Shopping in Hong Kong III

It comes as a huge surprise to discover that thus seething metropolis is 40 percent protected parkland. As an antidote to the long hours, pork lard laden dim sum and late nights that are endemic here, most people transform into avid hikers during their weekends. One of the best, most scenic walks to Dragon’s Back which starts at the quaintly ramshackle seaside village of Shek O. Start outside the Correctional Centre on Shek O Road. The walk is not for the faint hearted, lasting between 90 minutes and two hours but the sea views are spectacular and a cleansing ale awaits at the Black Sheep when you are done.

I think Hong Kong can rightly claim to have the best hotels in Asia and the Grand Old Dame of them all is The Peninsula Hong Kong. Here is the most perfect example perhaps of that east meets west. Most of us cannot afford to be chauffeur driven in one of the fleet of deep geen Rills Royces or stay in one of the legant rooms, go for the famed afternoon tea featuring silver cake stands laden with delicate cucumber sandwiches, plump scones and baby pots of tiramisu while a small orchestra serenades you.

Hong Kong is portrayed the world over in three specific ways as a financial powerhouse, a great stopover and possibly most of all as a shopping mecca. Shopping for the Hong Kongese is a hobby, a sport, a religion and an obsession. No surprise then that every luxury label on the planet hasa flagship store here. Head for the corner of Queen’s Road and Pedder Street and enter the Landmark building which houses a purse crippling array of labels suc has Harvey Nichols, Manolo Blahnik, Gucci, Prada have stores nearby as well. I tried fashion with a more local flavour so went to Shanghai Tang which is decorated in the same 1930’s Shanghainese style that the fashion label takes its inspiration from. Shanghai Tang cleverly and chicly reinvents the traditional Chinese dress, such as Mao jackets and cheongsams, but gives it a modern funky edge. It also stocks wonderful homeware and gifts.

It was not long ago that the only fashion industry in Hong Kong involved ripping off all those big name brands. Ask a taxi driver to take you to Elgin Street loaded with restaurants and cafes perfect for reviving weary shoppers and explore the streets of this area from there.