View over Hong Kong from The Peak. (Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Tourism Board)

Hong Kong’s reputation as a high-end shopping mecca is well deserved. The sheer number of swanky malls and designer boutiques — everything from Armani to Chanel to to Vivienne Westwood — could make a shopaholic’s head spin. Well-heeled visitors from around the world routinely stopover in Hong Kong to stock up on essentials from Burberry, Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, and more.

But what many people don’t know is there is a lot more to this metropolis than shopping. And many of Hong Kong’s best attractions are either free or modestly priced. That includes sightseeing, transportation, dining, events and nature parks. And with the Canadian dollar soaring — one loonie buys $7.71 HKD — from an economic standpoint, Hong Kong has never been more affordable.

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So if you’re not in the market for a $4,000 leather bag from Botega Veneta, here are a few ideas for budget friendly touring:

Out and about

Hong Kong is a city of neighbourhoods and the best way to explore them is on foot. Walking around is safe, easy — many signs are in Chinese and English — free and fascinating. Wherever you walk there is something interesting to see. For views of impossibly high skyscapers and the last vestiges of Colonial Hong Kong, head to Central. For local colour, take in the the crowded back streets of Causeway Bay or the traditional Chinese shops of Western District, where Hongkongers buy goods such as birds’ nests and shark fins for soup, dried seafood, scorpions and herbal medicines. For more sights you definitely won’t see at home, head to the bird, flower and goldfish markets in Mong Kok. After dark, the Temple Street night market is a lively and fun street scene crowded with souvenir shoppers and gawkers.

Getting around

For a densely populated metropolis that rambles over several islands and a mainland area, it’s surprisingly easy to get around Hong Kong. The omnipresent trams that weave their way around Hong Kong island provide a heck of a sightseeing to for 25¢ per ride. In addition, the Mass Transit Railway is fast, cheap, clean and easy to use. Rides start at less than $1 and Octopus cards and other passes make it even cheaper. For a narrated tour, the new hop-on hop-off Rickshaw Sightseeing Bus will give you a good orientation for about $7.

The Star Ferry between Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island and Tsim Sha Tsui on the Kowloon side takes just nine minutes and is the best 35¢ sightseeing boat trip money can buy. Providing excellent views of the waterfront on both sides of Hong Kong, it ranked No. 1 in a recent “Top 10 Most Exciting Ferry Rides” poll by the Society of American Travel Writers.

Savour the flavours

Hong Kong people love to dine out so restaurants are plentiful — more than 11,000 at last count — and serve every type of cuisine from Chinese to Thai to Korean to Western. Street stalls, dim sum restaurants, teahouses and fast food courts are extremely budget friendly — a plate of tender tasty dumplings or a bowl of steaming noodles can often be had for $5 or less. Other options run the gamut from the contemporary Chinese cuisine of Kin’s Kitchen to the Vietnamese specialities of Rice Paper French.

A glass of wine with dinner is increasingly popular — and affordable. The government recently waived the duty on imported wines in the hopes of turning Hong Kong into a wine hub for Asia. It seems to be working. November is now officially Wine and Dine month with many restaurants holding food and wine pairing and wine tasting events.

Party central

Hong Kong loves to party year-round. The biggest events happen at Chinese New Year but no matter when you go, your chances of overlapping with a Chinese or Western festival are good. May — the “fourth moon” on the lunar calendar — has three traditional festivals happening on May 21, the Cheung Chau Bun Festival plus the birthdays of Lord Buddha and Tam Kung. Major celebrations are accompanied by spectacular fireworks in Victoria Harbour, while other nights the Symphony of Lights — a dazzling laser light show — illuminates 40 buildings along Victoria Harbour.

It’s a rockin’ place

Hong Kong is best known for its urban landscapes. However, the region is also home to more than 235 islands and swaths of land that are sparsely populated and designated as conservation areas. The newest is the Hong Kong National Geopark, which is home to unique rock formations such as hexagonoal volcanic columns and sedimentary rock containing ancient fossils. In all, the Geopark encompasses 50 sq. km across eight sites and islands in the New Territories including the scenic High Island Reservoir in the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region and the Northeast New Territories Sedimentary Rock Region. There are awesome views and hiking trails all far from the madding crowds.

Travel tip

Check out Cultural Kaleidoscope programs run by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (discoverhongkong.com). These offer free activities such as tea appreciation, tai chi classes, architecture tours and caligraphy lessons.

robin.robinson@sunmedia.ca