New York vs. Hong Kong

[hkskyline]

This isn't meant to be a City vs. City. I don't like to think of one city as representations of another when I travel. I like to absorb what the local environment is like, and although many things tend to be similar in our globalized society these days, it's more exciting to think they are not so. I don't want travel to become so mundane when we get even more connected and similar in the future.

I will focus on several aspects of urban life. This is not a complete list. I hope you will appreciate my take on the goods and bads of both cities.

Skyline
Stop arguing over who has a better skyline. Both look great. I really wanted to find a good vantage point for New York, and hopped over to Jersey on a hot summer's day to get it :

NY1.



NY2.



Now .. if anyone wants to look at that and tries to compare directly with Hong Kong .. good luck. I love both skylines. Each is unique on its own. The best part with the Jersey vantage point is the fact that it was deserted. Had the weather been a bit cooler, I would've really enjoyed sitting there looking at Manhattan for hours without being disturbed. That I won't get in Hong Kong.

As I take this shot, there are probably at least 10-20 people within shouting distance doing the same thing.

HK1.



There should be more than 20 in this shot. Feels like a Where's Waldo exercise ...

HK2.



My desire for tranquility in a big city is not so easily met. I actually got it in New York quite easily, probably because I was living in the outskirts in Connecticut, whereas in Hong Kong I'm quite in the middle of the city.

Tranquility

Tranquility in New York came from looking at the skyline from Jersey, or even Roosevelt Island. In Hong Kong, I had to explore the natural side to get away from the hectic urban lifestyle.

HK3. Ngong Ping Cable Car



HK4. A reservoir in Kowloon with a zillion steps that people don't bother to use



HK5. Chi Lin Nunnery



HK6. The outlying islands



I tried to look for other spots around New York for tranquility, and for the most part they were successful. The crowds were not as enormous and I could comfortably make the walk from Central Park to Battery Park without slamming into someone else.

Some of my successes include :

NY3. Staten Island



NY4. Bryant Park - absolutely gorgeous spot in the heart of Midtown .. and I can't believe I couldn't find a picture.

NY5. Governors Island



NY6. Coney Island ... somewhat ...



Infrastructure

To be fair, New York had a lot of stuff long before everyone else had. Taking the subway was not a pleasant experience at all, so I usually opt for the slower bus instead. But I loved the Roosevelt Island Tramway!

NY7.



NY8. I thought Star Ferry was cheap at about USD 0.25 a trip, but the Staten Island Ferry is free!



Maintaining an extensive array of infrastructure that was not built to today's expectations is inherently difficult and costly.

HK7. I wish New York had more of these buses so I could snap pictures from the top of the front deck.



Lively Streets

HK8. Hong Kong has probably the most intensely-busy streets in the world. For the tourist, it's quite an amazing experience. As a local, I'm getting a bit sick of fighting amongst crowds for every single thing. Luckily not everywhere is as busy.



NY9. The only comparable place in New York is probably Times Square, where the small sidewalks have to accomodate all the picture-snapping tourists + a picture-snapping local.



Urban Layout

NY10. New York spreads out over a huge area, and the grid layout makes travel very easy. You can't possibly get lost in Midtown Manhattan at least with the numbered streets and avenues. I'm quite surprised how quickly the density drops though across the river.



HK9. Hong Kong is a far more concentrated city, hence we don't tend to travel far distances at all. An hour-commute is quite a distance in local standards!



Ugliness

Both cities have their share of ugliness, although some of the areas I saw in New York were far scarier. Crime is much lower in Hong Kong.

The poor people in both cities will get the worst, obviously.

HK10.



HK11.



HK12. Some of Hong Kong's older buildings are far scarier, probably due to lack of maintenance coupled with tropical humidity.



NY11.



NY12.



I didn't dare take pictures at the public housing sites though. These photos a bit toned down.

Culture

NY13. New York is miles ahead. Period. I loved visiting some of the very grand museums, such as the Natural History Museum, MOMA, and then there is the Transit Museum in Brooklyn that was simply amazing.



I wish we had that in Hong Kong.

Street Markets

NY14. I came across a series of street festivals on the Avenue of Americas during the summer. The food was expensive but good though.



HK13. Hong Kong has some amazing street markets, selling all sorts of stuff from flowers to food.



HK14.



Neon
And both cities have enough of neon as well!

HK15.



NY15.



Thoughts
I had a very memorable experience in New York, and I never regretted for one second to move there. I tried my best to cover as much as I could during my stay. Obviously I couldn't get to everything, but I returned to Hong Kong with a big set of photos that I'm very proud of and with a lot of memories that will be with me for the rest of my life. I recommend anyone trying to make a city vs. city argument to try living in both cities. Then you'll see how unfruitful such a comparison becomes.

