Hong Kong. The name alone conjures images of a city that never quite sleeps — a place where gleaming skyscrapers rise from mountainous terrain, ancient temples sit in the shadow of glass towers, and the world’s best dim sum is just around every corner. I finally made it there, and this is how the journey went.
The Journey Begins: London Heathrow
Every great adventure starts somewhere, and mine began at London Heathrow Airport, staring up at a magnificent British Airways Airbus A380 — one of the largest passenger aircraft in the world. This double-decker giant would carry me some 9,600 km eastward to one of the world’s most extraordinary cities. The HSBC signage in the background felt like a fitting preview of Hong Kong’s financial district waiting at the other end.
The ground crew worked with impressive efficiency, loading cargo and preparing the aircraft for the long-haul flight. Watching the operation from the terminal window is a reminder of just how much logistical precision goes into getting hundreds of people safely to the other side of the world.
First Glimpse of Hong Kong
The approach into Hong Kong International Airport is one of the most dramatic in aviation. As the plane descends over Victoria Harbour, the sheer density of the city hits you — thousands of residential towers packed together on a rugged, mountainous island. The view from the aircraft window reveals a waterfront lined with high-rise apartment complexes, a sports stadium, and the iconic green waters of the harbour below.
Arriving by Train: The MTR Experience
One of the best things about Hong Kong is its world-class public transportation. The MTR (Mass Transit Railway) is fast, clean, affordable, and covers the entire territory. I took the Airport Express from Hong Kong International Airport into the city, and even through the train windows, the views were mesmerizing — layer upon layer of high-rise residential towers rising into misty hills, elevated highways weaving between them like concrete ribbons.
Hong Kong is home to some of the tallest residential buildings in the world. These towering blocks of flats house millions of people in relatively compact footprints — a vertical city within a city. The scale of it is hard to grasp until you see it up close from a train window, speeding past block after block of glass and concrete reaching into the clouds.
The Iconic Hong Kong Tram
One of Hong Kong’s most beloved (and budget-friendly) ways to get around Hong Kong Island is by tram — locally known as the „Ding Ding“ for the sound of their bells. These double-decker trams have been trundling along the northern shore of Hong Kong Island since 1904, and they remain one of the last surviving tramway systems in the world to use double-decker trams exclusively. Tram No. 78, here wrapped in a colourful Camper shoe advertisement, makes its way along the dedicated tramway on a wide central boulevard. For just a few Hong Kong dollars, you can ride the entire length of the route — a rolling window seat onto the street life of the city.
The Central District Skyline
Walking along the harbourfront in Central brings you face to face with one of the world’s most photogenic skylines. On a grey, overcast April day, the towers still manage to impress — the AIA Central building with its red logo prominent among the cluster, the CITIC Tower, and dozens of other glass-and-steel giants rising above the old ferry piers and reclaimed land. In the background, the dome of the former Supreme Court building (now the Court of Final Appeal) adds a colonial-era flourish to the modern skyline.
Life at the Waterfront
The harbourfront promenade is one of Hong Kong’s great public spaces. On weekends especially, it becomes a gathering place for all kinds of occasions — including, apparently, wedding photo sessions. This cheerful wedding party, with the bride in her flowing white dress and the whole group laughing and celebrating, captures something of the city’s vibrant, joyful spirit. With the soaring towers of Central as a backdrop, it makes for an unforgettable scene.
The Hong Kong Observation Wheel
Sitting right at the heart of the Central harbourfront is the Hong Kong Observation Wheel — a 60-metre-high Ferris wheel that opened in 2014. Even in the mist, it’s a striking landmark, its white lattice structure rising above the ferry terminals and the Star Ferry Pier. On a clear day, the gondolas offer sweeping views across Victoria Harbour toward Kowloon; on a misty day like this one, the city takes on an atmospheric, almost dreamlike quality. In the left background, you can just make out the distinctive crown-shaped roof of the Jardine House.
Bank of China Tower and IFC: Icons of the Skyline
No visit to Hong Kong’s Central district is complete without spending time in the shadow of its two most iconic towers. The Bank of China Tower — designed by the legendary architect I.M. Pei and completed in 1990 — is a masterpiece of angular geometry. Its prismatic glass facade, divided by bold white X-shaped steel supports, rises to 367 metres and was for a time the tallest building in Hong Kong and Asia. Standing next to it is the International Finance Centre (IFC) tower complex, the tallest building in Hong Kong, whose smooth cylindrical profile dominates the skyline. Between them stands the dark-glass Citibank Plaza.
Old Meets New: The Court of Final Appeal
One of the most striking contrasts in Hong Kong’s Central district is the sight of the former Supreme Court Building — now home to the Court of Final Appeal — standing defiantly amid a canyon of glass skyscrapers. This magnificent neoclassical building, completed in 1912, features a distinctive copper dome, Ionic columns, and a Lady Justice figure at its apex. Built during British colonial rule, its Portland stone facade and grand colonnaded entrance speak of a very different era. Walking past it today, with modern towers soaring on all sides, is one of those moments that reminds you just how layered Hong Kong’s history really is.
Exploring the Streets
Beyond the famous skyline, Hong Kong’s streets are endlessly fascinating. The city moves at a relentless pace — pedestrians, taxis, trams, and buses all jostling for space in a choreographed urban ballet. The Central-Mid-Levels Escalator, the world’s longest outdoor covered escalator system, ferries thousands of commuters between the flat streets of Central and the hillside residential neighbourhoods above. Around every corner you’ll find something unexpected — a traditional tea house wedged between modern towers, a wet market spilling onto the pavement, a temple courtyard offering a moment of calm amid the urban buzz.
Final Thoughts
Hong Kong is a place that defies easy description. It is simultaneously one of the world’s great financial capitals and a city of incredible human density, traditional culture, and breathtaking natural scenery. Whether you’re gazing up at the Bank of China Tower, riding a century-old tram through the busy streets, or simply watching the Star Ferry cross the harbour, there is an energy here that is unlike anywhere else on earth. If you ever get the chance to visit — go. You won’t regret it.
