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15 reasons every Utahn should visit Hong Kong

I moved with my family from Draper, Utah to Hong Kong in June of 2013.

There are things I miss about Utah (clear skies, Wal-mart, Costco, Cafe Rio) but I have fallen in love with this Asian world city.

We’ve had visitors from the U.S. come stay with us and every time the reaction is the same–they say “I had no idea Hong Kong was like this!” That’s because I enjoy bypassing some of the sites like all the skyscrapers and the world’s longest escalator in favor of the hidden side of the city.

Here are some of the somewhat lesser known reasons every Utahn should visit Hong Kong.

 

1. English

You don’t speak Chinese? No problem!

There are hundreds of thousands of “expats” (Westerners from outside Asia) living and working in Hong Kong, and most of them don’t speak or read Chinese either. Most people in Hong Kong you’ll run into speak passable English, and if not, you can still get by.

Extra tip: Taxis are a convenient and very affordable means of transportation in Hong Kong, but the drivers seem uniquely chosen from the non-English speaking portion of the population. To manage this, download the Hong Kong Taxi Translator app.

 

2. Safety

Hong Kong is the safest city in the world. There may be a pickpocket here and there, but you’re as safe here walking a backstreet at 11 pm as you are walking Temple Square in broad daylight.

You can wander around without any fear of accidentally ending up on the wrong side of the tracks.

 

3. Islands

Hong Kong isn’t just one island, it’s 266 of them.

Many of them contain substantial populations. Others are nearly empty.

Both types of great to visit.

You could spend a month visiting islands and still be discovering new beaches and meeting fascinating people.

 

4. Egg tarts

These are for sale, fresh out of the oven, from little street shops everywhere. And they’re delicious and cost about 30 cents apiece.

 

5. Egg waffles

As long as we’re talking about food, these waffles are also a Hong Kong tradition and a great treat and usually cost less than a US dollar.

 

6. People

In Hong Kong you’ll meet people from all over the world. It’s a unique gathering place due to its location within a five hour flight of half the world’s population.

 

7. Camping, hiking, and trail running

70% of Hong Kong is undeveloped land, much of which is country parks laced with trails and campsites.

We’ve camped on isolated islands with amazing views, have hiked trails that are hundreds of years old, and here a little secret for you trail runners–the mountains here appear to be as large as those around the Salt Lake Valley, but they aren’t. It’s an illusion, which is a real ego booster once you reach the top of one.

You think you’re running up a mountain the size of Lone Peak, but it only takes you an hour. I recommend a trail run up Sunset Peak on Lantau Island from either Tung Chung or Mui wo, or a night camping at Grass Island (Tap Mun).

 

8. Shenzhen, China

This major city is located just minutes from Hong Kong, but being across the border in China it is an entirely different experience (make sure to visit a Wal-mart there!).

Come to Hong Kong but spend a day or two in Shenzhen and it’s like getting two trips in one. Like Hong Kong, Shenzhen has little dangerous crime, but do be careful crossing the street.

Warning: You will need a separate visa to cross the border into China, and you’ll want to get that visa before you come to Hong Kong.

 

9. The healthy lifestyle

If you come for a week or two you’re going to lose weight.

In Hong Kong you get smaller portions at restaurants and you walk a lot. I lost 10 lbs the first two months I lived here without trying. Bring good shoes.

 

10. Startup events

@9GAG @shoplineapp founders remind HK to 1) get educated on angel investing 2) show w/ data 3) tune out the SV noise pic.twitter.com/1AevMxLuTI

— Kalina King (@kalinaking) January 3, 2015

If you’re interested in entrepreneurship and startups, jump into one of the many startup related events in Hong Kong.

There are usually 2 to 3 of them every night, whether it’s a launch party or networking event. And bring your business cards, because in Hong Kong everyone trades business cards all the time as a standard form of greeting.

 

11. Crazy crowded streets

If you don’t like crowds, Hong Kong may not be the place for you. I love it. From the crowded market streets to the shopping districts, it’s a great place to people watch.

 

12. Water buffalo

Visit the beautiful beach village of Pui O on Lantau Island, just a short ride from the Hong Kong International airport, and you’ll see many of these peaceful animals grazing about with their young.

 

13. Ferries

If you’re not a fan of boats, you can still get around by taxi, bus, and the subway (called “MTR” here), but unless you succumb easily to seasickness, give the ferry a try.

I still can’t get over the fact I commute to work on a boat. It’s the only way to visit many of the smaller islands.

 

14. Bun festival

What’s better than watching a bunch of crazed youths scaling a tower covered with steamed buns, racing to reach the top, and then trying to gather as many buns as possible on the way down?

Nothing, that’s what.

Held in Cheung Chau, this annual event has been called “the best festival in all Hong Kong.”

 

15. Khyber Pass/Chungking Mansions

Wow, you’re in for a treat. Don’t be fooled by the pretty pictures or the use of the word “mansion,” you’re in for an adventure when you visit the Chungking Mansions, a shopping center in the heart of Hong Kong on the mainland side, and dine at Khyber Pass.

You might be a bit frightened finding the place, and you might wonder if you’re in the wrong place after you find it, but trust me, when it comes to Indian food I’ve never had better, and you’ll also come away with a story to tell.

 

Could I go on? Sure, but this is enough to keep you busy for a month, along with all the normal fare you can do in Hong Kong like the Peak, Ngong Ping, Disneyland, the museums, and all the other fun activities. Be forewarned, Hong Kong is hot in the summer and cold in the winter. The best times to visit are spring and fall, although if you book travel for January you can sometimes get amazing deals and end up with surprisingly pleasant weather.

 

Joshua Steimle is a TEDx speaker and a writer for Forbes, Entrepreneur, theSouth China Morning Post, and other publications. He is the CEO of MWI, a digital marketing firm he founded in 1999 which now has offices in Hong Kong and various cities in the U.S, and he is a co-director of the Hong Kong chapter of Startup Grind.