Travel Postcard: 48 hours in cinematic Hong Kong

By James Pomfret

HONG KONG (Reuters Life!) - Often dubbed "Hollywood East", Hong Kong's dynamic blend of old and new continues to captivate local and Hollywood film-makers, giving the densely packed city a rich cinematic history.

Reuters correspondents with local knowledge take visitors on a cinematic tour of classic locales from the films of Ang Lee, Wong Kar-wai, William Holden, Jackie Chan and even Batman:

FRIDAY

7 p.m. - Take a stroll along one of the world's great harbor walks. Located at the tip of the Kowloon peninsula in Tsim Sha Tsui, the "Avenue of Stars" has views of Hong Kong island's skyscrapers backed by green mountains. It's Hong Kong's answer to Hollywood's Walk of Fame with the avenue paying tribute to household names like Jackie Chan, Chow Yun-fat and Jet Li. The futuristic skyline is the city's top film landmark.

9 p.m. - Dinner at the Mido Cafe on Temple Street in the gritty Yau Ma Tei district. A 1960's time bubble, it is one of the oldest, best preserved "Cha Chan Teng" tea diners. Retro furnishings, slow-whirling ceiling fans and old mosaic tiles make it a favorite setting for local films. Try an egg-tart or a cup of iced yin-yeung; a popular blend of tea and coffee.

11 p.m. - A stone's throw from Temple Street lies Broadway Cinematheque arthouse cinema and shop, home to a trove of rare Asian and Hong Kong films, including early Kung-fu classics. The nearby open-air market stalls mix of fortune tellers, brothels and shrieking Cantonese Opera street performers featured in the 1993 Hong Kong film "C'est La Vie, Ma Cheri".

SATURDAY

9 a.m. - Take the Peak tram funicular railway up to Hong Kong Island's Victoria Peak. "The Peak" was the setting for scenes in the Oscar-winning 1955 Hollywood film "Love is a Many-Splendored thing" starring William Holden and Jennifer Jones and about a love affair between an American reporter and an Eurasian doctor.