Hong Kong's Action Heroes

Though most Westerners associate Hong Kong with commerce, film buffs know it as the movie-making capital of Asia, and the place that spawned the martial arts action movie genre. While regular tourists might only be looking for shopping bargains and hot bars, another great way to experience Hong Kong is by following the path of the camera lens. A fairly compact city in which hundreds if not thousands of movies have been made over the past six decades, Hong Kong is ripe with discoveries for the avid film fan. Start with a snapshot of Avenue of the Stars, and then make your way to the Hong Kong Film Archive, your portal to the celluloid realm.

Hong Kong's Fragrant History

Hong Kong's English name derives from the Chinese characters “Heung” and “Gong,” together meaning "fragrant harbor." Originally the name referred to a small settlement near the entry port of pre-colonial Hong Kong Island. Today some historians suggest that Hong Kong's aromatic derivation was inspired by the export of incense from the port.

Photo Credit: Hong Kong (PhotoDisc)

Culinary Flare of Hong Kong

With skyscrapers aplenty and enough good shopping to exhaust any shopaholic, it's easy to get distracted from Hong Kong's culture. But no trip to the city is complete without trying the traditional Chinese brunch dim sum, a small-dish experience where exotic fare such as pig's feet and cow tripe can be sampled alongside traditional dishes like shrimp dumplings and rice porridge.

Photo Credit: Hong Kong Skyline (Digital Stock)