The Rough Guide to Hong Kong & Macau (Paperback)

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INTRODUCTION

Hong Kong is a beguiling place to visit: a land whose aggressive capitalist instinct is tempered by an oriental concern with order and harmony. It’s true that you can still take English high tea, and that there’s horse racing, pubs and cocktail lounges, but for most Chinese here, life still follows a pattern that many mainland Chinese would recognize as their own: teeming markets, cramped housing and exuberant festivals. Meanwhile, 60km west across the Pearl River estuary, Macau makes Hong Kong look like the gaudy arriviste it is. In 1557, almost three hundred years before the British arrived in southern China, the Portuguese set up base here – Macau absorbing its Portuguese associations and culture in a way that Hong Kong never did with Britain.

Recent years, however, have been far from easy for Hong Kong and Macau. The enormous political upheaval that accompanied the handing back of Hong Kong to China in 1997 was followed almost immediately by the Asian economic crisis, during which the stock market and property values collapsed and unemployment reached its highest levels for 25 years. And whilst the Chinese government’s covert interference in the running of Hong Kong and Macau does not seem to worry their residents unduly, there are concerns that the local leadership lacks the experience and skills necessary to steer the faltering economy through the predicted tough times ahead. Even so, visitors will find that little has changed – superficially at least. Many practical matters, such as entry requirements, have remained unaffected, and neither Hong Kong nor Macau has lost any of its appeal.

In Hong Kong, the architecture is an engaging mix of styles, from the stunning towers of Central to the ramshackle town housing and centuries-old Chinese temples; the markets and streetlife are compelling; while the shopping – if no longer the bargain it once was – is eclectic, ranging from open-air stalls to hi-tech malls. Hong Kong is also one of the best places in the world to eat Chinese food (and a good many other cuisines besides), while the territory’s Western influence has left it a plentiful selection of bars and nightspots. If there’s a downside, it’s that commercialism and consumption tend to dominate life. Cultural matters have been less well catered for, though a superb Cultural Centre, several new and improved museums and an increasing awareness of the arts – both Chinese and Western – are beginning to change that.

Smaller and more immediately attractive than its neighbour, Macau is one of Asia’s most enjoyable spots for a short visit. Chinese life here is tempered by an almost Mediterranean influence, manifest in the ageing Catholic churches, hilltop fortresses and a grand seafront promenade. Of course, like Hong Kong, Macau is Chinese – 95 percent of its population speak Cantonese. All the temples and festivals of southern China are reproduced here, but few come to Macau to pursue them, believing – perhaps rightly – that such things are done bigger and better in Hong Kong. Instead, Macau offers alternative attractions. Eating is one of the highlights of any trip to the region: Macanese food is an exciting combination of Portuguese colonial cooking, with dishes and ingredients taken from Portugal itself, Goa, Brazil, Africa and China, washed down with cheap, imported Portuguese wine, port and brandy. And with gambling illegal in Hong Kong, except for betting on horse races, the Hong Kong Chinese look to Macau’s various casinos to satisfy their almost obsessive desire to dice with fortune.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Rough Guides; 5th edition (March 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 185828872X
• ISBN-13: 978-1858288727
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,442,602 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars It's below the Rough Guide standard., May 9, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Rough Guide to Hong Kong & Macau, 4th Edition (Hong Kong and Macau (Rough Guides), 4th Edition) (Paperback)

Unreliable information punctuated with annoying feminist innuendos. For the sake of political correctness the author lists gay spots which is OK with me, but he goes out of his way to label men who go into the girlie bars in Wanchai as "pathetic." This misses the point entirely. A typical Rough Guide would give the reason to avoid those places: one can unknowingly rack up a bar bill of US $500 within a few minutes just by buying drinks. They bill you on the way out and there's no getting out of it by arguing with the management. ([...]

The author chides prurient men in the streets of Macau whom he labels "creeps." Then he touts the Kingsway Hotel as "one of the newer and most glam of Macau's hotel creations," having a "sauna and health spa"! Had the phony actually BEEN to the hotel instead of just hearing that, he would have learned that the "Kingsway Sauna and Health Spa" is actually a brothel next door to the hotel, where one is presented with a crummy typewritten menu of services in the coarsest possible english, and that the entire second floor of the hotel itself is a sex club .This is inconsistent with the book's condescending, I-respect-women-as-people rhetoric.[...]

The Nathan Road addresses listed for accommodations in Tsim Sha Tsui (an area of Kowloon known as "TST" among English-speaking locals) are all wrong! I had *never* before seen a Rough Guide blow it in this regard! I got tired of trying to make sense out of his wacky directions, whipped out my credit card, and stayed at the Holiday Inn. The author probably had someone else garner address numbers for him; I wondered if he had really been to TST at all.

One more example of how this book falls short: I took the tram up to Victoria Peak --that was a great suggestion. It was dinner time, so I went to the expensive restaurant on the tram level and was told there was a 45 minute wait with little hope of getting a window seat (with a view of Victoria Bay). I found my way to another level (downstairs) and discovered a fast place simply called "Eat Noodles." It was inexpensive with good-sized portions, and the food was very clean and delicious. They brought it out to me on their spacious, uncrowded outdoor patio, where I enjoyed a *spectacular* unobscured view of the bay on a clear night and mingled with some neat people out there as well. It was a real find! But this peculiar, tongue-tied guide book makes no mention of any food at the tram terminal.

I give the book two stars for its lists of things to see and do. It should mention that Ocean Park is primarily an activity for families with children. The index could use more detail, but is adequate. I paid for a Rough Guide and got something else. For Hong Kong, I suggest giving another guide book a chance.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not the best guide for getting around or finding places., November 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Hong Kong and Macau: The Rough Guide, Second Edition (Paperback)

I purchased the guide because it seemed to give more background information than others I've seen such as Frommers. However, when we tried to use the maps to find our way around, we realized they were not well thought out, and were more confusing than helpful! Also, the restaurant section could be better organized, and give information such as price and address. We were frustrated over and over again with this guide.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for a first time visitor to Hong Kong, September 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Hong Kong and Macau: The Rough Guide, Second Edition (Paperback)

I came across this book in a bookstore near the Central MTR station in HK on my third visit to that wonderous city. Having never purchased a travellers guide to Hong Kong, I decided on a whim to purchase it. I'm glad I did. After spending an hour or so reading some of the sections I realized I wish I had this book in my possession before my first visit! Part one (Basics) was accurate and a must read before visiting the city. Part two (Hong Kong) was clear and provided just enough detail without overwhelming. I can't validate the Macau section (haven't made it there yet). However, the restaurant section in my mind fell on its face by not lising my personal favorite HK restaurant, Jimmy's Kitchen (Hong Kong side). Jimmy's is a must, especially if you are suffering from chinese food burnout and need a good steak or other sort of western fare.

Honk Kong is an exciting, crowded, fun and interesting place. It's a great place for a westerner to begin exploring Asia-a true blend of east and west. The Rough Guide should be your guide of choice for visiting one of my favorite places on this earth, Hong Kong.