Month: August 2020

Welcome to the world’s 1st destination.

You plan to go to Hong-Kong and realize the city is massive.

You quickly get lost & wonder what you will do of the time you have at hand.

This is what you can do.

A quick review of our article’s content:

• View Hong Kong from the Victoria Peak
• Go along the City’s stream on the Star Ferry
• Enter Kowloon’s Temple Street
• Ride on Lantau island
• Visit the Tian Tan Buddha
• Wander around Sham Shui Po
• Enter the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery
• Dive in Hong Kong Ocean Park
• Admire Tsim Sha Tsui’s Waterfront
• Walk along the Dragon’s Back

View Hong Kong from the Victoria Peak

Welcome to the world’s 1st destination.

• Start your trip with Hong Kong’s number 1 attraction.
• Take the Peak Tram, the city’s oldest mode of public transport, all the way to the many vantage points.
• The regular round-trip ticket‘s price is HK $52.
• The reduced price (children and seniors) is HK $23.
• Another option is to take a bus or a taxi to get to the top, since the Tram may be crowded. 
• 2 of the main bus lines are the bus 15 and the mini-bus 1.
• The bus 15 starts from Pier 5 or Exchange Square, Central.
• The mini-bus 1 starts in City Hall, Central.
• Both will bring you directly to the Peak.

• You have reached at the top of Hong Kong.
• Enjoy the view over the city’s dense skyline.
• Admire the waterway as well as the outlying islands to the south.
• Or move to the green hills of the distant New Territories. 

• 3 main vantage points: the Peak Tower, Sky Terrace 428 & the Peak Galleria.
• The Peak Galleria’s deck is free of charge.
• The access to the Sky Terrace will cost you HK$52 (Reduced HK$26).
• It is the highest 360 viewing terrace of the City.
• Enjoy many of the dining and shopping options. 
• Don’t forget to check the weather before going.
• Reviewers on Trip Advisor suggest that when The Peak is foggy you won’t be able to see the city at all.

• The Peak Tram
  • 7 am to 10 pm (Mon – Sun & Public Holidays)
  • Service frequency: every 15-20 mins
• The Peak Tower 
  • 10 am to 10 pm (Mon – Fri)
  • 8 am to 10 pm (Sat, Sun & Public Holidays)
• Sky Terrace 428
  • 10 am to 9 pm (Mon – Fri)
  • 8 am to 9 pm (Sat, Sun & Public Holidays)

Go along the City’s stream on the Star Ferry

Visiting Hong Kong on a boat?
Yes…

• Ride by night, if you want to take pictures.
• Or on a sunny day where you can stand on the top deck while moving at a pace where you can capture everything you see.
• It’s relaxed.
• The journey frames the entire city’s skyline.
• The ticket is cheap but not the view.

• Planning a party trip?
• You can hire the ferry for a special event:
• Wedding cocktails, private parties, corporate events, new product launches, etc.
• 4 options are available : “World Star”, ”Shining Star”, ”Meridian Star” and “Classic Ferry”.

• Time & Trajet
• The boats are available every day.
• The Star Ferry Company shuttles passengers from its pier to Hong Kong Island.
• Departure : Tsim Sha Tsui pier on the Kowloon Peninsula.
• 2 arrivals : the Central pier or the Wan Chai pier on the Hong Kong Island. 

• The Fare displayed is for the top deck.
• The regular ticket is $2.7 on weekdays & $3.7 on weekends/holidays.
• The reduced ticket is $1.6 on weekdays & $2.2 on weekends/holidays.
• Tip for parents: Two children with height less than 95 cm, accompanied by a fare-paying passenger and not occupying a seat can travel free of charge on regular services.
• It is free of charge for Seniors, under presentation of a senior card.

• Full Timetable & Fare table

• Trip Advisor’s certificate of excellency since 2015.

Enter Kowloon’s Temple Street

• We recommend to take a look at the whole Kowloon market during the day, not only the temple market.
• A huge variety of products from all of eastern Asia.
• Wherever you are looking for practicalities or oddities and are quite price-conscious you will be served well.

Ride on Lantau island

• Before climbing the stairs to the Tian Tan Buddha, travel over Lantau Island on the Ngong Ping 360, a floating creature of metal & glass.
• Admire Lantau’s luxuriant mantle.
• In last resort, you could take a bus or a taxi. 
• Although, you’d miss the opportunity to be suspended high above the ground.

• It is highly popular since the cable car itself is an attraction.
• Therefore booking your Ngong Ping 360 ticket in advance is the best choice.
• You can opt for the Standard Cabin.
  • Regular is HK$235, child HK$110 & senior HK$155.
• Or extend your point of view with the crystal cabin, which has a glass bottom.
  • Regular HK$315, child HK$190 & senior HK$235.

