Top 10 Things to Do in Hong Kong
1. The Peak
Talk about getting high in Hong Kong: The Peak not only has tremendous views out over the harbour and neighbouring islands but it’s also a gastronomic destination, a place of historical interest, probably the coolest place in town as well as being the location for Madame Tussaud’s. The futuristic-looking building is also used as base camp for nature ramblers and trekkers. The Sky Terrace, standing at 428 metres above sea level, is the highest viewing platform in Hong Kong and has stunning 360-degree panoramic views.
The view from the Peak will take your breath away… On a clear day, a simply stunning panorama can be viewed from the pinnacle of this landmark on Hong Kong Island. The Peak – Hong Kong's premier tourist spot, about 500-metres high (1,085 feet above sea level) – is an ideal place to spend some quality time with family and friends.
Enjoy a picnic on the Peak, where you will be serenaded by chirping birds and the gentle rustling of leaves. The vista is enhanced by nature trails under the canopy of trees and the colonial ambiance of Victoria Peak Garden.
2. Symphony of Lights
Hong Kong Symphony of Lights is the world's largest permanent light and sound show according to the Guinness World Records and includes 44 buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbour (and incidentally the light show setup cost 44 million HK dollars).
The show creates an all-round vision of coloured lights, laser beams and searchlights performing a stunning, unforgettable spectacle synchronised to music and narration.
Symphony of Lights Highlights
There are five main themes — Awakening, Energy, Heritage, Partnership and the finale, Celebration. To best view the show, take a harbour cruise or another good vantage point for this performance is next to Bruce Lee's statue at the Promenade's Avenue of Stars near the New World Centre.The 14-minute show is a must-see while in Hong Kong. 20:00 nightly, weather permitting.
3. Disneyland
The only Disneyland in the world built according to the rules of Feng Shui, the park consists of four themed lands similar to other Disneyland parks: Main Street, U.S.A., Fantasyland, Adventureland and Tomorrowland. Grizzly Trail, Mystic Point and Toy Story Land are all expected to open very soon, bringing the themes up to seven in number. The park features daily firework shows and has special events to celebrate Christmas, Chinese New Year and has regular parades and even a live musical.
Hong Kong Disneyland is based on the original Disneyland in California but is made more relevant for guests in the region. The resort is spread out over 310 acres (126 hectares) and includes a theme park with four ‘lands’ based on fantasy, space, adventure and Americana as well as two themed hotels.
Leave the outside world behind as you visit Mickey and Minnie Mouse in Fantasyland; drop in on Buzz Lightyear and Stitch in Tomorrowland; check out Donald Duck and Chip & Dale in Adventureland. Visit the many attractions in Main Street USA. Hong Kong Disneyland celebrates Halloween, Christmas and the Chinese New Year in style and features some of the best classic attractions & entertainment from other Disney parks around the world.
4. Giant Buddha
The world’s tallest outdoors seated bronze Buddha, the Tian Tan, is a sight to behold and is located near Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island. It was built to symbolise the harmonious relationship between man and nature, people and religion. A major centre of Buddhism in Hong Kong, the imposing image is also a popular tourist attraction. The image is 34 metres tall and weighs 250 metric tons and is so prominent that it can be seen from as far away as Macau on a clear day. The climb up the 268 steps to reach it is well worth it.
Opened to the public in 1970, Po Lin Monastery is the home of three big golden Buddha statues as well as a 34-metre high, 250-ton bronze Buddha statue called the Tian Tan Buddha.
It is the world's tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha and attracts around one million visitors a year. The statue is so big it can be seen from miles away.
5. Stanley Market and Murray House
This seven-days-a-week market attracts visitors by the droves and no wonder: It’s a veritable treasure trove and bargain-hunters from all over the world join in the fun of haggling with shopkeepers and stallholders. Bargain for brand-name clothing and accessories, or simply irresistible souvenirs, ornaments and other Oriental bric-a-brac in a riot of colours, scents and sights.
Stanley Market and Murray House rank high on the tourist trail with the former selling arts and crafts including paintings, furniture, curios and plenty of souvenirs. The market is made up of winding lanes stocking a mind-boggling assortment of gifts, clothes, ‘antiques’, watches and bric-a-bracs, making it a perfect place for tourists to explore before departing Hong Kong. There is also a smattering of restaurants woven into the market offering authentic Hong Kong delicacies plus a range of waterfront bars and restaurants close by on Stanley Main Street.
Also located on the waterfront is historic Murray House a restored colonial building dating back more than 160 years. It is now home to the Hong Kong Maritime Museum and a few eateries having been moved to this are in 1982 when it was dismantled from its original residence in Central and re-built in Stanley. Stanley Market and Murray House are situated in the town of Stanley on the South Eastern peninsula next to Chung Hom Kong and Repulse Bay.
Stanley is a momentous town in Hong Kong’s history as the place where British and Canadian troops made their last stand in 1941 prior to surrendering to Japanese troops in the Battle of Hong Kong.
