Cathay Pacific and the Hong Kong Tourism Board have created an app, in conjunction with McCann Erickson and XS2Theworld, that is touted as 'a world class app for a world class city'.

Whether you want to hang out in a funky bar, go for some retail therapy or book a room, the "DiscoverHongKong.AR" (Discover Hong Kong with Augmented Reality) app does all of these in one place, says XS2Theworld, a Dutch mobile marketing and mobile application building specialist.

The app has two functions - to showcase the beauty and variety of Hong Kong and to make sure visitors can navigate their way through the city easily, finding the best sights, spots, museums, bars and restaurants.

I decide to download the app on to my iPhone and test it to see if all the above holds true.

The navigation is very smooth. The app opens with a beautiful photo of Hong Kong's mesmerising skyline, then moves immediately to a slide show of what Hong Kong has to offer - from its National Geopark to the Peak, Disneyland, Dragon Boat Festival and mouth-watering food to highlight the city as Asia's culinary capital.

The "Explore" button takes me to a screen that offers numerous options - from the city's attractions to over 7,000 shops/restaurants, food districts and the great outdoors, to name just a few.

The "Must See" section is most interesting, rendering a list of attractions that includes 1881 Heritage, Flower Markets and Giant Buddha and Poh Lin Monastery.

Full story:

www.webintravel.com/news/discovering-hong-kong-the-virtual-way-_1870