[Skybean]

I'm always impressed with the ornate building detail and grand boulevards in New York. It's just not possible in HK with the non-existent street grid and lost historical buildings. Since this is the case, HK should strive to improve on modern building design. Currently, I think building design (aesthetically) can definitely improve greatly. There's some very high quality buildings going up in New York, even residential buildings, while HK is not really making significant progress in this area. Huge glass curtain wall buildings like the Bank of America Tower and New York Times Tower look absolutely terrific.

Even at a smaller scale, New York is still building such buildings.

Some buildings by New Jersey architect, Richard Meier:


Why not incorporate more designs like Highcliff? Who cares about aesthetics right? Profit. Profit. Profit. When there's no more space to build on Hong Kong Island, it becomes harder and harder to make significant improvements to the built environment. I think it's just frustrating when there's a redevelopment and HK gets a typical tower block. It's just another lost opportunity.


I guess if there's some consolation for Hong Kong, it's that HK has the better Chinese food!

Oh, and to me, Hong Kong is also much cleaner (street wise) and it seems like the infrastructure has been much better maintained (roads, subway).

Some areas of improvement for both cities, and I certainly hope that we'll see two much stronger cities in the future.

[cornish pasty]

Hong Kong has better food, infrastructure, street life, beautiful surroundings, is cleaner, safer, and (for me) better climate, but New York has nicer parks, better culture, better planning, more space, less pollution, more snow and is more multicultural.

The capital of the West and the capital of the East are equal

[popcorn69]

I prefer HK , i love the crowded plaza

[spicytimothy]

Culture, urban greenery, and certain particular architectures NYC all the way.
Everything else Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is a MUCH, MUCH more affordable city, even in "city proper". If you compare Manhattan to Hong Kong Island, as a middle-class resident I can get much better public infrastructure, food, shopping than NYC. This and this alone is enough for me to place Hong Kong above NYC.

O yah and racism/crime. There's no place in Hong Kong I can't go to, even Shum Shui Po or whatever, but in NYC, as you attest to yourself, forget about it. The summer I was there I went all over Manhanttan except Harlem. I was there once and I was forced. Any place in Hong Kong you can think of that you honestly are scared to go to?

Anyways, compare or compete, let's just drop it. Both are great cities, but in the Hong Kong forum, Hong Kong rules.

[gladisimo]

Culture, if taken in the traditional sense of the word, NYC wins, but to me, culture has a highly debatable definition. I believe all sorts of cities display their own culture, and while Hong Kong does not exhibit the traditional "high" culture, imo who is to say what is culture and what is not?

As hkskyline specified in the titular post, I don't believe there's a competition nor a clear winner, in terms of many aspects of the cities. I try to learn to appreciate cultures of both places, though personally, perhaps having lived in the states for so long, I do get sick of the typical American mentality and culture that surrounds my everyday life (though this is in no way directed at NYC specifically).

Comparing HK to NYC is apples and oranges in so many different aspects. Both Hong Kong and NYC are unique in their own ways (though being an HKer, HK holds a place much closer to my heart )

[Blackraven]

For culture and diversity, New York hands down.

NY tends to have more leeway indeed.

However, I'd still prefer Hong Kong as..............I don't need a visa to enter (coming from Philippines which is 1 hour flight away).

Another reason is because HK has up to date video arcade games (especially those music/rhythm games) and with all these internet connections and stuff. Granted some areas still allow smoking (unfortunately) but other than that, HK is a haven for video arcade gaming. It's like, if you can't go to Japan, then HK is your best bet.

Also, rail transportation in HK is obviously more effective and more wide-spread (the entire country has rail links for heavens sake).

And probably last would be that, I can go to any point or location in Hong Kong without the risk of getting shot or stabbed upon by any criminal element

Oh and HK has the WORLD'S BEST PAY TV SERVICE PROVIDER:

NOW BROADBAND TV

I thank Mr. Richard Li for that

[Manila-X]

Originally Posted by Blackraven

For culture and diversity, New York hands down.

NY tends to have more leeway indeed.

However, I'd still prefer Hong Kong as..............I don't need a visa to enter (coming from Philippines which is 1 hour flight away).

Another reason is because HK has up to date video arcade games (especially those music/rhythm games) and with all these internet connections and stuff. Granted some areas still allow smoking (unfortunately) but other than that, HK is a haven for video arcade gaming. It's like, if you can't go to Japan, then HK is your best bet.

