With more than 250 islands, Hong Kong is the special administrative region of China. Earlier a British colony, Hong Kong became a part of China in 1997, under a special agreement. Hong Kong has now become one of the prominent economies of the region.

Among the accommodation options available in Hong Kong, perhaps the most sough after one is apartments. An apartment in Hong Kong is a self contained residential unit, which is mostly a part of a large building or property. For many reasons, both expatriates and natives choose to live in Hong Kong apartments. Perhaps the most important reasons are convenience and lifestyle it renders.

Based on your requirements, you can choose from a continuum of superb apartments, from garden and furnished apartments to self contained and serviced apartments. There are also apartments that are specially designed for students, such as, student apartments.

Mostly, this type of apartment comes complete with superb facilities including excellent accommodation, high speed internet access, and uninterrupted power as well as water supply. Further, many of these apartments are located within the easy reach of top academic institutions in Hong Kong. All of this provides a great atmosphere in order to promote your academic success. For those seeking luxury, then one of the best choices would be stunning serviced apartments coupled with extensive recreational as well as sporting facilities.

Different types of apartments in Hong Kong are further categorized into duplex apartments, studio apartments, and townhouses. Duplex apartments are mostly situated on the bottom floor, and range from small building with two to five apartments to large property with more than 50 or 60 apartments. A studio apartment is an accommodation facility with a large living area, apart from a kitchen and bath area. In townhouses, a family will get more space as well as a comfortable feel. One of the specialties of townhouses is that mostly they are located in rows.

Likewise, depending upon the members of the family, apartments types include apartments with one bedroom – which come with built-in wardrobes, luxury bathrooms, and fully equipped kitchen; two-bedroom apartments, which in most cases garage unit will be included in the price; and three-bedroom apartment, which is much spacious and inclusive of high end comforts such as kitchen, lounge, laundry, and a marvelous terrace.

One of the prime advantages of living in Hong Kong apartments is that it enables you to live amid diverse community. Another advantage is that you will be always surrounded by a large number of neighbors and friends. If you acquire apartments on rental or lease basis, then some of the apartments charge rent, which is sometimes inclusive of electricity, local telephone service, cable TV hook up, and trash disposal. Another great benefit of owning an apartment in Hong Kong is that it serves as an excellent long term investment.

Owning or renting an apartment in Hong Kong is no longer a chaotic process. A plethora of real estate companies and construction companies are there in order to help finding your dream apartment. However, the prices of apartments in Hong Kong are exceptionally high.

Hong Kong is known among many of its visitors as a high end shopping destination packed with trendy clothes, cutting edge electronics equipment and expensive luxury items. Shopping in Hong Kong is not just limited to air conditioned malls and department stores. Perhaps some of the best bargains and the most interesting items can be found in these street markets.

Many street markets in Hong Kong either ply a certain variety of goods or goods that represent a certain ethnic group. One of the best places to buy something special for your relatives or friends back is the Stanley Market. It is a traditional open air street market that has become a major tourist attraction in Hong Kong. The market sells everything from clothes to souvenirs and is known as a bargain hunter’s paradise. The silk clothes and traditional Chinese toys and garments are of special interest here.

Many residential areas in Hong Kong are filled with the melodious song of caged birds, where do they all come from? Most probably from the bird market in Yuen Po Street, many song birds are bought and sold in this market which also a place of congregation for bird enthusiasts and song bird owners. This dark and rather derelict alleyway is usually frequented by old men who proudly show off their birds to their peers, not necessarily with intention of selling but mostly for show. Intricately crafted bird cages, bird feed and a variety of song birds of various species from all over the world can be found at this market.

The Hong Kong Flower market is the perfect place to buy a bunch of sweet smelling flowers for that special someone back home, a variety of flowers from local Chinese varieties to expensive imported flowers can be found here. Bonsai plants, rare houseplant and certain varieties of plants that bring good fortune to your family can be found here as well. The novelty of visiting a brightly colored and delightfully fragrant market is the major draw for tourists however many locals purchase flowers for weddings, funerals and traditional festivals here.

There are many street markets in Hong Kong and chances are that any hotel in Hong Kong will have one close by; a visit is worthwhile and gives you a chance to experience a distinctly different way of shopping.