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Compare and contrast these cities in terms of being the best side trip fom Hong Kong! All cities are 120 km or less from Hong Kong!
Criteria......
Food
Nightlife
Architecture
Safety
Neighborhoods
Transit
Air quality (this is China we are talking about)
Entertainment? Most fun and why?
Most tourist friendly, etc
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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We went to Macau as a side-trip and thoroughly enjoyed it. Not interest in gambling, but enjoyed the old colonial Portuguese town. There was a formula 1 race on at the time though, so we could hear the roaring of the cars going through the city streets. Love those egg tarts too! Can't comment on the others but they don't interest me. Guangzhou might be an interesting side trip, but Macau is no. 1. We took the ferry.
I would also say Macau, it is the easiest to reach from Hong Kong and there are a lot of ferry options to reach Macau. Macau is pretty safe and there's a large casino scene there.
I have visited Shenzhen and Guangzhou before, but I have heard situations about potential safety and I would not go there again unless I knew someone that could show me around.
I would also say Macau, it is the easiest to reach from Hong Kong and there are a lot of ferry options to reach Macau. Macau is pretty safe and there's a large casino scene there.
I have visited Shenzhen and Guangzhou before, but I have heard situations about potential safety and I would not go there again unless I knew someone that could show me around.
Some areas of Shenzhen and Guangzhou felt "sketchy", although some feel perfectly safe and fine. I went without knowing and after returning, several people told me about some crimes (pickpockets, fraud, purse snatching, theft of watches and jewelry) that have occurred with unsuspecting tourists and visitors there.
Unfortunately, I don't have specifics.
These places are certainly not Hong Kong and they don't have the feel of HK either.
I would recommend visiting with someone that is familiar with these places if you intend to go.
I and my travelling companion took the RR to Shenzhen about ten years ago and found it oddly exciting, but most assuredly not "touristy". We saw the beginnings of the building boom and were amazed at the extent of the hi-rises that covered the landscape.
We were pre-retirement at the time and were not aware of any safety concerns so we just up and went!
Since we like a bit of the unknown we often travel independently; if you are less of a risk-taker then maybe you need a more guided experience, but we treasure our ad hoc daytrips a lot.
I guess when something is unknown (as in the crime issues in Shenzhen to me), I also assumed the best and went. After I was made aware of it after my trip, I became a bit concerned.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tjarado
I and my travelling companion took the RR to Shenzhen about ten years ago and found it oddly exciting, but most assuredly not "touristy". We saw the beginnings of the building boom and were amazed at the extent of the hi-rises that covered the landscape.
We were pre-retirement at the time and were not aware of any safety concerns so we just up and went!
Since we like a bit of the unknown we often travel independently; if you are less of a risk-taker then maybe you need a more guided experience, but we treasure our ad hoc daytrips a lot.
MACAU without a doubt. Portuguese influences/street signs/architecture mixed in with Chinese...and just good food, a better rule of law (Portuguese Law), and just an interesting place. There are also ferries connecting HK and Macau that go 24 hours a day, and very very regular. They also take you to different places in HK and Macau - so you can more to the specific places you want to go in each respective city. Plus, the ferries are clean, quick, and give you some views as well.
GUANGZHOU is really the only other one I'd think would attract some tourists/travelers. I've mostly heard mixed things about it though. I'd like to visit Guangzhou myself, but it wouldn't be main destination in the region whatsoever.
....usually HK and Macau go hand in hand, but it might have changed now. There could be other places on the list that might be better ,but i can't attest to that.
Macao is where I go to esacpe the cra cra of HK.. the mobiles that work on the subway, the crowds...
I wander about the area by the remains of the old cathedral, avoid the casinos, look at the stamps for sale at the post office.. peace and quiet.. and perhaps have a Portuguese lunch..
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