Hong Kong

Notes

  • Huge city with a big population in a relative small surface area
  • Excellent public transport comprised of underground trains, buses, trams, taxis and ferries. You would be foolish to rent a car here – you have to figure the public transport and use it.
  • The Red line on the underground train was the most crowded during “rush hour”. But this is nothing like the Bombay locals. If you have traveled by the Bombay local, the HK underground is a going to feel very luxurious. But it is crowded when compared with some western European countries.
  • There are tall buildings and people everywhere!
  • Hong Kong has a bunch of places to shop on a budget. These street markets sell counterfeit stuff and are very much against you taking any pictures – so keep your camera in your bag. The street markets are also quite crowded and are known to have pick-pockets – so beware of that as well. Don’t ever pay what the vendor asks for. Expect a lot of haggling and bargaining. A good rule of thumb is to expect to pay less than 50% of what the vendor asked for. Before heading out, check with your hotel’s concierge for the most recent advice. This article sums up the street shopping scene very well – Hong Kong street shopping scene. Here’s another good guide that gives a good general overview – Lonely Planet Hong Kong shopping guide
  • Hong Kong is the birthplace of the Cantonese cuisine staple, Dim Sum. If you are not familiar with Dim Sum, this guide is excellent. Print out a copy and take it along

Itinerary

Day 1: Giant Buddha, Victoria Peak, Temple Street

  • Take S1 bus from Airport terminal to Tung Chung ($3.50). At Tung Chung, there is a bus terminal, cable car base station and MTR (subway) all in the same place. Right below the cable car base station terminal, there are lockers, where you can drop off carry-on sized bags ($40 for 3 hours) – insert bills / coins into the machine, choose a 4-digit password
  • 9:30-12:30 From Tung Chung take, take the Ngong Ping 360 cable car up to the Giant Buddha (Po Lin Monastery) $145? takes 25 minutes one way. From cable car stop, 40/45 minute walk to the Giant Buddha (small walk and 268 steps)
  • Apparently there is some dessert with the name like “taofuka” that is available only on Lantau Island. I did not try it. you should.
  • 12:30-1:30 Yellow Line MTR (subway) to Hong Kong
  • 3:00-3:30 Take taxi to Peak Tram Station
  • 3:30-6:30 Take the tram up to Victoria Peak. This is a MUST DO. The tram is extremely steep in some places – feels like a 60 degree angle roller coaster. When up on the peak, check out the “Wok” Peak Tower, take pictures of Hong Kong, do the Circle Walk (3 KM loop)
  • 6:30-7:30 Get down from the peak on the same tram, take taxi to Central MTR station
  • 7:30-8:00 Train to Temple Street – Take Red line to Yau Ma Tei – coming out the MTR station, take exit C (on to Nathan Road), find Temple Street and then start walking South.
  • 8:00-11:00 Temple Street Night Market – MUST SEE. Close to Temple Street is Jade Market – could also be done.

Day 2: Tram, Causeway Bay, Times Square, Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade

  • 9:00-10:00 Tram from Kennedy / Central to Causeway Bay – TRAM RIDE MUST DO because of historical significance.
  • 10:00-1:00 Lunch + Times Square – Big 13-floor mall – MUST SEE. If you get to Times Square by MTR – take Blue Line to Causeway Bay station – coming out of the MTR station, use exit A to come out right at Times Square.
  • 1:00-2:00 MTR to Mong Kok (Blue line Causeway Bay to Admiralty, change over to Red Line to Mong Kok). Coming out of the MTR station, take exit B1, B2, D, D2 or D3 and start walking South – Ladies Market, Electronics Market, Sports Market are on 3 parallel streets between Argyle Street and Dundas Street
  • 2:00-5:00 Ladies Market, Electronics Market, Sports Market
  • 5:00-5:30 Red Line MTR Mong Kok to Tsim Sha Tsui. Coming out the station, use exit L6. Walk to Clock Tower. Start walking along the promenade to Avenue of stars. A Symphony of Lights (Laser show) at 8:00 PM every night, Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade after dark is a MUST SEE – great views of Hong Kong buildings all lit up at night.

Day 3: Macau, Ferry from Kowloon to Hong Kong

  • 9:00-9:30 Taxi to Macau Ferry terminal
  • 9:30-10:30 Ferry to Macau – 1 hour (to either Taipa or Macau Peninsula). Most historical Portuguese sights are on Macau island. No need to use taxi in Macau if you have some time. From both the Macau and Taipa Ferry terminals, all casinos run free shuttles. Macau: Wynn, Casino Lisboa, MGM all close by. Taipa: Venetian (Biggest Casino in the world), City of Dreams. Some casinos have free shuttles between them (example MGM to City of Dreams)
  • 4:00-5:00 Ferry Macau to Kowloon
  • 5:30-6:00 Star Ferry Kowloon to Hong Kong – MUST DO to see great HK skyline

Things to see and do for next time

Hong Kong

Pictures taken with a Canon T3I with 18-55 and 55-250 kit lenses

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