First Person

Plenty in Store

by Leif Pettersen

Travelers are sold on international shopping hot spot Hong Kong.

Despite the British having their way in Hong Kong for more than a century, Chinese culture still dominates the city’s society. Though English is an official language, along with Cantonese, my initial explorations revealed that a surprising number of people in Hong Kong don’t speak a lick of English. Indeed, in some areas I was hard-pressed to find signs or menus in anything other than Chinese characters. Even more evident to the newly arrived is the overriding cultural presence of feng shui. The Chinese here are tuned in to spiritual harmony to the point of paralyzing superstition, so every building of note – if the designers know what’s good for them – is planned inside and out under the careful guidance of a feng shui master. What’s more, as feng shui equilibrium is subject to minor fluctuations annually and even monthly, these gurus do a brisk business keeping Hong Kong balanced. True story: Hong Kong’s previous governor, Tung Chee Wah, who stepped down in March, refused to live in the governor’s mansion. His reasoning? The negative aura of the nearby sharp-edged Bank of China building, a decided affront to feng shui, cut right through the residence.

I loathe using the tired metaphor “forest of buildings,” but when discussing Hong Kong there’s just no avoiding it. Astounding numbers of skyscrapers line the waterfront of northern Hong Kong Island and sprawl across the steep ascent to Victoria Peak. In any other city this arrangement would likely be off-putting, but the aforementioned feng shui and the care that go into designing these structures make the view of Hong Kong unexpectedly appealing day or night, though my vote goes for night. Many buildings are illuminated by lighting schemes designed to draw a little extra attention after the sun goes down. These efforts come together in the collaborative “Symphony of Lights” performance at 8 each evening, when 20 buildings along a mile-long stretch of Hong Kong Island take center stage in a 15-minute laser-light show set to music. During holiday celebrations – and with Hong Kong observing both Western and Asian holidays, there are plenty of them – dazzling pyrotechnics are added to the show.

While the tip of Kowloon Peninsula is the ideal position from which to absorb the glass-and-metal splendor of Hong Kong Island, I found the vista-to-end-all-vistas on Victoria Peak, 1,810 feet above the harbor. Although you can make the climb on foot, I opted for the less punishing tram, in operation since 1888, which conveys the bulk of the peak’s 6 million annual visitors. Once at the top, I had the choice of walking a little farther west to the absolute highest point, ducking into the wok-shaped Peak Tower with its variety of viewing terraces or, no joke, stepping into the conveniently located mall for all my Victoria Peak shopping needs. Morning is the best time to ascend the peak, as clouds typically roll in by afternoon. Weather can fluctuate wildly at the top, so monitor the forecast or risk having your view obscured by a renegade cloud.

Depending on your aesthetic preferences, Hong Kong is either a shopper’s paradise or a frenzied aural and visual assault of uber-commercialism. As in most Asian cities, all Hong Kong neighborhoods have root characteristics that sum up their offerings. Here’s a sampling: Mong Kok, bustling with residential and shopping activity; Yau Ma Tei, same but even more shopping; Jordan, pubs, topless bars and shopping; Tsim Sha Tsui, hotels, tourists and shopping; Causeway Bay, crazed, high-end shopping. If you’re after a less extravagant shopping excursion and don’t mind a bit of culture shock, a day trip to the Shenzhen SEZ (Special Economic Zone), just over the border in China, fits the bill.

While I found walking the streets of Hong Kong to be a resolve-testing trial of advanced navigation and sensory overload, hoofing it doesn’t hold a candle to taking transportation. Driving is masochistic, parking is torture and cycling is suicidal. Fortunately, Hong Kong’s public transportation is delightfully robust, cheap and reliable. The MTR subway system skirts the shore of Hong Kong Island and branches out to all corners of the Kowloon Peninsula. Double-decker buses and trams are a slow, enjoyable way to get around, though there are also faster yet equally scenic ferries. Finally, the 870-yard-long outdoor Central-Mid-Levels Escalator and Walkway System, the world’s longest, is an alluring curiosity for visitors and a definite plus for anyone living atop Hong Kong Island’s steep vertical slopes.