Destinations The Orient
Bright lights, big cities
It may have a fascinating history and rich culture, but the Orient is also home to some of the world’s most exciting modern cities - sometimes brash, sometimes beautiful, but always brilliant.
Hong Kong’s buzzing streets bring new meaning to the word ‘vibrant’. Shopping here is an experience not to be missed - Kowloon in particular is packed with countless markets, malls, shops and stores selling everything from electronic gadgets to keenly priced silk, clothing, crafts and jewellery.
It’s not all about shopping, of course. The fascinating Lan Kwai Fong district on Hong Kong Island’s hilly north shore is full of bars, restaurants and tea houses.
If you’d rather appreciate the teeming metropolis from a distance, the view of Hong Kong Island’s glittering skyscrapers from the Star Ferry to Kowloon - or, more peacefully, from a traditional Chinese junk, is astounding.
If Hong Kong is vibrant, Shanghai is positively electric. It has grown at a rate of knots in recent years to become China’s largest metropolis, with ultra-modern architecture and experimental transport systems such as the Maglev (short for ‘magnetic levitation’) train. The unforgettable skyline of futuristic skyscrapers such as the Oriental Pearl TV Tower is best appreciated on a boat trip on the Huangpu River.
The economic boom here brought with it a host of chic bars and restaurants packed with expensively clad locals and an eye-popping number of luxury stores. Nanjing Road, ablaze with neon after dark, is Shanghai’s most famous shopping street. You’ll find everything from boutiques to gleaming malls such as the Shanghai Centre here.
Japan’s capital, Tokyo, has not been left behind in the race for modernity, with a skyline most cities would be proud of. Shopping here is a dream, pick up the latest electronic gizmos at the Sony Building or treat yourself to some designer goods in Ginza, known as Tokyo’s Fifth Avenue.
For a fantastic view of the city, ride to the 45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Towers in brash Shinjuku and on a good day you can see as far as Mount Fuji.
To plan your own ‘must-do’ list for this incredible part of the world, visit: