About.com Hong Kong / Macau Travel

Thanksgiving in Hong Kong - The Great Turkey Search

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:58:59 +0000

The holiday season in Hong Kong might mean Chinese New Year, but that doesn't mean you have to miss out on turkey and all the trimmings at Thanksgiving. Hong Kong has a number of hotels and American restaurants that are offering up authentic Thanksgiving meal sets, from gourmet feasts to grandmas home cooking. See the best Hong Kong has to offer in out Where to Eat Thanksgiving Dinner in Hong Kong.

Due to the time difference, catching the big game has been a perpetual issue, Dan Ryan's in (Pacific Place, Admiralty) shows games when open, while East End Brewery (Sunning Plaza, 10 Hysan Avenue, Causeway Bay) has been known to open late/early on occasion.

And, if you're looking for that manic Black Friday shopping experience, well, this is Hong Kong, and you won't be short on a selection of shops; try Hong Kong's top five shopping malls, or, for some more local flavour, the Hong Kong's top eight markets.

Thanksgiving in Hong Kong - The Great Turkey Search originally appeared on About.com Hong Kong / Macau Travel on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 10:58:59.

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Start Your Engines for the Macau Grand Prix

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:51:35 +0000

The world's biggest Formula 3 race and a proving ground for Formula 1 drivers in the making, the Macau Grand Prix has, over the years, been host to the likes of Michael Schumacher, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.

This year's race takes place between the 19th and 22nd of November and features a series of motor related events tagged on to the main race, including the Motorcycle Grand Prix and tour car racing. The event also brings a carnival atmosphere to both the Guia Track and Macau as a whole, as motorhead spectators descend on the former Portuguese colony on mass.

See our Guide to the Macau Grand Prix for the inside track on tickets, seating and the Guia circuit.

Image Copyright of Macau Grand Prix Committee

Start Your Engines for the Macau Grand Prix originally appeared on About.com Hong Kong / Macau Travel on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 09:51:35.

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The Best Hong Kong Hotel Deals - This Month

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:47:46 +0000

Bedding down at a Hong Kong hotel can come with a credit card melting price tag attached, so each month we try and bring you the best deals, promotions and give aways on hotel stays in the city

This month you can live the highlife in the five star Langham Hotel's Grand Room, which is offering one night free on five night stays, while the Regal in Kowloon is offering up to 30% off rack rates for guests who book far enough in advance. Find out more about these and other Hong Kong hotel deals in our monthly Best Hong Kong Hotel Deals

The Best Hong Kong Hotel Deals - This Month originally appeared on About.com Hong Kong / Macau Travel on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 11:47:46.

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Haunted Hong Kong for Halloween

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:49:21 +0000

Vampires are breaking out their toothbrushes and werewolves are warming up their curling tongs, as Halloween in Hong Kong gets underway.

The city doesn't have a great tradition of celebrating Halloween but events this year are expected to be the biggest ever. Celebrations for the kids revolve around the haunted parades and spooky shows at Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park, while adults can strut their stuff at the costume parties in Lam Kwai Fong.

If you're wondering what the rest of the world gets up to on October 31st, take a trip over to our Ultimate Halloween Travel Guide which covers the ghostly goings on from Salem to Scandinavia.

Haunted Hong Kong for Halloween originally appeared on About.com Hong Kong / Macau Travel on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 07:49:21.

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Hong Kong Introduces the Guangdong Group Visa

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:28:34 +0000

As if the Chinese visa situation in Hong Kong wasn't complicated enough, the authorities have now added a new type of visa. Called the "144-hour Convenient Visa Guangdong Province, China", it certainly wins the most ridiculously titled visa award.

The visa is only for foreign nationals visiting Hong Kong and allows group visits to Gunagdong Province via Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing and Huizhou.

There are a couple of major drawbacks to the visa. You must travel in a group, with a minimum of 3, and you must all enter and leave the country together. And the real reason for introducing it; you must arrange a 'tour' through a Hong Kong Travel Agent. This may not necessarily mean booking a six day, guide led, itinerary packed tour, but simply paying a fee to the tour agency to win yourself the visa. Another Chinese visa scheme that helps the travel agent and not the traveller. You can use CTS or Grayline to book the tour and visa. You can get an in depth, blow by blow of the new visa in our guide to the Guangdong Group Visa.

Individuals will need to use the Shenzhen Visa, if they want a taste of China, or a full Chinese visa if they are ineligible for the Shenzhen Visa or travelling to areas in Guangdong outside the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone.

Hong Kong Introduces the Guangdong Group Visa originally appeared on About.com Hong Kong / Macau Travel on Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 07:28:34.

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Hong Kong�s Central District to Escape the Wrecking Ball

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:06:40 +0000

After the debacle of knocking down Hong Kong's Star Ferry Pier and putting several historic markets in Wan Chai out of business - all in the name of progress - Hong Kongs' government took a beating on the public opinion front. Protests, petitions and rock bottom popularity made the government think again about their policy of knocking anything down when a businessman flashed a smile and his bulging briefcase.

