Top 10 places to visit in Hong Kong

The best things to do in Hong Kong range from exciting to mysterious and fascinating. Here's how to really experience its vibrant, intoxicating vibe

Explore Man Mo Temple

Located on Hollywood Road, Man Mo Temple is one of the oldest temples on the island, dating back to the 1840s. Visitors are faced with thick smoke from incense candles, and incense sticks hanging from the ceiling. The gilded saloon on the left side of the temple was once used to transport statues of temple deities in religious processions. The statues in the main hall represent Wenchang, the god of literature, and Motai, the god of war and justice. Worshippers continue their rituals undisturbed by tourists. On the right side of the hall, a fortune teller can offer advice. Take a stroll (and look to the future) for yourself on a luxury Hong Kong vacation from Insight Guides.

Experience Hong Kong's Traditions

The boundary between Central and Sheung Wan is roughly located on Aberdeen Street, to the west is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Hong Kong, and the narrow streets hide a series of traditional shops. Opposite the Macau Ferry Terminal, you'll find the Western Market, a former wet market built in 1906 and now home to gift shops, cafes and fabric stalls. Interesting glimpses of small and family-owned shops, walking down Jervois Street, Bonham Strand, Mercer, Hillier and Cleverly Streets. Man Wa Lane is dedicated to artisans who make traditional Chinese stamps or seals, as well as modern grocery stores, printers, flower shops and cafes elsewhere in between, old-fashioned tea, noodle and rice merchants, shops selling bamboo steamers and pottery for casseroles jars, or Chinese-style sweets, nuts and snacks, as well as plenty of dried seafood, herbs and medicines.

To the west of Sheung Wan Point, a constantly bustling open-air plaza for shopping and deliveries, merchandise trade in traditional Chinese medicine and gourmet food begins to dominate. Wing Lok Street, Bonham East Street and Ko Shing Street, in particular, are shops for bird nests, dried abalone, dried herbs, roots and fungi, ginseng, and the disturbing shark fin.

Explore the dramatic landscapes of the New Territories

The New Territories can be explored via bus and subway networks, including the Land Light Rail Transit (LRT) system connecting western towns and estates. Roadmaps for stops and stops are bilingual, and the Octopus card makes it easy. Green New Territories taxis are also an option. The Hong Kong Tourism Board's Land Between and Heritage tours are a great way to cover a lot of places in a short amount of time. Alternatively, Insight Guides' Island Insights vacation includes a morning excursion with a stop at a nearby wetland park.

Remote areas in the New Territories and parts of Lantau Island are ideal places for bird watchers. Hundreds of species have been recorded, from everyday egrets and amusing cockatoos to myriads and pelicans. Saigon Peninsula Nature Reserve offers many hiking trails for nature lovers. Wildlife and its habitats are threatened as civilization erodes, but with thousands of monkeys living in the mountains surrounding the Kowloon Reservoir, you'll still encounter barking deer, wild boar, porcupine, civet cats and scaly ant-eaters beast. In the wilderness, you might also stumble upon a banded strait, a cobra, or some other terrifying snake. While sightings are common, they are rare.

The Big Buddha near Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island is a must.

Marvel at the Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau Island

The most famous site on Lantau Island is the world's tallest bronze statue of a sitting Buddha, the 22-meter Tian Tan Buddha. Take a bus from Mui Wo (No. 2) to get to the "Big Buddha", or if the weather is calm, you can board the Ngong Ping 360 cable car near Tung Chung MTR and bus stops for stunning views of Lantau. On a clear day, the 25-minute journey to Lantau is spectacular, and the intrepid can travel in cabins with glass floors. The journey ends in the beautiful village of Ngong Ping, where new but attractive Ming Dynasty-style buildings, a Chinese tea house and two multimedia theatres tell the story of the Buddha. If you want to escape the crowds, follow the Wisdom Trail or steep trail near Ngong Ping to Lantau Island (934m), the second highest mountain in Hong Kong. Nearby is the Baolian Temple, 268 steps from the Tian Tan Buddha, and the scenery is unobstructed. The monastery is strictly vegetarian and warns visitors not to bring any meat.

