Fodor's Hong Kong 2000 [Paperback]

Fodor's (Author)

Book Description

Series: Fodor's Gold Guides | Publication Date: January 4, 2000

Fodor's Hong Kong 2000"Fodor's guides are always a pleasure." - The Chicago Tribune

"Teeming with maps and loaded with addresses, phone numbers, and directions." - Newsday

Experienced and first-time travelers alike rely on Fodor's Gold Guides for rich, reliable coverage the world over.  Updated each year and containing a foldout Rand McNally map, a Fodor's Gold Guide is an essential tool for any kind of traveler.

Insider info that's reliable and smart
Local experts show you all the things to see and do -- from top sights to off-the-beaten-path adventures, from sports to shopping, from nightlife to recommended walks.

Hotels and restaurants in all price categories
From B&Bs to luxury hotels, from casual eateries to elegant restaurants, we list hundreds of detailed reviews that show what is distinctive about each place.

Practical info that's completely up-to-date

Useful maps and background information; key contacts; how to get there and get around; when to go; what to pack; local do's and taboos; costs, hours, and tips by the thousands.

We've compiled a helpful list of guidebooks that complement Fodor's Hong Kong 2000. To learn more about them, just enter the title in the keyword search box.Fodor's Southeast AsiaFodor's Citypack Hong Kong: A full-color pocket-size guidebook and a full-size color map, all in one sturdy plastic sleeve.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Fodor's Hong Kong 2000"Fodor's guides are always a pleasure." - The Chicago Tribune

"Teeming with maps and loaded with addresses, phone numbers, and directions." - Newsday

Experienced and first-time travelers alike rely on Fodor's Gold Guides for rich, reliable coverage the world over.  Updated each year and containing a foldout Rand McNally map, a Fodor's Gold Guide is an essential tool for any kind of traveler.

Insider info that's reliable and smart
Local experts show you all the things to see and do -- from top sights to off-the-beaten-path adventures, from sports to shopping, from nightlife to recommended walks.

Hotels and restaurants in all price categories
From B&Bs to luxury hotels, from casual eateries to elegant restaurants, we list hundreds of detailed reviews that show what is distinctive about each place.

Practical info that's completely up-to-date

Useful maps and background information; key contacts; how to get there and get around; when to go; what to pack; local do's and taboos; costs, hours, and tips by the thousands.

We've compiled a helpful list of guidebooks that complement Fodor's Hong Kong 2000. To learn more about them, just enter the title in the keyword search box.Fodor's Southeast AsiaFodor's Citypack Hong Kong: A full-color pocket-size guidebook and a full-size color map, all in one sturdy plastic sleeve.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Destination Hong Kong

When you fly to Hong Kong, try to get a window seat, as the landing will take your breath away.

When the plane begins its descent, you will probably still be out over the gray South China Sea. As you approach the coast of China, you'll see a few small, rocky islands, tiny fishing boats, and sailboats in the channels leading into Hong Kong Harbour---the most spectacular harbor in the world.

Hong Kong is Cantonese for "fragrant harbor," a name inspired either by the incense factories that once dotted Hong Kong Island or by the profusion of scented pink Bauhinias, the national flower (whose representation has recently replaced colonial insignias). Beneath the modern veneer of skyscrapers and high fashion, Hong Kong is deeply rooted in ancient Chinese traditions -- more so, in many ways, than China, which destroyed much of its heritage over the three decades following the Communist revolution. For these reasons, the Hong Kong Chinese feel a mixture of pride and wariness about unity with the mainland.

Hong Kong is a dazzling melee of human life and enterprise. From the harbor the city's latest architectural wonders stand against a green-mountain backdrop, while on the other side of the island beaches and quieter villages slow the pace considerably. Moving clockwise, beginning with the harbor districts, Western and Central are two of the liveliest areas, full of markets, other shopping, restaurants, businesses -- you name it. South of these, Midlevels, with its agglomeration of apartment towers, and Victoria Peak rise above the din of downtown. Wanchai, the next district east, was once of ill repute but now the preferred locale for an upscale night on the town. After that is Causeway Bay, another shopping haven. North Point is on the northeast corner; its principal tourist offerings are a market and a ferry pier. Shek O lies at a distant remove on the southeastern peninsula, a pleasant village with a beach for an afternoon's escape.

