They might call Paris the romantic 'city of lights', but wandering along the banks of Victoria Harbour, gazing at one of the world’s most famous city skylines, you have to wonder whether whoever coined that particular phrase had ever visited Hong Kong.

As the nightly 'Sound and Light Spectacular', the largest permanent laser and light show on earth, bathes the harbour in a sea of colour, it’s hard not to feel that the genteel glow of Paris doesn't even come close to the blaze of neon that sets the skyline of Hong Kong on fire.

The best place to wander with your significant other is the newly laid Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong’s answer to Hollywood Boulevard. Home to the handprints of some of Asia’s biggest film stars, it’s a popular destination for tourist trysts... even if you don’t have your photo taken mimicking the statue of karate-kick-poised Bruce Lee.

Kung fu 'mastahs' aside, the Avenue also deserves a place as one of the world’s most romantic strolls, a side of Hong Kong few visitors appreciate amongst the mall hopping and bargain hunting.

A romantic walk along the Avenue of Stars is a good way to end an evening for sure, but a romantic break in Hong Kong should start long before that; back through Tsim Sha Tsui district, down Nathan Road and inside the unobtrusive Burlington Arcade, to be exact.

A man of the cloth

For what’s a romantic dinner date without a set of new threads, and Hong Kong tailors are famous for being able to whip up a suit or shirt in a matter of hours. While touts along Nathan Road will try anything to get you into their shop, ignore them all and head straight for Sam’s Tailor, Hong Kong’s most famous man of the cloth.

With signed pictures and thank-you letters from his most famous clients — including Princess Di, Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela — adorning the walls, his tiny shop has become a compulsory stop for presidents and princes visiting Hong Kong. With suits starting at around R4000 it’s not the cheapest in town, but for perfectly tailored suits and shirts it’s certainly money well spent.

TRAVEL TIP
Hong Kong is famous for its cut-price electronics, but if you want the gadgets without the grief avoid the dealers on Nathan Road and head for the more reputable stores in the Golden Computer Arcade in Fan Shui, or the chain stores in Times Square Shopping Centre. Look out for the Hong Kong Tourism Board's black and gold QTS (Quality Tourism Services) logo which indicates retailers accredited by the tourism board in terms of quality of goods and services.
If that’s a bit pricey for your pocket, Hong Kong is awash with clothing shops offering everything from international labels to cut-price knock-offs. The Temple Street Market is a vibrant area of stalls, restaurant and street performers, where the persistent cry of “Hello Missy Sir! Handbag, copy watch?” makes it pretty clear that this is where you come to shop on a budget. The stalls are packed with clothing and trinkets of all descriptions, but as with markets everywhere, confident bargaining and feigning disinterest in that fake-Fendi will knock at least 30 percent off the asking price.

A walk on the quiet side

If all the neon and noise get a bit much, take a cruise across the harbour on the historic Star Ferry (a bargain at just R2) to Hong Kong Island and grab a taxi to Wan Chai district.

Hugging the hillside just above the last row of skyscrapers, and offering fantastic views of the city below, Bowen’s Walk winds its way through the forest and offers one of Hong Kong’s most delightful, and unexplored, spots. Known as Lover’s Rock by the locals, couples come from as far afield as Japan to pray at the rock’s small temple for a happy marriage. Mrs Chiu, who has looked after the temple for over 40 years, is on hand each day with incense, candles and paper lotus flowers to offer to the gods in exchange for a good love life.

Enjoy spectacular views of the city from the top of Victoria Peak.
As soon as the sun starts to lengthen the shadows from the city skyscrapers, head towards the pier in Central for a sunset cruise on the recently launched Aqua Luna. Built in the style of the traditional Chinese junks that have plied these waters for hundreds of years, the open-air top deck – cocktail and significant other at your side - is the perfect place to watch the sun slip behind the hills of Hong Kong Island.

Back on dry land, the Aqua Luna pier is also just a short taxi ride from the bottom of the Peak Tram station, your lift to the most romantic meal in town.

The famous Peak Tram (HK$30 return) runs from Central to the top of the peak every 10 minutes (more often in busy periods), offering one of the most memorable views on earth as it scales impossibly steep hills en route to the top.

At the summit, the revamped Peak Tower offers spectacular 270° views of Hong Kong Island and across to Kowloon. It's the perfect place to while away a few hours admiring the city and, as romantic spots go, it's certainly one of the best in the world. The awesome views, along with some of the best cuisine in the city, also make the Peak Tower a popular spot for dinner by candle- (and city-) light a deux.

And that's really one of the best ways to explore this exotic 'fragrant harbour'. While there might be more than 6-million people that call this collection of 260 islands their home, it's easy to walk the streets of exotic Hong Kong with your 'other half' and feel like the city is your own private playground.