Hong Kong is a special administrative region that lies at the southern tip of China, and while it is a geographical territory of China, Hong Kong enjoys its own government system and has a culture very distinct from China. Because Hong Kong is a multicultural city, the culture within its borders is a mix of different cultures of the residents who make their homes in the City of Life. There are many interesting places and things to see in Hong Kong for tourists.
Top Things To Do in Hong Kong
Sightseeing Landscapes and Views
Symphony of Lights: Laser Show | Tsim Sha Tsui
Perhaps the most stunning things to witness is the daily laser show ‘Symphony of Lights’ which starts at 8PM and runs approximately for an hour. The best vantage points to watch the show is from the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, the Golden Bauhinia Square promenade, and from a ferry crossing Victoria Harbor. During the show, 39 of Hong Kong’s buildings and 3 attractions are lit up as they harmonize and coordinate a complete light show, flaunting the magnificence and beauty of the city.
The ‘Symphony of Lights’ laser show is free for all.
Victoria Peak
There are several hills and mountains that are beautiful and hiking-worthy in Hong Kong, and Victoria Peak may be the best known. At the top of Victoria Peak, you can look out on all of Hong Kong Island’s Central district as well as Victoria Harbor and the surrounding islands. Near the Peak are also many leisure and shopping sites for tourists and local residents to enjoy.
Victoria Peak Tram
The best way to get from the bottom of The Peak to the top is to take the Peak Tram, a railroad open-air tram that takes you around The Peak through some of Hong Kong’s most beautiful natural wonders. As you go higher and higher, you can also see more and more of Central and Admiralty.
Victoria Peak Tower
The main building on top of Victoria Peak, the Victoria Peak Tower (or The Peak Tower) is a stylish and modern building that houses many stores and restaurants.
Sky Terrace 428
Near The Peak Tower is the Sky Terrace 428, where you can explore all of Hong Kong’s brilliant views. At the Sky Terrace 428, you can get a 360° view of Hong Kong with the Sky Tour. Available languages for the tour are Cantonese, English, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, and French.
Prices
Peak Tram Tickets
| Single | Return | |
| Child (3–11)Senior Citizens (65+) | HK＄14 (US＄2) | HK＄23 (US＄3) |
| Adult | HK＄37 (US＄5) | HK＄52 (US＄7) |
Information from thepeak.com/hk
Peak Tram Sky Pass (Peak Tram and Sky Terrace 428)
| Single | Return | |
| Child (3–11)Senior Citizens (65+) | HK＄38 (US＄5) | HK＄47 (US＄6) |
| Adult | HK＄84 (US＄10.8) | HK＄99 (US＄12.77) |
Information from thepeak.com/hk
To make an appointment or a purchase, please click here.
Sky 100 Hong Kong Observation Deck
Standing at around 393 feet above sea level, the Sky 100 Observation Deck is the only indoor observation deck in Hong Kong and offers a 360° view of the city. The observation deck is on the 100th floor of the International Commerce Center building, which is Hong Kong’s tallest building.
There are many different packages you can purchase to experience a unique way of enjoying the marvelous view that Sky 100 has to offer, including having meals at one of Sky 100’s many restaurants and cafes. You can check out all the ticket packages here. For a large group, you will have to reserve ahead of time here.
Hours: 11AM–8PM (last entry is 7:30PM)
Victoria Harbor
Victoria Harbor (or Victoria Harbour) is the portion of the ocean that separates Hong Kong Island and Kowloon and it is one of the most visited spots in Hong Kong. From either side of the harbor, there are promenades along which you can walk and observe the beautiful city skyline.
Best Ways to View The Victoria Harbor
Golden Bauhinia Square
A few minutes from Wan Chai, the Golden Bauhinia Square is a great place to view the harbor, as there is a promenade looking out towards Victoria Harbor and Kowloon. You can also view the star ferry that carries passengers across to the other side of the armor.
Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront
On the other side of the Victoria Harbor to the Golden Bauhinia Square, Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront is the start to what is officially known as the Kowloon district of Hong Kong. As you can view the harbor from the Golden Bauhinia Square, so you can view the harbor and its shining beauty from the Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront. Coincidentally, the Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront is also the perfect place to watch the world-famous laser show Symphony of Lights.
Star Ferry
What’s better than viewing Victoria Harbor from the two waterfronts that lie on either side of it? Why, viewing the harbor from on top of the harbor, of course! Yes, you can indeed take a ferry (called the Star Ferry) to and from Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. During the journey, you’ll get up close and personal to the harbor, observing the brilliance of the harbor’s waters and the reflections of the buildings as well. The beauty is even greater at night.
