Hong Kong mixes warm climes, incredible scenery, world-class education, and a thriving business sector, so it is no surprise that it ranks as a popular relocation destination for Americans. Whether you want to move for a new job and are thinking about taking a young family traveling, or want to retire against the backdrop of tropical scenery, this overseas territory has a lot to offer.
Excellent cuisine
Hong Kong is renowned for its food and drink, with expats often claiming that it surpasses other popular Asian hubs such as Bangkok and Tokyo for quality and choice. If you live near the city center, tasty bird’s nest soup, chicken and vegetable noodles, and other local specialties are part of an incredible street food scene. There are also many excellent international restaurants.
City life and tropical paradise
In Hong Kong, you don’t have to make a hard choice between living in a bustling urban city or lush countryside as you can enjoy the best of both worlds. In just a 20-minute drive, it is possible to go from taking in the sights of skyscrapers such as the International Commerce Center on the northern shore of Victoria Harbor to relaxing on a beach or hiking up a lush green mountain. You can mix all the best aspects of city living with regular getaways to a tropical paradise.
Thriving expat community
English is an official language in Hong Kong, which is incredibly helpful in making the transition from life in the US as you will have no problem reading signs and listening to official announcements. The territory has traditionally been a popular place for expats due to this reason, and the English-speaking community is very welcoming and happy to integrate newcomers into established circles of friends.
Exceptional public transport
Hong Kong’s public transport is one of the best in the world. It’s extremely efficient, clean, and reliable when compared to similar systems in New York or London. The taxis here are also cheap and plentiful. Unlike in the US, it is also easy to walk to many places. Overall, commuting is a pleasure, and you can expect everything to run like clockwork year round.
Family life
These high standards extend to education as Hong Kong international schools are among the best on the continent. Many local schools here aim to provide children aged between five and 18 with the skills to succeed in a globalized world. Hong Kong is an excellent choice for families for this reason.
Nightlife
New York is famously known as the city that never sleeps, but Hong Kong is every bit as colorful and exciting during off-peak hours, with a variety of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs serving up some of the best food, drinks, and entertainment in Asia. The renowned casinos in Macau, which attract millionaires from across the globe, are just an hour’s ferry ride away, while the night cruise at Victoria Harbor is one of the many luxury activities available.
This is just a sample of what Hong Kong has to offer. The shopping centers are often jaw-dropping in their scale and variety, for example, and there are hundreds of nearby islands such as Cheung Chau for the most relaxing of short breaks. Hong Kong really does have it all.
