Despite the changes that have taken place in Hong Kong over the last twenty years since the British returned the city to China’s sovereignty, the still mostly-autonomous territory remains true to its longstanding nickname, as the Pearl of the Orient. And while that moniker may have sprung from the Pearl River Delta that forms one of the city’s many watery borders, Hong Kong has always been known as the epicenter of Asia’s cultural, business, arts, fashion and culinary worlds.

Everyone knows that Hong Kong is the place to have world-class bespoke clothing created (in just a few days), but did you know it’s also a wonderful place to take the whole family? Beyond its highly-sophisticated exterior, Hong Kong has plenty of exciting things to entertain children as well as adults.

Must See Sights

Skyscrapers surround you as you venture out into the streets of Hong Kong, many of them perched on the side of impossibly steep hills. It’s a city best understood by standing high above it, so put a trip to The (Victoria) Peak at the top of your list. Not only is The Peak the best place to see the city below, get your bearings, and locate places like Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, Lan Kwai Fong, SoHo, Wan Chai, Stanley, Discovery Bay and Lantau Island. Plus, the tram ride itself is a history lesson, built in 1888 and still chugging up the steep hill as the driver shares tidbits of Hong Kong’s past.

Check out the massive Hong Kong Observation Wheel for another striking view of the city; it’s especially spectacular after dark, during the nightly “A Symphony of Lights”. Every evening since it began in 2004, the 8 p.m. show illuminates the whole city in a riot of colored lasers and LED screens, accompanied by a Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra soundtrack. Don’t miss getting out into Victoria Harbor, by choosing either a ride from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon on the Star Ferry, in operation since 1888, or a more in-depth look on the World Star Tour, which travels round trip from Tsim Sha Tsui to the Disneyland Resort Pier on Lantau Island, complete with commentary on all the landmarks along the way.

Regardless of how you get to Lantau Island (the Hong Kong MTR subway is fast, safe and efficient, so be sure to purchase an Octopus card, which also works on the ferries, buses, Airport Express train and more), visit the Big Buddha, located at the Po Lin Monastery on the island. The massive statue is over 200 feet high, with 268 steps to climb, so if you’d like to get up close, be sure to wear good walking shoes. Those walking shoes are key, too, for the next quintessential Hong Kong experience — shopping.

Shopping: Hong Kong’s Favorite Sport

Whether it is a bespoke suit (for both men and women), fantastic jade jewelry or Chinese herbs and medicines that strike your fancy, Hong Kong has it — and much more. You’re sure to notice the international shops (Prada, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, etc.) that seem to dot every neighborhood you wander through, but for a true Hong Kong shopping experience, go with the locals.

For custom-made suits, head to the venerable tailors in Tsim Sha Tsui. Maxwell’s Clothiers (since 1961), Sam’s (1957), or Ascot Chang (1952) will make your clothes in a few days, so make a fitting the first thing you do when you arrive in Hong Kong and you’ll go home with a new suit in your luggage. And while the tailors may not approve haggling, when it comes to the Jade Market, that’s part of the fun. That outdoor market in Kowloon is full of lovely pieces of jewelry, with enough different stalls to spend a few hours browsing and negotiating a good deal. Also in Kowloon, the Ladies Market is full of clothing and other accessories, as is Granville Road; and a visit to the Temple Street Night Market is just plain fun, even if you don’t spend a HK dollar on anything. Just people watch there, get your fortune told and see street performers amaze the crowds. If you do buy, be sure to haggle!

To find the spots where the locals shop, Hong Kong Island is the place. The Chun Yeung Street Wet Market assails you with sights and smells you may have never experienced, as you wander past stalls selling fresh seafood, meats, fruits and vegetables. Try all the skewered cooked items you dare — who knows, you might just like fried insects!

Nearby is the Ko Shing Street Chinese Medicine market, a must-see place where stalls with jars and wooden drawers filled with remedies have been aiding the health of locals for generations. Don’t miss a walk through the Dried Seafood Street, where huge bins of dried seafood and traditional tonics offer up a glimpse of a culture that Westerners never see at home.

Read more in #FlyWashington Magazine.