Contemporary Hong Kong might exude the glitz and glam of the nouveaux-riche, ..... own operations. Professional reservat
Destination Training and Updates: Hong Kong February 2016
Hong Kong An overview
Population : 7.24 million
People : Predominantly ethnic Chinese
Language : Chinese, mostly Cantonese Currency : Hong Kong dollar
Time zone : GMT +8 Hours
Hong Kong The world’s most vertical city is Asia’s shining beacon of modernity, emerging from a century of British colonial rule. Contemporary Hong Kong might exude the glitz and glam of the nouveaux-riche, but a common thread of history and heritage connects the locals in this thriving metropolis. With a fascinating juxtaposition of international influence and proud nationalism, Hong Kong’s dynamic charm cements it as a prime destination to explore where East meets West.
Hong Kong Discover the past life of one of the world’s most densely populated cities. Wander deep into frenetic residential enclaves, marvel at glittering skylines and feast on some of Asia’s best culinary classics - all while uncovering the story of this fishing village turned economic powerhouse.
Hong Kong Highlights • The Victoria Peak, Hong Kong • Stanley Market, Hong Kong • Symphony of the Lights Show, waterfront of both Hong Kong & Kowloon • Harbour Cruise along Victoria Harbour • Temple Street Night Market, Bird Market & Flower Market, Kowloon • Hong Kong Disneyland, Lantau Island • Tai O & Po Lin Monastery, Lantau Island • Helicopter ride 5
Hong Kong Island Hong Kong island was where the British first settled and is now the famous financial centre of the far east. Towering skyscrapers form one one of the most iconic skyscapes in the world and are filled with world class restaurants, hotels, shops and attractions. To most visitors, this is the real Hong Kong. Also on Hong Kong Island is the peak – the tallest point on the island that gives a stunning view of the metropolis below and some of the highest real estate values in the world.
Kowloon In stark contrast with the modern skyscrapers surrounding it, Kowloon Chinatown is characterised by old fashioned red and gold-hewed low-rise buildings that are both modest in appearance and proud in the manner. As Chinese immigrants represent the largest ethnic enclave in the island nation, these buildings illustrate a proud continuity of tradition in Singapore.
The New Territories The New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, covering a peninsula that constitutes over 80% of the island’s territory. In this region that used to be made up of peaceful countryside, quite farms and sleepy fields, the area is now a residential hub thanks to a massive boom in population growth that transformed parts of this area into an urban jungle virtually overnight.
Hong Kong
Disneyland
Mong Kok Tsim Sha Tsui
Victoria Peak Lantau Island
Causeway Bay Central
Stanley Market
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What’s happening? Hotels, restaurants, events
Hotels
City Garden Hotel - ****
New World Millennium - ****
Iclub Fortress Hill Hotel - ***
MetroPark Hotel - *** 11
Restaurants
Michelin - starred YUE - $$$
Peking Garden Restaurant - $$
Jumbo Floating Restaurant - $$$
Tien Yi Restaurant - $$ 12
What’s new? Top City Destination Hong Kong has emerged as the top city destination in the world for the sixth consecutive year with 27.8 million international visitors in 2014, according to Euromonitor International’s annual Top 100 Cities Destination Ranking.
New Territories – Macau Ferry The new cross-boundary ferry service between Hong Kong Tuen Mun (New Territories) and Macau launched on 28 January 2016. The journey will take approx. 40 minutes.
SkyTeam Airport Lounge Asia’s first SkyTeam airport lounge opens in Hong Kong. A 1,000 m2 lounge by SkyTeam has been launched at Hong Kong International Airport, marking the fourth SkyTeam-branded lounge in the world.
Hong Kong Disneyland Hong Kong Disneyland Resort has a year-long “Happily Ever After” 10th anniversary celebration, including an all-new stage show called “Mickey and the Wondrous Book”. 13
Our Tours Local Life and Essence Tours
Local Life Tours • Experiential, interactive, half or full day tour. • SIC for up to 10 PAX. • Connects travellers with authentic Asian people & culture. • Low environmental impact. • A percentage of our revenue goes directly back into local communities. • Help preserve and share local communities’ tradition & heritage.
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Local Life: Hong Kong Hong Kong Street Eats Sink your teeth into Hong Kong’s enchanting local cuisine on a whirlwind street food tour. Hop between local favourite food locales and famously tasty eateries while connecting the dots on board the city’s iconic public transportation.
