Two Sides of Hong Kong – China

Mainland

STAY: Sign up for a slice of Asian kitsch (fake antiques and gold, topped off with friendly service) by booking into central The Luxe Manor.

a-bedroom-at-the-luxe-manor-hong-kong — A bedroom at the Luxe Manor – Hong Kong

DO: While away an afternoon at Yuen Po Street Bird Garden and Flower Market. Here, locals take their caged birds for a walk, stopping to feed them crickets with chopsticks.

the-caged-birdies-of-the-locals-are-the-big-attraction-for-tourists-in-the-yuen-po-street-bird-garden — The locals caged birdies are the big attraction for tourists at Yuen Po Street Bird Garden

EAT: For unbeatable Chinese food, such as chilli lobster and grilled pork ribs with fennel seed, matched only by unbeatable views of the HK skyline, head straight to Hutong.

chinese-food-served-at-hutong-restaurant — Chinese food served at Hutong Restaurant

DRINK: On the 118th floor of the Ritz-Carlton, Ozone declares itself the highest bar in the world. Enjoy the views at sunset, with inventive cocktails such as Dragontini, combining vodka, raspberry, yuzu and basil.

ozone-bar-the-highest-bar-in-the-world — Ozone Bar – The highest bar in the world

Island

STAY: Marble bathrooms, high-gloss interiors and floor-to-ceiling windows are the hallmarks of swish The Jervois in Sheung Wan.

a-bedroom-at-the-jervois-hotel-hong-kong — A bedroom at the Jervois Hotel – Hong Kong

DO: A Wednesday night at the races at Happy Valley Racecourse is a quintessential HK experience, as much about drinking, eating and enjoying the crowds as it is about the gee-gees.

watching-a-horse-race-at-the-happy-valley-racecourse — Watching a horse race at Happy Valley Racecourse

EAT: Lin Heung is a dim-sum house of the old order, with food, such as lotus paste buns, wheeled around on carts by tunicked waiters.

dim-sum-at-lin-heung — Dim-sun at Lin Heung – Hong Kong

DRINK: It’s all about the cocktails at moodily-lit Quinary. The Six-Months Barrel-Aged Manhattan and Earl Grey Caviar Martini are the stuff of legend.