Exciting excursions in Hong Kong 在香港可以做的事情

Traditional Chinese Junk Boat Crossing Victoria Harbour

First and foremost, Hong Kong is a very welcoming city which has a lot of things to offer. It's simply more than just a city! From food, shopping, outdoor, colonial buildings and many more cultural heritage sightseeing places. I've been travelling many times to Hong Kong and thought to share some insights in this blog post. The city itself is a true happening cultural sightseeing destination from Monday till Sunday. The greatest fun to begin with is a quick visit to the peak and a ride on a traditional Chinese junk boat. I've used to book a four days Hong Kong pass which included most of the sightseeing spots of Hong Kong. Such Hong Kong travel pass allows to save about half of the expenses. Equally important is to check the weather forecast before visiting Hong Kong. It would be a pity to discover the hidden treasure of Hong Kong skyline while covered by clouds or fog. Although there are far more worthy things to do in Hong Kong, these alternatives are a ''must'' visit that won't disappoint you.

Ride on a Traditional Chinese Junk Boat

Taking a Hong Kong junk boat ride will give you the second best skyline view, but this view is just an after thought compared to the junk boat ride itself. Aqua Luna features a traditional junk boat ride through Victoria Harbour that also coincides with the cities famous light show, the Symphony of Lights. The sight of this venerable vessel with its flashy red sails set against the backdrop of an ultra modern skyline is certainly striking and it has become a cherished symbol of the city. 

Two Hong Kong yacht traders, Yu Lik-hang and his aunt Cheng Ching-wah, have acquired Duk Ling from the previous owners and to great effort and expense, have managed to save the vessel.

Duk Ling is licensed to carry up to 36 passengers plus crew.

Daily scheduled cruises are available. The cruise takes 45 minutes to sail around Victoria Harbor.

Boarding locations at Tsim Sha Tsui Pier 1 and Central Pier 9. Duk Ling is also available for private charter.

The Traditional Hong Kong Snake Soup

In the Causeway Bay section of Hong Kong you will find Se Wong Yee, the tiniest eatery, with the menu out front completely written in Chinese, except for the significant bold lettering stating the sale of Snake Soup, an Asian delicacy. There were two options on the menu; just the plain old Snake Soup for 50 HKD ($6.50 USD) or the Snake Meal which includes the of duck’s liver-sausage.

Ride in a Cable Car 

The cable car experience can be truly adventurous and breath taking! Before actually climbing the stairs to Big Buddha you have to get to its location on Lantau Island and there aren’t many options. You can take a bus, make a strenuous hike uphill or ride the 3.5 mile Npong Ping Cable Car that suspends you high above the ground. Not like the typical street cable cars in San Francisco.

Lantau Island Street Food

On the Western side of Lantau Island lies the quaint fishing village of Tai O where the homes are built on stilts and the markets sell a plethora of dried fish street food. Though there are dozens of fishy dishes to choose from I tried a meal of BBQ squid jerky, for just 10 HKD ($1.39 USD).

The Great Buddha of Lantau Island

Even though there are 268 stairs to reach Hong Kong’s Tian Tan, it is one of the top Things to do in Hong Kong. Tian Tan is one of the largest sitting Buddha’s in the world and even though at 34 metres (112 Ft) feet tall. The Big Buddha was perfectly visible from the ground level, it is hard to tell its true massiveness without getting up close and personal.

The Cheapest Michelin Starred Restaurant in the World

Tim Ho Wan is a hole-in-the-wall dim sum restaurant in Hong Kong that gained recognition after receiving a coveted Michelin star and therefore being known as one of the cheapest Michelin starred restaurants in the world. And it is cheap. Really cheap. Though they are well known for their pork buns, all their food is quite tasty.

Ocean Park Hong Kong

Opened in 1977, Ocean Park is an amusement park, home to thrill rides including four roller coasters, eight themed amusement zones and animals including sharks, bottlenose dolphins, koalas, giant pandas, penguins, walruses, sea lions and more. Perfect for kids and adults, Ocean Park is an umissable part of Hong Kong's heritage. The first pair of Giant Pandas named An An (安安) and Jia Jia (佳佳), were gifted to Ocean Park by China in 1999, followed by Le Le (樂樂) and Ying Ying (盈盈) in 2007. A regular ticket cost HKD 480, I have had the luck to get a free entry using my 4 days Hong Kong pass. The Ocean Park is located at 180 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen.

Kowloon Walled City Park

Historical not due to it's age but rather due to it's history in connection to the Walled City of Hong Kong. A ''must'' visit to visitors that wish to get a feeling on how the Walled City used to be. Some more details on how life was all about at the Walled City can be read on my earlier blog post.

The Kowloon Walled City had been a military stronghold since 15th century due to its coastal location and was a centre of vice and crime until 1987. Under the agreement between the Hong Kong Government and the PRC, the Kowloon Walled City was demolished in the 1990s while the indigenous buildings and features were preserved for incorporation in the new park.

Happy Valley Racecourse  

Visitors that love happening places won't be disappointed! Every Wednesday from September to July, thousands of Hong Kong residents flood the stands of the Happy Valley Racecourse. Horse racing is the only legal form of gambling in Hong Kong, making Happy Valley one of the few places where you are allowed to gamble in the city. And many of Hong Kong's citizens take full advantage. Even if you're not into betting, you should visit this local institution simply for the electric atmosphere, not to mention the surrounding city skyline, which sparkles once the sun goes down.

Much like the locals, recent travelers agreed the Happy Valley Racecourse is must-visit if you're in Hong Kong. Visitors reveled in the attraction's fun atmosphere, cheap admission and to most, surprisingly good food and drink options. Some travelers were quick to note that unlike other racetracks, specifically in the states, attire is very casual, so there's no need to pack any big hats or bow ties for your night at the track.

Standing room at the race track level costs just HK$10 (about $1.30), and tickets for the seated area start at HK$20 (about $2.60). You can purchase tickets the day of at the track or up to 10 days in advance from several outlets throughout the city. Only visitors 18 years or older are permitted inside the track. Located on Hong Kong Island, you can walk to the track from the MTR's Causeway Bay Station or simply take a taxi from either one of the Star Ferry piers on Hong Kong Island. The races usually last from 7 to 11 p.m.

 

Hong Kong Museum of History

The Hong Kong Museum of History was established in July 1975 when the City Museum and Art Gallery was split into the Hong Kong Museum of History and Hong Kong Museum of Art. But some of the Museum's collections date back to the City Museum and Art Gallery founded in 1962 at the City Hall. In 1983, the Museum was moved to the temporary accommodation in Kowloon Park. It was moved to its present premises on Chatham Road South, Tsim Sha Tsui in 1998.

The address is at 100 Chatham Road South, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong (next to the Hong Kong Science Museum)

Yuen Po Street Bird Garden

The ideal place for birds enthusiasts. Yuen Po Street Bird Garden is located in Mong Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong, directly west of Mong Kok Stadium. While it’s unlikely that you’ll be purchasing a few Chinese thrushes as mementos of your Hong Kong trip, the garden is a pleasant place to witness this age-old Chinese hobby in action; where elderly men feed and preen their feathered friends in exchange for sweet songs.

The Avenue of Stars

The avenue is modeled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and located along the Victoria Harbour waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. It honors celebrities of the Hong Kong film industry. The most impressive sight is the monument of Bruce Lee.