The iconic Star Ferry, one of the top tourist rides in Hong Kong (the Peak Tram and regular tram being the two others,) has launched a new method of payment.

Introduced over the last few months are Star Ferry tokens. You can spot the new token vending machines standing just outside the turnstile gates in Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hung Hom and Wanchai. (more…)

Shopping is Hong Kong’s number one pastime. Walking the streets, even visitors from big cities like New York are amazed at the number of retailers. The shopping opportunities that present themselves throughout the day are innumerable. Brands galore compete for your eyeballs whether you’re looking for something, or simply going about your routine.

Clothing is one of the major categories of the items for sale. Hong Kong is both a cheap and high-end clothing paradise. One problem that arises after time - what to do with all your old clothes? (more…)

From the same owners as The Press Room comes The Pawn - a new restaurant in a semi-historic setting. Occupying one of the few old buildings left in Wanchai at 62 Johnston Road, the Pawn is located near the former site of “Wedding Card Street,” one of the casualties of this round of Wanchai’s redevelopment. (more…)

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Happy Chinese New Year! Last year was the pig, this year it’s the rat!

In keeping with the previous year’s tradition, I paid a visit to Hong Kong’s biggest Chinese New Year fair in Victoria Park.

I arrived at the New Year market (that spans all the way from Causeway Bay, across the park to Tin Hau,) just after midnight. The place was still packed despite the late hour and a little bit of rain. I spent the next two and a half hours walking around the many lanes of the fair checking out this year’s rat-themed merchandise. (more…)

All around Hong Kong you can see Chinese New Year decorations being put up. I was walking through Victoria Park yesterday when I saw this special New Year display being assembled. But what’s with the two headless characters? (more…)

Dear readers, thank you for all of your support over the past year! You might be wondering what’s happened to the look of the site. I assure you that this is a temporary change. Hong Kong Hustle is getting ready to launch a new interface in the new year (if I can figure out exactly how to make it work!) so please be patient. I will continue to update the site while working behind the scenes on the interface.

Thanks again for all of your emails and comments. I apologize that I simply don’t have enough time to respond to each and every one. It’s not because I don’t want to help, it’s because I’m often busy attending events, writing up posts and editing photos! I believe some of the new features of the site will help provide you with the additional information you’ve been requesting.

But what’s the significance of the shoes in the photo above? (more…)

Holiday shopping season officially started a few weeks ago. The Christmas lights are up on Hong Kong’s buildings. Shopping centers are playing holiday music and have their displays in place. A popular activity around town is taking photos in front of the lights and holiday installations. You can actually spot people who bring their own tripod!

Shopping centers do their part to play up the holiday season for all it’s worth. Lavish displays increase foot traffic which means more sales. I’ve been checking out the different lights around town. Here are some snapshots of holiday decorations from the last few weeks. (more…)

Halloween has been steadily growing in popularity in Hong Kong over the last five years. As opposed to simply watching American expats celebrate - as was once the case, Hong Kong people have adapted the holiday as if it were their own. This is true primarily for several reasons. Hong Kong loves a good scare. Local box office records for example, were smashed by The Ring, the Japanese horror film. Hong Kong people love candy. I don’t know why, but it’s part of the diet. And wearing costumes and taking photos is a rare, but favorite pastime. Combine these factors together and you have an occasion tailor made for this city! (more…)

Hong Kong’s convenient cashless payment system, the Octopus card, just got miniaturized! The Octopus originated for use as a payment option for Hong Kong’s subway system, the MTR. It has since grown to cover most forms of transportation and small purchases. You can use your Octopus card at places like convenience stores, parking meters, fast food outlets, and supermarkets. (more…)

I feel like I’m always out trying to photograph fireworks in Hong Kong. Often it’s not easy, especially not tonight! After climbing up to the Peak (o.k., I walked up a cement path,) and jostling my way through the crowd, I finally staked out a position to take a few hundred shots, of which I usually select only a fraction to post.

Just before the fireworks began, the wind started blowing at typhoon force gusts. I was nearly getting blown over just standing there. I started to regret not having one of those little straps that keeps you from dropping your camera - especially since I was propping mine against a narrow railing high above a three-story drop. Next, hair from the girl standing next to me started to whip me in the face. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, it started to rain, the drops painfully landing underneath my eyes, making my task of taking the perfect firework pics all the more difficult. (more…)