Hong Kong, which is Cantonese for ‘fragrant harbour’, is a top tourist destination, popular for its vibrant night scene and excellent shopping. Even though the country is a Special Administrative Region of China, it operates like an independent country. The local culture is a charming blend of Chinese and Western customs. The Western influence is hardly surprising considering that the city was a British colony for 156 years decades and re-joined China only in 1997. This cultural dichotomy also makes Hong Kong the ideal point from which to start a journey into China. It can help one slowly ease into Chinese culture.
The local culture is fundamentally Chinese although it has been strongly influenced by the British. English and Chinese have both been adopted as official languages with Cantonese being the dialect spoken by the majority. The local population is religiously diverse, but tend to follow Chinese customs and traditions despite their religious affiliations. One can still find many shrines devoted to various gods and goddesses. Many people use mirrors to keep evil away and the usage of the numeral ‘4’ is avoided due to its similarity to the Chinese word for “death”.
The locals celebrate eastern and western festivals. The Chinese New Year is celebrated grandly with plenty of fireworks and merriment. The Dragon Boat Festival is a major occurrence each year and the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated by the entire populace with extreme enthusiasm. At the same time, western celebrations such as Christmas and the Gregorian calendar New Year are also quite popular. Participating in these festivals is a terrific way to learn about the local culture. Those interested in absorbing more of the Hong Kong culture can also try to take in traditional dance and musical performances.
Stay at a Wan Chai Hotel Hong Kong and get complete access to the city’s cultural heartland. The Cosmopolitan Hotel Hong Kong is one of the top hotels in the area and gives guests easy access to the city’s best leisure and entertainment districts. This quality Hong Kong hotel is just a short walk from the MTR Causeway Bay, which is a vital node in the city’s transport system.
Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and hopes to visit them all someday.