6. Temple Street Night Market
Another busy market that will boggle the mind with its diversity. Temple Street Night Market ostensibly opens at 16:00 but it really gets going past dark, when it is a barrage of brightly lit stalls selling cheap goods with the emphasis on men’s accessories but also selling secondhand items such as radios and antiques as well as fascinating old newspapers. Half of the fun is to hunt down the side streets for hole-in-the-wall shops. The market is also a magnet for food lovers as it features many stalls and restaurants in which to have a hot pot.
Temple Street Night Market Highlights
Amusingly enough, you'll also find many fortune-tellers and herbalists and on the odd occasion some free open-air Cantonese opera. The market officially opens in the afternoon but most hawkers set up at about 18:00 and leave by midnight.The market is at its best from around 19:00 to 22:00 when it's a colourful and noisy spectacle.
7. Lan Kwai Fong & Soho
Lan Kwai Fong is an L-shaped, cobble-stoned lane surrounded by Central's cluster of skyscrapers. It takes up just a crowded two-block stretch but makes up for its lack of spread by exuding a lively and energetic feel. Revelers head here for the area’s world-famous collection of over 100 bars, clubs and restaurants and because of it handy location right next to the city’s business quarter which means that many of the drinkers are celebrating the end of a day at the office.
Lan Kwai Fong & Soho are two of Hong Kong’s most noted night-spots, buzzing with fashionable locals and trendy tourists seeking a cool place to hang out and enjoy a few drinks or a bite to eat once the sun goes down. Lan Kwai Fong is a famous cobble-stoned maze of restaurants, bars and nightclubs located in the heart of the Central Business District. Surrounded by the glass and steel of nearby skyscrapers this is one of Hong Kong’s loudest hangouts.
Sophisticated Soho offers a wide range of high-end international eateries catering to a discerning clientele seeking something a bit special. There are also plenty of chic bars which are usually packed with those who like to be seen. Soho starts just south of Hollywood Road and meanders along Elgin Street, Shelley Street and Staunton Street. An abundance of global cuisine will take your taste buds on a whirlwind journey across South America, India, Europe and Asia with culinary delights served from faraway places including Provence and New Orleans.
8. Jumbo Kingdom
A huge floating restaurant, Jumbo Kingdom has hosted royalty, movie stars and about 30 million other visitors. The ‘ship’ divides up into five culinary, themed restaurants and also sports a bronzeware exhibition and a wine garden. Jumbo Kingdom is quite a sight at night with its Classic Chinese design, brightly-lit decks reflected on the waters of Aberdeen Harbour. A meal here is an impressive experience.
A huge floating restaurant based in Aberdeen, the famous pier of Hong Kong Island, Jumbo Kingdom has hosted royalty, movie stars and about 30 million other visitors. Jumbo Kingdom has been established in October 1976, and is today world famous due to its magnificence and originality.
Millions of dollars have been spent in the design and construction of this culinary and entertainement floating empire.
9. Happy Valley Racecourse
The only legal form of gambling and the city’s recreational passion, Happy Valley Racecourse is immensely popular with the Honkongonese. Gambling on the horses is Pastime Number One here (and it's taken very seriously), with thousands of spectators flocking weekly to the impressive track, a green expanse with an electric atmosphere surrounded by high-rises. Atmospheric is certainly is, and night racing is particularly impressive with huge lighting arrangements and huge video screens. Established in 1846, the racecourse is an integral part of the city.
10. Hong Kong Wetland Park
Located at the northern part of Tin Shui Wai, New Territories, Wetland Park is a marvelous showcase of Mother Nature. The 61-hectare park has a 10,000sqm visitors’ centre and demonstrates the diversity of the Hong Kong's wetland ecosystem and highlights the need to conserve it. The Wetland Discovery Centre, located in the Wetland Reserve, provides visitors more hands-on experience on local wetlands and shows interesting fauna. It is home to a stunning array of wildlife including birds, dragonflies, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, butterflies and fish.
Hong Kong’s Wetland Park is a conservation area attracting visitors interested in discovering a greener side of the city-rich island. There are over 10,000 square metres of wetlands to explore and a 60 hectare reserve park with re-created habitats for wildlife including water fowl. Visitors to the park can spot birds, green turtles, fish, butterflies, mouse deer and a whole range of amphibians, reptiles and mammals. Animal watching is assisted with bird watch towers, hides and walkways across streams and mangroves. Interactive tools are on hand at the Discovery Centre which also includes themed exhibition galleries, a theatre and a swamp styled indoor play area.
The Wetland Park is a sprawling tourist attraction originally established as an ecological mitigation area for the wetlands that disappeared following city developments in Tin Shui Wai New Town. The facility provides tourists and residents with an opportunity to experience Hong Kong’s wetland ecosystem whilst also drawing attention to the importance of conservation. There are plenty of educational messages on display throughout the park in addition to a resource centre outlining the significance of the wetlands for preservation and biodiversity.
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