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Visit Wan Chai, an area famous for its harmonious blend of ancient tradition and modernity. Explore the historic Blue House - so named for its distinctive colouring. Taste two local favourite food at a local street eats spot. Whiz along the island toward Causeway Bay for more local food tasting. 16
Local Life: Hong Kong Backstreets of Hong Kong Experience another side of Asia’s vibrant metropolis on a half-day urban excursion into the local heart of Hong Kong. Try your hand at the strange local tradition of “villain-hitting”, visit a historic fishing village and square up for a game of mahjong with a local family on the ultimate city tour with a twist.
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A trip on a Hong Kong commuter classic, the Star Ferry, one of the oldest forms of public transportation in the city. Meeting up with a Dai Siu Yan, practitioner, a bizarre local custom. Visit a historic fishing village in the north-eastern corner of the island, Shau Kei Wan. 17
Essence Tours • Highlight experiences with a twist • Private guided tours • See Asia’s best sights with a charming surprise and delight element • Interact with interesting locals along unique routes just off the tourist track • Discover local culture with your taste buds • Carefully selected boutique eateries and top-notch local restaurants • All of this in first class style and comfort
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Essence Tours: Hong Kong Essence of Hong Kong: The View From The Top Gaze unto some of the world’s most famous vistas on this panoramic tour of Hong Kong. From Victoria Harbour to the Peak, see vast scenic stretches of the metropolis, before exploring old fashioned fishing villages and traditional neighbourhoods for a taste of the Hong Kong of yore.
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Explore the highlights of vibrant Hong Kong from an opentop bus. Visit Hong Kong’s famous fishing village for an in-depth look at the lifestyles here. Have a tasty dim sum lunch - a true taste of Hong Kong’s culinary icon. Explore the dried seafood market in a traditional neighbourhood. 19
Who are they for? Local Life • Families and travellers looking for something different • Travellers looking for cultural experiences • People who want to connect with the destination a little more • Clients who might not want a full private guided tour Essence • Four or five star FIT clients • People used to travelling in comfort and style • Foodies looking for authentic cuisine • Travellers who want to see the highlights but in a special way 20
Other Recommended Tours • We have a diverse portfolio of touring products in all destinations across Hong Kong. • Our excellent team on the ground ensure that your clients will connect with the true nature of their destination, in a way that suits them and their interests. • Speak to your Buffalo Tours representative for more information on these, or any other tours available.
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Other Tours: Hong Kong Hong Kong Island Tour This compact full-day tour offers visitors the chance to experience the best of Hong Kong Island. Enjoy spectacular views from the Peak look out point before striking a bargain at the Stanley Market. Detour via Repulse Bay, before heading to the Aberdeen Fishing Village. Round out the day at a local jewelry factory. • Enjoy heavenly views from the top of the island, Hong Kong’s world-famous Peak view point. • Visit Repulse Bay, named after the British warship HMS Repulse. • Explore Aberdeen Fishing Village, where visitors can get a taste of local life in Hong Kong’s fishing villages. 22
Other Tours: Hong Kong 360 Lantau Explore Tour Explore the lush landscapes and ancient villages of Lantau Island on this fullday adventure. After a short ferry ride from Hong Kong’s main harbour, take a stroll along the idyllic Cheung Sha Wan Beach; visit the Tai O fishing village and climb the stairs to the giant Tian Tan Buddha at Po Lin Monastery.
• Set off on a high-speed ferry ride to Cheung Sha Wan Beach on the southern coast of Lantau Island. • Get a glimpse of local life at the idyllic fishing village of Tai O. • A trip to the revered Po Lin Monastery, home to the massive, 34meter high Tian Tan Buddha statue. • A Ngong Ping Cable Car ride for unbeatable views of the island’s mountainous scenery. 23
Other Tours: Hong Kong Macau In A Day Just an hour by ferry from Hong Kong, Macau offers a whole other world overflowing with European architecture and World Heritage listed monuments. Whilst this bustling metropolis is now famous for its booming casinos and supersized retail malls, at heart it remains a stunning example of colonial architecture and boasts an eclectic charm that has for decades kept travellers coming back. • A trip to the legendary Ruins of St. Paul’s, famous its baroque architecture and religious significance. • Explore the 16th-century City Walls, once used to protect Macau from pirates and other regional threats. • Visit the Mount Fortress, part of the UNESCO-listed “Historic Centre of Macau”. • Enjoy the amazing 360-degree views from the top of Macau Tower.
