Places To Visit In Hong Kong
From the busy markets of Kowloon to the serenity of Lantau Island, Hong Kong is full of surprises.
Since the First Opium War of 1842, Hong Kong has remained a land of promise and adventure, first as a vibrant British trading post, and now a Chinese special administrative region. At its heart, it is a vibrant megacity, with a distinct architectural heritage immortalised by virtually every fictional cyberpunk metropolis from Blade Runner to Ghost in the Shell.
Its distinctive skyline forms a corridor along southern Kowloon's Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, where a 44-metre (144-foot) high clock tower memorialises the region's colonial past, beside the Avenue of Stars, paying tribute to the giants of Hong Kong cinema. Further inland, Nathan Road forms the spine of an eclectic mishmash of high-end luxury stores, enthusiastic restauranteurs, Bollywood-themed merchandise hawkers and Shanghainese tailors.
In the adjacent area of Yau Ma Tei is Temple Street, home not only to a Tin Hau temple, but the Night Market, a sprawling assortment of vendors and traders, featured in many a film. Street food is in no short supply, with piping-hot noodles and fresh seafood on hand to rejuvenate weary shoppers for a second wind of haggling.
Just north, in what was once the triad heartland of Mong Kok is the Ladies’ Market, awash with inexpensive clothes for both women and men, as well as gadgets, gizmos and all manner of delightful knick-knacks. While the nearby Tung Choi Street features an array of Chinese pubs, on the opposite side of Victoria Harbour, Wan Chai is marked by its distinct colonial-style bars a short trip from the upmarket restaurants, boutique art galleries and antique shops tucked along the historic streets of SoHo.
The city’s most exclusive postcode, The Peak, is aptly named, whether enjoyed aboard the charming Peak Tram (which has run since 1888) or from 428 metres (1,404 feet) above sea level atop Peak Tower. The area offers a vantage point to reflect on the island’s fascinating history.
However, there is much more to Hong Kong than just the city. In the east and northeast, New Territories is Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark, a marvel of the natural world, with hexagonal and twisted volcanic columns crawling upwards, alongside a coastline of volcanic rock.
At Central Star Ferry Pier, visitors can catch a ride out to Hong Kong’s southern Islands District. From the hiking trails, beach barbecues and rolling hills of Lamma Island to the bun-snatching festival of the tiny Cheung Chau, each of these laid-back isles is a testament to Hong Kong’s natural beauty and time-honoured traditions.
Hidden within the verdant mountains of Hong Kong’s largest outlying island, Lantau, Po Lin Monastery is given away by a curious landmark the enormous 34-metre (112-foot) tall, bronze ‘Big Buddha’. A pilgrimage site for Buddhists across Asia, the statue sits atop 268 steps, with a peaceful garden and a vegetarian restaurant to boot. Elsewhere, 38 monuments are aligned in an infinity pattern, adorned with the Heart Sutra in Chinese calligraphy forming Wisdom Path. On the western side of the island is Tai O Fishing Village, a rare collection of traditional stilt houses, with a fish market, cafés and restaurants.