Ultimate Hong Kong Travel Guide

Magnificient Hong Kong Skyline

Ultimate Hong Kong Travel Attractions Guide – Top things to do and must see

A confluence of opulent Chinese culture, an avant-garde urbanisation with vivid hues and perpetual sense of motion can how Hong Kong be best described as. Hong Kong is equally famous as a zealous business district, as much as it is a travellers’ terminal. Hong Kong has a lot to offer – from skyscrapers to tranquil gardens, from bustling streets to serene shrines, from sparkling harbour to afflictive hiking trails. The people of Hong Kong are always on their toes to succour to the concerns of visitants. There is no dearth of places of sightseeing attractions in Hong Kong. The famous ones are called so for a reason – Why? Take a look at the list below.

 

Hong Kong,China – Tourist Attractions:

Besides, boasting of having one of the spectacular skylines in the world, there are several other attractions which draw the tourists to Hong Kong, the major ones, that you should not miss when in Hong Kong are listed here. This Ultimate Hong Kong Travel Guide will give you all the info. We have done all the investigation for you! We have researched, analysed and chopped down those fine details that’ll make it easy for you to plan a chilled vacation to Hong Kong with a detailed list of Must Visit Places in Hong Kong!

The Peak:

The Peak or the Victoria Peak is the highest point on Hong Kong Island from where you can get breathtaking views of the Hong Kong Skyline and its natural harbour. Its unique Wok like structure for the Peak Tower is nothing less than an architecture marvel. You can take an iconic ‘Peak tram’ to reach ‘The Peak’. Alternatively, you can stroll off the walking trail or take a bus. But, personally, I would suggest a tram for the way up, it has its own, old-world charm and the views can sweep you off your feet!

The Peak Tower hosts a huge array of attractions: Viewing Terrace on top of the building – Sky Terrace, Madame Tussauds, A Trick-eye Museum, souvenir shops, restaurants, coffee shops, The Peak Galleria – a shopping mall (which also has a free-entry observation deck) and more eye-popping views, visit the ‘Lugard Road Lookout’ at the ‘Lions View Point Pavilion’.

Tips :

  • Take the historical tram ride up the Peak which gives you the amazing views of Hong Kong’s skyscrapers, skirting houses along the track, glistening harbour view and the lush green mountains.
  • Try going on a clear day to get the best views. As ‘The Peak’ is synonymous with views, no wonder if you return back disappointed, if you choose to go when skies are not clear.
  • Entry into the Sky Terrace deck costs some buck. To get similar views, you can hop on to the neighbouring, ‘Lions View Point Pavilion’ which is free to enter.
  • Try booking your ticket ahead of your visit. The queue can get long at times and if yours is not an impromptu visit, then, it is wise to book it ahead.
  • If you wish to explore Madame Tussauds, book your tickets online at their site, which includes a return ‘Peak tram ticket’ and an entry into the Madame Tussauds. They have some tempting discounts too, so make the most of it!

 

Disneyland :

Well, the name says it all! It’s Disneyland!! It is a land of enticement where the young and the young at heart, unfold their fantasies. Disneyland has something for everyone – be it the cheerful cartoon characters that wave at you, or the magical shows that leave you spellbound, or the thrilling rides that captivate you, or the dreamy fireworks over the castle, or the spectacular parade that leaves you speechless and what not! It is a world of Mickey, Minnie, Pooh, Rapunzel, Donald and all your Disney’s favourite characters. A visit to Disneyland must be on everyone’s bucket list and it already is I suppose! Besides the fairy tale rides, there are some gritty rides for adults too! If you are a game for it, then you must definitely try Space Mountain, Grizzly Mountain Runaway, Mystic Manor, Mystic Point ride. And in the ‘Toy Story Land’ try the Toy Soldier Parachute Drop, RC Racer and Slinky Dog Spin. For sinking into the magic of Disney characters try these shows: Festival of the Lion King, Tarzan’s tree house, Mickey’s Philhar Magic (My son loved it!), It’s a small world (I loved it!) and Frozen Village. Hop onto the ‘Hongkong Disneyland Railroad’ which takes you around the park to get incredible views of the entire Disneyland Theme Park.

Best Disneyland Rides:

Besides the fairy tale rides, there are some gritty rides for adults too! If you are a game for it, then you must definitely try Space Mountain, Grizzly Mountain Runaway, Mystic Manor, Mystic Point ride.

