Traversing eleven provinces of China, the Yangtze River divides China into northern and southern parts and traveling the length of the river is often the way most tourists see the country.  While travelers on a Yangtze River Cruise will see many interesting and culturally significant sights of Mainland China, Hong Kong, perhaps the country’s most diverse modern metropolis is not even accessible from this major inland waterway.  Therefore, if travelers really want to get a feel for the country, they should visit Hong Kong and travel through Mainland China.

There is a big difference between Hong Kong and Mainland China.  From a tourist's point of view, the difference can be fairly basic.  Hong Kong is a former British colony so it's much easier to get around in Hong Kong since street names and maps are in both English and Chinese.  Also, although the official language of Hong Kong is Chinese, English is widely spoken. The people of Hong Kong are free to express themselves socially and politically.  In addition, they have access to western culture and fashion and there are many kinds of restaurants serving international cuisines, such as Japanese, Thai, Greek, French, Vietnamese and Spanish. Hong Kong is a metropolitan city and a center of finance; its Hang Seng index in the stock exchange can affect the economic climate of the rest of the world. 

Chopsticks at a local eatery on Lantau Island, Hong Kong

However, Mainland China is completely different; if travelers want to see more traditional Chinese architecture, culture, history and food, then Mainland China would be a better choice because much more of the traditional Chinese culture has been preserved. People in Mainland China suffer from restrictions of speech and political views. Their social experience is primarily limited to traditional Chinese food and culture.  Mandarin is the official language of Mainland China although different towns and cities do have their own dialects.  While most westerners only know of Mainland China’s large cities, it is a big country and there are many forlorn villages; some still even live without electricity or a proper water supply. In fact, in some rural areas, there are people suffering from poverty, illiteracy and malnourishment.

The Hong Kong skyline at night from Kowloon

The fact that Hong Kong and China are part of the same country doesn't entitle people from Mainland China to be able to pack their bags and move to Hong Kong. They need to apply for a journey license that requires them to return to Mainland China at a certain time, usually after three months. Even if someone from Mainland China marries a Hong Kong citizen, they still have to travel back and forth every three months for seven years until they can get their Hong Kong identity card and move there permanently.

The differences between Hong Kong and Mainland China are significant but they are also part of what makes China a diverse and dynamic travel destination.  Visitors can experience Chinese history and culture that dates back thousands of years one day and visit a modern and vibrant city the next.  And after all, sometimes places that are vastly different are most exciting travel destinations.