Essentials: Hong Kong

1. Rings a bell! Hong Kong is one of the few cities in the world that still operates double-decker trams. The “Ding Dings” have been in service since 1904. Their name comes from the ringing of the tram bells, which alert pedestrians that a tram is approaching.

2. It couldn’t be greener: 70 percent of the city is green space, nearly half of it nature parks where deer and wild boar roam free. More than 600 kilometers of trekking trails wind through the wilderness surrounding Hong Kong’s skyscrapers – there’s even a mountain rescue team! For even more secluded nature, explore one of the 263 islands that make up the city.

3. The sky’s the limit: No other city in the world has more skyscrapers than Hong Kong. A total of 564 buildings rise more than over 150 meters into the sky. The reason? With only a small portion of Hong Kong’s land available for development, the city was forced to build upward.

4. Fear the Four: In Hong Kong, some buildings do not have a fourth floor. Why is that? The Chinese are afraid of the number four because its pronunciation is similar to the word “death.” Because of this so-called tetraphobia, floors such as 14 and 24 may be missing, and the 39th floor may even be followed by the 50th floor.

5. Reaching for the stars: There are 79 Michelin-starred restaurants in the city. This puts Hong Kong in the top ten in the world. There are also a large number of affordable Bib Gourmand restaurants, including street food stalls.