Visit Hong Kong: A Socially Conscious Guide
Whether you’re visiting Hong Kong for 2 days or 2 weeks, it will be one of the most delicious and stimulating places you can visit!
At the intersection of rapid urban development and century-old traditions. Spend a few days in Hong Kong exploring the different layers of political, economic, social and historical context of this Special Administrative Region of China.
Hong Kong Highlights
for Travelers Interested in the
Flavors, Culture and History of Hong Kong
Over the past 100 years Hong Kong has experienced incredible growth. It has transitioned from a former British colony (handover was in 1997) to one of China’s and the world’s most booming economic hubs. Take advantage of your visit to Hong Kong to not only treat yourself to delicious dim sum and milk tea, but make time to learn about the social and political currents that are driving daily life for the almost 8 million people who call Hong Kong home.
This guide will provide you with recommendations to explore Hong Kong’s local food scene and must-see destinations throughout Hong Kong Island, Kowloon & Lantau. As you’re navigating through Hong Kong’s hustle and bustle, I also provide recommendations to slow down the pace and take in the area’s natural beauty.
Guide to Visiting Hong Kong
To Eat:
Dim Sum at Lin Heung Tea House
Breakfast Set & Creamy Custard at Australia Dairy Co.
Steamed Milk Pudding Dessert at Yee Shun Milk Company
Japanese-inspired Drinks & Dinner at Yardbird
To See & Do:
Join a Hong Kong Free Walking Tour
Look out for #PrideInRainbow Street Art
Walk along Avenue of the Stars & Hong Kong’s Piers
Watch the Symphony of Lights
Visit The Monster Building Courteously
Escape the Hustle & Bustle:
Man Mo Temple
Chi Lin Nunnery & Nan Lian Garden
Lantau Island: Tian Tan Buddha & Tai O Fishing Village
Ohel Leah Synagogue
Tai Tam Reservoir Heritage Trail
Kowloon Park
Use ClassPass to get in Gym Time
A Few Highly Recommended Coffee Shops
Where to Stay:
Hotel Recommendations at Various Price Points
I came to Hong Kong to eat. It was delicious. I waited a decade to experience traditional dim sum in Hong Kong.
Lin Heung Tea House (蓮香樓)
A Hong Kong Dim Sum Must-Visit
It was worth it. My first stop after arriving in Hong Kong was Lin Heung Tea House (蓮香樓), the most famous traditional spot for Cantonese dim sum in Hong Kong. My flight landed at Hong Kong International Airport at 5:45 am. By 8:30 am I was in front of Lin Heung ready to start my Hong Kong adventures! Opened in 1926, Lin Heung has been serving up favorites such as steamed custard buns, Chinese sausage rolls & shumai in Hong Kong for almost 100 years! I highly recommend trying the steamed pork meatball with quail’s egg, which is harder to find outside of China.
Lin Heung Tea House History
Lin Heung moved to it’s current location in Hong Kong’s Central district in 1980, where is still is currently. Tip: If you want to get a seat, you’ve got to be aggressive. With about 50 tables, Lin Heung can fit up to 300 guests at a time. Seating is family-style, so find an open seat or two and jump in! There is no host, and it’s all self seating. When it gets busy you’ll see a lot of loitering and folks waiting for a spot to open up. Don’t be annoyed if you’re finishing up the meal and someone stands behind you. It’s standard practice. You can feel the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong mirrored in Lin Heung, and there is no better way to get a feel for the city than enjoying a meal here!
Ordering and Eating at Lin Heung
Once you do sit down, the waiter will give you a tally card to keep track of the dishes you order. One of the best parts of Lin Heung is that dim sum is still served on traditional trolley carts! As carts of buns, rolls and general delicousness roll by, diners flag down a server when they see an option that catches their eye. Depending on your order, the server will stamp your tally card, which acts as the bill on your way out. You can definitely enjoy dim sum on a solo trip, but it’s best with a small group so you can try a bunch of dishes!
Image Source: Hungry Onion Don’t forget the tea! I mean, Lin Heung is a tea house after all! You can choose from multiple tea varieties, including pu-er, jasmine and few others. When you sit down the server will bring over two tea cups for each person. At first I was really confused. When the couple sitting next me realized I had no clue what the do with the two cups, they showed me that the larger cup is for brewing the tea, and the smaller cup is for actually drinking. If you want a refill, just open the lid covering the larger cup, and a waiter will come by to pour some more hot water.
