Things to do in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Island is the main attraction and it buzzes with people, shops and restaurants as well as some fantastic beaches and a smattering of cultural attractions. The best idea when planning your sightseeing itinerary in Hong Kong is to go with the flow, as any sort of agenda will quickly be quashed as you encounter a myriad of distractions along the way.

Deep Water Bay

Lying on the south coast of Hong Kong Island, not far from Aberdeen, Deep Water Bay is a beautiful area that offers a refreshing break from the manic bustle of Central and Kowloon. The area features a scenic coastal road lined with trees and fine mansions and one of Hong Kong’s best beaches. The costal walkway from Deep Water Bay to Repulse Bay is spectacular.

Hong Kong Museum of Art

An unmissable attraction for the art buff, the Museum of Art in Hong Kong has diverse collections that include galleries of classical Chinese art and striking lithographs of Hong Kong in its early days. Also on-site is a Xubaizhi collection of paintings and calligraphy, an international exhibitions gallery and a collection of contemporary art.

Hong Kong Museum of History

The Museum of History is Hong Kong's newest and best museum, covering the history of the island from around 4,000 BC up to the present day. The ‘Hong Kong Story' is the major attraction, covering eight fascinating galleries that showcase the natural environment and prehistoric Hong Kong through to life in contemporary Hong Kong and the handover of the territory to China. Imaginative displays of village life along with dwellings and costumes are featured as well as a recreation of a Central Hong Kong street as it was in 1881, an early tram, a Chinese medicine shop and footage of WWII.

Jardine House

Located near Star Ferry pier, Jardine House was Hong Kong’s first proper skyscraper. The 52-storey silver behemoth was constructed in 1973 and named the Connaught Centre, although the Hong Kong Chinese in their quirky, almost childish way of nicknaming everything have dubbed it the 'House of 1,000 Arseholes'.

Kowloon Walled City Park

Although a beautiful area today, Kowloon Walled City Park was not always this way in the days when it was home to thousands of Hong Kong Chinese living in relative squalor, only a stone’s throw from the booming city. It was originally a watch post and then a fort and was eventually left under Chinese control, where they housed their troops.

The village spanned several blocks and featured in many Hong Kong films, where seedy gangsters and prostitutes could be seen dealing amid the warren of narrow alleyways. It was thankfully torn down in 1993, when the Hong Kong government took over the land and evicted the residents. Today, the park is great for a stroll, with its fine landscaping, colourful flora and pavilions, ponds and walkways.

Man Ho Temple

The Man Ho Temple is one of Hong Kong’s oldest and most famous temples, and represents two gods having civil and military (man and ho) characteristics. Two chairs inside carry the gods during festivals and are aptly shaped like houses. The civil deity hails from the 3rd century BC, a Chinese statesman called Man Cheung, while the military deity, Kwan Yu, was a Han dynasty soldier from the 2nd century AD. Numerous incense coils hang burning from the ceiling within the temple.

Ocean Park

Ocean Park is an amusement park that was originally built in the 1970s and is as popular as ever. It features plenty of white-knuckle roller coasters as well as tamer rides for the children, and an excellent marine park, which has regular dolphin and killer whale shows and a whole host of other interesting animals. There are two sections to the park, which are linked by a cable-car that offers superb views of the South China Sea.

The lowland side of the park contains the main entrance and includes the Hong Kong Jockey Club Giant Panda Habitat, which is home to An An and Jia Jia, and the attractive gardens. The headland section is the main part of the park, which contains the majority of the attractions including rides and the giant escalator that runs visitors to Tai Shue Wan and Shum Wan road, the Middle Kingdom. Here you will find a Chinese village with temples and pagodas.

Peak Tram

The fastest way up Victoria Peak, Hong Kong’s highest peak, is aboard the Peak Tram, which departs from the Lower Peak Tram Terminus; accessible by double-decker bus 15C from Edinburgh Place. This funicular railway is purported to be the world's steepest, whisking people up to 1,800 feet via five stations. The tram is now well over 120 years old and features two cars, each of which is able to seat six-dozen people. Prior to 1880, the only other ways to get up to the summit were to walk or to pay and take a bumpy sedan chair ride.

Victoria Peak

Once up Victoria Peak, on a good day, the views are outstanding and rival those of the Sugar Loaf in Rio de Janeiro. The main viewing platform is actually located on top of a shopping mall, from where you can see Kowloon, Victoria Harbour and the business district. The harbour is best viewed at night, although a day trip here is also very pleasant. Keen hikers will no doubt want to reach the actual peak of Victoria Peak, which is a 10-minute walk/climb from the station.

Museums
Hong Kong offers several worthwhile museums including the excellent Hong Kong Museum of History and the Hong Kong Museum of Art. The other main museums in the city are the Heritage Museum, Science Museum and the Space Museum. These, along with the Museum of History and Museum of Art, can all be visited at a discount with on a one-week Museum Pass.