Are you tempted by a city break in Asia, or planning a stopover on your way to Oz? The Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Richard Hume and the Singapore Tourism Board’s Divya Panickar tell us what these two Asian greats have to offer.

What would you recommend for one night in an oriental city?

Richard Hume: Head down to the harbour to see the handsome Chinese junks silhouetted against the backdrop of one of the world’s most incredible skylines. You could dine al fresco along the Avenue of the Stars and then watch the Symphony of Lights laser show at 8pm.

Divya Panickar: There is no one thing. Whether it’s dining at a top restaurant like the Equinox and admiring the city skyline, going to the beach on Sentosa Island for a drink, doing the Night Safari with the family or clubbing with friends, we have a ‘must’
for everyone.

How about three things I must see or do on a brief stopover?

Richard Hume: For a flavour of Hong Kong you should take a ride on the Star Ferry, travel up to Victoria Peak on the famous funicular, visit one of the lively, earthy street markets, such as Temple Street, or try t’ai chi down by the harbour where you can join one of the classes for free.

Divya Panickar: If your interests are cultural you should visit one of the ethnic neighbourhoods such as Chinatown, Little India or Kampung Glam. Nature lovers should definitely see the Botanical Gardens.
Our spa venues are well worth a visit, particularly after a long flight – try one in a tropical setting, or overlooking the beach. Shoppers should visit Orchard Road for branded products or one of the ethnic areas for interesting traditional goods.

What if I wanted a longer stay – is there enough to entertain me?

Richard Hume: People often only realise when they arrive in Hong Kong that there is a lot more to see and do than they first imagined. It has 260 outlying islands and there are some superb beaches. You can even take a cruise to spot pink dolphins. There are about 9,000 restaurants, 600 temples and plenty more cultural attractions. You could spend a week just shopping. Hong Kong boasts some world-renowned restaurants, such as Philippe Starck’s Felix at The Peninsula hotel and Alain Ducasse’s Spoon at the Inter-Continental and our nightlife scene is known across the region as being particularly vibrant.

Divya Panickar: We have various events taking place throughout the year including a major Food Festival and lots of attractions such as the award-winning Night Safari, cultural sights like Chinatown and Little India, and lots of entertainment venues including riverside pubs and clubs. Singapore is known for its excellent dining – whether it’s at a small local restaurant, a curry house in Little India or a five-star hotel visitors are never disappointed. Don’t forget that shopping and dining are two of our national pastimes!

It sounds very exciting, but what if I want some R&R? Is there anywhere to relax?

Richard Hume: Around 70% of Hong Kong is classified country park and numerous outlying islands including Lamma, Cheung Chau and Lantau. Accessible in a day or less, these offer good hiking trails and beaches. The Dragon’s Back and MacLehose Trails are among two of the better known. There’s also Mai Po wetlands park and the fishing village of Sai Kung, a great base for beaches and country and coastal walks.

Divya Panickar: Sentosa actually means tranquility in Malay and its long sheltered beach offers a real oasis in the city. A tropical resort island and nature resort combined, it has two golf courses and numerous luxury hotels. Visitors should try one of Singapore’s many spas – the new Aramsa Spa is Singapore’s first garden spa within a national park. It offers detox, tonic energy and immunology programmes, as well as healthy dining. It’s a great place to unwind.

I'm on a tight budget. Will I find anywhere affordable to stay?

Richard Hume: Hong Kong does have some of the best hotels in the world but there’s budget accommodation too. There’s plenty of B&Bs and, just as elsewhere in Asia, you get great value for money. You can get a single room in Mongkok, a good area for shopping,
for £26.

Divya Panickar: Hotel rates are very reasonable in Singapore and even a five-star hotel would cost you only about £78 per room per night. Or you could stay in one of the budget hotels. For example, the Hotel 81 group has more than 20 properties in Singapore that offer a totally unique experience – many of them are located in restored buildings in ethnic districts like Joo Chiatkatong, Geylang and Chinatown. Our boutique hotels also offer great value for money.

Is shopping still great value for money and what should I buy?

Richard Hume: Hong Kong is definitely still a shopper’s paradise and very good value for everything from Chinese handicrafts to the latest electronics, designer goods and handmade suits. You can make huge savings on UK prices – including a made to measure suit from about £124 – and the Christmas shopping is great value compared with cities like London and Paris.

Divya Panickar: The variety on offer is extensive and many new brands have been introduced over the last year. For example, Gap has just opened and Banana Republic will open shortly. There is interesting shopping in the ethnic pockets and Singapore is very good value for electronics, particularly digital cameras and laptops, and also for jewellery.

Will I like the food?

Richard Hume: If you don’t like Chinese food we have over 9,000 restaurants offering many different types of cuisine. There are lots of Cantonese specialists offering dim sum, but you can also get Italian,
Indian, Mexican, Middle Eastern… and pretty much anything else you fancy.

Divya Panickar: You will always be able to find something you want to eat because we have such a wide range of dining options ranging from local hawker centres selling satay, noodle dishes and tasty soups to trendy mid-range restaurants and upmarket fine dining. We recommend visitors be adventurous and try some of our great local specialities such as chili crab or chicken rice.

I've been before. Convince me to go again

Richard Hume: Come back and see some of the hidden gems such as the New Territories in northern Kowloon where you can visit old villages and see some of the ancient Chinese traditions. Around 70% of Hong Kong is classified as country park, and there are numerous outlying islands to visit.

Divya Panickar: Singapore is constantly changing –
if you visited Chinatown two years ago there will be plenty today that’s new. In the past year new entertainment venues including Ministry of Sound and Q Bar have opened, there are new restaurants at Clarke Quay and a number of new day spas. Sentosa is undergoing major redevelopment, we are building a new shopping centre which will have over one million square feet of retail space and a former power station will soon re-open as a major entertainment centre with 10 nightclubs.