Victoria Peak
Another great place to view the Victoria Harbor from is the top of Victoria Peak, one of the most famous hills in Hong Kong. From this vantage point, you get an astounding view of not only the harbor, but also the Central and Admiralty areas.
Sky 100 Hong Kong Observation Deck
When you’re at Hong Kong’s Sky 100 Observation Deck, you are at the highest point in all of Hong Kong; this is why, from here, you can take the entire beauty that is Hong Kong Island.
Golden Bauhinia Square and Statue
The bauhinia or bauhinia blakeana, Hong Kong’s national flower, has its own dedicated place in Wan Chai. Located behind the Hong Kong Convention Center, the Golden Bauhinia Square is an important spot for tourism purposes as well as for Hong Kong’s national identity, as it is the place where a golden statue of the city’s national flower was erected on July 1, 1997, when Hong Kong was handed over from Great Britain to China.
Temples & Places of Worship
Tian Tian Buddha or The Big Buddha | Lan Tau Island
Probably the most notable Buddhist statue in Hong Kong, Tian Tian Buddha stands at the end of 268 steps and is next to Po Lin Monastery, one of Buddhism’s most important institutions. After checking out the golden statue and the monastery, you can also look around Ngong Ping Village, where you can enjoy a traditional Buddhist meal.
Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery | New Territories
Although the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery is called a monastery, it is officially not a monastery, as there are no monks residing in or around the building. In fact, the monastery is not run by monks or even Buddhist clergy members, but instead by laypeople. It was built in 1951 by the Venerable Yuet Kai, who moved from the mainland to China to start his Buddhist teaching.
The reason the monastery is called Ten Thousand Buddhas is apparent once you reach the area; there are around 10,000 Buddhas that you can find all around and inside the monastery.
Wong Tai Sin Temple | Kowloon
Wong Tai Sin Temple is one of its kind; instead of being dedicated to a single god or deity, the temple is dedicated to several religions in one temple: Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. As you walk through the temple building, you’ll find artworks from the Taoism tradition and important scriptures of all three religions.
One cool thing you can participate in a wish-granting ritual called kau chim. After making a wish, you shake a bamboo jar that’s filled with numbered sticks until one falls out. You’d then ask the resident fortune-teller for an interpretation.
Man Mo Temple | Central
Man Mo is a name that describes the two gods that the place is dedicated to Man Tai (also known as Man Cheong), the civil and literature god, and Mo Tai, the martial god. Many students and their families would come and pray for good scores, especially high school students’ performance on their final examination.
St. John’s Cathedral
St. John’s Cathedral is one of five catholic cathedrals in Hong Kong–the oldest surviving Western ecclesiastical cathedral. St. John’s Cathedral is the seat of the archbishop of Hong Kong.
There are many Protestant churches as well. The one my family and I personally went to is the Korean Central Church in Wong Chuk Hang.
Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Center
The best thing about Hong Kong is that people who come from everywhere with different belief systems and religions can cohabit together in harmony. There are five mosques, including the Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Center, pictured below.
Jamia Masjid (Jamia Mosque)
Jamia Masjid is the oldest mosque in Hong Kong, having been built in 1849.
Museums in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Museum of History
At the Museum of History, there are exhibitions and many stunning artifacts that span over 400 years of Hong Kong’s history, including prehistoric Hong Kong, the Opium War, and Hong Kong under Japanese occupation. You’ll be able to learn a lot about the history of this beautiful country here!
Entrance to the Museum of History is free for all residents and tourists. The Museum of History is located near the Science Museum too, so you can easily visit both of these museums within a few hours.
Hong Kong Science Museum
With exhibitions that cover topics such as food science, gastronomy, anatomy, and many more, the Hong Kong Science Museum is the perfect place to visit and learn more about scientific subjects! As a lot of their exhibitions are interactive and fun, it is also a good place to bring children! Not only can they have fun here but they’ll learn a lot!
Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Located in Sha Tin, Hong Kong Heritage Museum is dedicated to preserving the history, art, and culture of the people of Hong Kong. Exhibitions and galleries range from Cantonese opera, Chinese traditional art, and old toys and posters. Until December 2020, the Heritage Museum is displaying an exhibition dedicated to famed Hong Kong actor Bruce Lee
Hong Kong Space Museum
Out of all the buildings, it’s hard to miss the Space Museum. Located in Tsim Sha Tsui, the egg-shaped dome of the space theatre is the first thing you see in the museum. Inside, you can observe all manners of planets and stars as well as watch several documentary screenings. There are a lot of interesting things that would excite space and astronomy enthusiasts!
Hong Kong Museum of Art
With around 17,000 items, Hong Kong’s Museum of Art (HKMoA) is the first public exhibition space in the city, having been established in 1962. Inside, you’ll find paintings and 3D art pieces hailing from not only Hong Kong, but from all over the world; one of the museum’s vision is to house art pieces that are local and international, from Chinese and Asian traditions to Western traditions, to ensure its diversity and inclusivity.
