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It’s been a hard sell for a number of years due to protests and the pandemic, but Hong Kong is bouncing back with a revived hotel scene and dazzling dining. Jane Knight reports


E


ast meets West in a deliciously unique way in Hong Kong, a destination that offers an easy but enticing taste of China. Between the high-rises with their


Western-style shopping centres and the slick hotels, ÞoÕ½ll wn` ÌÀ>`iÌion>l Ìim«lià >n` liÛilÞ ÃÌÀiiÌ m>ÀkiÌð Slip seamlessly between two worlds here, leaving behind cacophonous crowds on the streets to enjoy an elegant afternoon tea or cocktails at sunset before a Michelin-starred dinner. It’s simple to move around Ìhi ViÌÞ ÕÃin} Ìhi ivwViinÌ /, À>il niÌÜoÀkÆ Ãi}nà >n` >nnoÕnViminÌà >Ài in n}liÃh >à Üill >à >nÌoniÃiÆ >n` the streets feel safe, even at night. As a bonus, the locals are notably more polite than in London. Hong Kong is trying hard to improve its image after the anti-government protests of 2019 and 2020,


sparked by a China-led crackdown on freedoms and `iÃÃinÌ° /hià Vom«oÕn`i` > Ài`ÕVÌion in ÌoÕÀiÃÌ w}ÕÀià `ÕÀin} Ìhi


oÛi` Þi>ÀÃ q ÛiÃiÌoÀÃ vÀom Ìhi 1


numbered about 500,000 a year pre-pandemic, but fell to less than half that, with 212,000 arrivals in 2023.


WHY SELL IT?


/hià iÛiÀ-iÛolÛin} ViÌÞ `i`n½Ì ÃiÌ ÃÌill `ÕÀin} iÌà ÌhÀii-Þi>À LoÀ`iÀ VloÃÕÀiÆ m>nÞ hoÌilà }oÌ > makeover, adding new restaurants and bars. Even the tram up The Peak hillside received an overhaul, with a glass roof to better show off the views. Once regarded as little more than a stopover en


route to Australia, Hong Kong has become a fascinating city break in its own right for foodies and serious


ª 34 ASPIRE MAY 2024 aspiretravelclub.co.uk


Hong Kong


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