Hong Kong Travel Guide
7/03/2008 at 9:30 AM
Tags: China Travel, Disneyland, Culture (all tags)
Hong Kong might not mix that so perfectly with American culture, if the problems at the local Disneyland are anything to go by. But apparently the people of Hong Kong are more excited about all things Spanish.
Places like the Ole Restaurant doing big business these days. One of the reasons is that Spanish wine is relatively cheap in Hong Kong, but we're sure there's a bit more to it than that.
Flamenco dancing is also a hit, with lots of color and energy. We figure just put Mickey into a flamenco costume and Hong Kong Disneyland could find its way back into the public's good books.
Related Stories:
· Ole! Hong Kong Embraces Spanish Culture [Reuters]
· Unhappy Birthday to Hong Kong Disneyland [Jaunted]
· Hong Kong Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Adam Blicharski]
by amandak
5/09/2008 at 9:30 AM
Tags: Disneyland, China Travel, Theme Parks, Attractions, Disney (all tags)
In the eternal struggle to make Hong Kong's Disneyland pay its way, the park has just opened the Hong Kong version of the classic It's A Small World ride.
Small World's been having a tricky year, with alterations planned for the original in California, possibly to accommodate fatter passengers. In Hong Kong, they're hoping that the world-peace style message of the ride will bring in a few more customers.
The Hong Kong version has a couple of unique features--those new Disney dolls are there--but the most significant is that four new languages have been added to that never-ending, high-pitched singing. Now you get Cantonese, Putonghua, Tagalog and Korean versions as well. We'll see if that brings the crowds in.
Related Stories:
· Hong Kong Disneyland Launches Classic Attraction [The Star]
· Disneyland's Small World Ride to Get Some Changes [Jaunted]
· Year of Mickey Mouse in a Mao Suit [Jaunted]
[Photo: jimmiehomeschoolmom]
by amandak
3/18/2008 at 9:30 AM
Tags: Toilets, Bathrooms, Hong Kong (all tags)
Hong Kong jewelry company Hang Fung's golden toilet is certainly not the first toilet to become a tourist attraction: New Zealanders even make a contest out of interesting public bathrooms. And we've examined a few of the most beautiful around the world. But Hang Fung's golden toilet is certainly the most valuable toilet you'll ever come across, as it's made out of solid 24-carat gold.
Tourists--especially those visiting from gold-loving mainland China--adore the shiny loo, which is part of Hang Fung's Hall of Gold exhibit featuring a total of six tons of gold artifacts. But with the price of gold creeping ever upwards, Hang Fung is considering melting part of the toilet down if gold prices reach $1,000 per ounce. That'd give them a whole stack of cash they want to use to expand their stores in China.
So it's another "here today, might be gone tomorrow" attraction. Drop by as soon as you can for a gawk at the Hang Fung golden toilet. But remember, like the sign in the photo says, no photos. Yeah, right.
Related Stories:
· Golden Toilet Leaves Hong Kong Jeweler Flush With Cash [Yahoo]
· When You Need To Go in New Zealand [Jaunted]
· The World's Most Beautiful Toilets [Jaunted]
[Photo: AFP]
by amandak
1/28/2008 at 9:00 AM
Tags: Chinese New Year, Disneyland, China Travel, Attractions, Theme Parks (all tags)
When Chinese New Year hits on February 7, 2008, we'll officially be in the Year of the Rat. Since some people don't like rats that much, it's also getting promoted as the Year of the Mouse, and Disneyland is happy to jump on that bandwagon, since it's not known for a cute rat character.
Of course, it's Hong Kong Disneyland where you'll get the most authentic flavor of Chinese New Year, and Mickey and Minnie Mouse have just had their special outfits unveiled. We can't quite believe it, but Mickey's going to be wearing a bright red Chairman Mao suit, while Minnie will walk beside him in an equally bright red dress.
The best day to be in Hong Kong Disneyland will be February 7 for the big dragon procession, but Mickey will be wearing his Mao suit until February 24. While you're there, keep an eye out for the special guests wandering around to greet you: the Gods of Happiness, Longevity and Prosperity. Given Hong Kong Disney's recent problems with low visitor numbers, park operators will no doubt be hoping for some blessings of their own.