Want more dim sum? Check out Culture Trip’s round-up of The 10 Most Delicious Dim Sum Restaurants in Hong Kong! If you’re planning to visit Macau, I highly recommend a relaxing morning or early afternoon tea and dim sum lunch at Long Wah Tea House.
Australia Diary Company (澳洲牛奶公司)
Breakfast Set & Creamy Custard Delciousness
Considered to be a Hong Kong institution, Australia Dairy Company is known for their perfectly scrambled eggs and rich, creamy custard. 2020 marks Australia Dairy Company’s 50th anniversary!
Located in the heart of Kowloon’s Jordan neighborhood, don’t be surprised to find a line out the door. But don’t worry; it moves quickly. This cha chaan teng, or classic 1950’s / 60’s style Hong Kong cafe, is quick-in, quick-out. Meals are served up at a speedy pace that matches the vibe of Hong Kong. Go before noon to order a ‘Breakfast Set’, which comes with eggs (scrambled or fried), toast with butter, macaroni & ham in chicken soup and coffee or milk tea for HKD $36. Australia Dairy Company opens at 7:30 am, making for great breakfast spot if you’re starting early for a full day of sightseeing.
If you’re looking for a slower, more relaxed way to enjoy a custard, order a bowl to go. Hong Kong is full of lovely parks and promenades for you to sit and enjoy a snack!
Yee Shun Milk Company ( 義順牛奶公司 ) Steamed Milk Pudding Dessert
Yee Shun Milk Company is another Hong Kong must-try, best known for their ‘double-skin’ steamed milk pudding. This desert’s name comes from the thin layer of milk atop the sweet, creamy pudding below.
You can enjoy this dessert either hot or cold. In addition to the plain milk pudding you can try various flavors such as lotus seed, ginger and coffee milk pudding! My personal favorite was the red bean. I couldn’t get enough of the sweet red beans mixed into a bowl of warm, creamy pudding! Yum!
Yee Shun even uses milk sourced from their own buffalo farms in China! Yee Shun Milk Company has multiple locations in Hong Kong. I visited the Jordan store a few minute walk away from Australia Dairy Company.
Yardbird
Japanese-inspired Izakaya in Sheung Wan
Yardbird is a fantastic example of Hong Kong’s modern foodie scene, specializing in Japanese-inspired dishes and expertly crafted mixed drinks. Modeled after a modern izakaya, Yardbird is a hybrid bar/restaurant with large plates for dinner or smaller plates for sharing. The vibe is relaxed, yet fun. The food is delicious. And Yardbird serves up over 20 yakitori options! If you’re looking for a hip place for dinner in the Sheung Wan area, I definitely recommend Yardbird.
Note: Yardbird doesn’t open until 6 pm, so it’s not a lunch option.
Address: 154-158 Wing Lok Street (上環 154-158 永樂街)
Visiting Hong Kong is delicious. But, this small island Special Administrative Region has much more to offer than just mouth-watering dishes.
Hong Kong Free Tours Walking Tour
Walking tours are a great way for first-time visitors to get their bearings in Hong Kong. Whether you’re on a budget or not, I highly recommend joining a walking tour by Hong Kong Free Tours.
Hong Kong Free Tours is not your average tour company. Their guides are dedicated to introducing visitors to the social, political and economic issues that are top of mind to everyone living in Hong Kong today. I had the opportunity to join two tours, one of Hong Kong Island and one in Kowloon. Of course the guide showed our group key landmarks and notable sights. But, he also provided real insight into the local context and various perspectives on life in Hong Kong today. From the evolution of Hong Kong’s history as a British territory to current geopolitical tensions with Mainland China to housing inequality and an increasingly deteriorating housing situation for low-income and aging adults, Hong Kong Free Tours guides share a wealth of information. My guide even shared his own family’s personal story. This truly deepened my appreciation and understanding of what current life is like living in Hong Kong.
*Check Hong Kong Free Tour’s website for their most up-to-date tour schedule.
If you’re interested in a deeper understanding of Hong Kong’s unique political and cultural context, definitely join a for one of Hong Kong Free Tours offerings.
On the Kowloon Free Tour you will have the opportunity to learn about the context for the current housing shortage in Hong Kong, and how it is leading to a housing crisis especially for low-income families. The photo above is from an actual apartment in Kowloon that is rented out by Hong Kong Free Tours. Identical apartments in the building are home to full families. There is often little or no kitchen, which just an electric hot plate. Also, the building has only shared bathrooms.
The tours also introduce visitors to the popular destinations. Some of the destinations on the Kowloon tour include the Flower Market, Goldfish Market and Bird Market.