In the ‘Toy Story Land’ try the Toy Soldier Parachute Drop, RC Racer and Slinky Dog Spin.

For sinking into the magic of Disney characters try these shows: Festival of the Lion King, Tarzan’s tree house, Mickey’s Philhar Magic (My son loved it!), It’s a small world (I loved it!) and Frozen Village.

Also, hop onto the ‘Hongkong Disneyland Railroad’ which takes you around the park to get incredible views of the entire Disneyland Theme Park.

Tips:

  • Try going on a weekday to avoid the maddening crowds and long waiting lines. (Sadly enough, we were there on a Sunday 🙁 )
  • Being early certainly helps to catch your favourite rides with ease! Hong Kong Disneyland opens at 10.00 AM.
  • If you are an adult and waiting to take the breath-taking rides, do not wait for a picture with Mickey as soon as you enter the park (that’s what most of them do), instead, go directly to Tomorrow Land or even better if you go to the Toy Story Land. En route to the Toy Story land, you can finish off Grizzly Mountain Runaway and Mystic Manor. The best ride of Tomorrow land is Space Mountain, which can be done with a Fast pass, so do not waste your time waiting in the queue for the Space Mountain ride.
  • Speaking of Fast pass, there are some rides in which you can take a Fast pass ticket and come back at the designated time with a shorter queue. Get more information about Fast pass and rides which allow Fast pass here.
  • Do not ever, ever, ever miss the ‘Flights of Fantasy Parade’ and the ‘Disney in the Stars Fireworks’. A visit to Disneyland is never complete without it.
  • You can buy the souvenir of your favourite character at designated shops inside the Disneyland Park. You will find them in plenty all across the park.
  • Wear comfortable shoes as you will be on the run the whole day, either walking or waiting in the queue. (Talk about the experience! Ouch, that leg still hurts!!)

 

Sky 100 Hong Kong Observation Desk:

 

Ultimate Hong Kong Travel Guide

On 100th Floor of SKY 100 Tower!

 

Sky 100 is located on the 100th floor of the Hong Kong’s tallest building ‘The International Commerce Centre (ICC)’. It is an indoor observation deck offering 360-degree views of the spectacular Victoria Harbour. You can walk around the deck and explore Hong Kong’s history and culture imbibed on the walls all around. There is also a well-lit miniature model of Hong Kong’s famous skyline perfectly assorted in the floor, inside a glass cubicle on which you can walk! You cannot afford to miss the silhouette sunset view of the Victoria Harbour from here. There is also a café in which you can have a coffee with the best views of Hong Kong. Also in the lower floors of ICC, you can find many high-end shops to satisfy your shopping woes.

Ultimate Hong Kong Travel Guide

Sunset View from SKY 100 !

 

A Symphony of Lights:

If you want an unforgettable 13 minute out of the world experience, surrounded by sensational lights that dance in perfect harmony to the soulful music, that leaves you speechless and ravening for more, then I must definitely be telling you about the ‘Symphony of Lights show’. This is another must do in Hong Kong!

It holds a Guinness World Record for the ‘World’s Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show‘ which involves more than 40 buildings on both the sides of the harbour that participate in this multimedia spectacle which is free for everyone to watch and starts at sharp 8 pm every day.

You can also book one of the Harbour Cruises at the night (which we did), which will sail you in the sea while the stunning ‘Symphony of Lights show’ is in play. Doubtlessly a gorgeous way to experience this marvel!!

Hong Kong Attractions

Symphony Of Lights in Action!

 


Continuing to the next part of Ultimate Hong Kong Sightseeing Attractions Guide

Hong Kong is an amalgamation of modern day skyscrapers and centuries old traditions. Hong Kong city is a haven for a traveler holding many surprises, sweeping you off your feet with its cutting edge technology, an adventure hub, a traditional sojourn, a hikers paradise and much more.

Ultimate Hong Kong Travel Guide big buddha

Big Buddha @ Ngong Ping 360


Ngong Ping 360:

Getting away from the ever bustling Hong Kong’s centre and experiencing a serene sojourn is as easy as making Lantau Island your destination for the day. A 25-minute long cable car ride with the green sea below and majestic mountains to give you company and will lead you into the 1.5 hectare Ngong Ping Village that dwells Tian Tan Buddha, Po Lin Monastery and Wisdom Path. The Tian Tan Buddha also called as the Big Buddha is the main attraction on this island. En route to the Big Buddha statue, you can find many eateries and souvenir shops to keep you busy for a while. After experiencing the Big Buddha, you can take a 5-minute walk to the Wisdom Path.

