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TripOut Gay Travel:
Hong Kong

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Gay Friendly Rating: Gay Friendly Rating Very welcoming; this place is gay-tastic!
A bustling bit of China complete with high-rises, karaoke and a slowly emerging gay scene.

Hong Kong Fast Facts:

  • Gayborhood Out gays (and expats) mostly live in the HK Island's Central neighborhood. It's little wonder that many gay bars, clubs, and cafes pepper Central's Soho and Lan Kwai Fong sections.
  • Visit the Hong Kong Tourism Board's website, http://www.discoverhongkong.com, for all stripe of resources and information.
  • Caucasians are often referred to as "gweilo" (pronounced gwy-low). Meaning "foreign devil" or "white ghost," this used to be an insult, but nowadays entails casual, friendly slang.
  • The Chinese believe just about anything you can put into your mouth has a health benefit, so sample some of the exotic offerings like Bird's Next, Turtle Shell Jelly, and Harsmar, a sweet gelatin made from frog ovaries! You can find the latter two at Hui Lau Shan, a famous dessert cafe chain with locations throughout Hong Kong.
  • Drink an iced Yuan-Yang, a creamy, sweet blend of coffee and tea!
  • You can buy some very unusual flasks of booze at Hong Kong 7-11s including wine made from animal penises and snakes. Night Train, Schmight Train!
  • You may notice cups containing dice on the tables at karaoke and other bars - locals enjoy playing a game, "Liar's Dice," with them.
  • Catch a splashy Canto-pop concert at Hong Kong Coliseum or buy CDs by Jay Chow, Wong Faye (she did an album with the Cocteau Twins) and the late, openly queer Leslie Cheung. Best HK record store for international indie stuff including local acts The Pancakes and The Yours? Kowloon's Monitor Records (http://www.monitor-records.com).
  • Check gay Asia website http://www.fridae.com for always-updated Hong Kong info and LGBT events.
  • If you're in town on business during the third Tuesday of the month, you may want to network at the monthly Fruits in Suits gay professionals get-together. See http://www.fruitsinsuits.com.hk for details.
  • If you're into Feng Shui, this is the city for you. Many buildings in Hong Kong are constructed to observe good feng shui - Tongzhi Holidays tour guides can point some of the more spectacular (and tainted exception-to-the-rule) examples.
  • Lesbians should definitely catch the swinging monthly party Les Peches. E-mail lespechesinfo@yahoo.com for when & wheres.
  • Cathay Pacific Airways (http://www.cathaypacific.com) is a great choice for USA-Hong Kong flights. Coach is very comfy, while business class is fabulous! Their business and first-class airline lounges at Hong Kong Airport, "The Wing" and "The Pier," rank amongst the world's best: Take a shower, eat, play a PS2 or simply stash your carry-on luggage (all for free!) while you peruse the fantastic HK airport's shops. Reservations line: (800) 233-2742.
  • Finally, don't miss other "acquired taste" HK specialties like the addictive street vendor snack Fish Balls, Snake Soup, stinky tofu, fried fish bladder, and... chicken testicles (Kei Ji). If you're feeling conservative, Western fast food chains are worth a visit for their Asia-tilted items: Spicy Thai chicken at KFC, not-quite-Asian Tacos and Pear Honey Tea at McDonald's. Mrs. Fields is quite popular - the HK chain's cookies are smaller (I found them tastier), and in "extra chewy" chocolate chip and cinnamon varieties.

Video: Hong Kong travel recommendations

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From Season 1 of “Round Trip Ticket.” Hong Kong, China has seen the emergence of visible gay activism and LGBT scene with a flourishing, hip gay scene. In this episode, join Kate and Marc as they discover the hidden treasures of Hong Kong, the... Read More Video: Hong Kong travel...
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Hong Kong Top 5

Don't leave town before checking out...
TripOut Top Five
  1. Victoria Peak
  2. Afternoon High Tea - at the Peninsula Hotel's The Lobby
  3. Propaganda
  4. Temple Street Night Market
  5. JIA

Recommended In Hong Kong:

Send us a recommendation!

Hotels & Inns

Restaurants

Bars & Clubs

  • Gay+ Gay+: this place is super-gay! Have Fun! 0
    Club 97 9 Lan Kwai Fong
  • Gay+ Gay+: this place is super-gay! Have Fun! 0
    Club Bliss 1 Elgin Street
  • Gay+ Gay+: this place is super-gay! Have Fun! 0
    Lab 3rd Floor, Allways Center
  • 4
    Propaganda Basement
  • Gay+ Gay+: this place is super-gay! Have Fun! 0
    Rainbow Bar 14th Fl. Pearl Oriental Tower
  • Gay+ Gay+: this place is super-gay! Have Fun! 0
    The New Wally Matt Lounge 5 A Humphrey's Avenue
  • Gay+ Gay+: this place is super-gay! Have Fun! 0
    Volume LG/F 83-85 Hollywood Road
  • Gay+ Gay+: this place is super-gay! Have Fun! 0
    Works 1/F
  • Gay+ Gay+: this place is super-gay! Have Fun! 0
    Yumla Lower Basement, Harilela House

Sights & Activities

Events

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