Gazing out across a jungle of soaring concrete apartments, glass skyscrapers and lush green hills; Welcome to Hong Kong. This is a city that encapsulates everything I love about South East Asia; Cityscapes that grow vertical into the sky, where tradition and old ways collide with the fast paced high-tech and a history which evinces global struggles.
Hong Kong translates from Chinese as “Fragrant Harbour”, therefore exploring this gracious city by water is a must. The cityscapes and waterfronts stand proud around the frenetic Victoria Harbour. Just watching this impressive waterway is enough to redefine the term “Rush Hour”, as everything from people, raw goods, container ships and cruise ships navigate this stretch of water.
Keep your eyes peeled from the comfort of your your window seat, as your plane makes it approach into the Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok. If the planes are landing on the southwesterly runways, then ensure youre sitting on the left hand side of the plane for the best views across the city!
Once you’re ready to make your way into the city (its a 35km Journey), the high speed rail link, Airport Express, provides the quickest and most accessible way to reach central Hong Kong. For the full list of things to do in Hong Kong use my interactive Hong Kong map at the bottom of this page.
1. Victoria Harbour
My first recommendation on the list of things to do in Hong Kong is to head for the Star Ferry, which operates a boat service across Victoria Harbour between Central and Kowloon.
The Star Ferry service costs only 2.50HKG (about 30 cents USD). Not only provides a useful link between Kowloon and Central, but serves tourists with panoramic views of the city skyline from Victoria Harbour.
As you sail across the harbour, these iconic looking Ferry’s with their two storey decks intersect with busy commercial shipping, tug boats and traditional junks. Day or night this is a fantastic mode of transport. The only downside is the long walk from the Central Ferry Pier to get downtown, or the nearest metro station which is called Central.
2. Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade
After your ride on the Star Ferry to Kowloon, turn right off the pier towards the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade; which runs along Kowloon southern waters edge. The view from the promenade is certainly the most picturesque of Hong Kong’s skyline.
I recommend coming here around sunset to watch the growing yellow glow that occurs around sunset, as the golden sunlight reflects off the glass fronted skyscrapers. The Hong Kong skyline then transforms into a city of colourful neon lights and brightly flashing billboards as day turns to night. You’ll want to stick around for the Light Show called “Symphony of Light“.
3. The Peak Tram
When you come to Hong Kong, this is the place to come for the most picturesque view;
The Peak is Hong Kong Island’s highest point. From the summit you get the best panoramic views across the Harbour, haze permitting though. It’s a great place to take in the bigger picture of Hong Kong and it’s diverse geography.
To get up the Peak you will need to take a ride on the Peak Tram. As it’s name suggests, arrive for the tram during peak hours and you can expect to join the back of a long line of tourists.
It’s a very popular tourist destination and on everyone’s list of things to do in Hong Kong. And so the Peak caters for this mass-market appeal. An over-glorified shopping mall, complete with escalators entwines itself amongst the summit, but does at least provide an accessible viewing area where everyone gets their perfect city view.
4. Hong Kong Light Show
Symphony of Lights; is the nightly Hong Kong light show which uses the city skyline as a spectacularly choreographed sequence of flashing lights and lasers. The show begins at 8pm and viewed from the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, where the light show is accompanied with a fairly uninspiring soundtrack (it sounds like it was all composed on an electronic keyboard).
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5. Graham Street Market
As you walk along Graham Street, a Fish market bustles under towering office buildings. This is the Hong Kong I love; where street food and exotic Asian produce intermixes with suit wearing office workers.
6. Hong Kong at Night
Hong Kong is home to a plethora of high-end luxury hotels and panoramic rooftop bars.
Aqua Bar, 25 floors up in Kowloon offers a glimpse into these lofty spaces with stunning skyline views as you sip from your cocktail glass.
The night time neon glow of Hong Kong is a sight to digest with colourful signage that layers vertically above your head. From Kowloon to Sheung Wan or Admiralty, examples of these boards can be discovered across the whole of Hong Kong Island.
Horse Racing is a national sport in Hong Kong. So a nocturnal visit to spectate at the Happy Valley racecourse is a top feature of the nighttime list of things to do in Hong Kong.
7. Tea at the Peninsula Hotel
What could be more quintessentially English than afternoon tea with an assortment of finger sandwiches, cakes and scones?
Classical music resonates throughout the lobby of the Peninsula Hotel as afternoon tea is served. Arrive early to get yourself at the front of the queue or you could find yourself with a long wait for a sitting. Or another tactic is to arrive close to closing time when the queue is noticeably shorter or non-existent on a weekday!
Tea is served from 2pm -6pm with a Smart Casual dress code.
Map of Things to do in Hong Kong
For a more detailed guide to Hong Kong checkout this Hong Kong guide.
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