Yet Another "Going Here, What Do I Need To See" thread - Hong Kong Edition

Hey Folks,

I’m heading to Hong Kong in May for about a week, and am looking for the straight dope on what to see and do! This is my first trip outside of the US, excluding Mexico, so advice on customs, surviving 24 hours of travel, jet lag, typical Western behaviors that don’t fly in the East etc. would also be greatly appreciated!

But mainly, I’m looking for “gotta sees.” Historical landmarks. Great restaurants. Touristy stuff. Non-touristy stuff. Cool things to have pictures made with yours truely in the front grinning like an idiot. Things, that when I come back, I can relate to other people and have them say in their best Keanu Reeves voice, “Woah…” Unfortunately I’m not likely to make it into mainland China, so that cuts down on some landmarks, but anything HK is a go!

Thanks,

EZ

You would think after 18 years of living there i could give a better answer in a thread like this. But I cant. So I’ll try and cover the bits I do know.

Immigration: Visa on arrival for at least two weeks with an onward ticket so nothing to worry about.

Customs: They really dont care if you have nothing to declare. 99% of people are waived through. You may be asked to open a suitcase but thats it.

Getting into town: The new airport is located a fair bit out of town and the fastest way in to Central Hong Kong is on the Airport Express which is a shuttle train service from the airport to the center of town. Trains depart every 15 minutes and a single ticket costs HK$ 100. I think you can get a return for $150 though with one month validity period. Lots of the major hotels provide shuttle buses from the Airport Express stations to the Hotels, but if thats not available taxis are in free circulation.

Places to See: I would reccomend Po Lin Monastry on Lan Tau Island and the night market in Mong Kok. Stanley and specifically Stanley Market may be worth a visit but the place is really touristy and It perhaps really is running on the hype of yesteryear. You have to take the Star Ferry. You’ll probably run into the ‘Central Escalator’ on the way to Soho, though i dont think it qualifies as a sight by itself

Restaurants and nightlife really isnt my speciality but the hip areas are Soho and Wanchai and Lan Kwai Fong. A Doper more aquainted with that side will have to fill out rest.

Get an Octopus card. You can buy them from a machine at the airport and at the train and subways station. It’s a card that you load up with cash value ahead of time and you can then wave it in front of the sensor to ride the Airport Express, the subways, trains, some buses and you can even use it at 7-11 and other places I am forgetting.

I second the monastary, there is the big buddha statue there. If you’re looking just to absorb some culture the fishing villiage of Tai O on Lantau island can be an interesting time also.

The Mong Kock market is very interesting (as long as you don’t mind crowds).

When I was there I spent a lot of time just wandering about. Saw some templed (the Man Mo temple in the Central district, lots of good shopping there and the Wan Chai temple in Wan Chai).

The octopus card is a good idea and you can get to a lot of fascinating places right off of the subway system (I forget if it’s the MTR or MRT one is SIngapore the other Hong Kong).

While I was there it was CHinese New Year so for part of the time the city was shut down and for the other part there were parades and markets everywhere.

Not sure what else to reccomend, I usually just love shopping at local markets and seeing daily life while places.

Feel free to read my on-line guide .

I agree with BurnMeUp that just wandering round and seeing how people live is the best thing to do in many places, especially HK. There are a few landmarks (the Buddha, the Peak, etc). And there is some surprisingly stunning countryside. But the most interesting thing is to explore neighborhoods on foot. The back streets in all the older sections are great (Western, Sheung Wan, Wanchai, North Point, Mongkok). Old markets, shops selling dried seafood, funeral products, etc, etc.

Also, explore by bus. Get an Octupus card and just get on double-decker buses, sit on top and watch the world go by. Don’t worry about where you’re going. When you get to the terminus at the end, just get off, nose around, and go back. Great fun.

Go to Macau for a day, too (passport needed).

I love the view from the Peak, and a day trip to Macau is a must. Take the boat, and no extra visa required.

Star Ferry
Macau
The dim sum place in Kowloon that gave me the runs.

Macau is a great trip - an hour by ferry, which run all night, takes you to a more leisurely, cheaper version of HK, which still retains a flavour of Portugal - you can legally gamble there too.
If you get a chance you should come to Sai Kung - a seaside town about an hour by minibus out of the city. It is surrounded by country park and the town itself has many great restaurants. Best to come on a weekday, though. Weekends get busy.
There are many outlying islands to visit. Lamma: Bohemian-ish, Lantau: Good for walks & the Big Buddha. Peng Chau or Cheung Chau: Small island communities worth a look.
I’ll have a look and see what’s on in May.

Too bad you couldn’t come here earlier, 'coz you’re missing the Sevens (rugby Sevens that is, a mad 3-day party)!

Visit Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui (take the Star Ferry from Central - assuming that’s where you’ll stay), Wan Chai, have a walk around Central (and visit Lan Kwai Fong at night). Don’t worry about transport since HK has a superb system.

Food, well, you can get pretty much anything and everything here. Check out the Soho area above Central and you’ll have plenty of restaurants to choose from.

Drop me an email if you need anything else.