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What Hong Kong Feels Like to an Estonian (and Why You Should Go Soon)

Hong Kong is so often painted with the clichéd image of monstrous skyscrapers and impossible density. While these images are not entirely wrong, they only capture one face of the city.

A view of Hong Kong’s iconic skyline and Victoria Harbour
A view of Hong Kong’s iconic skyline and Victoria Harbour

I believe what makes Hong Kong special and unforgettable is that it’s a city of contrasts. It is a bustling global financial capital nestled in between mountain peaks and quiet wetlands. You can find opulent shopping malls offering luxury designer brands steps away from night markets selling knockoffs of those same products. It is futuristic, modern, international, but holds onto its unique heritage and traditions.

Although I was born in Hong Kong and have close family members living there, I was raised and spent the majority of my life in Toronto before moving to Tallinn. As such, I don’t consider myself a local of Hong Kong, more of an invisible tourist. But after making two extended trips to Hong Kong with my Estonian partner and trying to see the city through his eyes, I hope the following will be informative, at least a little entertaining, and inspire a trip to Hong Kong of your own.

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