Hong Kong tourist information

Cuisine ^*

The cuisine in Hong Kong can best be described as a fusion of Eastern and Western style cuisine, due to Hong Kong's long history of being a melting pot of eastern and western cultures. From the roadside stalls to the most upscale restaurants, Hong Kong provides an unlimited variety in every class. Complex combinations and international gourmet expertise have given Hong Kong the reputable labels of "Gourmet Paradise" and "World's Fair of Food".

Eating habits
Most restaurant serving sizes are considerably small by international standards, especially in comparison to most Western nations like the United States or Canada. The main course is usually accompanied by a generous portion of carbohydrates such as rice or mein(noodles). People generally eat 5 times a day. Dinner is often accompanied with dessert. Snack time also fits anywhere in between meals.

Eating Etiquette
Most Asian style cuisines (like Japanese, Chinese, Korean etc) are consumed with chopsticks. The more western style cuisines favor knife and fork. Some meals are more suited for the use of hands. One notable trend in restaurants is the limited number of napkins provided during a meal. Most mid to low-tier restaurants operate under the assumption that customers bring their own napkins or tissue packs when dining. European etiquette dining manners are rarely even in upscale restaurants in Hong Kong.

Cuisine: Dim Sum
Dim Sum is a type of cuisine in which waiters cart around stacks of steamer baskets or small plates of food for customers to choose. Dim Sum includes dishes based on meat, seafood, vegetables, as well as desserts and fruit. The term Yum cha (literally "drink tea") is synonymous with eating Dim Sum. It is customary for families to eat Dim Sum on weekends.

Includes:

• Cha siu baau
• Shaomai
• Har gau
• Pork ribs
• Chicken feet

Cuisine: Cantonese
A large part of the family home cooking comes from the Cantonese cooking styles. That same tradition is expanded into the streets and Cantonese restaurants. Dishes available in Guangdong are also available in Hong Kong, often with many times the enhancements. Sometimes even with a blend of international influence. Cantonese food prices perhaps cover the widest range, from the small businesses lou mei to the most expensive bao yu delicacies, which involves abalone.

Includes:

• Cart noodle
• Siu mei
• Crispy fried chicken
• Seafood birdsnest

Cuisine: Buddhist
This cuisine is basically vegetarian specialties using tofu, mushroom and other natural ingredients. Despite the name, the cuisine can be enjoyed by anyone not affiliated with Buddhism. Hong Kong vegetarian dishes are distinct in the sense that it has mastered meat analogues substitutes to the point where it can taste and look identical to real meat. Even committed meat-eaters enjoy the cuisine regularly. Unlike western countries, vegetarian diet in Hong Kong are not considered a commitment. This cuisine is also served in some temples and monasteries like the Po Lin Monastery. The vegetarian cuisine served in some Taoist temples or monasteries, such as the Yuen Yuen Institute, can also be classified under this category.

Includes:

• Mantou
• Buddha's delight

Cuisine: Hakka
This form of cooking style from the Hakka people originally came from Guangdong and Fujian in southeastern China. The style uses dried and preserved ingredients. Pork is by far the most common meat in the style.

Includes:

• Poon Choi
• Salt baked chicken

Cuisine: Beijing
This cuisine have one of the longest history in terms of style development. The variety and complexity provide a glimpse of what imperial Chinese Emperors might have eaten at one time. Exotic dishes in this category often require a considerable wait time before it is served.

Includes:

• Peking Duck
• Hot and Sour Soup

Hot Pot
This hot pot cuisine, known as daa bin lou in Cantonese, is unique in the sense that everyone is a chef. A boiling pot of water (soup-based, and customers can choose their preferred soup taste), is placed in the center of the table, and essentially everyone boils their own ingredients in that pot. This style is common during frigid winter times, since people are essentially cuddled around a fire. This format is also considered entertaining.

Includes:

• Beef, Pork, Chicken
• Crab, Prawns, and clams
• Chinese cabbage, carrots and lettuce
• Fish balls and beef balls
• Tofu

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Culture ^*

Hong Kong is often described as a city where East meets West. This is reflected in all aspects of the culture, but especially in its shopping, nightlife, and dining.

Shopping
A popular destination for shoppers from around the world, Hong Kong has everything to offer from the latest European fashion to traditional Chinese wares. Malls, department stores, and designer boutiques offer an amazing contrast to the bustling open-air Stanley Market and Jade Market shopping areas.

Every district in Hong Kong has old-fashioned stores that sell Chinese herbal medicine. The largest concentration of these shops is along Bonham Strand and Bonham Strand West in Sheung Wan, where all types of pills, plants, and dried animals are for sale.

Nightlife
Hong Kong has an active nightlife centred on two major entertainment districts, Lan Kwai Fong (Central) and Wanchai. Both areas are frequented by expatriates and locals alike. For a more quiet evening, a trip to Victoria Peak offers a spectacular view of the city. There is also a promenade along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, which is popular among young Chinese couples. Shopping, a form of entertainment for the people of Hong Kong, is even done at nighttime as evident in the Temple Street Night Market.

The city's cosmopolitan flavour can also be seen in the wide variety of cuisines available. While different varieties of Chinese selections, especially seafood, are most popular, there also many European, American, Japanese, Korean, and other restaurants. Ethnic dishes served in cha chaan teng and dai pai dong are also popular. The people of Hong Kong take their food seriously and many top chefs make their way to the city to show off their talents to these discriminating diners.

Entertainment and the performing arts also reflect Hong Kong's blend of the Chinese and the Western. The film industry and the "Cantopop" music industry scramble together both influences and have long been enormously successful locally and internationally, with star performers as ubiquitous icons. Many of these come out of the dramatic and variety programs on local television, which has been a major presence since 1967.

All three of these industries export entertainment to Chinese-speaking communities around the world. Western-style theatre and various forms of traditional Chinese opera co-exist on local stages.

The world famous Hong Kong International Dragonboat Festival, now known as the Circus Capital Stanley Dragon Boat Championships, is a celebration of community that is televised globally.