Hong Kong, China
Exclusive Editor’s Tips:
Devour HK’s best dim sumDim sum is a quintessential Hong Kong experience that should not be missed. Start with the best at three-Michelin-starred Lung King Heen, located inside the Four Seasons, which will spoil you with waterfront views and the city’s best char siu (barbecued pork). Another high-end option, Seventh Son , has a cult following among local chefs and gourmets, not to mention exceptional siu mai (prawn and pork dumplings) and har gow (prawn dumplings). Madame Fu at Tai Kwun does a glamorous free-flow dim sum menu, so you can sample all the best hits in an artsy environment. Meanwhile, Sun Hing Restaurant offers a taste of tradition. Crammed and charmingly chaotic, this tiny no-frills diner in Kennedy Town pumps out fresh shrimp dumplings, rice rolls, and oozy egg yolk custard buns at dizzying speeds. Sun Hing is walk-in only, but reservations are essential at the rest.
Shop for porcelain at Yuet Tung China Works
This is no ordinary ceramics shop. Established in 1928, Yuet Tung China Works was Hong Kong’s first and last hand-painted porcelain factory. Once you step into the warehouse, located on the third floor of the utilitarian Kowloon Bay Industrial Building, you’ll understand why it’s so special. In this treasure trove of fine china, you’ll ever so carefully tip-toe through the densely packed shelves stacked perilously high with vases, planters, lamp bases, tea sets, plates, and bowls in a range of styles from monochrome jade hues to intricate floral patterns. As a bonus, you can usually see the painters at work and order a bespoke creation (which ships in about three months) that will always remind you of Hong Kong.
Hike to the 10,000 Buddhas Monastery
Hidden in the forested hills of Sha Tin, a residential neighborhood about 20 minutes northeast of Central by car, this quirky cultural site tallies more than 12,000 Buddha statues. But first, you’ll have to find it. Ask your driver to drop you off at the end of Sheung Wo Che Road by the rickety metal fence, where a cement path weaves through a bamboo grove. When you reach a steep staircase, head up, up, up to reach the temple grounds. Along the way, hundreds of laughing, thinking, and lounging gold arhats (individuals who have reached enlightenment) glimmer in the sun while mischievous monkeys scamper overhead and underfoot. At the top, a crimson columbarium is adorned with thousands of miniature gold Buddhas, each marking the final resting spot of cremated remains, plus temples, pavilions, a nine-story pagoda, and great views of the countryside.