The Wisdom Path consists of 38 columns arranged in a figure-of-eight configuration symbolising infinity. These contain verses from the centuries-old Heart Sutra; one of the world’s best-known prayers of Buddhists. These are arranged in a ∞ pattern, which represents infinity. The Chinese version of calligraphy of Heart Sutra was carved onto wooden columns by Professor Jao Tsung-I in 2005. The wooden columns mimic the bamboo tiles used for writing in ancient China.

Right opposite the Tian Tan Buddha is the Po Lin Monastery, one of Hong Kong’s most sacred Buddhist shrine. It has a radiant temple, vibrant garden lit up with the fragrance of the massive incense sticks. There also is a vegetarian shack to fill your rumbling stomachs.

Ultimate Hong Kong Travel Guide

The Big Buddha!

Tips :

  • Go on a clear sky day as clouds will play a spoilsport with the views or else you might come back ranting.
  • Book Ngong Ping 360 tickets in advance as the queues can get longer sometimes and also you might find attractive discounts on ticket prices online.
  • If your budget permits, take the Crystal Clear Cabin on the ride up the cable car. It is an incredible experience to see the humongous sea, massive mountains, small waterfalls and water streams, all below your feet!
Ultimate Hong Kong Travel Guide crystal cabin big buddha

Oh, I SEA!

  • Take a one-way ride in the Crystal clear cabin, on the way back, a normal one will do. When you look down the crystal clear cabin, you can spot people hiking across the walking trail up to the Monastery (i.e. if you do have sharp eyesight!)
  • You can also get an aerial view of the Hong Kong’s Airport and its Cargo Terminal. It’s quite a sight see flights touch down and is pretty thrilling to see all the planes lined up for take-off one after the other!
Ultimate Hong Kong Travel Guide airport

Planes waiting in line to take off! What a sight!

  • Take a walk to the Wisdom Path, the walking trail is beautiful and if you are a nature lover, you cannot afford to miss this; also, you can spot numerous vibrant butterflies on the way.
  • After touring the Ngong Ping 360, you can take a bus, in case you wish to explore the fishing village of ‘Tai O’.

Ocean Park:

Ultimate Hong Kong Travel Guide Ocean Park

Ocean Park, Hong Kong

If Disneyland is all kids play for you, then get ready to be blown away by the thrilling rides in Ocean Park, Hong Kong. Ocean Park hordes a unique concept of Marine-life theme park, which, as the name says is a blend of rich marine life display bundled up with electrifying rides and mesmerising shows which leave you spellbound. There are tiny seahorses, mighty sharks and broad sting rays, the cute little kangaroos and even cuter penguins, the roly-poly pandas, extremely obedient dolphins and sea lions that put up an outstanding show and loads and loads of different species of fishes and what not. As if that’s not enough to leave the visitors marvelling, the Ocean park guys decided to throw in some pretty gritty rides to throw you off the edge (literally!). Don’t believe me? Then, go check out these rides at Ocean Park, these rides will surely leave your lungs screaming out: The Mine train, Hair Raiser, The Abyss, The Flash, Crazy Galleon, Rev Booster, Whirly bird( In this ride, you will actually feel like a bird!) and many more. A visit to Ocean Park will fill your day with awe, astonishment and a lingering sense of satisfaction.

Ultimate Hong Kong Travel Guide Ocean Park

Cutie pie of Ocean Park !

Tips:

  • Hong Kong Ocean Park is divided into two parts, the Waterfront (Lowland) and The Summit (Highland)
  • Most of the marine life is concentrated in the Waterfront and most rides are concentrated high up on the Summit.
  • There are two ways to go from Waterfront to the Summit: The cable car and the Ocean express.
  • My suggestion is to go up through the cable car for an exceptional view of Hong Kong Island and take the Ocean Express train on the way back, just for the fun of it!
  • I almost forgot to tell about the ‘Symbio’, which takes place every night at 7.00pm near the Waterfront Lagoon. Symbio is the world’s first 360° water screen show where 2 dragons tell the tale of hate and peace. The dragons spew raging fire and gush out water, all of which is real and you can feel that in real time. Isn’t that exciting enough reason for you to visit the Ocean Park?

Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade:

Welcome to the ‘Shopping Paradise’, chants Tsim Sha Tsui to its visitors. A walk along the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade is a must for every Hong Kong visitor for its absolute vibrancy, opulent culture, and scenic views also not to forget its vast shopping options. Tsim Sha Tsui is mostly famous for its high-end brands, massive malls, beautiful walkways and also homes some renowned office buildings and lovely restaurants. Strolling along the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade is undoubtedly one of the best ways to experience the magnificent Hong Kong skyline which crawls high into the sky from the shining Victoria Harbour below. The Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong Cultural Centre and the Hong Kong Space Museum all come along your way, with a bang on view of Victoria Harbour and Tsim Sha Tsui Beach.

Not to forget, this is also one of the best places to watch the spectacular dancing beams of ‘Symphony of Lights’ and the charm of Hong Kong skyline at the night is something which is inexplicable.

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and Golden Bauhinia Square:

Ultimate Hong Kong Travel Guide

Golden Bauhinia

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is renowned for its state-of-the-art construction techniques, for which it has won many accolades and is one of the significant landmarks in the Hong Kong skyline for many reasons. The important one being, the witness for the momentous Hand-over ceremony in 1997 when the British handed over the colony to the People’s Republic of China, thus giving birth to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Bauhinia being the emblem of Hong Kong, it’s quite explanatory why the China’s Central Government presented ‘The Golden Bauhinia’ to Hong Kong as a mark of Handover in 1997. ‘The Golden Bauhinia’ statue has a striking presence, facing the beautiful waterfront and spectacular Hong Kong Skyline. Just before you enter ‘The Golden Bauhinia’ square, there is a display where you can get to see a brief read up of Hong Kong’s history and culture.

Markets in Hong Kong:

Ladies, Gear up! Here comes for your favourite part of any vacation – Shopping. Any Hong Kong trip in incomplete without shopping! Hong Kong has a lot in store when it comes to shopping. Guilty indulgence in mesmerising and plush shopping malls can be forgiven, but who doesn’t love the charm of shopping in markets? If you are one such person, then hit the Hong Kong streets, after all, there is nothing less in terms of variety and vibrancy which the markets offer. The liveliness, the people, the experience and the sheer pleasure of buying a product after a bargain linger on (How true! We just look at the product after it’s brought and bang on, we exactly remember for how much we brought and how much we haggled for that bargain. Isn’t it??)

Mark these places as ‘Things to do’ and shopping will soon be a big addition in your Hong Kong itinerary! 😀

  • Ladies Market: As the name says it is a market and it’s mainly for ladies! That said, men need not worry, there are an array of things which will definitely keep you busy when women are deeply absorbed in their own world of shopping and bargaining. One undoubtedly being, carrying their shopping bags! I see you nodding your head in unison. You could not agree more with me!!

Being one of the popular markets in Hong Kong with over 100 stalls, Ladies market bustles with the varied display where you can choose from bags, accessories, clothes, souvenirs, tea sets and also some chic electronic stuff. Check out the sexy portable and rechargeable USB fan that I bought for just over HKD40 or this cutie pie umbrella for HKD30. Bargaining is the secret here, the more you haggle, the better your deal!

Ladies Market Hong Kong

Aren’t these just adorable??

  • Stanley Market: Being one of the most visited markets in Hong Kong; Stanley Market has reasons other than shopping to be there – the ambience that is typically Chinese, delightful dining options along the sea walk, interesting handcrafted favours, laid back attitude of the place and the wonderful esplanade. Wander in the Stanley Market, you will surely find something of your choice to take back home. Accessories, home furnishings, Chinese souvenirs, handbags, clothes, artwork and much more are things to look out for in Stanley Market. It is one of the must-visit markets of Hong Kong. So, what you are waiting for, go indulge in Stanley and feel the mellow flavour!
  • Temple street Night market: A plethora of fortune-tellers, food stalls, souvenirs, watches, cookware and a lot more at this night market in Hong Kong. Watch out for what you buy, for there might be a lot of stuff that is not as genuine as it seems to be. Obviously, sharpen your haggling skills to come out of the market gleeful.

Hong Kong is certainly much more than what’s mentioned here. I’ve tried best to point out the significant places to watch out for when you are travelling to Hong Kong!

If you have just 24 hours in Hong Kong, then see this!


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