Grammin': How to Have the Most Insta-Worthy Trip to Hong Kong
Despite the ravages of the recent Typhoon Mangkhut, Hong Kong remains a visitor's dream destination and the ideal city break from Beijing. Here's how to get the most out of your next visit.
If you have been an expat in Beijing for any length of time, it's likely that you've made more than a couple of trips to Hong Kong and by this point, you may be wondering what else there is to see and do that you haven't already seen and done before. While we can't really imagine anyone being *truly* bored in Hong Kong, if you need to give yourself something to do, why not take advantage of Hong Kong's photogenic nature and spend your days snapping the perfect Instagram? The ideas below should make sure that the likes keep rolling in; you'll be an influencer in no time!
Photo: @noriko_22
Nanlian Garden
Hong Kong is all about contrasts and you can capture them in stark relief at Nanlian Garden, a Tang dynasty-style public park in Diamond Hill. The bright gold central pagoda and other traditional Chinese structures really stand out against the rows of concrete tower blocks in the background and the gardens around provide plenty of opportunities for close-up nature shots.
Photo: @daneklad
Victoria Harbour
Hong Kong just wouldn't be Hong Kong without its instantly-recognizable skyline and the best place to 'gram it is the Kowloon side of Victoria Harbor. Get down there by 8pm to catch A Symphony of Lights, a dazzling nightly light show, although the buildings are just as photogenic by themselves. Catch the flipside of this view from Victoria Peak (but wait for a clear night otherwise you won't have much to photograph).
Photo: @nita_ong
Choi Hung Estate
With a name that literally means "Rainbow Estate," it's not hard to guess how this landmark makes it onto so many Hong Kong photography guides. One of the oldest public housing estates in Hong Kong, these multicolored towers are located in Wong Tai Sin District in Kowloon. Apparently, the buildings were originally given their bright paint job to lift the spirits of the residents but nowadays their biggest function seems to be as Insta-backdrops!
Photo: @gongbaobeijing
Star Ferry
Victoria harbor is the star of plenty of pictures but the ferry that plies its water is just as iconic. The green and white boats haven't changed much since the Star Ferry was first founded in 1888. Bonus points for a selfie on the boat with the harbor in the background.
Photo: @gongbaobeijing
Food
Many people visit Hong Kong just for the restaurants but what some might not appreciate is that the food often looks just as good as it tastes! You're bound to reel in the likes whatever dishes you post but these are some of our favorite dishes to Insta: the crazy egg waffle-ice cream concoctions at Oddies Foodies (facebook.com/oddiesfoodies); the super cute ice cream bao at Little Bao (little-bao.com, pictured above); and the super healthy, super tasty dishes at Grassroots Pantry (@grassrootspantry, #cleaneating). Restaurants with stunning interior design include funky Chinese kitchen Ho Lee Fook (holeefookhk.tumblr.com) and speakeasy restaurant Mrs. Pound (mrspound.com), which is hidden behind the facade of a stamp shop.
Photo: @holeefookhk
VPN, what's that? If you happen to know, don't forget to follow us on Instagram at @the_Beijinger, and follow yours truly at @gongbaobeijing.
READ: Here's How to Travel Beijing to Hong Kong by Train in Just 9 Hours
Photos: Pixabay, taken from Instagram
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