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Think Hong Kong and the chances are trade and business immediately come to mind. And certainly Hong Kong’s global reputation stems from its strength as an international finance center — but this is only one side of the story. Hong Kong is also an important lifestyle destination for both tourists and locals. The city offers a diversely fascinating mix of lifestyle attractions — from dining and nightlife to contemporary art and traditional culture.
Read on to learn what makes Hong Kong such a popular destination for the region, learn from those who are helping put on Hong Kong on the cultural map, and see how the
city can evolve and take its lifestyle offering to even
greater heights.
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Place
263
56 million
40%
The number of islands that make up the territory of Hong Kong. Some are accessible by ferry, but many are uninhabited
Number of people from around the world that visited Hong Kong in 2019, making it the most popular tourist city in the world
Percentage of Hong Kong's land that is made up of country parks and protected areas designated for nature conservation, countryside recreation, and outdoor education
A city of surprises
There is so much more to Hong Kong than what generally meets the eye. The city’s varied attractions cater to every taste and are a big part of what makes it such a great place to visit and live:
A foodie paradise
A shopping mecca
International cultural hub
Blending old and new
Hong Kong was home to an estimated 15,000 restaurants in 2019, giving it one of the highest density of restaurants in the world. The city has something for every taste, from local Cantonese fare to a wide variety of international cuisines. Whether it’s renowned five-star fine dining or just some traditional “dai pai dong” street food vendors, Hong Kong’s dining scene is diverse, eclectic, and always authentic.
It’s only a slight exaggeration to say that Hong Kong has a shopping mall on every street corner — ranging from local shopping centers to some of the most lavish and expensive malls in the world. Hong Kong remains a prime shopping destination for visitors from around Asia, with designer goods and high-end jewelry among the most sought-after items.
Hong Kong boasts a number of cultural and leisure events throughout the year, such as Hong Kong Arts Festival, Hong Kong International Film Festival, Le French May Arts Festival, Chinese Opera Festival, International Arts Carnival, and Art Basel Hong Kong.
The pull of nature
A foodie paradise
A shopping mecca
International cultural hub
The image most people have of Hong Kong is that of a hyper-modern city of skyscrapers. But Hong Kong is also steeped in history and tradition. Of particular note are the many festivals celebrated across the territory throughout the year, including the Mid-Autumn Festival where you can see the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, Cheung Chau Jiao (bun) Festival, and Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade. All of these are among the “Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong.”
Blending old and new
Visitors are often surprised to learn that country parks and protected areas comprise 40% of Hong Kong, which means there are plenty of opportunities to take part in outdoor activities. By far the most popular of these activities is hiking and, increasingly, trail running. The city has over 120 official hiking trails of varying difficulty levels, many of which are just a bus ride away from the city center.
The pull of nature
People
Syed Asim Hussain
Cofounder, Black Sheep group of restaurants
Hong Kong’s standing as an international city also helped. “In the last 10 years, Hong Kong has really established itself as a world-class restaurant city, and one of the reasons for this is that we are able to attract world-class talent,” Hussain says, adding that the ability to bring in the best people and having them come and train, develop, and mentor local talent has helped solidify the city’s culinary reputation.
Beyond the restaurant business, Hussain says it is hard to match the quality of lifestyle, the safety, and the convenience of Hong Kong. “What I like most about Hong Kong is that I can be in one of my restaurants and within half an hour I can be on an amazing hiking trail or I could be sitting on a beach,” he says. “That is my favorite part of the city and is a part of the city that is underappreciated and undiscovered by international visitors.”
Syed Asim Hussain cofounded the Black Sheep group of restaurants in 2012. A Hong Kong-native whose family first arrived in the city in 1875, he now oversees 25 restaurants across the territory, including the world’s first Punjabi restaurant to receive a Michelin star.
“For an entrepreneur, Hong Kong is the great equalizer,” Hussain says. “I would not have been able to have the success I have had as a restauranteur doing like-for-like work in, say, New York. The playing field is a lot more even in Hong Kong.”
Victoria Tang-Owen
Owner, Thirty30 Creative and Victoria Tang Studio
Hong Kong’s diversity certainly helps. “If you want urban hustle and bustle, it's all here,” she adds. “Food, drinks, shopping, and increasingly art and entertainment. If space, nature and outdoors activities are your thing, it's all on your doorstep. Beaches, boating and kayaking, rock climbing — there’s so much to explore.”