Shopping in Hong Kong
Of course, no travel guide is complete without all the shopping venues and because Hong Kong is one of the richest cities in the world, you can be sure that there are many places that you can go to relieve some stress through shopping.
Landmark | Central
Landmark Mall is a shopping center that includes Gloucester Tower, Edinburgh Tower, and York House. Its retail podium, Landmark Atrium, forms the core component of the shopping mall and has hundreds of stores selling clothing, cosmetics, stationery, and much more. Like Pacific Place and IFC Mall, Landmark is one of the more expensive and luxurious shopping establishments in Hong Kong.
The IFC Mall | Central
The IFC (International Financial Center) is a world-class business and commercial shopping center, complete with a cinema and several high fashion stores and luxurious restaurants.
SOGO | Causeway Bay & Admiralty
On the outside, SOGO Department Store doesn’t look like much, but when you enter the building, you’ll see that SOGO has many floors that offer well-known brands, stores, and market stalls selling all kinds of apparel, cosmetics, housewares & appliances. SOGO Department Store has another location in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Times Square | Causeway Bay & Admiralty
Don’t get confused with Times Square in New York City! Although Times Square in Hong Kong is also a great shopping area! With the main Times Square building standing at around 13 floors, you can find a myriad of shops that sell many different things ranging from books, stationery, clothes, and even musical instruments! It’s an upscale place, but perhaps a little more accessible than Pacific Place, IFC, or Landmark.
Pacific Place
Pacific Place consists of 3 department stores that collectively have more than 200 stores selling all manners of things from clothes, houseware and sport accessories, kitchen supplies, and toy stores for the kids! It is considered one of the more expensive and high-end shopping malls in Hong Kong, but even if you’re not shopping, there is so much to explore the whole area. There are also restaurants and coffee shops that you can enjoy!
Because Pacific Place is at a high altitude, you can also view Victoria Peak and Hong Kong Park as well as some other buildings in the Admiralty, Central, and Causeway Bay areas.
Harbour City | Tsim Sha Tsui
Located at Ocean Terminal, Hong Kong’s Harbour City Shopping Mall has over 700 well-known brand stores as well as 50 restaurants, bistros, and coffee shops. And even better, these places are spread across five distinct complexes: Ocean Terminal, Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel Arcade, Ocean Centre, Star Annex, and Gateway Arcade. But no matter where you are, you’ll always be near Victoria Harbor, supplying you with a gorgeous view as you shop.
Ladies’ Market | Kowloon
As the name suggests, the Ladies’ Market in the Mongkok area of Kowloon mainly caters to the female crowd. Here, you can find dozens upon dozens of stalls selling handbags, shoes, and clothes. Like many other markets in Hong Kong, you are encouraged to try and bargain for the price that suits your financial needs.
Temple Street Night Market | Kowloon
For cheap clothes and a great atmosphere, Temple street Night Market is the go-to shopping area in Kowloon! Here, you’ll find lots of stalls full of clothes that can be bargained for; the price tags are only a suggestion, as a common practice at Temple Street Market is to bargain and try to get the best price you can get! Temple Street Night Market is not only very lively, but there is a lot of space, and from time to time, you can even catch a performance of the Cantonese opera.
Jade Market
Jade Market is another street market style shopping area, with many permanent shops and stalls selling precious stones, gems, and jade cut in all different shapes and in all sizes. Whether you’re shopping for a loved one or for yourself or only wandering around, the Jade Market is one of the must-see shopping establishments in Hong Kong.
Stanley Market | Stanley
Located near the southernmost coast of Hong Kong Island, Stanley Market is an open-air flea market that has many stalls selling inexpensive toys, clothes, bags, jewelry, and so much more. This is a favorite spot for tourists to visit because of the low prices of all the wares, and also because of its proximity to Stanley Beach.
In addition to the market, Stanley is also home to one of the most beautiful and relaxed waterfront and promenade in Hong Kong. Along the promenade, you’ll find a dozen restaurants and pubs. At the end of the pomade stands Murray House, which houses more shops and delicious eateries.
Eating & Drinking in Hong Kong
Dim Sum
Probably the most well-known food from Hong Kong is dim sum, a tradition stemming from centuries ago when people would enjoy hot tea while nibbling on small tidbits like dumplings and cookies–which is why today it’s very common to have hot tea with dim sum, and why another way to refer to the dim sum meal is yum cha (literally ‘to drink tea’)
There are many teahouses and restaurants that serve dim sum. One such place is Lin Heung Tea House, which has been called ‘the best dim sum atmosphere’ by the TV network CNN.
