Hong Kong Observation Wheel
Credit : iStock / danielvfung
little trams that have rattled around Hong Kong since 1904 . Then continue the conveyances theme with a trip on the Ngong Ping 360 cable car on Lantau Island , which takes you way above everything with 360-degree views as you ride . See the Big Buddha nearby , experience a traditional Chinese teahouse and enjoy the beautiful gardens there , too .
If the weather is fine , there ’ s plenty of things to do at the beaches in Deep Water Bay or Repulse Bay ; and if your family really likes outdoor activities , take a hike up the Dragon ’ s Back trail in the Southern District of the city , where you ’ re likely to see paragliders soaring past .
WHERE TO STAY
Hong Kong has some of the world ’ s great hotels perched on the edge of Victoria Harbor , so if the budget allows , splurge and book into one of these legendary places . The Peninsula Hong Kong in Tsim Sha Tsui is known as the “ Grande Dame of the Far East ” and has been welcoming guests and locals alike since the 1920s and continues to be the standard by which all other hotels here are judged . Most rooms have expansive views of the harbor , the service is first class , there are Rolls-Royces at your beck and call , and the Afternoon Tea ( following the British tradition that held sway here for so long ) is a true classic , whether you stay in the hotel or not .
The nearby Intercontinental Hotel Hong Kong is another bay facing hotel that boasts two Michelin-rated restaurants under one roof . Try the two-star Yan Toh Heen there for the best Cantonese cuisine anywhere or visit French chef Alain Ducasse ’ s new eatery , Rech by
Alain Ducasse , which received one Michelin star just nine months after opening . There ’ s not a lot of time to enjoy this exemplary hotel however , for the Intercontinental is scheduled to close in early 2019 for a major renovation . Happily , Yan Toh Heen will remain open during that renovation .
Other classic hotels in Hong Kong include The Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hotel , located in Central , and the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong , which counts its elegant floors from 102 to 118 ( the very top ) in West Kowloon ’ s towering International Commerce Centre skyscraper . Hong Kong is a city filled with hotels ( 292 at last count ), so there ’ s always a place to lay your head after a full and fascinating day in this vibrant city .
GETTING THERE
NONSTOP FLIGHTS FROM DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ( IAD ) TO HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ( HKG ) BEGIN ON CATHAY PACIFIC ON SEPTEMBER 16 , 2018 , FLYING FOUR TIMES WEEKLY USING THE AIRBUS A350-1000 AIRCRAFT .
FLYWASHINGTON . COM 28 SUMMER 2018