You are on business or stopping over on your way to Japan / Australia / New Zealand / Mainland China / Europe. You have one or two days in Hong Kong. What to do? Here is a short itinerary for those who want to get a feel for this exciting city.
Day 1:
Morning - Take the Peak Tram on Garden Road to Victoria Peak where you will find high rise apartment blocks along Mid-Level on your way up. Enjoy the view of the Victoria Harbour and the picturesque south side of Hong Kong Island (take the well sign-posted circular walk if you have the time). To get back to the city centre, take the Peak Tram back to Garden Road, or if you are particularly energetic, walk down Old Peak Road (shoes with good grip advised), past Canossa Hospital, onto Albany Road, then turn right onto Upper Albert Road where you will see Government House (where British Governors lived), then onto Garden Road via St John's Cathedral and eventually Queen's Road Central.
Lunch - Have a dim-sum lunch at City Hall Maxim's Palace in City Hall, Central. Matronly ladies push dim-sum carts around - a traditional way to sample this Cantonese delight. This is one of the many places where you will find office workers in Central get their hot lunch. So do get there before 12:00 or after 14:00 otherwise the queue could be very off putting.
Afternoon - Take a taxi to Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road - it's quite a small but characterful temple (15 minutes will do) - then walk along Hollywood Road to look at the myriad of antique and knit-knack shops - and eventually you will come to Tai Kuan: this used to be the Police Headquarters and now transformed into an arts and open-space. Spend time exploring the colonial Victorian jail or check out some contemporary art installations. Alternatively take a taxi to Hong Kong Park and spend time in the aviary to be in touch with nature.
Evening - if you are sticking around the area, check out Lan Kwai Fong (some not-so-hip haunts for ex-pats and party-goers) or walk towards Star Street to the relatively new French quarter (there are over 25,000 French citizens living here) and check out funky new watering holes and eateries.
Day 2:
Sunny weather
Hit the beach - hop into a taxi and get to Repulse Bay, walk along the promenade and grab a bite to eat along The Pulse. For a more secluded experience, go to South Bay (beyond Middle Bay and Repulse Bay) where you will find an idyllic little beach away from the noise and crowd of the city. There is one small cafe, changing room and lifeguard. Very safe but you might have to walk a bit to find a taxi or bus on Repulse Bay Road back to Central.
Visit one of the islands. Try Lamma Island (by ferry from the terminal in front of the International Finance Centre) for a bit of local village cum seafood fest, or Lantau Island to see: Giant Outdoor Buddha at Po Lin Temple, Ngong Ping 360 (new attraction re-creating Hong Kong's past), and one of many beautiful beaches such as Silver Mine Beach (popular with locals) or Cheung Sha (quieter, but taxis required).
Rainy weather or toxic smog
Go shopping (even if you don't like it) at one of the gleaming shopping complexes - such as International Finance Centre in Central or Time Square in Causeway Bay. A nice and comfortable way to observe the locals (and tourists). Also, the posh shops in Central are all interconnected by air conditioned foot-bridges. The best thing to do on a rainy day is to enjoy afternoon tea at one of the following establishments: Peninsula Hotel Lobby (frequented by Japanese and Chinese tourists), Clipper Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental (a de rigeur for the local lunching ladies), or Verandah at Repulse Bay Hotel (fewer tourists, laid back decor means you can actually enjoy the tea and read a good book). All have dress code and booking advised.
Dusk/Evening - A must-do is to cross the harbour on Star Ferry
(service between Central Piers and Tsim Sha Tsui) - if you time your
crossing around sunset, it could be a magical experience with shimmering
building lights reflected from the water. If you don't have vertigo, go
to Ozone
for a sunset cocktail (taxi or MTR to Kowloon Station, head to the Ritz
Carlton Hotel through the Elements shopping mall, get to the hotel
lobby on 102th floor, then change lift to Ozone at 118th floor) with a
truly spectacular view of the harbour. For a free experience, visit bell tower of the Kowloon Canton Railways - the elevated walkway there offers a breathtaking view of the harbour. Please DO check sunset times!!!
Additional activities:
- For weather reports, see Hong Kong Observatory
- For a bit of colonial history, visit: Murray House (Stanley), Tea Museum in Hong Kong Park and Western Market.
- For a bit of nature, visit: Wetland Park or one of the many walking trails, the Botanical and Zoological Garden, and the Aviary in Hong Kong Park.
- Of course, you may actually want to take a guided tour if you are really pressed for time. Check out the Hong Kong Tourism Board website where you will find recommendations.
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