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Other Tours: Hong Kong Symphony Of Lights Cruise Experience Hong Kong’s world-famous harbour as you cruise its majestic waters and take in the spectacular skyline. Then, enjoy unlimited onboard drinks as you sit back and enjoy a thrilling light and sound show, illuminating the skyline with lasers, searchlights and coloured projections.
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Observe the harbour’s evening transformation. Cue the ‘Symphony of Lights’, a synchronized 20-minute displays celebrating Hong Kong’s growth. Enjoy unlimited free beverages as cruising into one of the most impressive harbours in the world.
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Other Tours: Hong Kong Shenzhen Lo Wu City Shopping Tour Hong Kong has been a bustling trading post for hundreds of years, and this tradition lives on in the Lo Wu Commercial City. Explore the surrounding Shenzen area before visiting this bustling hive of bargaining and haggling with a guide and learn about the history of this Hong Kong institution.
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First class train into Shenzhen China. Watch locals practice sword dance and Tai Chi in Li Chi Park. See the Terra-Cotta Warriors exhibition and learn more about China’s epic history. Visit a silk factory before getting some Dim Sum
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Other Tours: Hong Kong Shekou & Guangzhou Explore Southern China on a day tour to Shekou and Guangzhou. Visit a local Kindergarten, Mineral museum and continue on to Guangzhou and learn about Chinese History at Sun YatSen’s memorial and the Temple of Six Banyan Trees, before visiting pandas at a local zoo.
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Experience local culture first hand at a kindergarten in Shekou. Visit the Mineral Museum and learn about the geological history of the region. Visit Sun Yat-Sen’s memorial hall and the Temple of Six Banyan Trees. 27
Other Tours: Singapore Big Bus Premium Tour Join this Hong Kong institution on an extensive route around Hong Kong, visiting all the major tourist attractions en route. Hope aboard to visit Victoria Peak, Stanley Market and even the famous symphony of lights on a hopon, hop-off schedule. The ticket also included passes for many public transport options around town.
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Take you to all of Hong Kong’s famous landmarks: Nathan Road, Stanley Market, Lan Kwai Fong and the Man Mo Temple. Explore everything from traditional temples and historic colonial sites to the most contemporary shopping and highrise architecture. A return journey on the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour. 28
Bringing it all together A truly unique journey
Hong Kong & Macau Adventure| 6D Experience the best of China’s bustling island cities on an urban adventure through Hong Kong and Macau. In vibrant Hong Kong, enjoy magnificent panoramic views atop Victoria Peak and visit the former pirate hideout at Cheung Chau. Wrap up your adventure in Macau, home to Asia’s most beautiful collection of Portuguese architecture. • • • • •
Ride up the steepest tram in the world to stunning panoramas at the Peak and drive onward to the historic fishing port of Aberdeen Discover the traditional Chinese architecture of Pak Tai Temple. Spend the afternoon at Tin Hau, a 200 year-old temple dedicated to the Godness of the Sea. Enjoy the spectacular evening show, “The House of Dancing Water”. Visit the centuries-old Ruins of St. Paul, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. 30
Hong Kong Short Packages
Hong Kong Local Experience | 4D • • • • •
Embark on a journey exploring local lifestyles in urban Hong Kong. Wander around the city and soak up the frenetic urban energy. Ride the historic Star Ferry across the harbour. Stroll around the alleys and wet markets of Wan Chai. Enjoy the tasty street food and explore the local history.
Vibrant Hong Kong | 4D •
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Boasting a deep natural harbour and one of the world’s most famous skylines, Hong Kong offers a variety of sights, sounds and smells. Enjoy the unparalleled views of the “Symphony of Lights”. Explore some of Hong Kong hidden heritage. Take a stroll through the largest private park in the city, the enchanting Dragon Garden. Visit Sam Tung Uk Museum, a 200-year-old walled village.
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Why work with us? Buffalo Tours and our partners
Why partner with us?
Hotel partnership
Competitive pricing
Unique product
Own vehicles and boats
Buffalo tours own operations
Professional reservation staff
Sales & marketing support
IT resources
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