10 Best Things to do in Hong Kong from a local 19-year-old

10 Best Things to do in Hong Kong from a local 19-year-old

I’ve seen many Hong Kong travel guides telling you famous places that you ‘need to go or else you’ll feel ‘left out, but have you ever wondered what a local teenager would recommend?

Well, you’re in luck. Let me share my top 10 favourite places in Hong Kong. (I’ve not ranked them in any particular order, and some of these places are not as well known as others).

1. Disneyland

This place would be on your travel guide. When my friends and I were young, we used to buy these annual passes to go to Disney during the holidays. The queues are long, and the weather is boiling during the summer, but the wait is always worth it.

2. Inspiration Lake Recreation Centre

You might not know that next to Disneyland is a place where you rent a bicycle, go paddling, and have picnics. There’s also a playground for little kids and public gym equipment (It’s very common to see gym equipment in Hong Kong parks, they’re shared and accessible for everyone).

3. Ocean Park

Another amusement park you might see in your travel guide, but it’s just one of those places you have to go. I enjoy Ocean Park more than Disneyland because they have better rides, but some may disagree. Also, if you’ve never seen a panda, this is your chance.

4. Sai Kung

This place smells like fish (and dog poo), but it‘s a great place for the weekends. Get a ferry to one of the beaches (I go to Trio Beach a lot) and eat in those Chinese seafood restaurants. You can also go to the swimming pools (The government owns them, so it’s very cheap), and there are water slides. There is also a sports ground (free to enter).

5. Dragon Centre in Sham Shui Po

Not a scenic attraction, but it’s a common hangout place to go after school. In this shopping centre, each business owner owns a cubicle. There’s usually stationary, slime, keychains, accessories, etc. There’s also an ice rink there, so feel free to skate, but people typically go to the ice rink in Kowloon Tong or Mega Box instead because it’s fancier.

6. Lion Rock Hike

I used to volunteer to go hiking with children every month, and Lion Rock has one of the best views. It takes around 2–3 hours to finish, and it is pretty steep (hence the lovely view). Hike Difficulty is a 6.5/10. If this hill isn’t hard enough for you, check out the other hills, Tai Mo Shan and Pat Sin Leng.

7. Big Buddha (Ngong Ping 360)

Get a cable car (or hike up that hill) to see the infamous statue. The Tian Tan Buddha is 112 feet and weighs over 200 tons. Nearby attractions include the Po Lin Monastery, Wisdom Path and Ngong Ping Piazza.

8. Victoria Harbour

Enjoy the night views and witness the annual fireworks during the New year and Chinese New Year. It’s located in Tsim Sha Tsui, one of the busiest stations in Hong Kong. Near Victoria Harbour is the Observation Wheel. Not many people I know have gone up there, but it’s 60 metres high and can comfortably seat eight passengers.

9. Lan Kwai Fong

I’ve personally not been there a lot, but it’s one of the best places to go if you enjoy partying. It’s the main nightlife in the city. The area is full of bars, clubs, and shisha bars. Drinks are cheap, and the nights out are wild, especially during Halloween and New Year’s Eve.

10. Lamma Island

There are fishing villages, temples, beaches, cafes and bars. It’s a nice weekend day out with your family, and you’ll see a lot of locals on a Sunday. There’s also a Tin Hau temple. Tin Hau is the Goddess of the Sea, and islanders celebrate the birthday of Tin Hau with Cantonese opera performances, dragon boats, and sampan races. Every Hong Kong kid’s grandma loves Cantonese operas, so you should experience watching them.

Let me know if you visit or have visited these places, and have fun in Hong Kong. You’ll love it there!