Rituals and Customs to Celebrate Chinese New Year

The 10 Best Hotels in Tianzifang, Shanghai

The Best Cheap Hotels in Hong Kong

China, Asia travel guide

Culture & Education

Outdoors - Land

Food & Drink

Entertainment

Attraction

Wellness

Outdoors - Water

Picture Hong Kong and the first thing that springs to mind is its skyline: a condensed sprawl of skyscrapers soaring over Victoria Harbour, backdropped by verdant hills. Behind its urban exterior, however, is a region that remains deeply connected to and proud of its distinctive culture, which blends Chinese, British and indigenous influences.

Each of Hong Kong’s neighbourhoods, districts and islands has a personality of its own. Kowloon serves up sprawling markets and fascinating museums, while high-end Hong Kong Island offers endless options for shopping, drinking and dining. The outlying islands of Lamma and Cheung Chau give off a more laid-back, artsy vibe, and those craving nature should look no further than the hiking hotspot of Tung Lung Chau Island.

Introducing Hong Kong

With everything from top-notch restaurants to delicious street food, Hong Kong’s renowned cuisine is reason enough to visit. To eat as the locals do, tuck into Cantonese noodles and roast meat, or stack up dim sum dishes and wash them down with fragrant tea. 

There are some must-dos on any Hong Kong trip: riding the historic Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour; practising the ancient art of tai chi; browsing the Mong Kok markets; visiting the region’s temples and monasteries; watching horse racing in Happy Valley; and experiencing traditional Cantonese opera at Sunbeam Theatre. Vibrant festivities take place year-round, from the Mid-Autumn Festival (also known as the Mooncake Festival) to the Lunar New Year.

The best of Hong Kong culture

Hong Kong neighbourhoods

Beijing, China’s sprawling capital city, is where the country’s long history of dynastic rule meets its ambition to become a high-tech giant. This dynamic plays out in the city’s architecture; ultra-modern structures built for the 2008 Olympics jar with the temples, palaces and hutongs (narrow alleyways) that have defined Beijing for centuries.

With six UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Temple of Heaven and the enormous complex of palaces that make up the Forbidden City, Beijing thrums with imperial history. Many visitors use it as a base from which to explore the Great Wall of China; Badaling, the most frequented and best-known section of the wall, is within easy reach of the city.

Introducing Beijing

It might be the epicentre of Chinese history, but today Beijing is the country’s capital of cool. Former brothels are now stylish coffee shops, traditional hutongs house tiki bars and microbreweries, and a revolving carousel of works at the achingly trendy 798 Art Zone places the city comfortably at the forefront of modern Chinese art. 

While new restaurants routinely pop up all over, the best of Beijing’s cuisine can be sampled at its old-school hotpot and Peking-duck restaurants. As China’s cultural capital, Beijing also serves up a superb showcase of traditional entertainment, including Peking-opera playhouses and breathtaking acrobatic shows at Chaoyang Theatre.

Beijing culture

Beijing neighbourhoods

China’s business and financial centre, Shanghai appears to be throwing itself headfirst into the future, with soaring superstructures, opulent shopping malls and the world’s fastest commercial train zipping back and forth from Shanghai Pudong International. Peel your eyes away from the skyline, though, and you’ll see a different side to the city.

To experience real Shanghainese culture, take a stroll along traditional longtang, narrow residential lanes peculiar to Shanghai; tuck in to skewered quail in Qibao Town; watch elderly local residents play cards in Fuxing Park or practise tai chi as the sun rises; and attend a marriage market in People’s Square.

Introducing Shanghai

Visiting Shanghai is a true East-meets-West experience. Buddhist temples, classical gardens and the Old City offer a taste of traditional Chinese culture, while periods of European and American occupation have transformed China’s ‘City on the Sea’ into an international metropolis. The Bund, Shanghai’s busy waterfront on the Huangpu River, is lined with historic buildings of numerous architectural styles that include Art Deco, Renaissance Revival and Neo-Classical. Western influence is apparent in areas such as the former French Concession (FFC), whose tree-lined boulevards, bijou bistros and hip boutiques give the area a distinctly Parisian character.

