 |
| Tian Tan, popularly known every bit the Big Buddha |
 |
| Some of the views away from the city |
Things to exercise inward Hong Kong
So every bit business office of the 2nd leg of my Asia trip, I decided on a metropolis break, together with Hong Kong seemed to live the perfect destination. So simply for you, here's my review of things to exercise inward Hong Kong!
Hong Kong was ever on my listing of places to see, together with having sampled the warm, bustling civilization of Bangkok, I idea it would live a squeamish change.
And a alter it was.
I was not expecting the temperature drib from Bangkok to Hong Kong. Despite travelling inward December, Thailand was hot, humid together with tropical. Hong Kong meanwhile, was similar a British autumn.
Granted, it was winter, but the conditions forecast had promised high twenties, non barely teens inward celsius.
As I was totally unprepared, I flora myself wearing my Barbour coat together with unflattering go attire throughout, together with thus pitiable nearly the pictures.
I get got to say, the abrupt alter inward temperature did dampen the break. Don't larn me wrong, I don't hear a mutual depression temperature holiday, I visited Republic of Iceland months earlier (see my review here) together with would dearest to sense wintertime inward New York, but it's really unlike when you're expecting a mutual depression temperature intermission together with get got thermals at the ready.
When you've alone packed summertime dresses together with flip flops, it's a chip annoying to tell the least. Nonetheless, I soldiered on together with made the most of my metropolis break.
So here's my download of things to exercise inward Hong Kong, how to larn around together with whatever other useful bits. But earlier I let on into that, here's a quick burn downwards summary:
Hong Kong inward a nutshell
A bustling metropolis, Hong Kong shares to a greater extent than similarities amongst London or New York than it's Asian counterparts.
Most people don't know that Hong Kong is truly made upwards of over 250 Islands, amongst the primary ones beingness Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, together with Lantau Island. So hopping on the ferry to larn to unlike parts is a normal business office of Hong Kong life.
The fiscal centre is inward Hong Kong Island, piece nosotros stayed at Kowloon, which features museums, markets together with a tourist trap amongst shopping malls together with neon-lit stores.
Lantau meanwhile, is abode to Hong Kong aerodrome together with the Big Buddha, a monument that features inward this article.
Food-wise, nosotros did grapple a chip to honour halal places to eat. I recall it didn't care that I'm non truly a fan of their cuisine, which derives from mainland China. we managed to honour a halal place called Islamic Canteen, which was truly held inward the mosque. However, they alone served dim amount inward the afternoon, together with every bit nosotros arrived inward the evening, nosotros were stuck amongst some curries. on overstep of that, nosotros were hurried out when it came to 9pm closing time.
 |
| Curry from the Islamic Canteen |
As I visited during December, the metropolis was abuzz amongst Christmas spirit. While Hong Kong doesn't officially celebrate Christmas, the commercial aspect is fully embraced.
So Hong Kong is really much East meets West. There is piffling mainland Chinese cultural influence apart from the cuisine. International shops together with eatery lite upwards the streets together with you lot tin store belatedly into the night.
So here's my guide on things to exercise inward Hong Kong, together with some tips that the go books don't part amongst you:
Things to exercise inward Hong Kong #1 - Visit the Peak (and get got the tram to the top)
 |
| At the helm of the Peak Tram |
 |
| The white-knuckle ride that is the Peak Tram |
 |
| The complex that awaits you lot on the Peak |
Top of the itinerary of things to exercise inward Hng Kong was the Peak, 1 of the highest points inward fundamental Hong Kong.
The peak offers amazing views of the skyline, but it's best to become on a clear solar daytime to larn the best views. Unfortunately, Hong Kong's skyline is a piffling hazy due to pollution, together with thus clear days are few together with far between.
However, business office of the sense is getting to the peak via the tram, a seat-of-your pants ride, amongst a steep incline. The x infinitesimal journeying is to a greater extent than similar a white knuckle ride than a measure commute, but the trams security tape is spotless.
The tram offers adept views together with fifty-fifty stops mid point, for photograph opportunities or simply to give you lot the frights.
Once you lot attain the summit, apart from the views, at that spot is a shopping mall to explore along amongst a few restaurants together with java shops, together with fifty-fifty a Madame Tussaud's.
We decided to larn to the peak around 5pm together with remain until it gets dark, together with thus nosotros could truly appreciate the skyline. I would suggest doing this to larn the best views, but if you're going during winter, twine upwards warm every bit it is peculiarly cooler at that spot than on the mainland.
Things to exercise inward Hong Kong #2 - Admire Tian Tan, the Big Buddha
 |
| Big Buddha |
 |
| Bronze monuments environment the Big Buddha |
While Hong Kong boasts to a greater extent than skyscrapers than monuments, the Big Buddha is worth a look.
