GP’s 2012 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
William Cheng & Son
8/F, Han Hing Mansion, 38 Hankow Rd., TST | 852.2739.7888This workwear tailor has been around for more than 50 years, making and copying bespoke suits for clients all over the world. A friend of mine bought a suit there while we were visiting and they did a great job, and very quickly. William Cheng & Son have an international following and make yearly trips to London and Australia for their customers.
Lane Crawford
IFC; Canton Rd.; Pacific Place; Times SquareLane Crawford is a beautifully decorated, incredibly well-selected specialty store. It’s the only place in HK where you’ll find varied brands like Acne, Elizabeth and James, Moncler, Vanessa Bruno, etc. It was definitely my favorite find at the IFC with its beautiful displays of contemporary art and huge and equally well-edited homeware department.
International Finance Centre
1 Harbour View St.The IFC, which is right on the water and also houses The Four Seasons (if you’re in for a luxury shopping trip), is the best place to go shopping in HK. It has all the basic, big name brands plus every single luxury brand you can think of. It can be dangerous if you’re a serious shopper…you could spend an entire weekend here without seeing the light of day.
The Toys Club
5/f, On Hing Terrace, 1 On Hing St. | 852.2167/8474Whenever I’m away from my kids, I always check out the toy stores for a little memento to bring back. The Toys Club is the local mega-store in Hong Kong—absolutely everything a child would ever wish for. It also has a huge books department.
