While Hong Kong has always lived and breathed commerce, it can be easy to forget that most of Hong Kong has nothing to do with business or skyscrapers: three-quarters of it is actually rural land. You will get a taste of both worlds as you explore Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories.

Hong Kong Island is where the action is, from high finance to nightlife to luxury shopping. It has few historical landmarks and no more than a handful of cultural sights, but it pulses with extraordinary dynamism. In general, the commercial and shopping districts are on the island's north coast, while the towns on the rest of the island tend to be more residential.

Kowloon boasts many of the territory's best hotels as well as a mind-boggling range of shopping options; and no visit to Hong Kong is complete without taking on the commercial chaos of Nathan Road. The southernmost part of Kowloon is called Tsim Sha Tsui, where such landmarks as the Star Ferry Pier and the elegant Peninsula Hotel stand proudly.

In the New Territories you'll find many of the area's lushest parks and nature walks. You'll also be able to sneak glimpses of traditional rural life in the restored walled villages and ancestral clan halls scattered throughout the area. Perhaps the best way to see some of the smaller villages is to go on one of the Hong Kong Tourist Association's organized tours that loop through the region.