So in 3 days I'm going to be flying out to Hong Kong for a family vacation. The only time I've ever spent in HK was during a 1 day stopover when I was 6 so my personal experience is pretty limited. I'm going to take a few days to go hang with a buddy of mine I know from here who started med school in HK about a year ago so I'll have someone who knows the place and can show me around, but I was wondering if anyone has any tips in general - maybe important things to pack or cool stuff to check out.

Another friend just came back and told me it's hot and humid as hell there right now, so I'm definitely dressing accordingly. I'm thinking it might be a good chance to pick up some things that are cheaper there, but so far all I can think of are clothes and gatsby hair wax.

I'm going to China for a few days as well (Beijing mainly), and I was told that it's dangerous to keep your wallet in your pocket - anyone know firsthand if this should be a legit concern?

TommyGG

United States142 Posts

August 18 2009 04:38 GMT

I just got back from a 2 month stay in China one week ago. I stayed at a university in Shanghai for the most part, but I did make a week trip to to Beijing. Take advantage of the nightlife there man, it's incredible (maybe more so for me because I am 17 and a lot of this stuff was new for me). No drinking ages whatsoever (actually I'm not sure about HK but i know the rest of China doesn't have a drinking age). Definitely try to get away from your family for a few nights and go to some clubs, drink, and meet the pretty women there.

If you're going to be in Beijing, definitely check out the Great Wall; just not from the city. I took a 2.5 hour drive to a section of the wall called Gu Bei Ko which is more out in the countryside. There the wall isn't refurbished and it's a lot better experience, especially because there aren't any annoying vendors who try to sell you stuff. I personally found the Forbidden city extremely boring and I canceled my plans to check out a lot of the temples because my last few days there I ended getting back to my hotel around 5am. the main bar street there is called Salingtun or something like that. lot's of fun. Ask Omninmo about it because that's his backyard.

As for the wallet question, I wouldn't really be concerned. I'm as white as they come and I kept my wallet in my back pocket and never had any problems. I guess I would be careful if you look super touristy and out of place, but just walk around with an air of confidence and you shouldn't be messed with.

China's an awesome place man, you should have a great time.

Carnivorous Sheep

Baa?21242 Posts

August 18 2009 05:30 GMT

Take advantage of the food. Try to eat out as much as you can and try new things, the food there is cheap and awesome.

Don't be super careless with your wallet, but you should be fine walking around. It's not more dangerous than a big city like New York or something.

Disregard

China10252 Posts

August 18 2009 05:46 GMT

Food is cheaper there but yea pick-pocketing is a problem. The pick-pockets are very organized too, working in large groups.

Carnivorous Sheep

Baa?21242 Posts

August 18 2009 06:22 GMT

On August 18 2009 14:46 Disregard wrote:
The pick-pockets are very organized too, working in large groups.

Wut? How does this work?

fOrQQ

Hong Kong321 Posts

August 18 2009 07:53 GMT

Pickpockets are a major concern only in touristy places, but you should pay a little extra caution to your wallet (ie. don't keep it in your back pocket). I'm from HK and when I went to China it wasn't uncommon to feel hands subtlely looking for a wallet in my back pocket once in a while. when I was out shopping at night markets. The working together thing is just simple tricks (witnessed some while on tour) like someone bumping into you or making conversation while someone else searches your pockets from behind, etc.

You should however be careful of scammers =P Prices will definitely not be what they seem (unless you're buying from a huge chain where the prices are fixed) so its often a good idea to make a hard bargain.

Oh, the one thing you definitely shouldn't do is give money to beggars or panhandlers. They WILL swarm you.

Keke I'm just gonna quote my quick guide to HK that I did for Cambium earlier.. too lazy to retype everything

On July 27 2008 23:41 fOrQQ wrote:

As far as touristy places, some good locations include:

The Peak - you probably know this, its where a lot of night-shots of downtown HK are taken from the top of a mountain. Food is a bit pricey there though.