Now, proof that they've put their bulldozers away, at least for now, in a plan to conserve key areas of the Central Financial District. The plan promises access to the waterfront for the public, the conservation of Central's bustling market and the preservation of key colonial buildings in the area. That said, it's unlikely any of these impressive and important buildings will survive intact, with most likely to end up as 'heritage projects'. Hotels and shopping malls to you and me. Still, it's a step in the right direction.

See some of Hong Kong's Historic Buildings

Half Day Hong Kong Colonial Tour

Tea at the Peninsula Hotel

Hong Kong�s Central District to Escape the Wrecking Ball originally appeared on About.com Hong Kong / Macau Travel on Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 at 20:06:40.

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Catch a Flick at Hong Kong�s Open Air Moonlight Movies

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:55:12 +0000

As the humidity recedes and it's finally safe to go outside for ten minutes without your shirt turning into a dishcloth, the city's outside events are flourishing.

One of the city's best, and increasingly popular, events are the Moonlight Movies, a series of outdoor, evening movie screenings in Cyberport. On the sliver screen this year is the topical Wall Street (Nov 13th) and the all singing, all dancing Moulin Rouge (Nov 14th).

The 'cinema' itself is kitted out with a 6.8 by 9 metre LED Screen and beanbags for sitting on, while Dublin Jacks provides a full bar and BBQ snacks.

At $200, tickets aren't cheap, but the atmosphere and setting make it worth the extra expense. Tickets are on sale now at Openair Hong Kong and if you fancy a film in the fresh air, you're advised to book early. Due to the bar and films being shown, entry is restricted to 18+ only.

Catch a Flick at Hong Kong�s Open Air Moonlight Movies originally appeared on About.com Hong Kong / Macau Travel on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 at 09:55:12.

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Trick or Treat - Halloween in Hong Kong

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:50:41 +0000

Shine your apples and dust off your white sheet, Hong Kong is gearing up for Halloween with a full festival of spooky events and happenings.

Ocean Park will be retelling some of Hong Kong's scariest stories with the help of more than 400 ghouls while rival Hong Kong Disneyland will be doing its best imitation of the traditional American style Halloween, with classic characters donning costumes and going trick or treating. Over at Madame Tussauds their - already knee knocking - interactive Scream ride will be given a themed Halloween makeover.

Once the kids have been persuaded monsters aren't actually real and gone to bed, adults can hit the haunted Halloween party on the streets of Lan Kwai Fong. �Bars and restaurants will be decked out with jack o'lanterns, while ghostly performers stalk the streets.

You can find out more about these events in our Halloween in Hong Kong article.

Trick or Treat - Halloween in Hong Kong originally appeared on About.com Hong Kong / Macau Travel on Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 at 09:50:41.

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Hit It for 6 in Hong Kong with Smasher Cricket Lessons

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:44:33 +0000

Unless you�re English, Australian, Indian, or hail from some other part of the British Commonwealth, two hundred and ninety three for six, from forty seven overs will likely sound like a fraction problem, not a sports score.

The numbers above actually combine to make up a cricket score, and the game continues to enjoy popularity in this former British Colony. Now, the Cricket Centre of Excellence is offering everyone, from beginners to would be Kevin Pietersons, a chance to get to grips with the bat and ball in a series of Smasher training courses.

Courses can be joined monthly, with a number of repeat sessions run each week at several Hong Kong locations. Monthly prices come in at HK$850 for adults and HK$650 for under 18s; allowing access two weekly training sessions for four weeks. Short term visitors to the city can even dip into a one off session, priced at HK$200, with a minimum of six trainees. For booking and more information, check out Omnicon Events.

Hit It for 6 in Hong Kong with Smasher Cricket Lessons originally appeared on About.com Hong Kong / Macau Travel on Friday, September 25th, 2009 at 14:44:33.

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Keep That Umbrella Up � Typhoon Signal 8 in Hong Kong

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:36:50 +0000

Mother nature is obviously unimpressed by Hong Kong�s belching pollution because the city is currently getting hammered by typhoons, and the season is supposed to be winding down, not up.

On the back of Typhoon Mujigae, which dumped buckets of rain on Hong Kong, comes the far more serious Typhoon Koppu. Typhoon signal 8 is currently flying, meaning ferry services and most other non essential public transport is cancelled and delays at Hong Kong Airport are to be expected. You are advised to stay indoors.

The Hong Kong Observatory expects to lift the signal sometime this morning (Hong Kong time) as the storm makes landfall and weakens. That said, bad weather, including driving rain and strong winds will persist, and Typhoon Signal 3 is expected to stay in place all day. Check the Hong Kong Observatory for updates, or our What to Do in a Hong Kong Typhoon for an explanation of the warning system.

Update: The Typhoon Signal has now been lowered, although an amber rainstorm warning remains in force. Public transport and airport services have returned to normal.

Keep That Umbrella Up � Typhoon Signal 8 in Hong Kong originally appeared on About.com Hong Kong / Macau Travel on Monday, September 14th, 2009 at 19:36:50.

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