Concorde Travel

About Hong Kong
Hong Kong, with its blend of East and West, of Chinese roots and British colonial heritage, of ultramodern sophistication and ancient traditions, is one of the most diverse and exciting cities in the world. From the dishes you love to something you’ve never tried. Take a stroll into the green and serene Hong Kong’s hills. Buy souvenirs and antiquities from street markets or glamorous malls. Leisure and luxury make sightseeing easy with our organised tours.

Home from Home
In survey after survey, Hong Kong's hotels frequently top the list of the world's best accommodation. Whether you're treated to hand-made chocolates in your room or greeted by a doorman in impeccable white gloves and pillbox hat, the city's deluxe hotels offer a style and service that is second-to-none. Relax in comfort, Easy to get to and comfortable to stay in, from deluxe to moderately priced, Hong Kong's hotels offer service with a smile. Even smaller establishments take pride in their 'family-style' way. English-speaking front-line hotel staff are full of useful information. And Hong Kong hotels offer a vast array of cuisine's - from homey hamburgers and pizzas to some of the world's finest fare.

Personal Convenience
In-room satellite and cable television keep you up to date with the news at home. Power points and adapters provided for your convenience, allow you to use your own hairdryer or electric razor. Safety deposit boxes provided allow you to be secure in the knowledge that your valuables are safe. Should the need arise, hotels a list of doctors on call. Please be sure to consult your English-speaking concierge or hotel tour desk personnel.

Attractions & Transport
Compact and cosmopolitan, most Hong Kong hotels are located within easy reach of major attractions and transportation. Shuttle buses can whisk you from airport to hotel in air-conditioned comfort, and the Mass Transit Railway (MTR), linking the city with conveniently located stations, has easy-to- follow English language instruction. Ride the rails on the vintage working tram way system that has run from one end of Hong Kong to the other since 1904. A superb network of air-conditioned buses can take you to all corners of the Territories, and regular ferries run between all major islands.

Gateway to the East
Hong Kong is a bustling, modern city - but beneath its bubbling surface is a rich Chinese culture laced with a 150-year-old British colonial history.

British Blues
From the historic Noon Day Gun, made famous by Noel Coward in his song ‘Mad Dogs and Englishmen’, to Government House, home to 25 British governors from 1855 to 1997, Hong Kong is a treasure trove of British colonial memorabilia.

Ferries & Trams
Travel in style on transportation from another era. The Star Ferry (which celebrated its 100^th birthday in 1998); the Street Tram (inaugurated in 1904); and the Peak Tram (the oldest form of mechanised transport in Hong Kong, at 110 years) are still used widely by locals and tourists alike. Easily accessible, Victoria Peak, via the Peak Tram, is the most popular attraction in Hong Kong. Stanley Market, on the south side of Hong Kong Island, is another favourite with visitors for its lively street market atmosphere and scenic setting.

Where deities dwellHong Kong is a city filled with temples. At seaside dwellings you’ll find Tin Hau temples dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea, protectress of fishermen. Two of the city’s most famous are the Man Mo Temple in Western, and the Wong Tai Sin Temple with large arcade of fortune-tellers (some of whom speak English).

Festive Fun
Experience the excitement and wonder of a traditional Chinese festival. Combining ancient religious and festive customs, these colourful, energetic events are celebrated most months in various locations throughout the territory.

Museum
Pieces nearly two dozen museums act as chroniclers of Hong Kong’s history, culture and lifestyle. Among the most interesting is the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware. Most museums are free on Wednesdays and several offer 50 per cent discounts on admission fees for seniors aged 60 years and over

Familiar Flavours (Food)
The City that lives to eat, Hong Kong boasts nearly 8,700 restaurants. Food to tempt your taste buds is never far from hand. From American-style steaks and burgers to authentic Italian fare, SoHo (the area ‘South of Hollywood Road’) and Knutsford Terrace (in Tsim Sha Tsui) has a cluster of cosy yet cosmopolitan restaurants. Lan Kwai Fong, the trendy nightlife area known for its excellent restaurants and bars in Central district, caters for tastes ranging from Californian to Vietnamese. Simply bring your appetite and feast away.

Tea TimeAn enduring tradition from the colonial era is the charming custom of afternoon tea. At the city’s most prestigious hotels on both sides of the harbour, visitors can take high tea, a tradition steeped in both British and Chinese cultures. Enjoy a pot of fine, English tea accompanied by delicacies such as cucumber sandwiches, Windsor cake and home-made scones (with Devonshire cream and jam).

Chinese Extravaganza The capital of Chinese cuisine, lovers of authentic Oriental cooking need look no further. Cantonese, the local style, is known for its fresh flavours and quick frying. Steamed fish and barbecued meats are also popular dishes. From China’s provinces the tastes are rich and varied. You can have the most succulent Peking duck served with spring onion and plum sauce on a wafer-thin pancake, or wake your taste buds with some spicey Szechuanese or Hunanese fare.

Seafood
For seafood, Hong Kong’s Outlying Islands are a pleasant surprise for most visitors. With relaxed island atmosphere, quiet village ambience, lush greenery and excellent restaurants, a half dozen of the main islands are easily accessible by a short ferry ride from Central. Dim sum (or light snacks) is the quintessential Hong Kong dining experience. During breakfast and lunchtime, restaurants and teahouses offer such tasty snacks as har gau (shrimp dumplings) and shiu mai (minced pork and shrimp in flour casing).

Super Shopping
Second only to dining, Hong Kong’s favourite part-time is shopping. The City of Life has an unrivalled diversity of shopping destinations - from glitzy malls to lively market stalls.

