My Top 10 Things to Do In Hong Kong
Exciting and exotic Hong Kong – with its rich history and fascinating culture and its unique status as a place where east meets west – has long been a fascination to me.
So, for a few days in September – as the backpacking husband and I were already in Macau – the Las Vegas of Asia – we took the one-hour high-speed ferry over to spend five days and nights in Hong Kong.
Although – you’ll see from my photos – we were visiting in the wake of a typhoon that had hit both Macau and Hong Kong.
September is still officially in the typhoon season and the weather was sometimes cloudy and a little wet, as you’ll see in my photos.
But it didn’t stop us from having the most fabulous time exploring Hong Kong!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- My Top 10 Things to Do In Hong Kong
- WHERE TO STAY IN HONG KONG
- EXPLORING HONG KONG
- MY TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN HONG KONG
- HOW MANY DAYS TO SPEND IN HONG KONG?
- THE BEST TIME TO VISIT HONG KONG
- GO TO MACAU
WHERE TO STAY IN HONG KONG
We stayed for five nights in Hong Kong in a great location close to Times Square at The Holiday Inn Express Causeway Bay.
We found and booked our Holiday Inn Hotel using Booking Dotcom.
The interactive map of Hong Kong Island shows available accommodations including The Holiday Inn Express.
FIND YOUR PERFECT PLACE TO STAY IN HONG KONG USING THIS INTERACTIVE MAP
EXPLORING HONG KONG
The first thing we did after checking in was to put on comfortable shoes for a sightseeing walk.
We love walking and do believe it’s the very best way to see the sights and attractions of any city but especially Hong Kong.
This is my list of Top 10 Things To Do In Hong Kong!
MY TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN HONG KONG
WALKING
Getting around on foot allowed us and to browse the shops and markets and street food stalls of Hong Kong.
We walked the 3km (just under 2 miles) from Causeway to Victoria Harbour but if you don’t want to walk that far – especially if you are visiting in the summer when it is hot and very humid – there are plenty of easy transport options available to you.
The transport system around the city is really good with a constant stream of buses and trams and trains and subway trains and taxis and boats to take you quickly and easily to wherever you want to go.
RIDE A DING DING
We loved riding the Ding Ding! In Hong Kong, the term “ding ding” typically refers to the distinctive retro look green and white double-decker trams that are an iconic mode of public transportation in the city.
These trams have been operating in Hong Kong since the early 20th century and the nickname is derived from the sound of the bell used to signal their approach or departure.
We often hopped onto a Ding Ding when heading back to our hotel.
Great fun and a worthy experience on my list of Top 10 Things To Do In Hong Kong!
EAT DIM SUM
Feeling hungry, we found a restaurant called Dim Sum Square. We actually went twice as they had the best dim sum we’d ever tasted.
As you might expect, the best dim sum is in Hong Kong!
We also drank Yum Cha Chinese tea in a tea house and ate at several other small restaurants – not the fancy western ones or hotel linked ones – but the Cha Chaan Teng in the side streets where locals eat and where we found the food delicious, authentic, and reasonably priced.
I’m normally quite adventurous with food and I was excited to see a fabulous meld of Cantonese and Hong Kong foods on offer.
I was also fascinated to see the various bugs and insects and sea creatures and unusual parts of animals that were being cooked and eaten in Hong Kong.
But I have to admit that I couldn’t bring myself to try them.
I stuck to dim sum, clay pot rice, shrimp, chicken, roast duck and goose, etc, instead!
Another aspect of Hong Kong that fascinated and appalled me in equal measures, were the traditional Chinese medicine shops, selling very strange things as tonics and remedies.
I have photos but won’t go into the details.
THE STAR FERRY
The next exciting and iconic thing in my list of Top 10 Things To Do In Hong Kong is to take the famous and charming Star Ferry boat across Victoria Harbour to Kowloon.
It’s a fabulous way to experience a beloved and iconic ferry that has been in operation since 1888 and the most inexpensive way to see the famous Hong Kong cityscape.
GO TO KOWLOON
We spent some time on Kowloon Island, once again exploring extensively on foot, until we eventually ended up at the famous Temple Street Market.
GO TO A TRADITIONAL MARKET
The traditional markets of Hong Kong are fabulous cultural experiences.
The most famous are The Ladies’ Market (Tung Choi Street Market) in the bustling district of Mong Kok. Known for its lively atmosphere, this market offers a wide array of goods, including clothing, accessories, toys, and souvenirs.
Then there is Stanley Market located in the picturesque Stanley area.
The market offers a mix of stalls selling clothing, accessories, artwork, and souvenirs.
Operating primarily in the evening, Temple Street Night Market is the last remaining example of a traditional market in Hong Kong. It is famous for its lively atmosphere and street food and traditional Chinese crafts.
