Hong Kong Culture Guide: 10 Things to Know Before You Go
Hong Kong Travel Information
Hong Kong’s culture dates back to thousands of years and even today, it shapes people’s lives every day. You’ll witness locals practicing feng shui, tai chi, and reflexology, for example.
At first glance, charismatic Hong Kong is all steel-and glass skyscrapers and urban and modern living. At closer inspection, you’ll soon discover remnants of the city’s rich history by looking to the designs of ultra-modern corporate buildings, the names of places, the flavors of Cantonese food, as well as the Hong Kong lifestyle and pastimes. You’ll find Chinese values, traditions, and beliefs coexisting with the city’s rapid development and contemporary vibes.
1. Bargaining in Hong Kong
A part of the experience in street markets
Good for: Budget, Shoppers
Bargaining in Hong Kong is not a just common practice, but also a way to get the best possible price when you’re shopping at the city’s many markets. A good price to start is around 75% lower than the stipulated price, which the vendor will counteroffer with a slightly higher rate.
After a bit of back and forth, chances are you’ll agree on a price that works for everyone. If you’re unable reach an agreement, politely decline (with a smile) and walk away. There might be another seller not far away who will meet your price.
Bargaining in Hong Kong
2. Cantonese cuisine
Delicious treats for every season
Good for: Couples, Families, Food
Cantonese cuisine is an integral part of Hong Kong culture, with dim sum and congee for breakfast taking center stage, with tea always close at hand. Dining out is common practice in this fast-paced city, mostly due to miniscule living spaces (some of which don’t have kitchens).
Cantonese food is also seasonal. Seafood is given special emphasis during spring, while summertime sees a diverse choice of fruit and fresh vegetables. Crab is a top choice in autumn, which is used in everything from soups and salads, appetizers and entrées. Winter is the best time of the year to enjoy hotpot, a communal dish where you cook a wide range of meat and vegetables in a simmering soup.
Cantonese cuisine
3. Diversity
A rich cultural mix
Good for: Couples, Families, History
Hong Kong has been dubbed the “Asia’s World City” to reflect Hong Kong’s historic role as a global trade hub, attracting diverse populations. British colonial rule fostered a multicultural environment, bringing different communities and languages.
The people of Hong Kong are mostly of Cantonese origin, though there are many other Chinese clans, each with their own practices, dialects, and way of life. Descendants of the Hakka, Tanka and Hoklo minorities mostly live in walled villages and small towns in the New Territories. Despite the Chinese supermajority, ethnic minorities contribute significantly to the city’s dynamic culture, seen in schools and community centers.
Diversity
4. Superstitions in Hong Kong
Many beliefs impact daily life, architecture, and gift-giving
Good for: History, Unusual
Eight is considered an auspicious number in Chinese culture, as it sounds like the Mandarin word for “prosperity”. Number six is associated with blessings, as is number nine as the pronunciation is similar to “sufficient” in Chinese.
Taboo numbers are 4 and 24, because both sounds like “death” and “easy to die” in Cantonese. The numbers 73 and 84 sound like “funeral” and “having accidents”, respectively. Many locals avoid these in phone numbers, addresses, and written correspondence. Red is a lucky color for the Chinese, while colors with negative connotations are black on yellow (which is meant for the dead). Pink, gold, and silver are acceptable, and you’ll often see these colors in gift-wraps and envelopes.
Superstitions in Hong Kong
5. Martial arts
Where movements imitate nature
Good for: Adventure, Unusual
Chinese martial arts feature movements inspired by nature, like flow of water, the flight of birds, the slow prowling steps of a predatory animal, or a snake’s swift strike. Martial arts such as tai chi, Qi gong, and kung fu are practiced as a form of exercise, usually in the early morning.
Tai chi is used as an aid to health and long life, as its slow-motion movements help improve balance and muscle tone and ease tension. Qi gong focuses on meditation, breathing techniques and postures to support physical health. Kung fu (also called wushu) was first made popular in the West by late actor, Bruce Lee. It’s a rather challenging discipline, as it requires hours of consistent practice.
Martial arts
6. Chinese opera
Bringing literary hits to the stage
Good for: Couples, Nightlife
Traditional Chinese operas often tell intriguing stories from Chinese literature. Popular tales include Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Dream of the Red Mansion, which take center stage during festivals and special occasions. Actors perform in lavish costumes, wigs and beards, as well as dramatic makeup with bright pink cheeks, red lips, and a white painted face.
Cantonese opera originated in northern China and gradually migrated south to the province of Guangdong. Well-known Cantonese operas performed at traditional theatres in Hong Kong include The Purple Hairpin and Rejuvenation of the Red Plum Flower.
Chinese opera
7. Reflexology
How to calm the nervous system in a bustling city environment
Good for: Couples, Families
Reflexology has significant cultural and commercial importance in Hong Kong, where it is a highly popular and widely practiced wellness option. Reflexology is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which holds that applying pressure to specific points on the feet, hands, and ears helps balance the body’s vital energy, or “qi”. This long history makes it a familiar and trusted practice among locals.
Hong Kong is a fast-paced, “walk-intensive” city, so many people turn to foot massages to relieve tension, improve circulation, and manage pain. Foot massage parlors range from luxury spas in five-star hotels to longstanding standalone parlors. In “Healthy Pebble Path Zones” in public areas like Victoria Park you can practice “do-it-yourself“ reflexology to improve blood circulation.
Reflexology
8. The Chinese junk boats
Where tradition meets modernity
Good for: History, Photo
Traditional Chinese junk boats are vital to Hong Kong’s identity, symbolizing its deep maritime history as fishing vessels and homes for seafaring communities (like the Tanka). These robust trading ships now serve as iconic tourist attractions that bridge the city’s past with its modern skyline, representing heritage, resilience, and the unique blend of old and new in Victoria Harbour.
The Chinese junk is a traditional sailing rig that has two to four sails on bamboo masts. The first ones were built in approximately 960 AD. Many Hong Kong tour companies offer daytrips on Chinese junks, allowing you set sail on this ancient ship with contrasting views of modern skyscrapers and modern ferries.
The Chinese junk boats
9. Tanka stilt houses
Iconic wooden homes built on stilts over the tidal flats
Good for: Budget, History, Photo, Unusual
The Tanka people have always lived on the sea, and their junks doubled as homes for centuries past. On the north-western tip of Lantau Island, you’ll find Tai O fishing village where a stilt-house (known as pang uk) community of the Tanka people is built over the seashore.
Many houses have been rebuilt with modern materials like concrete and tin after fires, blending traditional structures with contemporary life as homes, cafes, and shops, offering a unique cultural glimpse into old Hong Kong. Tai O is considered the “Venice of the Orient” and offers a stark contrast to Hong Kong’s skyscrapers, preserving maritime heritage.
Tanka stilt houses
10. Hakka walled villages
Vital links to Hong Kong’s rural past
Good for: History, Photo, Unusual
Hakka walled villages are fortified, clan-based settlements, primarily in the New Territories, featuring thick defensive walls, corner towers, and a single fortified entrance. They were designed during the 17th century to protect residents from bandits, wild animals, and conflict.
Key examples include the well-preserved Kat Hing Wai, the remote Lai Chi Wo that boasts an excellent feng shui layout, and Sam Tung Uk that has been converted into a museum. The villages showcase unique Hakka architecture for communal living, with structures like ancestral halls and dense housing around courtyards.
Hakka walled villages
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