Times Square (via Causeaway Bay) - basically...the Times Square of HK? As usual, lots of shopping districts and plenty of good eats =P

Lan Kwai Fong (蘭桂坊, via MTR at Central Station) - Its fairly close to Central Station (MTR, HK side) and its basically THE nightclub/pub central in HK. Basically open from 10pm till early morning, great atmosphere for drinking and clubbing if you're into that sort of thing. (fairly expensive though, since it is an extremely popular social hangout/tourist spot)

Ocean Park - The HK summer amusement park. Its been around for AGES, and imo is way better than HK Disney (which I'll cover next). Lots of stuff to do, panda exhibit, aquarium, rides, etc. And an awesome tram ride!

HK Disney (via MTR on Disney Line)- Honestly, I wouldn't recommend going here. Things are pricey (as are all Disneys) but there really isn't anything to do here that you can't do in other Disneys, and the others do it MUCH better.

Tsim Sa Tsui (via MTR or KCR as TST East)- One of the most famous places in Kowloon side, at night you can see the famous Hong Kong skyline + nightly lightshow. Don't miss out on the Avenue of Stars here (kind of like the Hollywood Walk of Fame) and if you're loaded, TST is known for very high-end fashion stores, esp in Harbour City.

Mong Kok (via MTR or KCR) - Probably one of the best places to get really good clothing/sportswear/gadgets cheap! Hope you are good at bargaining keke...check out the Women's Street (just a name..) for lots of interesting products.

There are of course various large shopping malls in Sha Tin (via KCR), Kowloon Tong (via MTR or KCR), and Mong Kok itself (called Langham Place, exit...D2 I think?)

Foodwise, lots of traditional HK food are in (duh) HK-style cafes, and various street vendors (大牌檔). Some of my favorite HK/Canton style restaurants include:

太興 (Dai Hing) - traditional HK roast foods + rice, as well as GREAT Hong Kong milk tea (you must try HK milk tea!!)

鼎泰豐 (Ding Tai Fung) - award winning restaurant that is famous for Shanghai-style dumplings and ramen. Prepare to wait 1hr+ to get a seat, esp. at peak times, but it is hands-down the best place to eat dumplings. (Its at TST harbour city/silvercord center). It actually has 4-5 branches in Japan so you might actually know it.

It might seem a bit sketchy but a lot of great HK food are in not-so-new establishments, and it is often much cheaper and better quality. Usually you can tell the quality/popularity of the place by the amount of people in there during peak times (lunch, afternoon tea times)

If you're visiting friends in HK, then you might want to try karaoke here =P (though you probably have in Japan already). Places like Red Box, Green Box, and CEO are the more famous places to do so.

I'm probably missing a lot of stuff, but hope you have a lot of fun here in HK! =D

Not_Computer

Canada2277 Posts

August 18 2009 08:00 GMT

Something I learned was keeping your Wallet in your shirt pocket (or even better, in a money belt/neck pouch under your clothes) and leave some spare bills/change in your pocket that you might use immediately. That goes for anywhere you go.
Works well unless a cop holds you at gunpoint and asks for your ID. (anyone read that short story?)

forQQ has great recommendations for places to go. You can also go to the racetracks and support equestrianism by wasting all your money betting on horse races.

But yeah, organized crime is awesome in China. I say awesome because when you step back and get past all the "damn man, they just stole all my cash, cards, ID, and passport" ... the level of practice, expertise, and organization of those pickpockets is amazing. Working in groups where often the person saving you is just as likely to steal as the person who was trying to steal from you.
But yeah, that's mostly if you stick out like a sore thumb and do your best to look like a hapless tourist.

alffla

Hong Kong20321 Posts

August 18 2009 11:10 GMT

hi
need help?

Disregard

China10252 Posts

August 18 2009 17:47 GMT

On August 18 2009 15:22 Carnivorous Sheep wrote:

Show nested quote +

Wut? How does this work?

They will slowly trail you from behind, cause a distraction, etc. Once they snatch it they quickly hand it off to some other person and they walk away (So pretty much even if you catch them you cant prove anything). Ive seen people getting their wallet stolen from their luggage when they are strolling down the street, seen it many times on Chinese News where people record these situations.