Travel Guides & Tips in this video
- Tip 1Approach Hong Kong with open expectations; the city may be calmer than you fear, but heartbreakingly alive in moments. (0:00)
- Tip 2Cross-border train from Guangzhou South to Hong Kong: book ahead, verify immigration rules, and budget for two seats. (1:46)
- Tip 3Choose a well-reviewed Airbnb in a central area; two nights can be affordable if you balance location and comfort. (4:32)
- Tip 4Plan the Peak day: take in nature, then explore the Temple Street market; prepare for queues but enjoy the street energy. (11:29)
- Tip 5Ferry crossing is cost-effective; Octopus card may be less convenient across the border—have cash or a working Pay option. (12:40)
- Tip 6Victoria Peak viewpoints reward the climb; consider walking down for peace and cityscapes rather than the tram queue. (18:15)
- Tip 7Return to Hong Kong mainland; contrast island’s order with mainland’s density; end with Temple Street Market vibes. (26:12)
- Tip 8End of Hong Kong chapter; reflections on aging, travel privilege, and upcoming Taipei plans. (29:50)
Hong Kong... This can’t be China?! follows a travel couple from Guangzhou to Hong Kong by high-speed train, foregrounding a city that defies standard expectations. The editors frame the journey around contrasts: the claustrophobic myth of crowded streets versus serene harbours, the brisk efficiency of cross-border trains against the granular texture of daily life in both sides of the border, and the couple’s own feelings about aging, travel, and gratitude. Emma’s Albanian passport moment at immigration becomes a didactic pivot about privilege, bureaucracy, and luck, while the night skyline, the Symphony of Lights, and the riverfront reveal a city that glows under a different light when you slow down. Through the day’s meticulous details—Airbnb selection, price concerns, and the tension between hustle and rest—the video becomes a meditation on how travel reshapes perception. The pair’s discoveries are intimate: the island’s quiet perspectives alongside the mainland’s kinetic chaos, the tactile drama of bamboo scaffolding against glass towers, and the sensory pleasures of street food that anchor memory more than glossy guides. The moments of genuine connection—navigating Octopus vs Apple Pay, queuing for an egg tart, sharing a roasted goose with chopsticks—offer a grounded counterpoint to glossy capitals. The narrative voice, anchored by the traveler duo’s candid humor and self-awareness, keeps the tone warm even when the day’s pace feels overwhelming. The video also leans into practical wisdom: the value of pre-planning and flexibility, the cost dynamics of two nights in a central area, and the simple joy of walking down Victoria Peak when the tram queue looms. In a closing arc, the couple reflects on youth and opportunity, acknowledging the labor of long days and the beauty of small, peaceful corners amid urban wonder. By the end, Hong Kong is reframed not as a singular stereotype of crowds, but as a city of layered experiences—nature plus neon, calm viewpoints plus busy markets, and a train ride that stitches together two very different human geographies. Emma and the other traveler name-check future plans (Taipei) and acknowledge how travel conversations become memory itself, a series of sensory vignettes and earned gratitude that will inform future chapters in their journey as 2 Tickets One Adventure.
More about the current video:
A Guangzhou-to-Hong Kong journey by high-speed train reveals a city that surprises expectations, combining serene harbor views with dense urban energy, and turning practical transit moments into intimate reflections on aging and travel.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: Is this the Hong Kong you imagined?
- A: Not exactly—the video shows a city of contrasts: calm harbour moments and crowded streets that feel different from stereotypes, plus practical travel quirks that shape the day.
- Q: How much is the ferry crossing?
- A: Two tickets cost about 1.28, with Octopus or card options; Alipay may not work the same, so carrying cash or a nearby ATM helps.
- Q: Can I use Alipay in Hong Kong like in China?
- A: Not always—Alipay Pay can differ in Hong Kong, so be prepared with cash or alternative payments and plan for potential card verification.