in Hong Kong. Due to the enormously high population density the average living space in Hong Kong is 450 square feet. Most buildings forbid residents to hang their washing where the public can see so often the only place to dry laundry is inside the already cramped space.
However the perk of living in Hong Kong is that the public transport system really is nothing short of superb. There are always taxis on the hectic roads with the minimum taxi fare being approximately HK$15 for the first two kilometers or approximately 1.24 miles. If we do a currency conversion this is only US $2.50. Other forms of public transport include taking the metro, train, bus or ferry. As Hong Kong is surrounded by water, people do opt to travel to work via ferry. If you’re a tourist you can take a ferry ride of the harbor side for as low as US $0.30 and the views can be especially magnificent at night as the city lights up in a spectrum of colors.
On the downside, if you’re moving to Hong Kong chances are you won’t be seeing the sun in a long time not to mention the blue sky. Sunny days are extremely rare in Hong Kong. The massive pollution in the air prevents the sun’s rays from penetrating so most days are grey with the occasional faint stream of sunlight.
However on the upside if you enjoy shopping, then Hong Kong is definitely the place to be. Especially when it comes to brands, Hong Kong offers almost constant discounts on all major brands and labels. Shopping malls are everywhere and depending on where you go there are both high and low ends. Street vendors are common, selling all kinds of cheap services however it is best to proceed with caution if you’re new to Hong Kong.
Recently in Hong Kong, new laws have been introduced that prevent smoking in public areas. Depending on your view this may be either a good thing or a bad thing. However it is certain that by limiting smoking Hong Kong reduces the risks of lung cancer disease. When the benefits are weighed up with cons, anti-smoking laws are not so bad, especially if you’re someone who’s been attempting to quit.
Finally life in Hong Kong will no doubt also give you a taste of its culture and its history. Festivals are held annually with the most prominent being the Chinese New Year festival that is celebrated for almost a month. During this time it’s common for Hong Kong families to give red paper bag money to non-married family members. There are restaurants that specifically serve dim sim and for those who have never heard of dim sim, it is really just little tea time foods that range from spring rolls to dumplings.
Living in Hong Kong can have its perks and its downs, however once you weigh them up you can decide whether it’s worth visiting and taking up a job there. There is always a lot to be learned from different cultures and immersing yourself in Hong Kong can be both rewarding and fun.
The Hong Kong Space Museum was built to show the average person what astronauts do in outer space while giving them the illusion that they are also in outer space. This type of interaction that the museum offers help children become interested in space and hopefully will encourage some of them to go into the [...]
Many people don’t know whether or not they need a tourist visa to enter Hong Kong. Since Hong Kong is an international city that treasures tourism and businesses, it tries hard to make visa policies as simple as possible. Visitors from most western and Asian states are granted a visa-free stay on arrival. The length [...]
Although getting into Hong Kong as a traveler is simple, getting a work visa is quite difficult. Before 1997, English citizens could work in Hong Kong without a visa, but now all non-Hong Kong residents must meet strict requirements to be granted the privilege to be employed there. Based on Hong Kong laws and regulations, [...]
Hong Kong Ocean Park provides a combination of several attractions in Hong Kong’s southern district. Hong Kong Ocean Park is a mixture of a theme park, marine animal conservation, education and research facility. Governor Sir Murray MacLehose established the park in 1976. Today, the park has up to 35 attractions and is considered one of [...]
The Hong Kong Museum of Science introduces science and technology to visitors of all ages living in Hong Kong in a fun and interactive environment. If you are moving to Hong Kong, this is one of the first places you should visit. Unlike traditional museums, the Hong Kong Science Museum gets visitors involved by challenging [...]
In Asia, raising songbirds is a time-honored tradition. These birds are prized as pets and have been for centuries. In the Buddhist religion, it is believed that by releasing animals and birds back to the wild, you will receive a pathway to acquire good karma, giving you your last chance for good luck. Often this [...]
While visiting Hong Kong, it would be a shame if you missed visiting the Happy Valley Racecourse. This wonderful racing gem is located in the heart of the Wan Chai District. The course was built in 1845 on reclaimed marshland so that the British people there could enjoy horse racing. In 1918, a fire killed [...]
Located in the Sha Tin New Town region of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum houses the ancient art and historical treasures of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Heritage Museum displays the best of Hong Kong’s culture and art. With its wonderful collections of paintings and sculptures, visitors will be amazed. The architectural design [...]
The Hong Kong Museum of Art is managed and maintained by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Government of Hong Kong. The museum is managed meticulously with its displays being changed frequently. The exhibitions on display include paintings, calligraphy and sculptures which provide a glimpse of the rich heritage of Hong Kong, China [...]