Also, rail transportation in HK is obviously more effective and more wide-spread (the entire country has rail links for heavens sake).

And probably last would be that, I can go to any point or location in Hong Kong without the risk of getting shot or stabbed upon by any criminal element

Oh and HK has the WORLD'S BEST PAY TV SERVICE PROVIDER:

NOW BROADBAND TV

I thank Mr. Richard Li for that

Recently, the tv gaming scene in HK is not as vibrant as it used to be. KOF is still one of the most popular fighting games here but SNK hasn't made any new versions.

[nicholasliha]

can't wait to visit new york next wednesday when i'll finally get to see how different it is from hk (which i've visited twice, most recently in jan 08)

[hkskyline]

Originally Posted by nicholasliha

can't wait to visit new york next wednesday when i'll finally get to see how different it is from hk (which i've visited twice, most recently in jan 08)

Bon voyage. How long will you stay for?

[EricIsHim]

I've got to agree with much of what hkskyline has said.

Hong Kong and New York are different, they aren't the same city. Each has
its own culture and characteristic. Each one is a unique city and the regional
financial hub. New York is the Big Apple of the America; and Hong Kong is the
Pearl of Asia.

Culturally, New York is always the big melting pot of the world. That's
history. That's what USA is. HK is primarily Chinese, but our history has
opened us up to rest of the world. We all know HK is where East meets
West. IMO, HKer in general is more international than NY.

One thing I have found is you never learn anything outside the US in any NY
local main stream media, maybe except the NY Times. You don't hear and
see any small, funny, or good news story other than American. Whenever
the main stream local media reports non-American related news, it's always
the bad thing.

When I was in HK last month and was watching the TVB morning news on
TVB Jade one day, all it had was American presidential election, another
school shooting story in one of the Central state, some other US local news
the American economic/credit crisis, the NYSE etc etc for a good 15
minutes. I was like... "Why am I watching all the stories about the US rather
than HK's, China's, Taiwan's or anywhere else? It's like I am in the US more
than in HK." Occasionally, I keep hearing stories about the stupidest thing
that happened in a little town in the US on RTHK 1 or 2. HK is small, but we
know the world is big, and we want to know more about it.

The other thing I really appreciate about HK is how the concrete jungle
intergrates with the real one. I was riding the bus in Manhattan one day from
Midtown to Downtown. I was hoping for a quite eye-pleasing ride to clear my
mind. I sat down, looked out the windows, and all I saw was the busy
city life: automobiles, people, and buildings. It just didn't seem to give me a
good break which I was hoping for, otherwise, I would have had taken the
subway. I knew I want to see the nature. Then I started to think about the
bus rides in HK always lead to greenery, mountain and/or water. I started to
feel that the mini-nature we see everyday on the ride home can actually
start to calm our busy day down. This is something you just can't get in NY.

From a HKer point of view, I just have to say HK fits my life better.
It is a better place to live I think.
But I am glad I have spent some part of my life with NY, and found out how
much I love about HK, and want to make it a better place for everyone.

HK from the Peak - Concrete meets Nature


NY from the top of Empire State Building - A plain of concrete


HK Skyline from Kowloon


Manhattan Skyline from New Jersey

[Manila-X]

Originally Posted by EricIsHim

I've got to agree with much of what hkskyline has said.

Hong Kong and New York are different, they aren't the same city. Each has
its own culture and characteristic. Each one is a unique city and the regional
financial hub. New York is the Big Apple of the America; and Hong Kong is the
Pearl of Asia.

Culturally, New York is always the big melting pot of the world. That's
history. That's what USA is. HK is primarily Chinese, but our history has
opened us up to rest of the world. We all know HK is where East meets
West. IMO, HKer in general is more international than NY.

One thing I have found is you never learn anything outside the US in any NY
local main stream media, maybe except the NY Times. You don't hear and
see any small, funny, or good news story other than American. Whenever
the main stream local media reports non-American related news, it's always
the bad thing.

When I was in HK last month and was watching the TVB morning news on
TVB Jade one day, all it had was American presidential election, another
school shooting story in one of the Central state, some other US local news
the American economic/credit crisis, the NYSE etc etc for a good 15
minutes. I was like... "Why am I watching all the stories about the US rather
than HK's, China's, Taiwan's or anywhere else? It's like I am in the US more
than in HK." Occasionally, I keep hearing stories about the stupidest thing
that happened in a little town in the US on RTHK 1 or 2. HK is small, but we
know the world is big, and we want to know more about it.