There are splendid beaches all over the area, some of which are well maintained by the government and served by lifeguards. Repulse Bay is a sort of Chinese Coney Island. Around the corner is the smaller and less crowded Deep Water Bay; Turtle Cove is isolated and beautiful; Shek O's Big Wave Bay has a Mediterranean feel; and among New Territory and Outlying Island beaches, Pak Sha Chau has lovely golden sands, while Lo Sho Ching is popular with local families.

Hong Kong has the best shopping in the world, if you work at it. Although the thought of crowded streets, mind-boggling choices, and endless haggling can be daunting, no place makes big spending easier than this center of international commerce. Even self-declared nonshoppers are tempted to part with their money, and some have admitted to enjoying the experience. The variety of goods is astonishing: international designer products, expensive treasures, handcrafted folk items from all over Asia. Just as remarkable is the physical array of places to shop, from sophisticated boutique-lined malls to open-air markets and shadowy alleyways.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Fodor's; Book&Map edition (January 4, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679003584
• ISBN-13: 978-0679003588
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 4.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,363,602 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #57 in Books > Travel > Asia > Macau

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Could Be One of the Best Local Guide, September 5, 2000

By 

Matthew M. Yau "Voracious reader" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fodor's Hong Kong 2000 (Paperback)

As a native who grew up and used to live in Hong Kong, it is always fun and entertaining to read about these wonderful and exciting accounts about the city from the eyes of foreigners.

A restless and vibrant city with more than 6.5 million inhabited on 1071 square miles, Hong Kong is the center of the Far East, dubbed "Pearl of the Orient". A tour-guide of 200 or so pages probably can't portrait the exciting lifestyles led by locals and all the fun this island has to offer.

Yet Fodor has done quite an awesome job.

In addition to the usual tidbits on "how to get there" and the A-Z guide, Fodor team really does the homework and presents the city with unusual details and point-of-interests that are not commonly known to foreigners. A city made up of the Kowloon peninsula, the Hong Kong Island (where major financial and business center locates), and 235 outer islands, one would have to explore the outlying islands, whether inhabited or not, in order to complete travel experience in Hong Kong. Fodor delivers vivid and lucid photos of the islands as well as shopping guidelines, food and drinks, and destivals and seasonal events.

There is no best time to visit in Hong Kong. You might want to avoid the summer months of hot and humid weather. A stroll around the Central District will expose you to the heart of the city - financial district. You will also find historical monuments left by the British empire, which once ruled over this colony for 150 years. A walk up the mid-level from Central introduced dozens of specialty restaurants which serve from bagels to cajun chicken to pita bread.

Be sure to Fodor with you on your next vacation to Hong Kong. Read and study it and you will find your travel experience rewarding and exciting. Like many tour guides published, local cultures and hang-outs are never sufficient and infact, visitors are usually advised to stay away from "local" areas; yet I recommend you walking through the local neighborhoods i Hong Kong, which are relatively welcoming and safe. You will find surprised delights like roasted goose, exotic Chinese pastries, and hand-made crafts.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Help for Those Planning a Trip!, September 7, 2000

By 

Tanya N. Moran (Las Vegas NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fodor's Hong Kong 2000 (Paperback)

Hi, we are going to Hong Kong next year, and I bought this book to help me decide where to stay and pick a few highlights that I will want to plan on seeing.

This book is really, really helpful when it comes to listing hotels and restaurants according to regions of the city. There are also quite a few maps that are fairly easy to read and they have laid out the book so that you could take it along on a walking tour of Hong Kong Island or Kowloon, etc. and refer to it very easily. They also include information on public transportation i.e. buses, the subway, etc., how to get to and from the airport, etc. The book is a convenient size to put in a small backpack as well.

The only thing that I would do to improve this book is to add more pictures of some of the things described!

This book also includes lots of useful information on side trips to both Macau and Guangzhou, which are both easy day trips from Hong Kong.

1 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Unstructured maps, September 4, 2000

By 

Jack W. Wang "DaWang" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fodor's Hong Kong 2000 (Paperback)

While the book provide some useful information, it is not do a good job providing maps and cross references. I regret I bought it, not very useful at all.