Otherwise known every bit Tian Tan, the Big Buddha is 1 of the world's largest Buddhas. It's made of bronze and sits atop the wood inward Lantau Island. As it's on the same isle every bit the airport, nosotros decided to see it on our lastly day, afterward storing our bags at the airport.
You tin larn to the Buddha inward 1 of 2 ways, either trammel inward a cab from the aerodrome together with become forthwith to the Buddha itself inward Ngong Ping, or get got the scenic road past times going to Tung Chung station and taking the 25-minute cable motorcar ride which takes you lot across the wood together with the North PRC sea, amongst breathtaking views along the way.
Ideally, pick a clear warm solar daytime for your Buddha visit. We didn't get got a choice, together with flora ourselves getting soaked together with freezing inward the cable car, which isn't watertight.
 |
| the sentiment from the rain-soaked cable car |
Whether you lot get got a taxi to the overstep or a cab through the sky, you'll larn into the village, which is essentially a commercialised tourist trap amongst shops, restaurants together with photograph opportunities.
I was hoping to reckon the strange monk that inhabits the village, but they perchance proceed away during busy times.
Anyway, you lot demand to scale a few steps earlier you lot attain the primary spectacle, Big Buddha, but it's good worth it for the views.
Though the large Buddha is a chip away from it all, it's worth a see if you lot desire to escape the bustle of the metropolis together with bask some tranquility.
Things to exercise inward Hong Kong #3 - Shop 'til you lot drib at the Temple street market
 |
| Temple Steet black market |
There are a release of black markets inward Hong Kong, but the Temple Street marketplace is arguably the most famous.
Selling everything from jade jewellery, to trinkets together with handbags, the Temple Street marketplace is worth simply visiting for the sense of bartering. Unlike Marrakech, where haggling tin destination inward an argument, inward Hong Kong you lot negotiate amongst a smile, together with should await to knock off around one-half their cry for price.
While much of the products are tat, at that spot are some squeamish pieces you lot tin pick up. Being a chip of a herbal tea together with oriental soup fiend, I bought a matching tea together with soup set, which could truly come upwards inward really handy dorsum home.
 |
| Oriental hauls |
Another matter I similar nearly the markets is the alter from regular shopping, inward both sense together with destination product.
Hong Kong is littered amongst shopping malls boasting Chanel, H together with M, together with Zara, but why you'd see the same shops you lot get got inward the U.K. is beyond me. So for a alter of scene, store at the black markets.
Things to exercise inward Hong Kong #3 - All aboard the Star Ferry
 |
| The Star Ferry |
The Star Ferry is 1 of the most economical experiences around. At a cost of around 2.5 Hong Kong Dollars (that's nearly 30p inward English linguistic communication money), the Star Ferry lets you lot go from isle to isle whilst beingness an sense inward itself, every bit you lot larn bully views of the harbour together with Hong Kong skyline at solar daytime or night.
things to exercise inward Hong Kong #4 - Get starstruck at the Avenue of the Stars
 |
| Bruce Lee |
 |
| The makeshift set |
While you lot mightiness non recognise all the names, it's worth a walk along the Avenue of the Stars. Hong Kong's equivalent to Hollywood's walk of fame, the avenue of the stars features a statue of Bruce Lee, handprints of Jackie Chan together with other famous faces of Chinese cinema. Good fun amongst enough of photograph opps.
Things to exercise inward Hong Kong #5 - Absorb some civilization at the Art museum
There are enough of museums, mainly Located inward Kowloon. We visited the arts museum, which at the fourth dimension was celebrated Chinese cinema. Worth a aspect for some contemporary culture.
Things to exercise inward Hong Kong #6 - Go walkabout
 |
| The Peak Tram |
Of course, together with thus much of Hong Kong is nearly it's impressive buildings together with metropolis skyline. The Square on Hong Kong Island is the pump of the financial hub together with has skyscraper builidngs to boot. HSBC together with the ICC edifice both offering bully views together with it's worth just walking around the expanse to get got it all in.
Tip! When getting around Hong Kong, I'd avoid the tram at peak times, i.e. betwixt 5pm-7.30pm. They don't get got a large capacity, together with thus you'll honour yourself waiting behind a queue of metropolis commuters. We had to hold off around twoscore minutes for 3 trams to become past times earlier nosotros finally got a seat. So during this fourth dimension trammel inward a cab or walk if your journey's non likewise far.
So that's my roundup of things to exercise inward Hong Kong, I hope it proves useful if you're planning a trip there. We alone spent 2 nights, together with thus I'm sure there's a lot nosotros didn't do! But if you've been, I'd dearest to hear your thoughts.