General Information » Essential Info » Children

Hong Kong is a mixed bag for families travelling with children. On the plus side, local culture is very family-centric. When you visit Chinese restaurants for Dim Sum, for example, many tables will have the full family present. Local restaurants are also so noisy that you don’t have to worry about trying to keep your children quiet. As for facilities, you’ll probably get a high chair without any trouble, but that’s it. There are several western restaurants, such as Dan Ryan’s (p.354), that make more of an effort, providing crayons and balloons to help keep the children amused.

In terms of child-friendly places to go, Ocean Park(p.203) and Disneyland (p.203) are the two obvious choices. In warm weather there are also plenty of public swimming pools and beaches to visit.

On the down-side, Hong Kong is a sunny, sweaty place in summer so sun hats, sun cream, and regular reminders to drink water are the order of the day. You might also want to leave the stroller at home if you have babies or toddlers. The crowded streets are difficult to navigate, so a baby carrier is often a better option. Finally, busy areas like Mong Kok and Causeway Bay should be avoided on days when the air pollution levels are high.