Shanghai culture

Shanghai neighbourhoods

Things to do

Places to stay

Fantastic pubs and where to find them – discover the best traditional Scottish pubs in Edinburgh with this Culture Trip guide.

Europe

United Kingdom

Scotland

Edinburgh

The Best Traditional Pubs in Edinburgh

From basic facilities to something fit for royalty, Scotland offers many different options for camping. Here we share nine of the best.

9 Campsites and Glampsites in Scotland that Are Better than a Hotel

Scotland is an ideal location for wild swimming and has a vast array of options, depending on your preference and skill level. Here, we share a few of the best.

Incredible Spots in Scotland to Go Wild Swimming

From sunken streets and art galleries to royal ships and antique spying devices, this is Culture Trip’s pick of the very best attractions in Edinburgh.

20 Must-Visit Attractions in Edinburgh

From the cities of Aberdeen and Edinburgh through to Stornoway and the Shetland Isles, a foodie guide to the best places to eat and stay in Scotland, bookable with Culture Trip.

A Foodie Guide to the Scottish Highlands & Islands

With easy access to the Scottish Highlands as well as the rural areas of North England, Edinburgh is ideally placed for a wide array of weekends away.

Weekend Trips and Getaways From Edinburgh

From paranormal ghost tours gone wrong to haunted castles, read on for some scary stories and reports linked with places in Scotland.

The Creepiest Haunted Places in Scotland

Whether you’re looking for a romantic couples' escape or a weekend with friends, here's our pick of the best lodges in Scotland, bookable with Culture Trip.

The Best Cosy Cabins in Scotland

From luxury spas and sweeping staircases to sea views and acres of woodland estate, step inside a Scottish fairytale with the best castle hotel stays.

7 Castle Hotels in Scotland That You Can Stay in

Pack the Louis Vuitton, park the Porsche, and join the jet-set crowd in some of Edinburgh’s luxury hotels, where lavishness is a given.

The 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Edinburgh

From luxurious spas to elegant castles and riverside lodges, discover the most incredible Highland hotels in Scotland.

The Most Incredible Hotels in the Scottish Highlands

Enjoy sea views, bask in a hot tub and explore Scotland at one of these beautiful rental cottages, all bookable with Culture Trip.

The Most Beautiful Cottage Rentals in Scotland

Check out our guide to the best spa hotels across Scotland for a relaxing trip away – all bookable with Culture Trip.

The Best Spa and Wellness Retreats in Scotland

Join us on a Glasgow adventure as we explore the best caffeine to be had north of the border.

Glasgow

The Best Coffee Shops in Glasgow, Scotland

From hot tubs and unique tree houses, to cosy cottages, read our guide to the best places in Scotland for couples to have a romantic getaway break.

12 Love Shacks in Scotland for the Perfect Romantic Getaway

Lunar New Year is rich with customs and traditions to attract good luck in the year to come. Culture Trip explains how the holiday is celebrated around the world.

Check out our rundown of the best hotels to choose in Tianzifang, an arty corner of Shanghai that is a perfect base from which to explore the city.

To make the most of your time in Hong Kong, stretch your budget a little further by staying at one of these cheap hotels – bookable with Culture Trip.

The Best Travel, Food and Culture Guides for China, Asia - Local News & Top Things to Do

China

Guides & Tips

Rituals and Customs to Celebrate Chinese New Year

Lunar New Year is rich with customs and traditions to attract good luck in the year to come. Culture Trip explains how the holiday is celebrated around the world.

Places to Stay

The 10 Best Hotels in Tianzifang, Shanghai

Places to Stay

The Best Cheap Hotels in Hong Kong