Think Hong Kong is all about skyscrapers, noodles and the occasional junk in the harbour? Think again.

Yes, there are more skyscrapers here than in any other city in the world (about 8,000, counting buildings with more than 14 floors), and yes, there are a couple of traditional junks still plying the waters of Victoria Harbour (although visitors nowadays are more likely to see speedboats, yachts and cruise liners), but Hong Kong is all this and more.

Prepare to be surprised!

1. The city is, in fact, much more than a city. 40% of Hong Kong's total area is given over to country parks and nature reserves. And that's a lot of land. Countless hiking trails, including the 100-kilometre (62-mile) MacLehose Trail, snake their way over the mountains and islands.

Winter, with its cooler weather and clear skies, is perfect hiking season, and visitors may be lucky enough to encounter one of the area's wilder residents on the trail – a monkey, a wild boar or even a Chinese porcupine. Leave your heels at the Hotel, grab a hat and some water, and get out there.
 
2. Fancy a bit more nature spotting? Hong Kong's waters are also home to a population of pink dolphins, otherwise known as Sousa chinensis. No one really knows why they're pink (most Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins are white), but visitors who join a Hong Kong Dolphin Watch eco-cruise to take a peek at Ringo, Ropey and friends might find out – rumour has it that they're pink because they're blushing.
 
3. Enjoy messing about in boats? Did you know that there are actually 260 islands in the waters of Hong Kong, some inhabited, but most not? Take to the water in a private junk or yacht complete with crew and catering, easily arranged through the Concierge.

Drop anchor in a secluded bay and enjoy a dip in the clear blue waters that most people never knew could be found in Hong Kong. And if that's not enough, you can always try your hand at wakeboarding, jet-skiing or even surfing.
 
4. Looking for a suit that really suits you? It may not be Savile Row, but Hong Kong has an army of tailors who will measure, adjust, measure and adjust again to make the perfect suit tailored to your every contour. Lord's Tailor will even send a tailor to your Hotel suite (armed with fabric samples and pin cushion) to take measurements in preparation of the first fitting.

Or how about bespoke shoes, belts, bags, shirts and even jewellery? All are available in Hong Kong, and all cost a fraction of what they would back home.
 
5. Hungry? Hong Kong is home to about 11,000 restaurants – approximately one per every 630 residents. In fact, there are so many eateries that visitors could dine at a different restaurant every night for the next 30 years. Among all these options, however, only one has three Michelin stars – Lung King Heen, located at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong.
 
6. Ever tried silk-stocking tea or tea-coffee? Guests can pop into a local cha chaan teng, a '50s style café, and try these national drinks for themselves (Lan Fong Yuen, just a quick stroll from the Hotel, is highly recommended).

Silk-stocking tea is not actually brewed through a lady's undergarment, but through a long filter that resembles a stocking – hence the name. It's strong enough to make your eyes water, so a healthy dose of sugar is recommended. And tea-coffee? Well, that's just what it sounds like – tea mixed with coffee.
 
7. Fancy a flutter? Horse racing, introduced to Hong Kong by the British, is now very much a local institution. During the racing season, head to Happy Valley Racecourse on a Wednesday night for fast and furious betting action – and a busy track-side beer garden.

Betters who go home empty-handed can at least be happy in the knowledge that they've done a good deed – the Hong Kong Jockey Club donates an average of more than HKD 1 billion each year to charity.
 
8. Ever held a party on an open-top antique tram? Thought not. Hong Kong's much-loved trams, or "ding-dings," as they are known locally, have been trundling along the streets of Hong Kong Island since 1904, and carry 230,000 passengers every day.

Visitors can hire their own antique tram, bring aboard bubbly and nibbles, and watch the city roll by as they travel through some of the city's most exciting neighbourhoods – passing market stalls, neon lights and even the Happy Valley Racecourse. Truly a trip back in time.
 
9. There are shopping malls galore in Hong Kong, but those in the know jump in a cab and head across the island to Horizon Plaza.

A big industrial building it may be, but treasures abound inside. Half-priced Christian Louboutins and Jimmy Choos, steals from Paul Smith, Armani, Max Mara, Lane Crawford and Chloé, and antique Chinese furniture can be found inside the hallowed walls. And just around the corner in another industrial building, yet another secret can be found – Hong Kong's one and only winery, The 8th Estate.
 
10. Just 20 minutes by car from the Hotel, guests can feel the sand between their toes at one of Hong Kong's many beaches. Jump in a cab and head to Deep Water Bay for a quick beach fix (there are also a couple of small restaurants for casual beach-side dining), or head a little further afield to Shek O or Big Wave Bay, both on the southeast corner of Hong Kong Island.

Or try the cream of the crop – Tai Long Wan in the New Territories – for white sand and crystal-clear water (really!). Okay, it's not the Caribbean, but watching the sun set over the South China Sea is not a bad way to end the kind of Hong Kong day that you never knew existed.