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In the middle of hilly Lantau Island, Po Lin Monastery is a major destination for devotees and tourists alike. The extraordinary seated Big Buddha image facing the monastery can be seen from miles away (see Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery).

Take the tram to the lofty heights of Victoria Peak for an amazing view of the city (see The Peak).

Ignore the subterranean road and rail links between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. The thrilling way to cross the water is on the Star Ferry (see Star Ferry).

An old fort steeped in colonial history and reminders of World War II, Stanley on the Southside of Hong Kong Island is a peaceful diversion from the frenetic city (see Stanley).

Kowloon is at its most atmospheric at night. Head up the peninsula to the narrow lanes of Yau Ma Tei for some serious haggling (see Temple Street Night Market).

Horseracing below the high-rises: Happy Valley is where Hong Kongers go to play (see Happy Valley Races).

Hong Kong Island’s northeast is the region’s administrative centre. Colonial remnants and exciting modern architecture stand next to each other around Statue Square (see Central’s Statue Square).

Near Sha Tin in the New Territories, Hong Kong’s best museum is a must. Splendid high-tech audio-visual displays cover the region’s rich cultural heritage and natural history (see Heritage Museum).

The remote, rugged Sai Kung Peninsula in the New Territories is the place to find Hong Kong’s finest beaches (see Tai Long Wan Coastline).

Of the many islands around Hong Kong, tiny Cheung Chau is arguably the loveliest, with traces of old China (see Cheung Chau Island).

Expats and locals enjoy food with a strong German influence and evening jazz sessions.

With great night views of Shenzhen, the revolving restaurant atop the luxury Shangri-La Hotel (see Shangri-La Hotel Shenzhen)has an international buffet, hotpots and grills.

A fine proponent of Macanese cooking, which blends the cuisines of East and West. Try spicy grilled African chicken,bacalhau (baked codfish) and caldo verde (potato purée soup).

A good bet if you fancy a spicy curry, although the surroundings aren’t pretty.

If there has been one Hong Kong restaurateur consistently and laudably pushing the style envelope over the last decade, it has been Nichole Garnaut. But with Alibi, her latest venture, she succeeds with understatement, and the creative take on French cuisine has both depth and confidence. The crowd is beautiful, the food more so (see Alibi).

The guest list is fabulous (Naomi Campbell to Chow Yun-fat); the food masterful updates of French cuisine.

Hong Kongers love Italian, and they have taken this place to heart. Share plates and make yourself at home.

Great range of shoes, particularly their eponymous label.

More than 70 stalls showcasing all manner of songbirds and (mostly legal) exotica, bounded by elegant courtyards, full of old men with white singlets rolled up to bare their bellies (one of Hong Kong’s odder fashion statements). A flower market is also nearby (see Flower Market).

Big branch of the cut-price chain store. Stock up on comfy cotton T-shirts, socks and khakis.

Home décor items from Asia and beyond. Only open Tue–Sat. Call in advance.