Advice and Points of Interest in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is an economically powerful supercity located in a tropical zone. The city was a major settlement for foreign influences, serving as a British colony for over a century. Modern Hong Kong is aligned closely with China in a special system called a Special Administrative Region, though there were numerous crackdowns and protests from 2021 onward. Due to the city’s unique history, there are many points of interest in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is an incredible place to visit. As a very wealthy area, the city is home to an enormous population of cosmopolitan citizens. The region has thousands of restaurants, activities, novelty attractions, hiking trails, outer islands and a robust nightlife. Hong Kong has powerful English and Asian roots, making it easy to navigate.
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Advice When Landing in Hong Kong
Hong Kong uses a different currency than mainland China. Be prepared to use cards or exchange Yuan for Hong Kong dollars when visiting. There are many currency exchange locations scattered throughout the city, but their rates vary wildly. Be sure to research the best exchange location prior to arrival.
Hong Kong is incredibly busy and crowded. Most hotels and apartments in the city are a bit smaller than average, so adjust expectations accordingly if you’re staying in the city.
Hong Kong is surprisingly expensive, especially in terms of food. Before arriving, consider your food budget carefully. Hong Kong is famous for different novelty foods, fusion meals and dining culture and it charges a premium for these services.
If you’re arriving in Hong Kong from the airport, there are several shuttles that will take you into the city. You can get to and from the airport using the express metro, the shuttle bus system or hailing a taxi. The bus was the cheapest option, followed by the metro. Taxis were somewhat expensive.
Most of Hong Kong runs on cash. A lot of the city refuses to accept certain types of credit cards or phone paying apps. One way to pay for public transport is through the Hong Kong Octopus Card, which is used to scan at metro stations.
Advice When Exploring Hong Kong
Hong Kong has a unique type of incense. Instead of the traditional scented stick, which is burned while sticking up, Hong Kong hangs their incense from a ceiling or string. The structure creates a spiral, which gradually burns upwards over several hours. They often hang from awnings near doorways in small villages, so be careful not to bump your head.
Hong Kong ferries are pretty cheap. Most trips, even to the further islands such as Lamma, only cost about $20 Hong Kong Dollars (Which is a little over $2 USD). While public transportation is generally cheap, personalized ride shares and taxis are much more expensive. Take care to avoid trying to move around the city directly during rush hour, as public transportation gets very full.
Hong Kong is generally quite friendly to English-Speakers. I found lots of people who could speak fluently and translate for me. There are many signs around with English translations.
Ferry rides in Hong Kong can be a bit chilly with mist sprays so consider bringing a jacket.
When looking for points of interest in Hong Kong, be sure to check maps and public transportation. Hong Kong is very spread out and the various bays, islands and modes of transportation make logistics a little tricky to figure out.
Points of Interest in Hong Kong
Listed below are my favorite places to visit in Hong Kong.
Famous Tourist Sites
Quarry Bay Monster Building – An enormous building and hyper dense superstructure. The five interconnected towers are part of one of the most densely populated places on earth
Tian Tan Buddha – A famously large bronze buddha. It is located at Ngong Ping, Lantau Island in the Po Lin Monastery. It takes considerable time to walk to the giant Buddha from the ferry terminal.
Wong Tai Sin Temple – A temple with claims to Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. It’s famous for a unique wall known as the Nine Dragons Wall. The temple is very popular with tourists but it also has many monks working within.
Symphony of Lights – The world’s largest permanent light show, this uses the Hong Kong Skyline to show synchronized flashing lights around the city
SoHo – A popular shopping street found in Hong Kong
Victoria Peak – A large mountain peak overlooking both sides of the Hong Kong Skyline. It can be reached by riding a funicular.
Relaxing Areas
Un Chau Flower Tunnel – Part of Kowloon, this hidden flower tunnel is an amazing, blooming sight in Spring. The tunnel is incredibly beautiful, but try to arrive early in the morning. Tourists taking photos fill up the area very quickly.
Kowloon Walled City Park – A famous park overlooking the famous den of government defiance, crime and population. The historic park was a coastal military defense location for centuries, attracting many unsavory elements and a sketchy reputation
Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree – A tree covered in red wrappings, the tree is said to grant wishes written on the ribbons on it’s branches, but only the ones that remain intact
Man Mo Temple – A mystical and peaceful temple with many kinds of burning incense. The temple was built to worship the Civil or Literature God Man Tai. Another aspect of the temple worships the Martial God Mo Tai. The temple was often visited by scholars of the Ming Dynasty.
Ten Thousand Buddha Sanctuary – One of the quietest places in Hong Kong, the sanctuary has pathways, buildings and walls all lined with serene buddha statues
Tung Ping Chau – A beautiful UNESCO island site for hiking, climbing and exploring. It is considered an extremely beautiful area to visit due to its wavy natural rock formations along the coast. The beach is also covered in rows of white coral skeletons.
Lamma Island – A large, quiet and peaceful island with walking trails, tumbling Bodhi trees and bays of small boats seated near the shoreline. The fat noodles here are a specialty item Lantau Island – A tourism island with historical sites, amusement parks, thin beaches and access to Hong Kong Disneyland
Unique Points of Interest in Hong Kong
Jumbo Kingdom – A large floating palace built to look like a Chinese imperial house. It operates as a popular, famous waterside restaurant.
Chungking Mansion – A strange feature of Hong Kong, this is a sort of shopping alley with tons of counterfeit goods. The vast majority of items here are unique. Bring cash as many of the stalls don’t have digital payment systems.
Sky Full of Gods and Buddhas – Thousands of abandoned statues and deities perched on a hillside overlooking Hong Kong. This huge display has many different styles of statues, all clustered in huge groups.
Hello Kitty Steamed Dumplings – Found in several shops, these dumplings promote the famous children’s stuffed plushie in dumpling form. They’re a tasty novelty treat.
Ma Wan Island Ghost Town – Relocated during a period of Hong Kong construction, the old fishing village now stands abandoned on a tiny island just outside of Hong Kong. It’s somewhat difficult to get to without a tour group, but visiting it is both creepy and surprising. The Ghost Town stands in sharp contrast to the metropolis next door.
Yuen Po Street Bird Garden – A shopping avenue in Hong Kong famous for it’s exotic, musical, colorful and caged birds
Hong Kong Activities
Mahjong Beginner Classes – Part of Hong Kong and China’s culture is the tile game of Mahjong. Hong Kong offers classes for the admittedly confusing game in English
Chinese Junk Boat Ride – Not referring to Junk in the English sense (trash or rubbish) Junk boats are the traditional red-sailed ships of the ancient China navy. Rides are offered to tourists or people can try to spot the ships from the piers
Tai O Fishing Village of Hong Kong – A famous village for traditional fishing, the town is built on waterways with stilts. The village is still operational, although much of it’s industry has shifted to tourism
Wooloomooloo – A famous Australian steakhouse with open air terraces and views overlooking the city
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