GP’s Hong Kong Guide
I spent just a few days in Hong Kong in October while on set for a film. The city is frenetic and crazy but has an incredible energy. It’s a magical place and I hope to visit again sometime soon. In the meantime, here’s my list of great spots for a whirlwind visit.
We arrived on National Day and there were some spectacular fireworks.
A boat ride is a wonderful way to see Hong Kong and get
away from the city—it’s so busy it almost vibrates. I was
lucky to catch a ride on a friend’s boat.
Red Lanterns in
a street-side marketplace.
Hong Kong hosts a pretty major lightshow on the buildings facing the harbor every single night.
Credit: Scott Thistlehwaite
Zuma
Levels 5 + 6, The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Rd. | 852.3657.6388Zuma is one of my favorite restaurants in London, and its Hong Kong branch does not disappoint.
Jumbo Kingdom
Aberdeen Harbor | 853.2553.9111As I was filming a scene for a movie set partially in Hong Kong, I ended up spending a lot of time on the Jumbo, which is a floating restaurant on Aberdeen Harbor. It is a major tourist attraction, with five floors of restaurants floating on this big boat. It is also a self-proclaimed “theme park”—just so you’re warned. All this taken into account, it’s pretty fun in the end and the food is not half bad.
Dim Sum: The Art of Chinese Tidbits
63 Sing Wood Rd., Happy Valley | 852.2834.8893My friend Ellana took me for brunch at Dim Sum in the Happy Valley section of Hong Kong. As its name suggests, it serves up just this. If you want to have an authentic Chinese dining experience, Dim Sum is a good place to start.
The China Club
Old Bank of China Bldg., Bank St., 13th & 14th Floors | 852.2521.8888David Tang’s classic member’s club, China Club, is one of the most beautifully decorated spaces I’ve encountered. The feel is Shanghai circa 1930, with all the furnishings hand-selected by David himself. The China Club is also a gallery, packed with art by some of the most outstanding Chinese artists today. The dining room has a great vibe, with a woman singing standards by the piano; it’s like you might run into a movie star from the 1940s. The club also has a Mahjong room upstairs if you want to make an afternoon of your visit. Though it’s members only, a great hotel concierge can definitely pull some strings.