Hong Kong Style Fried Rice
In my opinion, the best style of fried rice is Hong Kong style. Well-known for stir-fry styles, Hong Kong chefs has produced the single most delicious fried rice dishes that I have ever tasted. Typically, each dish has rice, egg, meat, green onion, as well as other ingredients. There are different kinds at any restaurant and you can have your choice of beef, pork, chicken, and seafood.
Iced Lemon Tea
Just as coffee is the drink of choice for many in the US and Korea, tea is Hong Kong’s favorite drink due to its close relations to China, perhaps the most famous for tea-drinkers in the world. Because of this, many restaurants have some sort of tea drink option, including the famous Iced Lemon Tea (dong lei cha)
Boba Tea or Bubble Tea
Bubble Tea has been a trend in many countries for a long period of time, including Hong Kong, and so whenever you are here, you must try at least one cup of Bubble tea or Boba Tea, as it’s also called. There are many flavors, but the original is Taiwanese Sweetened Milk Tea with tapioca balls that makes the drinking experience fun! In Hong Kong, there are many places both indoors and outdoors where you can purchase a drink for very cheap.
Seafood
Because Hong Kong is an island, you can be sure that all kinds of seafood are prominent in Hong Kong dining. Indeed, many restaurants serve many different type of seafood dishes, from Cantonese or Chinese restaurants or Western and international restaurants.
Best Beaches in Hong Kong
Repulse Bay Beach
Around 30 minutes south from Hong Kong’s downtown area is the Repulse Bay area, and Repulse Bay Beach. The biggest and one of the most popular beaches on the southern coast of Hong Kong Island, Repulse Bay Beach was once a famous base and landing spot for pirates in the mid-1800s, along with Stanley Beach. Today, it is a favorite place to go on a sunny day for Hong Kong residents and tourists alike.
Stanley Beach
Another famous beach located on the southern coast of Hong Kong, Stanley Beach is smaller than Repulse Bay Beach, but no way is it less popular of beautiful. Because it’s very close to the Stanley Promenade and Stanley Market, you can easily walk back and forth and switch from relaxing on the beach to shopping for cool trinkets.
Shek-O Beach
Shek-O Beach is another beach you’re going to want to visit when you go to Hong Kong. Not only are the sand and sea perfectly clear, one of Hong Kong’s most well-known hiking trails, Dragon’s BAck, starts here, so after hiking, you can enjoy a dip in the cool waters of Shek-O Beach.
Discovery Bay
Discovery Bay is a primarily residential area of Hong Kong that is a little more upscale, and Discovery Bay Beach is the area’s biggest beach. Designed for families, there is a kids’ area as well as the rest fo the beach, where you can relax with friends and family.
Kwun Yam Wan
If you want to visit a beach related to famous people, head down to Kwun Yam Wan Beach; this is where Hong Kong’s Olympic Windsurfing champion trained.
Long Ke Wan Beach
Bordering UNESCO’s Global Geopark, this beach is a remote, small, but gorgeous slice of paradise. Long Ke Wan Beach is popular with beachgoers on the weekends. However, if you go on a weekday, you’ll find very few people.
Amusement Parks in Hong Kong
Ocean Park
Ocean Park is the second-largest theme park in Hong Kong next to Disneyland Hong Kong. It features sea animals, a marine mammal park, oceanarium, animal theme park, and much more. It is the perfect place to go for all ages. Here is more information on Tickets & Offers.
General Admission Tickets
| Adult (12+) | Child (3-11) |
| HK＄498 (US＄62) | HK＄249 (US＄32) |
Ocean FastTrack Tickets
With Ocean FastTrack, you’ll wait less in line and have more fun!
| Standard | Deluxe | Grand |
| HK$280 (US＄36) | HK$400 (US $52) | HK$520 (US $ 67) |
| FasTrack Priority Acess to ALL designated and attractions | The Abyss | Priority access to ALL designated rides & attractions AND enjoy one priority access for Bumper Blaster, The Flash AND The Abyss |
Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel
Looking for accommodations that are near Ocean Park? Ocean Park Marriott Hotel is right by the themed park (about a 13-minute drive) and has 471 themed rooms and suites whose design combines modernity and nature-inspired decor.
Disneyland Hong Kong
Ocean Park might be Hong Kong’s theme park, but Disneyland is, of course, the world’s most famous theme park. Akin to the Magic Kingdom in Disney World, Orlando, Florida, Disneyland’s Hong Kong park is full of magical food, rides, and purchasable merchandise that are fun for all the family. For ticket information, you can click this link.
Hong Kong is a bright and shimmering city full of skyscrapers and many places and architectures to discover ranging from shopping malls to coffee and tea houses to restaurants serving many different kinds of food.
