A few of the things that you can do and see on your next trip to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong. Where do I even begin? Hong Kong is one of my favourite cities. It is one of the most diverse places I’ve ever been. It’s one of those cities where you can wander the streets for hours and always find something new or interesting around the next corner. On the island and on the mainland there are many Western pubs and restaurants to choose from. But don’t forget that Hong Kong is one of the most expensive cities in the world. Make sure to get your octopus card at the airport. You can load money onto the card and get onto any bus, ferry or subway. The card does not include the tram but I found no need to use the tram as you could reach any destination via bus.
Day 1
As I have mentioned in a previous post, Asia is known for temples. So I decided to visit one temple during my trip to Hong Kong. I went to Chi Lin Nunnery. This was hands down the most authentic Buddhist temple that I have ever been to. You are not allowed to film or take photographs inside, which is understandable as monks are busy doing their thing. This temple is free to visit and I would highly recommend popping in for a quick visit to escape the madness of the city. It's hard to comprehend that such a serene place can exist in such a densely populated city. The temple is on the mainland and once you are finished at the temple head down the steps and over to Nan Lian Garden. If you are wanting to make your way to the mainland or back to the island I would highly recommend taking the ferry at least once. It’s also super cheap at 2.5 HK dollar during week days and 3.4 HK dollar on weekends or public holidays.
It might be a bit out of the way to get to the ferry on the mainland but it is so worth it. It's super cheap and you get to see both parts of Hong Kong from the water. When you arrive at the island a lot of restaurants and shops are within walking distance from the pier.
Location: Chi Lin Nunnery Location: Star Ferry
So we jumped on the next ferry and headed over to the island. Once we arrived at the island we did some exploring and had lunch at Tim Ho Wan. Tim Ho Wan has been on the Michelin Guide for numerous years and it is known as one of the cheapest Michelin Star Restaurants. There are six locations in Hong Kong. If you only want to try a few dishes I would suggest trying Char Siu Bao (Steamed Pork Buns) and Sio Mai (Pork & Shrimp Dumpling). After lunch I wanted to see the Monster Mansion. This building is a popular Instagram spot. This monster building of apartments is said to house about 7000 individuals. After getting that perfect shot we headed to Victoria Peak for sunset. There are various ways to get to the peak, one of the most popular being the tram. Due to the fact that the tram is very popular among tourists you often have to buy your ticket in advance or wait in a line for a very long time. So I opted for the bus. Once you get to Victoria Peak, do not be fooled and think that you have to go to the viewing deck. There is an amazing view just around the corner. Walk past the entrance to the deck, keep going left until you see a few steps. Then follow the path and you will see many spots that you can stop at with amazing views of the city.
Since I was staying on the mainland I thought that I would make the most of the night and go to one of Hong Kong’s night markets. There are quite a few marketing to choose from but I first went to the Temple Street Night Market. This market has a variety of clothes, antiques and souvenirs. If you walk on the outside of the stalls there are a lot of small restaurants to choose from.
Location: Temple Street Night Market Location: Tim Ho Wan Location: Victoria Peak
Day 2
Hong Kong has so many places where one can stop and take the perfect photo. So I made it my mission to visit some of the top rated photo spots. First on the list, the blue circles. These circles are in a more residential area of Hong Kong and the apartment is called Lok Wah South Estate. Second on the list was the colourful basketball court which can be found at Choi Hung Estate. There are lots of tourists at this spot so try and go as early as possible. The third and final stop of the photo mission was at Ping Shek Estate. Unfortunately the day that we went they were busy painting so we were not allowed into the courtyard to get that perfect shot but it's worth a visit.
I really wanted to go to the beach while I was in Hong Kong because I had been land locked for months. I went to Clear Water Bay. It's a beautiful beach with a designated swimming area. I can see why this is a popular spot during summer. It takes about an hour to get there with the bus but if you're desperate to see the ocean or if you’re wanting to have a chilled beach day then its definitely worth the trek.
That night I headed back to the ferry pier on the mainland to watch the Symphony of Lights. It is a light on the island that you can watch from the waters edge on the mainland. The show starts every day at 08:00 p.m. The show is free and it lasts about 10 minutes.
After the light show it was off to another night market, this time the Ladies’ Market. This market is massive and it has a wide variety of clothes, shoes, bags and souvenirs just to name a few. The market is open everyday between 12:00 noon -11:00 p.m.
Location: Lok Wah South Estate Location: Monster Mansion
Day 3 & 4
If you have more time in Hong Kong or if you would like to space your activities out a bit you can also add Lantau Island & Tian Tan Buddha (big Buddha) to your list. This giant bronze Buddha was completed in 1993. In order to get to the Buddha you can take a cable car or you can hike to the top The hike takes approximately 2 hours to reach the peak.The cable car takes about 25 minutes to reach the top and it is 5.7 km long. The cable car is 235 HK dollar or you can get the package deal of 290 HK dollar which will also give you entrance into the Ngong Ping Village. Entrance into the Buddha is free.
Another attraction that you can add if you have the time is Hong Kong Disneyland. You will need a full day in order to fully experience the park. Depending on the time of year that you decide to visit, tickets can range anywhere from 600 HK dollar.
I hope you enjoyed my guide quick guide to Hong Kong. Head over to my Instagram or click the link below to watch our video of a day in Hong Kong. Leave any questions or suggestions in the comments below.
Day 1:
Star Ferry (2.5 HK dollar)
Victoria Peak (free)
Monster Mansion (free entry)
Tim Ho Wan (Michelin Guide Restaurant)
Chi Lin Nunnery (free entry)
Temple street night market (free)
Day 2:
Blue Circles (free entry)
Basket ball court (free entry)
Square building (free)
Clear Water Bay (free)
Light show (free)
Ladies’ Market
Day 3 & 4:
Big Buddha and cable car (235 HK dollar)
Disneyland Hong Kong (600 HK dollar)
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