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Getting to Know the Locals:

Hong Kong residents offer an inside look
at China’s most unique city

By Janna Graber

Mention Hong Kong to almost anyone and certain images come to mind: Crowded streets filled with businessmen hurrying to the office, tall skyscrapers blocking the sun and hundreds of stores open late for good shopping.

Yet that picture is incomplete without the people of this vibrant city. The area’s 6.8 million residents come from all walks of life – fisherman sailing their sampans into the harbor, vendors selling dim sum from carts as they talk on cell phones, and villagers living in tiny stilted homes along the waterways in the outlying islands.

Now visitors to Hong Kong have the rare opportunity to get to know some of these locals.

In a unique Hong Kong initiative called “Meet the People”, area residents, artists and businessmen have offered to share their thoughts and expertise with guests to the city. The goal is to help visitors get below surface tourism and experience Chinese culture, tradition and heritage for themselves. Free weekly sessions on a variety of topics and activities are offered in English.

Niels Voigt, a 25-year-old visitor from Amsterdam, is one of the participants in an early morning tai chi lesson on Hong Kong’s picturesque Waterfront Promenade. Tai chi instructors William Ng and Pandora Wu lead the class of about 20 tourists from all over the globe. Ng gently helps participants find the correct positions, encouraging them to relax and enjoy the exercise. “Tai chi is about balance,” he says.

“This program is a good way to get to know people and experience Hong Kong,” says Voigt as he practices the unfamiliar moves. “I wish this kind of program was in other cities as well.”

Locals from other fields have also chosen to share their expertise. Tea is Vincent Li’s passion. The 28-year-old tea master, who owns of the city’s finest tea houses, says the program gives him a chance to teach visitors about a beloved tradition. “The Chinese have been drinking tea for thousands of years,” he says. “It’s important to our families and our culture. If you make a mistake, for example, you apologize with tea. And newlywed couples always present tea to their parents.”

Li’s parents grew up in the Fijian Province of China, a region known for growing oolong tea, so tea is part of his life, Li says. “A good cup of tea can bring your mind to the countryside,” he states. “You can close your eyes, imagine the natural setting and forget the noise around you.” Li offers several in-depth classes on tea, as well as an hour-long session on how tea is grown, fermented and produced.

Victor Choi has his own passions. As one of Hong Kong’s leading antique experts, Choi welcomes guests to his galleries for an entertaining lesson on the history, qualities and purchasing of Chinese antiques. Showing examples from his two galleries, Choi discusses what buyers should look for in Chinese antiques, as well as what they should avoid.

“I’ve been collecting things since I was four years old,” Choi says. His fledgling collection grew immensely during the Chinese Cultural Revolution in the late 60’s, when many works of art were sold by the government for low prices. Now, walking into his galleries is like entering a beautiful museum. Such ancient pieces, in wonderful condition, bring a sense of awe from Choi’s visitors.

Those who want to learn about Hong Kong’s contemporary art scene will want to meet Johnson Chang. A respected curator and gallery owner, Chang discusses various aspect of Chinese modern art, and offers an introduction to work by the region’s top artists.

Hong Kong is filled with numerous artistic venues and opportunities for art lovers, but it has much to offer nature lovers as well. There are some 260 outlying islands in Hong Kong. Each island has something unique to offer, from beautiful beaches to step-back-in-time villages.

Lantau, Cheung Chau, Peng Chau and Lamma are the most popular islands to visit. These tiny fishing villages and rural communities offer a relaxing getaway from the frantic pace of the city, yet they are only an hour’s commute by ferry. On Cheung Chau, local Cecilia Ko, a manager at the Warwick Hotel, offers tales of the region’s traditional Chinese festivals. The highlight is the story of the island’s ancient Bun Festival, celebrated by the area children each year. Ko explains the history behind the colorful parades, religious rites and performances.

Dr. Mark Houston offers insight into another aspect of Chinese culture -- Traditional Chinese Medicine. Houston moved to Hong Kong 34 years ago, and has spent years studying Chinese culture and practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Each week, Houston meets with visitors at his small clinic on Hong Kong Island to explain the principles behind Traditional Chinese Medicine.

“The Chinese approach is to see the whole picture,” he explains. “We look at where you live, how you walk, and even what climate you live in. There is no such thing as disease in TCM,” he says. “There is only imbalance, and treatment is to bring the body back in balance.”

Houston explains how herbal medicine and acupuncture are used in treatments. His talk provides insight into the dozens of Chinese Medicine stores that dot the streets of Hong Kong. Such stores, filled with ginger root, herbs, dried fish and other animal parts, are popular stops for many of the locals.

Fung shui is another highly-held Chinese tradition. Joe Lee is an experienced practitioner of this art, and he lectures on it each week. Positioning and angles are both important, says Lee.

Goemancy, as fung shui is also called, it an important part of the local architecture. Many residents believe that a business’ success hinges on assuring harmony in the environment via ancient fung shui principles. They point to one building with “bad right angles”, and to others that offer “beautiful harmony”. After this introduction to fung shui, the layout of the city, its harbors and skyscrapers take on new meaning.

Such insight into Chinese culture offers visitors a rare opportunity to see Hong Kong in a whole new light. And that, some would say, enriches any visit.

Where to go for more information:

Hong Kong Tourism – Discover the City of Lights
http://www.discoverhongkong.com

Meet the People Program

A listing of locations and times is available from the Hong Kong Tourism Board at http://www.discoverhongkong.com. http://www.discoverhongkong.com/usa/people2people/. The program runs until March 2003.

Where to Stay:

Great Eagle Hotel
http://www.gehotel.com
This lovely, yet affordably priced hotel has a friendly staff and is minutes from the Promenade

The Penisula Hotel
This is Hong Kong’s CLASSIC hotel heralding the territory’s British heritage. Don’t miss their High Tea! Located in a top location on Kowloon near the waterfront.
http://www.peninsula.com

Where to Eat:

Golden Bauhinia
http://www.hkcec.com/english/restaurants/rest_golden.php
(Their Sauteed Crab Claws have won major awards)

T’ang Court
Great Eagle Hotel
(Their Peking Duck is amazing!)
http://www.gehotel.com

Tsui Hang Village Restaurant
132-134 Nathan Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

Yuen Mun
You can pick your own seafood at any many of the fishing markets/restaurants in this village and they will cook it up for you. Incredibly fresh and tasty!

MoonGarden Tea House
Vincent Li, Tea Master
149 Hollywood Road
Central Hong Kong

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