Hong Kong - the city of lights

Where East meets West

Hong Kong appears to many as a huge city full of skyscrapers and lights. And rightly so, because it is a sleepless metropolis, like a gigantic anthill pulsating with the inexhaustible energy of millions of lives. Although it belongs to the People's Republic of China, it still looks like a separate state nestled between the sea and the southern border of the Middle Kingdom. The crowded streets smell like dried fish and incense, and the crowd overflows with them like another element of nature.

The variety of views surprises tourists right after leaving the airport. The modernity of the skyscrapers contrasts with the lush greenery covering the surrounding hills, and the hustle and bustle of the street - with the tranquility of nature. The city itself is spread over the mainland and smaller and larger islands, of which the two main ones are named: Hong Kong and Lantau . As you might guess, the former is a business center full of futuristic buildings, expensive hotels and upscale restaurants, while the latter attracts with majestic statues in honor of the Buddha - including the iconic bronze prophet statue. On Lantau we can also find beautiful temples intricately integrated into the landscape of greenery growing on the hills.

While in the city, it is simply impossible not to visit the Man Mo temple . It is located in the Shweung Wan district on Hong Kong Island and is the most famous, and certainly the oldest temple here. It was established in the 18th century, and to this day, you can clear your mind inside it by inhaling the smoke from dozens of conical incense sticks suspended from the ceiling. On Diamond Hill, we will see Chi Lin Nunnery , the largest Buddhist nunnery in East Asia. It is a real pearl of architecture and an enclave of the past surrounded by a sea of skyscrapers.

Modernity, light shows and noise

For many tourists, Hong Kong is a place to spend money. In this extremely populated city, we find countless places where we can get rid of them. And it is not about theft (as in every large city you have to watch out for pickpockets), but about a whole lot of various shops and shops, booths and stalls with knick-knacks and food, which many will look at with curiosity, but also with suspicion. It's a good idea to visit Cat Street Market , one of the city's most popular markets. The Goldfish Market, a region of shops specializing in the sale of aquarium fish, is also interesting.

For the residents of Hong Kong, it is probably the same as the bugle call from Krakow, but for tourists it is a huge attraction. I am talking about the Symphony of Light - a light show that starts every day at 8 PM. Exactly at this time, the sky above the rooftops of tall buildings is illuminated by floodlights, and the skyscrapers themselves flash with thousands of lights to the rhythm of the music. Crowds of tourists pull out their cameras, iPhones or standard camera cells, trying to capture lasers crossing the sky and figures displayed on the facades of buildings.

What else is modern in Hong Kong - apart from, of course, dozens of skyscrapers? The longest escalator in the world certainly deserves the attention of technology enthusiasts. Riding them can be called a trip in the version for the lazy, but it is undoubtedly an interesting experience. During the 20-minute ride, we can admire pubs with makeshift places to sit and a "chef" preparing a dish from an exotic menu in front of the client's eyes, as well as modern office buildings and gray residential buildings right next to them. Billboards, visible everywhere, will not escape our eyes.

One of the most beautiful panoramas of the city is not from the stairs, but from the top of Victoria Peak. To get to them, it's best to use the Peak Tram (funicular line) and climb the escalator. There is a wonderful view from the top, which is known to many of the popular wallpapers. It is especially captivating in the evenings, when the buildings are properly illuminated.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, or language puzzles

If you come to Hong Kong with children, you will probably end up in Disneyland here. He invites guests to seven fairy-tale lands where we will meet, among others Snow White, Mickey Mouse and the heroes of Toy Story. For lovers of this type of places, the trip will be full of impressions, while for those who, like adults from "The Little Prince" in a children's drawing, see a hat and not an elephant eating a snake, they may feel a bit overwhelmed by the excess of colors and sounds.

Despite the fact that it is an amusement park based on the theme of famous European fairy tales, you can feel the omnipresent "Asiatic". You can see it not only in the form of exotic trees growing, for example, around the Mystic Point castle, but also in the building itself. Visitors to this magical place can go back in time (Grizzly Gulch), see the future (Tomorrowland), move to the jungle (Adventureland) or make friends with fairies in Fantasyland. Time ceases to matter here. A standard 1-day ticket to the Hong Kong Disneyland ticket costs 450 Hong Kong dollars (HKD), which is about 190 zlotys.

There is also a place where every girl can turn into a little princess. This is Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique , located in the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel. Styling, which consists of, among others putting on a little make-up, pinning up your hair and painting your nails costs HKD 580. If our princess is to have a full outfit and accessories, the price increases to HKD 1,180.

The city that never sleeps

Whether we choose to visit Hong Kong for its futuristic skyscrapers or the tranquility of its temples, we will never forget the time spent in it. Here, the past is intertwined with the future, and this leaves a mark on every tourist.