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The Chek Lap Kok Hong Kong International Airport is one of the
busiest airports in the world. Yet since it is relatively new,
it does not feel crowded - except when you need to line up to
go through immigration (unless you are a Hong Kong resident).
Since the airport is located on an island (Lantau Island) away
from the main parts of Hong Kong, it generally takes an hour or
an hour and a half to get to or fro.
see airport transportaion for more info
 There
are shops in the departure level where you check in and above
the shops there are restaurants.
Once you have gone through immigrations into the restricted area,
there are more shops and restaurants. Actually there are more
shops there than in the check-in area, varying from herbalist
shops where you can buy ginseng and other expensive items to take
back as a gift, to bookstores to get a novel for your long flight.
(Left: shops in the restricted departure area.)
 The
restaurants in the restricted departure area are arranged in a
food-court style and there is plenty of seating. In the arrival
level after you have come out of immigrations and customs, there
are a few restaurants, including a coffee shop, but seating in
the restaurants may not be easy to find especially during meal
times. The coffee shop offers free internet terminals but you
need to put down a deposit for the wireless mouse. Wifi seems
quite weak in the airport, but I have not done extensive testing.
(Above: food court in the restricted departure area.)
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If
you have a long layover and want to find a place to nap, outside
the restricted area is not the place to go. For one thing, it
is patrolled by airport staff and no sleeping is allowed (unless
there is a major storm stranding tons of people there). You should
stay in the restricted area to catch your shuteye. After all there
is plenty of seating, and there are actually some padded recliners
for you to totally stretch out. They might be a bit difficult
to find though since there are not that many, especially unoccupied.
