MUST-SEE SITES
Hong Kong Views
Credit: iStock/Yok46233042
Skyscrapers surround you as you venture out into the streets of Hong
Kong, many of them perched on the side of impossibly steep hills.
It’s a city best understood by standing high above it, so put a trip to
The (Victoria) Peak at the top of your list. Not only is The Peak the
best place to see the city below, get your bearings, and locate places
like Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, Lan Kwai Fong, SoHo, Wan Chai, Stanley,
Discovery Bay and Lantau Island. Plus, the tram ride itself is a history
lesson, built in 1888 and still chugging up the steep hill as the driver
shares tidbits of Hong Kong’s past.
Check out the massive Hong Kong Observation Wheel for another
striking view of the city; it’s especially spectacular after dark, during
the nightly “A Symphony of Lights”. Every evening since it began in
2004, the 8 p.m. show illuminates the whole city in a riot of colored
lasers and LED screens, accompanied by a Hong Kong Philharmonic
Orchestra soundtrack. Don’t miss getting out into Victoria Harbor,
by choosing either a ride from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon on the
Star Ferry, in operation since 1888, or a more in-depth look on the
World Star Tour, which travels round trip from Tsim Sha Tsui to the
Disneyland Resort Pier on Lantau Island, complete with commentary
on all the landmarks along the way.
Regardless of how you get to Lantau Island (the Hong Kong MTR
subway is fast, safe and efficient, so be sure to purchase an Octopus
card, which also works on the ferries, buses, Airport Express train
and more), visit the Big Buddha, located at the Po Lin Monastery on
the island. The massive statue is over 200 feet high, with 268 steps to
climb, so if you’d like to get up close, be sure to wear good walking
shoes. Those walking shoes are key, too, for the next quintessential
Hong Kong experience — shopping.
SHOPPING: HONG KONG’S FAVORITE SPORT
Whether it is a bespoke suit (for both men and women), fantastic jade
jewelry or Chinese herbs and medicines that strike your fancy, Hong
Kong has it — and much more. You’re sure to notice the international
shops (Prada, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, etc.) that seem to dot every
neighborhood you wander through, but for a true Hong Kong
shopping experience, go with the locals.
For custom-made suits, head to the venerable tailors in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Maxwell’s Clothiers (since 1961), Sam’s (1957), or Ascot Chang (1952)
will make your clothes in a few days, so make a fitting the first thing
you do when you arrive in Hong Kong and you’ll go home with a new
suit in your luggage. And while the tailors may not approve haggling,
when it comes to the Jade Market, that’s part of the fun. That outdoor
market in Kowloon is full of lovely pieces of jewelry, with enough
different stalls to spend a few hours browsing and negotiating a
good deal. Also in Kowloon, the Ladies Market is full of clothing and
other accessories, as is Granville Road; and a visit to the Temple Street
Night Market is just plain fun, even if you don’t spend a HK dollar
on anything. Just people watch there, get your fortune told and see
street performers amaze the crowds. If you do buy, be sure to haggle!
To find the spots where the locals shop, Hong Kong Island is the place.
The Chun Yeung Street Wet Market assails you with sights and smells
you may have never experienced, as you wander past stalls selling fresh
seafood, meats, fruits and vegetables. Try all the skewered cooked
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items you dare — who knows, you might just like fried insects!
Nearby is the Ko Shing Street Chinese Medicine market, a must-
see place where stalls with jars and wooden drawers filled with
remedies have been aiding the health of locals for generations. Don’t
miss a walk through the Dried Seafood Street, where huge bins of
dried seafood and traditional tonics offer up a glimpse of a culture
that Westerners never see at home.
KIDS’ FAVORITES
Never fear, Mickey is here in Hong Kong to delight your children, at
Disneyland Hong Kong on Lantau Island, a place that makes young
kids’ eyes light up no matter what language they speak. But if you’re
looking for a more local experience that youngsters will enjoy, try
Ocean Park Hong Kong on the south side of Hong Kong Island. Open
since 1977, this marine-life theme park is jam-packed with roller
coasters, animals of all sorts (both ocean-living and land-based
critters) and plenty of shows to keep the kids occupied for hours.
Don’t miss the huge aquarium filled with deadly sharks.
Get out on a boat to experience sea creatures in their natural
habitats, too; and be sure to take a cruise in search of the
endangered pink dolphins that live in Victoria Bay. Adults and
children will enjoy a ride on the famous Ding Ding Trams, those