High style
For international names at bargain prices, head to the many factory outlets and wholesale warehouses. These outlets buy fashion from factories where international brands are made and sell them at bargain prices. Places to look, with European and North American sizing and designs, are Central’s Pedder, Building and Li Yuen Streets East, and West. Also on Hong Kong Island, there's Ap Lei Chau. In Kowloon, head for Hung Hom for its Diane Freis creations, or Granville Road and Fa Yuen Street for their casual fashions.

Market Magic
When market shopping, prepare to haggle! Visit the Ladies’ Market in Mong Kok for inexpensive style, or Yau Ma Tei’s Temple Street Night Market for anything from goldfish to electronics. Stanley Market on the south side of Hong Kong Island is famous for its Chinese souvenirs. As well as souvenir markets, visitors can enjoy markets dedicated to birds and flowers. Market shopping - it’s all part of the Hong Kong experience.

Memory Lane
Stroll through historic streets in search of curios and antiques. Cat Street’s kitsch memorabilia, the fine imported carpets of Wyndham Street, or Hollywood Road’s Chinese and Asian handicrafts and antique - the choice is endless. Hong Kong may be modern and sophisticated, but its heart is Chinese. For silks, embroidered table linens, ornaments, trinkets, calligraphy, paintings, jewellery boxes, vases, beautiful carvings, Chinese Arts & Crafts (HK) and the Yue Hwa Chinese Products Emporium are department stores dedicated to handicrafts

Heritage
Learn the Hong Kong of bygone days on the Heritage Tour, when walled villages and cholars’ opulent homes took the place of today’s gleaming skyscrapers. Discover the legacy of the recent past for yourself through the Heritage and Architecture walks.

Cruising
Cruise the harbour, sip a cocktail and watch the dazzling man-made wonder of Hong Kong’s amazing sky-line come alive at night with a variety of Harbour Cruises. Allow yourself to be guided through the colourful chaos of Hong Kong’s street markets on the Guided Market walk, or view the city’s sights from the open-aired top deck of a tram or bus while dining in style.

Wild WonderOne of Hong Kong’s most popular tours, The Land Between shows the little-known alter-ego of Hong Kong, home to bird sanctuaries, monasteries, rolling hills and little farms. Watch wild pink dolphins at play in their natural environment on the Hong Kong Dolphin-watch Tour.

Local Leisure
Take a chance on Lady Luck with thousands of other hopefuls on an Come Horseracing Tour, or delve into the delights of Chinese cooking. To book a tour, click on our sightseeing packages.

Great Out DoorsWhile most people envision Hong Kong as a compact cosmopolitan city of skyscrapers, few realise that the city has a green side. Surprisingly, 40 per cent of its 1,100 square kilometres is protected in country parks. Green oases Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Park and the Hong Kong Zoological & Botanical Gardens in Central, and Kowloon Park in Tsim Sha Tsui act as Hong Kong’s ‘green lung’ and provide a peaceful respite to the bustling, community beyond.

Gentle Strolls
Recommended ‘green’ walks on Hong Kong Island, include Bowen Road - a flat, 2.5-kilometre paved that is perfect for a relaxing urban walk or convenient jog, and The Peak, where a leisurely 3.5-kilometre stroll with fantastic views takes about an hour to complete.

Five Walks
‘Five Walks’, suggests walking tours of five areas, including Central & Western; Yau Ma Tei & Mong Kok; Cheung Chau; Lantau; and Sai Kung. You can take as much or as little time as you like, and buses are always available if you become tired. Five Walks is available free from HKTA Visitor Information & Services Centres in Hong Kong.

Emerald Isles
Hong Kong boasts more than 260 Outlying Islands, though only about a half-dozen have ferry service and are accessible to visitors. The main islands are Lantau, Lamma, Cheung Chau and Peng Chau. With giant bronze Buddha, craggy mountains, quaint villages and seafood restaurants galore, it’s well worth the effort to visit these charming rural retreats.

Medical Service
Most hotels have a medical clinic, with registered nurses. Qualified doctors are on duty at specified hours, and on call 24-hours-a-day for emergency treatment. There are also many government and private hospitals with 24-hour emergency and out-patient departments. Hong Kong’s medical facilities are among the finest in the world, and many of the territory’s registered doctors and dentists were trained or have undergone postgraduate training overseas. Pharmacists, too, are registered; their dispensing hours are usually 9am to 6pm or 8pm. All hotels have lists of recommended medical services; alternatively, contact your consulate for assistance.

Water
The government-run water supply more than satisfies United Nations World Health Organization standards. Care is necessary only in some rural and island areas where water is still drawn from wells. Bottled water is widely available in hotels, restaurants and convenience stores.

Safety
Hong Kong is generally considered a very safe city both at night and during the day. As everywhere, however, protect yourself from pickpockets and carry as little cash and as few valuables as possible; travellers’ cheques and credit cards are widely accepted. The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) has stations and reporting centres throughout the territory. The staff at the HKPF reporting centre in Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon and in Central on Hong Kong Island - at the Star Ferry Concourse, for example - are accustomed to helping visitors.

Getting Around
Hong Kong is geographically compact, with plentiful taxis and excellent public transportation, so travel is generally quick and easy. Like most major cities, though, it’s best to avoid rush hours (8am-10am and 5pm-7pm) if possible. For long-staying visitors, an "Octopus" stored-value card will be useful. It allows you to travel on the MTR, KCR, Light Rail, some outlying ferry services, cross-harbour and city buses, and the Airport Express.
Call (852) 2993-8880 for enquiries.