This diversity has been reinforced over the past year. With overseas travel not an option, Tang says people in Hong Kong have been exploring lifestyle much closer to home, with outdoor activities high on the list. ”It will be important to showcase this to tempt regional and international visitors back to Hong Kong,” she says. “All the global brands are here, but we also have amazing coastlines and parks that can be explored and valued.”
Although born in London, Hong Kong is the city Victoria Tang-Owen calls home. It’s also where she decided to base her two companies: design agency Thirty30 Creative and Victoria Tang Studio. “Starting a business anywhere is a challenge,” she says, “but I do find the city to be generally business friendly, which has enabled us to grow over time.”
Though Hong Kong’s business-friendly infrastructure played a part in her decision, so did the city’s more lifestyle-oriented attractions. “It's always difficult to say what you like best about 'home’,” she says. “It just feels right for me. Hong Kong has a unique character and I'm happy to be a part of that.”
Potential
Hong Kong’s rank among healthcare systems based on efficiency, according to the 2020 Bloomberg Health Care Efficiency Index
No.2
The number of Michelin-starred restaurants in Hong Kong, which puts it ahead of cities such as Barcelona and San Francisco
69
Covering over 40 hectares of reclaimed land, this cultural project is one of the largest of its kind in the world. The district is home to a number of museums and venues promoting both traditional and contemporary arts and culture, as well as large public spaces and two kilometers of promenade with views across the famous Victoria Harbour.
Discover more about what makes Hong Kong a lifestyle destination
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Discover more about Hong Kong's role in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development and the city's fintech scene.
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Hong Kong’s ranking in the AT Kearney Global Cities Index 2020, which measures how globally engaged cities are across areas such as business, culture, and politics.
#6
The cultural hub of Asia
As a regional hub for arts and culture, Hong Kong is home to a growing number of galleries, museums and art spaces — with more major cultural projects planned for the future.
West Kowloon Cultural District
Located in a site that comprises three declared monuments and once served as the Hong Kong Central Police Station, the Central Magistracy, and the Victoria Prison, Tai Kwun is now a vibrant destination for heritage, arts, culture, and dining. In 2019, it received the Award of Excellence in the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
Tai Kwun
A few blocks from Tai Kwun, the old Police Married Quarters on Hollywood Road is now operating as PMQ, a mixed-use venue for creative industries. In addition to a variety of artisanal shops and restaurants, PMQ also provides studio space to more than 100 creative entrepreneurs and plays host to regular exhibitions and events.
PMQ
HKMoA is the first public art museum in the city, established in 1962 and reopened in November 2019 after a major renovation, and now houses an art collection of over 17,000 items, representing the unique cultural legacy of Hong Kong's connection from across the globe.
Museum of Art (HKMoA)
Art-lovers in Hong Kong enjoyed major events in May. Among them was the return of Art Basel Hong Kong (May 21-23), one of the region's most prestigious international art fairs. Following its cancellation last year due to COVID-19, the 2021 edition included physical and digital platforms. More than 100 leading galleries from around the world showcased about 800 eclectic artworks including paintings, sculptures, prints, photography, film, digital art, and more. Art Basel Hong Kong and the concurrent Art Central, as well as the French May Arts Festival, bear testimony to Hong Kong's status as Asia's arts hub.
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Hong Kong’s standing as an international city also helped. “In the last 10 years, Hong Kong has really established itself as a world-class restaurant city, and one of the reasons for this is that we are able to attract world-class talent,” Hussain says, adding that the ability to bring in the best people and having them come and train, develop, and mentor local talent has helped solidify the city’s culinary reputation.
Beyond the restaurant business, Hussain says it is hard to match the quality of lifestyle, the safety, and the convenience of Hong Kong. “What I like most about Hong Kong is that I can be in one of my restaurants and within half an hour I can be on an amazing hiking trail or I could be sitting on a beach,” he says. “That is my favorite part of the city and is a part of the city that is underappreciated and undiscovered by international visitors.”
Sponsor content is produced in collaboration with advertisers by Insider Studios, the branded content team at Insider Inc. Business Insider's editorial staff is not involved in the creation of this content.
Copyright © 2020 Insider Inc. All rights reserved.
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy,
and Cookies Policy.
Site Map | Disclaimer | Commerce Policy
CA Privacy Rights | Coupons | Made in NYC | Jobs
Created by
The pull of nature
Blending old and new
International cultural hub
A shopping mecca
A foodie paradise