Hong Kong, a former British Colony, is an autonomous territory in southeastern China. Hong Kong consists of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the new territories and several other islands. It is a vibrant, densely populated city that is also a major port, financial hub and it boasts the most skyscrapers of any other city in the world. I have visited twice and love it. There is a ton to see and do, but mostly, it is just great to walk through the city and absorb the vibe.
Epic Things to do in Hong Kong
* Walk Hong Kong Island and Kowloon
* See the south side of Hong Kong Island
* Explore the many markets
* Watch the daily light show (8pm) – the symphony of lights
* Have a drink on the Lan Kwai Fong strip
If you have time:
• Visit Lantau Island
• Take a day trip
• Go to the top of Victoria Peak to see the view
Explore the streets of Hong Kong – To really experience the energy and vibrancy of the city you just need to get out and start walking! There is something to see and experience in every area of the city! You can see the central mid-level escalators, which is a walkway system that also happens to be the longest covered escalator in the world. There are amazing skyscrapers and old, historic buildings. There are huge shopping malls with loads of high-end shops and many street markets where you can bargain for a variety of things. If you are a movie buff, you might enjoy the Avenue of the Stars and the Bruce Lee statue. On Victoria Harbor you can take a ride on the Ferris wheel or cross to Kowloon on the Star Ferry. There really is no end to the opportunities to see and explore in this city.
South Side – On my second trip, I discovered another part of Hong Kong Island – the south side! I had no idea that this side was so peaceful and beautiful. There are even beaches here on the China Sea. Repulse Bay is a great spot to relax for a bit, enjoy a meal along the beach boardwalk and soak up the incredible views of the mountains and China Sea. If you are traveling with children, Oceans Park is also on this side and worth exploring. I took the Big Bus Green Line tour out to and through the south side and that was a great, enjoyable way to learn more and see the sights.
Markets – There are many noisy, crazy, crowded street markets to walk through in Hong Kong and they are a lot of fun. There is the famous Temple Street Night Market, the Ladies’ Market, the Flower Market, the Jade Market, the Electronics Market, the Goldfish Market and more! These markets are where you have the opportunity to meet and embrace the culture and practice your bargaining skills! No trip to Hong Kong would be complete without exploring a market or two or three…
Hong Kong Symphony of Lights, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, is the world’s largest permanent light and sound show. Victoria Harbor is lit up and the lights and music are coordinated from 45 major buildings on both sides. We enjoyed watching it from the Kowloon side, between the Star Ferry terminal and the Opera House.
Lan Kwai Fong is Hong Kong’s party central and is a hilly, compact area in central Hong Kong. It is crowded with all kinds of people every night. You can sit outside and watch the show! There is always something or someone to watch!
Lantau Island – This island is the home to Hong Kong Disney, The Tian Tan Buddha and the Tai O Fishing Village but my favorite thing was the cable car, Ngong Ping 360. Intended to improve tourism to the area and help people reach the Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery, the cable car travels 5.7 kilometers between Tung Chung Town Centre and Ngong Ping Village, across Lantau Island. The ride takes about 25 minutes and the panoramic views are stunning. You can also pay extra to ride in a cable car with a glass bottom, called a crystal cabin. As a major tourist attraction, the lines can be very long, so it is best to arrive early and purchase your ticket online, in advance of your trip.
Once you reach the end of the line – Ngong Ping Village, you can wonder through all the tourist shops and restaurants or proceed on to the Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery.
Day trips – there are many day trips you can take from Hong Kong. Cheung Chau, Sai Kung, Shenzhen, Mai Po Marshes, Shui Hau Beach, Zhuhai, Guangzhou, Shunde and Macau. Be aware that you must have a China visa for some of these trips – a visa that must be obtained prior to your visit. At this point, I have only had the opportunity to visit Macau and Shenzhen. (Both of which have separate blogs). Macau is two worlds – the old, historic city and the opulent casinos that mimic Los Vegas. And it’s only a one-hour ferry ride away. Shenzhen is a new, modern city and is also just a one-hour ferry ride away.
Victoria Peak - An amazing place to get a great view of the skyline of Hong Kong and Victoria Harbor. But also packed with tourists. We took the Peak Tram to the top. The first day (a weekend day) we attempted to do so, the line was 2 hours long, so we tried another day (during the week) and had a mere 20-minute wait. The tram itself is an iconic 1920s tram that is so steep, that the buildings you pass, look like they are leaning. Once you reach the top, there is an outside viewing area but if you want to go all the way to the rooftop, you must pay for an additional ticket. If you don’t have your heart set on riding the tram, you can also just drive up or take a taxi (of which there are usually several right outside the ticket office to the tram). You can also purchase tickets and board the Big Bus tours in this area.
Public Transportation is great in the city. From the train into the city from the airport, to the subways, buses, and ferries – it is the way to get around the city and its clean, easy, convenient and safe. We found the taxi drivers difficult. No one spoke English and even when we had the address written out in Cantonese, they were unhappy with us and more often than not, they simply refused to take us anywhere. If you are staying at a hotel, and want to use a taxi service, make sure to make arrangements ahead of time with the hotel staff. Generally, they will order you a taxi to arrive at the time you requested and then walk with you to the taxi and chat with the driver in Cantonese.
Overall – Hong Kong is an amazing place. It does not have China prices so expect and know that it is an expensive city. In fact, in March of 2019, Business Insider ranked Singapore, Hong Kong and Paris as the world’s most expensive cities. The official languages are Cantonese and English so you will find many people who speak English well and it is written on most of the signs, so it makes it much easier to get around. When I visited in 2016, I said that more people spoke English in Hong Kong than they did in Miami, but it was a different story on my return trip in 2019, when I found many more Cantonese speaking people than English speaking people. On a good note though – unlike China, Hong Kong does not block social media or google. They also have their own currency – the Hong Kong dollar. It is subtropical climate so the summer months can be sweltering and there is the possibility of monsoons, so fall through early spring is probably the best time of year to plan your visit. Pack some good walking shoes and take advantage of the inexpensive but wonderful food massages to help you log even more miles. The food is great (Red Pepper is our favorite restaurant here in Central Hong Kong) and there is so much to see, I think you will find this is an epic trip!
