Meet Tracie May, the glamorous former Angeleno and dear friend of David’s Guide. She relocated to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam more than five years ago amid the global border closures sparked by the Covid-19 pandemic, and enchanted by Southeast Asia’s vibrant energy, she never looked back. Since then, Tracie has cemented her status as a premier expat IG influencer in Southeast Asia across travel, hospitality, F&B, and, naturally, fashion, spotlighting the region’s most luxurious escapes.
Now, in her own words, sharing her personal content from her trip, she exclusively showcases exactly what not to miss, where to stay, and what to savor during five nights and six days in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China, culminating in a journey that’s nothing short of fabulous!
Hi guys! I’m Tracie, and I just got back from the most out-of-bounds, SENSATIONAL trip to Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China! Here’s all the details of my trip – what I did, where I stayed, what I ate and drank, and my best insider tips to make traveling to China (or anywhere in Asia, really) as seamless as possible.
First things first: I booked ALL my ground transportation through TravelThru. They’re a tech company that handles airport transfers and chauffeur services in over 150+ countries worldwide, and their site is super user-friendly for someone not very tech savvy like me. Think of them as your personal transportation concierge, offering a one-on-one, and totally personalized experience. Because I use them exclusively, I even have my own customer service agent on WhatsApp who follows up with the driver’s name and license plate number via both WhatsApp and email. If there’s a delay or any hiccup what-so-ever during your trip, they’re ready to fix it 24/7. Trust me, when you’re off to a country where English isn’t widely spoken (like China!), having that level of support is a total game-changer, letting me relax and simply focus on enjoying my trip.
My 1st hotel stay in HK was at the fabulous AKI – Hong Kong MGallery. It is hands-down the perfect spot to kick back and recharge, yet is still smack in the heart of Hong Kong’s hottest district: Wan Chai. It’s only an eight-minute stroll to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, and easy access to all the fabulous shopping in Causeway Bay.
I stayed in their Deluxe Tatami Room, apparently the only one of its kind in Hong Kong, and super rare outside of Japan! They’ve kept that Japanese-style sleeping concept but swapped traditional tatami mats for an ultra-comfortable king-sized bed. At just over 22 square meters (that’s about 237 square feet), you also get awesome 270-degree city views. I loved the subtle Japanese design touches, especially the sleek wooden shoji panels that can close off the open-plan twin vanities from the bedroom. As a bonus, the room comes with a 43-inch smart TV, luxe MALIN+GOETZ toiletries, and even hers-and-his Japanese kimonos to lounge, in, so you can enjoy modern comforts with traditional flair, a total dream for any traveler looking for both style and serenity.
Before grabbing dinner with an old friend, I enjoyed some drinks upstairs at Uncle Ming’s, a cocktail lounge with utterly magnificent views at sunset, and one of the largest selections of international whiskey in the city! I opted for a Whiskey Sour, a Parfait Amour, and a Burbon tasting flight. Just perfection!
Next, we dined at 10 – Shanghai, a sensational Chinese restaurant in Causeway Bay, spotlighting Huaiyang cuisine, one of the four classic culinary traditions of China. Every dish wowed me, from the whole, succulent Mudcrab with Brown Bean Sauce to my all-time Dim Sum favorite, steamed Xiao Long Bao. The evening was made even more special by celebrating my dear friend Percy’s birthday and catching up with him over such an incredible feast!
After a fabulous two-night stay at the AKI, I packed up and headed for the Chinese border, only to soon discover that it would take two tries to get into China! Even though there’s a new visa waiver for American passport holders traveling in China for six days or less, my driver initially took me to one of the three Shenzhen border crossings where on-site visas aren’t available (Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint). If you plan to cross there, be sure you already have your visa in your passport. Needless to say, I had to backtrack and head to Huanggang Port instead, and once I arrived, it was super easy, I received my visa in just 20 minutes and finally made it through to Shenzhen.
Upon arriving to the city, I checked into JEN Shenzhen Qianhai by Shangri-La, a two-year-old, super-modern 5-star hotel in the Nanshan District. Imagine all the familiar comforts of home, taken up a notch with cutting-edge smart tech (yes, there are literally ROBOTS zooming around the property, making deliveries to guests!). It was pretty mind-blowing. With IPTV, eco-friendly drinking water dispensers, and built-in wireless chargers spread across their 369 stylish yet minimalist rooms, it was a hotel experience not to be missed.
My trip to Shenzhen was all about teaming up with my good friend and client Patty Yang, the Founder and Director of NotJustAgency, a top-tier global creative, digital marketing, and influencer agency. After meeting with her fantastic Gen-Z team, Patty organized a Live on their social channels for me to share my own personal “Tracie May” take on PR strategies, celebrity seeding, and event marketing. It was such a blast watching everyone’s reactions online, in real time, and seeing how excited they were about the conversation!
My first meal in Shenzhen was with Patty and a few of her NotJustAgency team members at a fantastic Cantonese style restaurant named Yubei Xian Tea House, in the city’s South District. We stuffed our faces to the brim before walking it off in Nantou Ancient Town, and then we nightcapped at a really cool bar in Nantou called Vinyl House.
China is famous for its all-day spas, where you check in, get all the treatments done, eat, drink, and of course, chillax. Experiencing one was at the top of my Shenzhen bucket list, so Patty and her business partner treated me to one of the very best in town, and let me tell you, it was BEYOND. Visually stunning, ultra-modern, and completely outrageous! If you ever find yourself in Shenzhen, you absolutely have to visit Cheersum Spa in Shenzhen Bay. Trust me, you won’t regret it!
The next morning, I said my goodbyes and headed back to Hong Kong for my final day and night before flying home. I checked into The Fleming, a chic boutique hotel in Wan Chai, thoughtfully designed, and inspired by Hong Kong’s iconic cross-harbor ferries. Every room category comes with either a king-size or twin beds, featuring top-notch Sealy mattresses, luxurious linens, separate work desks, and bathrooms stocked with their own custom-designed amenities. It was the perfect spot to wrap up my adventure in style!
Being the hardcore foodie that I am, and knowing Hong Kong is globally renowned for having some of the world’s best restaurants, I wanted to go all-out on my final night in the city. So, I arranged a multi-course tasting menu with cocktail pairings at VEA Hong Kong, and let me tell you: there are truly no words to describe how incredible it was. From the divine flavor combinations of each dish to the stunning plating and the carefully curated cocktails, it was hands-down the best meal I’ve ever had in my life. Kudos to Chef Vicky and his extraordinary culinary team. I will NEVER forget it!
The next morning, TravelThru arranged for my beautiful vehicle to pick me up, and I was off to the airport to fly home to my fur babies!
Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who made my trip to incredibly special!! Words can’t express my gratitude. I’ll for sure be BACK!