Related Stories:
· Mickey & Minnie Set for Chinese New Year [AHN]
· Unhappy Birthday to Hong Kong Disneyland [Jaunted]
· Disneyland Not Always Good Clean Fun [Jaunted]
[Photo: cicerone]
by amandak
12/26/2007 at 9:35 AM
Tags: Tourist Attractions, Public Transportation, New Year's Eve (all tags)
New Year's Eve in Hong Kong is not as big a celebration as the Chinese New Year which follows a little later, but there are plenty of ways to ring in 2008 if you're in HK.
For one, you might remember about six months back we talked about the new Ngong Ping 360 cable car that was closed after a gondola crashed to the ground during a test. Since then, they've sacked a few workers and done extensive testing--and the cable car up to the Tian Tan Buddha is going to reopen on New Year's Eve. You can't be the first to ride it--a brave local politician has taken that honor--but you could still celebrate the coming of '08 with a ride.
Elsewhere in Hong Kong, you might want to catch the fireworks over the harbor, and the best positions will be anywhere along the waterfront in Wanchai or Tsim Sha Tsui, although everywhere will be pretty crowded. For serious eating, drinking and partying, try the Lan Kwai Fong district, renowned for having excellent entertainment all year. If you're shaky after a risky ride on the Ngong Ping 360, it's the place for a drink to calm those nerves.
Related Stories:
· Hong Kong Cable Car to Reopen on December 31 [AP, via Google]
· Hong Kong Cable Car Needs Rebirth [Jaunted]
· Hong Kong Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: hochit]
by amandak
12/11/2007 at 9:15 AM
Tags: Disneyland, Disney, China Travel, Theme Parks (all tags)
It's time we went on record with this: we don't think Hong Kong ever needed its own Disneyland. If only they'd asked us before they opened it, they could have avoided the whole naked employees on video drama and skipped the not enough visitors problem.
What we didn't realize is that the Hong Kong government was silly enough to invest in the park and is a majority owner with a 57-percent stake. Now they're labeling the performance of Hong Kong Disneyland in its second year as unsatisfactory and are demanding that Mickey and Minnie start pulling more visitors ... or else.
So what does the third year of operations hold for Hong Kong Disneyland? Staff with their clothes on, no protests over the shark fin soup and some way to convince visitors to this exciting, multicultural city that they need to ditch the local markets, harbor rides or tai chi lessons for a bit more Disney culture instead. Or should Mickey start giving the tai chi lessons?
Related Stories:
· Unhappy Birthday to Hong Kong Disneyland [Jaunted]
· Disneyland Not Always Good Clean Fun [Jaunted]
· Hong Kong Disneyland Performance Unsatisfactory [AFP]
[Photo: Alexandra Moss]
by amandak
9/17/2007 at 9:30 AM
Tags: Disneyland, China Travel, Attractions, Theme Parks (all tags)
On the occasion of Hong Kong Disneyland's first birthday we discovered that its employees were frolicking naked in the changerooms--on videotape--and that major rival Ocean Park was killing Disneyland in terms of visitor numbers and general popularity. Last week Hong Kong Disney got to blow out two candles, but are things looking up?
Apparently not. Visitor numbers are way below target, there have been environmental protests against the park (management eventually agreed to take the shark fin soup off the menu) and workers in Hong Kong Disneyland are very unhappy. Staff say that park management are rude and unfair to them, and we're sure Mickey and Minnie wouldn't approve of that.
Related Stories:
· Hong Kong Disney Celebrates Anniversary [Forbes]
· Disneyland Not Always Good Clean Fun [Jaunted]
· Happy Birthday Continues at Disneyland Paris [Jaunted]
[Photo: Daniel Y. Go]
by amandak
6/14/2007 at 10:23 AM
Tags: Tourist Attractions, Public Transportation (all tags)
Until this week, there was a great new attraction in Hong Kong. But the Ngong Ping 360 Skyrail, a four-mile cable car ride over Lantau Island and the Tian Tan Buddha Statue, has had a small hiccup--a cabin fell down.
To their credit, the Ngong Ping 360 team had recognized some operating problems, closed the cable car ride early and were doing testing when the 2-tonne cabin somehow lost grip and crashed down to the ground. The website now says that the cable car service is suspended until further notice, but you can still visit the cutesy Ngong Ping Village, which focuses on Siddhartha Gautama, the man who became Buddha.
With all this Buddhism circling the site, we're confident the Ngong Ping 360 will be reincarnated soon, but whether it'll be a cable car or a butterfly is something we don't know yet.
Related Stories:
· Hong Kong Hotels [HotelChatter]
· Hong Kong Travel [Jaunted]
[Photo: leejoo]
by amandak
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