Books about Beijing and China: Hong Kong Guides

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Hong Kong Guide Books

by Andrew Stone, Chung Wah Chow, Reggie Ho et al

Lonely Planet

ISBN: 1741046653
432 pp

Lonely Planet's Hong Kong & Macau City Guide key word is "bluelist" and the travel guide giants have gone overboard in getting the color blue into the text at every available opportunity, unless we miss the point. So the entry headings are blue, chapter dividers are blue, page tabs blue, words in bold blue, the sea on maps is er...blue. Overall the white, black, gray and, of course, blue design is pleasing on the eye. Well, enough of the layout, what about the content?
On the plus side the book has been very well researched and is a complete upgrade on previous editions. There are more photographs, the maps in the chapters are well set out (the blue helps!) and the information on hiking and transport are first rate.
On the down side, the pull-out map at the end of the book is a great idea (careful not to rip it as you tear the edge) but it's not accurate. Hopefully this will be addressed in the next edition. Other minor gripes are that some of the night life and dining recommendations no longer exist, though in such a fast moving city as Hong Kong, this is well-nigh impossible to avoid. Overall, a solid read on the background to Hong Kong and good on travel specifics.

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by Andrew Stone

Lonely Planet

ISBN: 1741048796
216 pp

If you are in Hong Kong just for a few days on business or for a flight stopover you may consider foregoing a longer guide and going for something like Lonely Planet's Hong Kong Encounter.
The emphasis is high-impact color coding, images and maps for Hong Kong's various districts with listings for shops, sights, restaurants, bars and clubs.
The Snapshots section are brief one page insights into such topics as: drinking in Hong Kong, Hong Kong for kids, Museums, gay life and vegetarian options.
The pull-out map is a later version of the map in Lonely Planet's Hong Kong & Macau City Guide (see above). The large map includes Kowloon, Central and Wanchai, with inserts for Causeway Bay, Mong Kok, Macau, MTR, and an overview map of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or SAR. This book fits nicely in the handbag or back pocket and the pleasing design and lower price make this a tempting buy for a Hong Kong quick visit. Easy to browse on the MTR, bus or ferry.

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