Temple Market is also the star of many a movie.
It’s every moviemaker’s ideal China Town!
We took the Star Ferry over to Kowloon to explore the Temple Street Night Market.
Returning after dark, we used the MRT for a short convenient train journey of just 3 minutes back to Hong Kong Station.
VICTORIA PEAK
Another of my very favourite things to do in Top 10 Things To Do In Hong Kong was to visit The Peak using The Peak Tram.
Not only will the tram take you to the top of Victoria Peak – to the Sky Terrace and a 360 degree fabulous view over the whole of Hong Kong and its skyscrapers, the harbour, and all the surrounding islands – but you get there on the world steepest funicular railway.
It was an amazing experience.
And the views – oh my goodness – they are truly breath-taking!
SAIL A JUNK IN THE HARBOUR
On our last night in Hong Kong, we did something so memorable and so iconic and so amazing, that I will forever hold the experience dear to my heart.
We boarded an old junk boat – an old traditional sailing boat with billowing red sails – to cruise out into Victoria Harbour after dark to watch the spectacular Hong Kong lightshow from the best vantage point possible.
The lightshow was incredible and the cruise experience so romantic!
THE SYMPHONY OF LIGHTS
The Symphony of Lights is a spectacular light show set to music and colourful lasers and spotlights and LED screens flashing and streaking across all the tall shiny glass and steel buildings around both sides of the harbour.
The Symphony of Lights is now recognised as a signature icon for Hong Kong.
It happens every night at 8pm and is simply stunning!
INTERESTING ASPECTS OF HONG KONG
Special Administrative Region: Hong Kong has a unique status as a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China and is located on the southern coast of China.
History: Hong Kong was a British colony from 1842 until 1997.
Handover to China: On July 1, 1997, sovereignty over Hong Kong was transferred back to China under the principle of “one country, two systems.”
This arrangement was meant to guarantee Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy for its capitalist economic system and its legal system separate from that of mainland China.
Key sectors include finance, trade, logistics, and professional services.
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is one of the largest in the world.
The Special Arrangement was intended to remain in place until 2047.
In recent years, there have been concerns about the erosion of Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedoms, leading to protests and tensions between pro-democracy activists and the Chinese government.
It’s important to note that the situation in Hong Kong is dynamic and I recommend you check latest sources for the most up-to-date information.
The currency of Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Dollar abbreviated as HKD or HK$.
HOW MANY DAYS TO SPEND IN HONG KONG?
If you visit Hong Kong for just a few days (5 nights) as we did, I hope you’ll find my guide useful to you.
There is, however, so much more to do in Hong Kong that a longer stay could easily be warranted.
I hope to one day return to take in the temples and theme parks and museums and the shows and to visit the Sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck on the 100th floor of the tallest building in Hong Kong.
Klook.comTHE BEST TIME TO VISIT HONG KONG
Hong Kong is a bustling city that attracts visitors year-round.
It’s a good idea to check for any major festivals or events that may influence your travel plans, and do always monitor weather forecasts, especially during typhoon season.
We visited at the end of summer – in early September – in the wake of a powerful typhoon!
Spring (March to April): Spring is a great time to visit as temperatures are mild, ranging from 18°C to 26°C (64°F to 79°F). It’s not too hot or humid, and the city is often covered in beautiful blooms.
Autumn (October to early December): Similar to spring, autumn/fall offers mild temperatures and lower humidity, making it an ideal time to explore the city. Temperatures range from 19°C to 28°C (66°F to 82°F).
Winter (December to February): Hong Kong experiences a mild winter with temperatures ranging from 12°C to 20°C (54°F to 68°F). While it’s not extremely cold, it can be cool, and there may be occasional fog.
Summer (May to September): Summer is hot and humid in Hong Kong, with temperatures ranging from 26°C to 31°C (79°F to 88°F). It’s also the typhoon season, with the highest chance of tropical storms and heavy rainfall.
MY TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN HONG KONG
After enjoying my Top 10 Things to Do In Hong Kong my next recommendation is:
GO TO MACAU
Hong Kong is part of the Greater Bay Area, along with Macao and nine municipalities in southern China’s Guangdong Province.
So, as an exciting addition to a trip to Hong Kong, I would also highly recommend visiting neighbouring Macau, for just a couple of fun nights.
As I mentioned, it’s just an hour away from Hong Kong by high-speed ferry, and it is quite surreal in its similarity to Las Vegas USA with its themed hotels and resorts and casinos and fabulous shows and dining options.
You might like to find out more in my post on Macau – The Las Vegas of Asia.
I will forever hold our visit to Hong Kong in my heart.
It is a wonderful, romantic, exciting, and memorable city.
Have you been to Hong Kong?
Is it on your bucket list?
Let me know? I’d be delighted to hear from you!
Contact me or leave a comment below.
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