Island of Cheung Chau

The small crowded Cheung Chau Island (about 2.5 square kilometers/1 square mile) about 10 kilometers west of Hong Kong. More than 25,000 people live here, many of them fishermen, but there is also a community of expats drawn to the laid-back Mediterranean vibe. Cheung Chau becomes the center of Hong Kong people's life once a year, usually in May, which is a folk carnival. For the rest of the year, life here continues at its accustomed pace: rickety machines wreak havoc in the two-man factory, children in school uniforms are sent home to their houseboats and elderly fishermen churning shrimp paste.

Through the official sights, the Pak Tei Temple, built in 1783, has some fine carvings and an iron sword said to be 600 years old. Pak Tai means "ruler of the north" and he is usually represented in a seated position with his feet resting on turtles and snakes. The statue is believed to have saved the village from the plague in the 18th century. From the main townships of Cheung Chau, you can walk along the Harbour Road (15 minutes) or the scenic Peak Road (45 minutes) to Sheng Wai Village, where there is a temple dedicated to Tian Hou, the goddess of the sea and protection. Fishermen You can also take the best, or water taxi from the pier next to the ferry terminal.

Praya, the promenade in front of the ferry terminal, is a great place to observe the sailboats and fishing boats in the port. There are also several open-air restaurants where you can enjoy fresh seafood. On the other side of the island, at the end of East Bay Road, is the popular East Bay Beach. Along the headland there is also Guanyinwan Beach, where you can rent boards from the windsurfing center.

shop till you fall

Hong Kong loves to shop, so if you love shopping too, you will love Hong Kong. Even if you don't like the temptation of shopping gods, you can still enjoy the city's colorful markets and appreciate the efficiency of its air-conditioned malls (especially on a hot day, or the contrast and convenience of luxury brands) "Huge flagship store distance Market stalls and alleys are just a stone's throw away selling drop-price second hands and gadgets. A perpetual browser will find many fascinating alleys to explore, there are so many worthwhile, determined bargain hunters will always be rewarded.

The main shopping areas are Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon, especially the roads of Guangzhou and Nathan Road; Central and Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island; the markets of Wan Chai and Mong Kok are for bargains rather than quality; and the antiques area of ​​Hollywood Road.

Look for Hong Kong's own Lane Crawford, a very upscale store with branches in Pacific Place, IFC Mall and Harbour City; Central Wing On, one of Hong Kong's oldest; The Landmark in the UK and Harvey Nichols of the Marks & Spencer branch; and Japanese stores, Sogo and Seibu. shopping mall. Hong Kong is full of huge malls dedicated to shopping, eating and entertainment. Harbour City, west of the Star Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, is one of the largest port cities; elements above the Kowloon MTR are expansive but quieter than most; IFC Mall and The Landmark in Central have major designer brands; Pacific Place in Admiralty has Luxury and mid-range brands; 16 floors of spending opportunities in Times Square, Causeway Bay.

Strolling through the impressive modern architecture is another not-to-be-missed thing in Hong Kong.

Ride the Star Ferry

No matter how many tunnels and traffic systems speed up cross-sea traffic, taking the Star Ferry from Kowloon to Central on Hong Kong Island is as simple as taking Victoria Harbour. As the green-and-white double-decker was about to leave the dock, the bell rang, the gangway was raised, and the people on deck were the big ropes. At the seven-minute crossing, the ferry crosses obstacle courses of ships large and small, while the towering skyline of Hong Kong Island gets closer.

Thanks to land reclamation, the Star Ferry Terminal is closer than ever. On the "Hong Kong side", the Edwardian Central Wharf at Pier 7 opened in 2006, close to the Airport Express Hong Kong Station and the IFC, which includes the Four Seasons Hotel, IFC Mall and two IFCs, the second highest location in Hong Kong 420 meters,

Then stroll through the glittering skyscrapers

Walkways and footbridges connect all major buildings in Central. From the IFC, you can stroll through Central's historic Battery Path, Admiralty Pacific Place or Sheung Wan Western Market, or connect to one of Hong Kong's daily curiosities, the 800-meter outdoor Central-level escalator.