The other thing I really appreciate about HK is how the concrete jungle
intergrates with the real one. I was riding the bus in Manhattan one day from
Midtown to Downtown. I was hoping for a quite eye-pleasing ride to clear my
mind. I sat down, looked out the windows, and all I saw was the busy
city life: automobiles, people, and buildings. It just didn't seem to give me a
good break which I was hoping for, otherwise, I would have had taken the
subway. I knew I want to see the nature. Then I started to think about the
bus rides in HK always lead to greenery, mountain and/or water. I started to
feel that the mini-nature we see everyday on the ride home can actually
start to calm our busy day down. This is something you just can't get in NY.

From a HKer point of view, I just have to say HK fits my life better.
It is a better place to live I think.
But I am glad I have spent some part of my life with NY, and found out how
much I love about HK, and want to make it a better place for everyone.

HK from the Peak - Concrete meets Nature
=]

HK is predominantly Chinese but the city is diverse. There a large expat population plus a large minority group especially from The Philippines and South Asia. Despite the Chinese majority, you can hear almost more than 15 different languages in a single day

[hkskyline]

The fact that HK is 97% Chinese is often mistaken as racially homogeneous, but the fact is the term Chinese includes locally-bred, overseas-bred, and even differentiated between mainlander and Taiwanese. Even among mainlanders, the Cantonese accents vary considerably between the north and the south, for example.

[_00_deathscar]

Originally Posted by hkskyline

The fact that HK is 97% Chinese is often mistaken as racially homogeneous, but the fact is the term Chinese includes locally-bred, overseas-bred, and even differentiated between mainlander and Taiwanese. Even among mainlanders, the Cantonese accents vary considerably between the north and the south, for example.

But surely they are still all the same race, hence racially homogeneous would be correct?

You would have a case for saying it is international as a result of upbringing or regional diversity, but technically speaking, it's still one race.

[Cunning Linguist]

I'm sorry but there is no way HK is more international than NY or London.

From Wiki:

New York --> "Today, 36% of the city's population is foreign-born" Add to the fact that America is culturally and ethnically diverse anyway and you get a truly international city.

Hong Kong --> "About 95% of Hong Kong's population is of Chinese descent"

London --> "White British (58.2%)"

I'm sure Toronto deserves a mention too.

Obviously basing such things on stats (from wiki of all places) is rather dubious but I think after being in all 3 (and going to an international school in HK) I can safely say HK is not as multicultural/diverse as the other cities mentioned.

[Manila-X]

Originally Posted by Cunning Linguist

I'm sorry but there is no way HK is more international than NY or London.

From Wiki:

New York --> "Today, 36% of the city's population is foreign-born" Add to the fact that America is culturally and ethnically diverse anyway and you get a truly international city.

Hong Kong --> "About 95% of Hong Kong's population is of Chinese descent"

London --> "White British (58.2%)"

I'm sure Toronto deserves a mention too.

Obviously basing such things on stats (from wiki of all places) is rather dubious but I think after being in all 3 (and going to an international school in HK) I can safely say HK is not as multicultural/diverse as the other cities mentioned.

Compared to NY and London its true that HK is not diversed. But compared with other Asian cities, HK shows great diversity. Even Chinese composed 95%, the population of ethnic minority groups is high.

[superchan7]

What's "international"? Does it mean keeping in touch with the world, or does it mean having more skin colors?

I agree with EricIsHim, keeping up with HK news presents a broader view of the current events of the world than using US news outlets. The US population is more concerned with domestic news, but the sheer size of the country is definitely a factor.

[hkskyline]

My hint is more subtle - diversity is not only looking at the racial divide, as people move around the world these days. There can be huge differences between people of Chinese race.

[_00_deathscar]

Aye, I agree with that.

I was just being a pedantic cunt - as it's still all one race, it would be considered racially homogeneous.

[EricIsHim]

SuperChan7 got my point. The "international" I referred to didn't stand for racially rich with different ethnicities living at the same place; but how we see the world compares to how NYers see the world. HK looks at the world more rounded. We read news from all over the world, not focused in just local and national level (UK in the past or China these days.) NYers' news focuses more locally and nationally inside the States. In Asia, Singapore is a far better example how different ethnicities have melted together in a city.

And how many different major races/ethnicities are there in China? I think there is like 54 or something. It was presented in the Olympic ceremony. There are numbers of each group live in HK as well. "Chinese" is just a general term, there are many cultures and ethnicities within the "Chinese" category. Why do Tibet, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolian become such a big political concern from time to time? It's because these Chinese have different cultures and way of living from the other Chinese. I guess the other way to put it is like saying the "American" generalizing all the different ethnicities that live in the USA.