Hong Kong is one of the few places in the world where a 700-year-old fishing village sits minutes away from the headquarters of international banks. Once a British colony and now a Special Administrative Region of China, the city carries traces of Cantonese, colonial, and global influences in its streets, rituals, and food. The Central and Western Heritage Trail guides visitors through landmarks like the former Victoria Prison and the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum, offering insight into both the city’s revolutionary past and colonial-era growth.

Daily life in Hong Kong is shaped by cultural traditions that remain part of the urban rhythm. You’ll find locals burning paper offerings at roadside shrines or visiting Wong Tai Sin Temple to draw fortune sticks. In districts like Sheung Wan, dried seafood shops operate alongside modern coffee roasters. Meanwhile, in Yau Ma Tei, the Temple Street Night Market draws crowds with street performances, traditional medicine stalls, and food carts selling curry fishballs and stinky tofu, a popular snack with a strong first impression.

Despite its reputation as a vertical city, Hong Kong is home to surprisingly easy access to green spaces. The city has more than 300 hiking trails, including the well-known Lion Rock hike, which ends at a dramatic cliff overlooking Kowloon’s dense skyline. On Lantau Island, the Ngong Ping 360 cable car offers sweeping views of mountains and sea before arriving at the Tian Tan Buddha, one of the largest seated bronze Buddhas in the world. Many locals spend weekends kayaking in Sai Kung or camping on beaches like Tai Long Wan, reachable only by foot or boat.