The IFC mall is connected to Exchange Square, where the Hong Kong Stock Exchange is located. A few minutes east along the sidewalk is the General Post Office, which has a philatelic display. Across the road is the 52-storey Jardine House, with porthole-shaped windows and an underpass on the left that takes you to Statue Square. On the east side of the square is the business district, one of the few colonial buildings left from the former Supreme Court (1912).

From Statue Square and Chater Gardens, look skyward for some contrasting modern architectural landmarks. Most famous is the striking 70-storey I.M. Pei-designed Bank of China Tower, unloved by Hong Kongers - its triangular prisms and sharp angles defy the principles of feng shui, and its radio masts resemble insect antennae stand up. The rival HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building is run by Norman Foster; built on "hangers", its floors are suspended rather than raised. From inside the huge atrium, you can see the entire structure as well as the mechanical work of the building. Two bronze lions, Stephen and Steer (nicknamed the early HSBC Shanghai managers), cast in 1935, guard the entrance and enhance the bank's feng shui.

Take the tram to the top of Mount Taiping

The most exhilarating way to reach Mount Taiping (552m) is via the funicular. Peak Tram 7 starts at the U.S. Consulate on Garden Route through the street and the scenery around the corner and follows a very steep ramp to the upper terminus at 398 meters past luxury apartment blocks, bamboo groves and jungle flowers. The Peak Tram was originally steam-powered and designed to accelerate the retreat of wealthy Taipan boats to the mountainside. Until then, sedans and rickshaws were the only way out. Since the tram was inaugurated in 1888, it has stopped running for typhoons and World War II.

A modern 120-person car ride takes about 8 minutes. However, on sunny weekends and public holidays, you may have to queue at the lower terminal. The upper terminus leads to the lower level of the hilltop tower, a unique building that houses many shops and numerous dining options. Entertainment includes interactive games at the EA Experience, Madame Tussauds and a spectacular viewing terrace with 360-degree views of Hong Kong.

Walk along the Peak Circle Walk along the Lugard and Harlech roads, offering stunning views of Hong Kong, the coastline and the islands in 45 minutes. The view at night is especially stunning. If you're climbing, take the Governor's Walk, which leads to the stunning Victoria Peak Gardens. They used to belong to the governor's mountain hut, but the building was demolished by the Japanese during the war.

Don't miss the summit of Victoria Peak when you ascend the Peak Tram.

Try the steep climb Man Fat Tze

Shatin is a good stop before or after entering the New Territories countryside. Its biggest attraction is the Wanfo Temple (also known as Wanfa Pavilion) located on the main hillside of Sha Tin New Town. Follow the signs for Pai Tau Street at Sha Tin MTR Station and start climbing 500 steps towards the monastery.

Legions of small gilded statues of Buddha (12,800 of them) line the walls of the altar room. The monastery was founded in 1957 by Yuet Kai, who died in 1965 at the age of 87. He had predicted that if he were crouched behind the temple, his body would not disintegrate. Indeed, when his body was exhumed eight months later, it was still in excellent condition. His body was covered in gold leaf and placed in a building on the second floor. You can climb to the top of the nine-story pagoda for panoramic views.

From the monastery you can see Lion Rock (495 meters), shaped like a lion waiting, and at Saigon Rock, a small rock seafood selection formed called Amah, which is actually a pile of rocks similar to a woman holding a baby on her back on the sling. Legend has it that a local woman climbed a mountain every day to watch her husband return from the sea; one day, the wife and her children were stoned as permanent symbols of her enduring faith. Lion Rock Country Park is a 5.57 sq km (2 sq mi) forested hill between Sha Tin and Kowloon that can be accessed along Stage 5 of the McHawse Walk or slightly