London (Heathrow) - Hong Kong (China Southern) - May 2024 - Various Dates & Airlines

It's overrun by mainland China tourist folks as many westerners have gone elsewhere. Vibrancy of Hong Kong pre-1997 is not the same as now.

Lots have changed since post COVID. International tourist numbers have dropped significantly to the point the government had to give out free international flight tickets, free consumption vouchers, festival events, etc to get HK spending. They've got cashflow issues right now.

The majority of local retail stores are closing early around 8pm/9pm. Global international brand stores will close later around 10pm. It's a very different atmosphere. Lots of big brand stores and businesses have reduced their store offices numbers, reduced operating hours or complete shutdown operations in preparation for leaving the HK market.

Most HK locals are now doing bigger shopping & spending in Shenzhen just over the China border as it's significantly cheaper than HK which tells you the cost of living in HK is still high even if the local economy is not doing very well. Working folks are going home early and staying in not spending on disposable income on extravagant stuff. You now have more 2/3 dishes with rice meals food outlets & discount £shops than ever before. Hotel prices have dropped compared to tourist heights. It was far cheaper for me to buy jeans cheaper in the UK than HK high street stores. Let's just say the local economy is not doing very well.

Just don't go there sprouting your mouth about local politics or even wearing political slogans as you might pull aside unless you're White. They've not turfed anyone or foreigners out of the country yet but if it did, it'll reach international headline news which I don't think would want right now. Remember the recent riots that happened in HK not long ago?

By all means visit HK for holiday now but you've missed HK pre-1997 atmosphere under British governance which was a whole lot more vibrant than it is now. It's still under the 1 country, 2 systems but it's quickly eroding away until the CCP takes full control.

I went back just after the airport borders opened up after COVID19 where it was a very stark contrast before my last visit. The old HK is gone forever.

Well it wasn't really a city before and the opium wars were a bit more than just trying to supply drugs.

I flew China southern to New Zealand and would happily fly again their planes on the LHR-Guanzhou-Auckland are all new 787 dream liners (I suspect the same for the HK route but you can check easily enough). It was clean, tidy and the food/drinks were ok/good. I am 6ft and leg room is ok, I would happily fly again (edited)

Especially if you like to sample delicious foods!

They're just example dates, you can get 10 day trips with under 20 hours flight duration each way.

Example:

(edited)

SP is nothing compared to HK. Pretty boring, nice for a day or two on a stopover.