The Real China

NIGHT OUT

The Perfect Evening in Hong Kong

Local knowledge is essential in a neon jungle like Hong Kong. Restaurateur, architect and Hong Kong resident Frank Sun recommends starting with a drink at the historic Mandarin Oriental hotel, followed by a walk to Sheung Wan--a "very different side of old Hong Kong and one that is rapidly disappearing." Satisfy your appetite at the Tung Po seafood restaurant in North Point, above the market at 99 Java Road, a 20-minute tram ride away. Once you're stuffed, Sun says, a cab is the quickest way to the funkiest bar in town, Feather Boa. The antiques store turned bar is always crowded, he says, but the delicious drinks and friendly atmosphere make it worth elbowing your way in.

GADGETS

Instant Translation

Whipping out an unwieldy pocket dictionary midconversation is often embarrassing, but in a place as linguistically complex as China, an English-Chinese dictionary can be indispensable. One solution is PlecoDict, a program for Palm devices and Pocket PCs that includes up to five dictionaries. You can find words by searching in English or in Chinese--by romanized spelling or character. The software also includes a flash-card program, so you can learn new words while you're stuck in Beijing traffic.

Petite Photographer

Capturing daily life in China is fun at a moment when history is being made almost every day, but carrying around two cameras--for stills and video--can be frustrating. The tiny Sanyo Xacti CG65 takes 6-megapixel photos and can produce Web-ready video too.

With reporting by With Reporting by Jo Baker