In last month’s blog post we delved into the value of multi-country tours and perhaps no two locations can be better compared and explored than mainland China and Hong Kong. With an extensive history of continuous reinvention, the densely-populated city of Hong Kong provides an incredible landscape for those looking to experience ‘Doing Business in China’ through more than just one lens. The city is a major financial centre thanks to its exceptional free market practices and the most expensive city in the world to live, according to consultancy firm Mercer.

Last month we met with a senior representative from Huawei at Hong Kong’s fifth tallest skyscraper, The Center, for what would be a fascinating interaction on branding and the “perceived and real” in Hong Kong and China. The business and cultural angle was similarly explored in depth by InvestHK and Heidrick & Struggles, leaving students with an insight into differences between the East and West, as well as fresh takes on what perhaps may be misconstrued when thoughts align to China, Hong Kong and doing business in the region.

CBRE and PwC were another two multinationals visited by Legacy Ventures this year in Hong Kong. Here MBAs learned more about commercial property developments, the Maritime Silk Road and Hong Kong’s standing as a leading financial hub in Asia.

Other visits throughout 2016 have seen MBAs sample luxury life at the watch-making facility of Hong Kong’s only local tourbillon brand, Memorigin and touring the Happy Valley Racecourse of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, a horse-racing operator and Hong Kong’s largest community benefactor. Entrepreneurship is at the core of Hong Kong’s ethos and visits to Bonham Strand, Garage Society, MWI, Snapask and Hack Horizon further displayed the growing culture of technology and innovation within the city.

Given its rich history and diverse culture, Hong Kong continues to impress, shock and educate as one of Asia’s most dynamic places to do business.