• Private cabins are also available.
• The Standard Cabin fee is HK$3,800 per cabin & HK$4,500 per cabin for the Crystal version.
• It may be a valuable option if you came as a group.
• The private cabin formula also includes the Walking with Buddha attraction (detailed in the next section).

• The other attraction of the NP360 is the Motion 360.
• The Motion 360 is a senses enhancing cinema experience.
• The movie projected will immerse all your senses in a seat-wrecking journey.
• 2 shows are available:
  • Walking with Budha(next section)
  • Learn to fly with  Xiaoding & Taotao in Little Ants Adventure.
    • Ride an invisible spaceship over the head of the Tian Tan Budha down to seas depths to visit the Chinese Pink Dolphin in Discover Lantau.
• At the end of the ride get some gifts at the Motion 360 Souvenir Shop in the Ngong Ping Village.

Visit the Tian Tan Buddha

• At only 10 min on feet of Ngong Ping Village sits the Tian Tin Buddha.
• This statue is the depiction of the founder of Buddhism, Shakyamuni Buddha, jewel of Hong-Kong & protector of main land China.
• It is the world’s second largest outdoor bronze seated Buddha.
• It reposes on a lotus throne, the “Altar of Heaven”, situated on a mountaintop.
• Which means landscapes shots for your eyes & cameras.
• The view is great during the day, but at night the crepuscular views bring a contrasting atmosphere and after night fall the statue is enlightened.
• The stairs can be a little rough but climbing them slowly gives you the opportunity to admire the landscape, making every break enjoyable.

Attraction : Walking with Buddha.

• The story of the revelation through which Siddhartha Gautama reached enlightenment.
• The story begins with a short video in the courtyard.
• “Who am I and why am I here?” is the question whose this story will answer.
• You will next walk through a path consisting of 3 steps.
• The “palace” step is an introductory video projected into the courtyard depicting the palace life of Siddhartha Gautama, his pondering & his departure.
• The “temple” step is the pondering step.
  • Pick a Bodhi leaf, read the words & think.
  • Then send back the leaf to the Buddha.
• The last step is the forest & the “Path of Enlightenment”.
  • Here you will be presented the origins of Buddhism & the way it spread through the world.
• The walk can be a little demanding.
• Therefore, Ngong Ping 360 Limited advises that you assess if you are actually fit for it prior to the ticket buying.

• Schedule
  • From 11am to 5pm on Weekdays.
  • And from 10am to 5:40pm on Weekends & Public Holidays.
  • The attraction lasts 20 minutes.
• Fare
  • The Adult ticket is HK$40.
  • The Child ticket (3-11) is HK$20.
  • The Senior ticket is HK$28.

Wander around Sham Shui Po

• The sightseeing opportunities are numerous in Sham Sui Po and its vicinity.
• You can find a diversity of buildings retracing the architectural history of Hong-Kong.
• As the Maryknoll Convent School, one of the prestigious schools of Hong Kong.
  • Opened in 1920s, this institution is delivering education up to this day.
• In another vein, you can find many artisans & crafter markets that you can visit just for the sights.
• In fact, whole streets can be dedicated to a single product such as:
  • The Nam Cheong Street for Ribbon.
  • The Ki Lung Street for Buttons.
  • The Tai Nan Street for Leather.
• Subsequently, you will find many traditional fabriques.

• A plethora of shops from historical fabriques to flea markets.
• You don’t have to buy anything to have a good time around.
• But the colors & the odors will probably make you want to buy something, like…

• Computer parts?
• The Golden Shopping Centre is historically the centre of computer shopping in Hong Kong.
• If you are looking for latest PCs, laptops, phones and tablets, you’re where you’re supposed to be. 
• The Golden Computer Arcade’s entry is near Exit D2 of the MTR.
• The Golden Computer Plaza’s entry is located in Fuk Wing Street.

• Wholesome food?
• The Pei Ho Street Market is an illustrative Hong Kong “wet market”.
• On the lower floors you will find everything for self-catering: fresh fruit, vegetables, meat & fish.
• On the upper floors you will find the cooked food market: cafe & street food.
• Only great fast food at budget prices.

• Clothes & Electronics?
• Dragon Centre displays electronics shopping, and Hong-Kong brands on its 9 levels.
• Inside the Dragon Center is embedded a smaller mall, the Apple Mall.
• It specializes in clothing shops for those who look for the trendiest fashion.
• A food court and indoor skating ring complete the facilities.
• It is located next to the Sham Shui Po Police Station.

• Do you want more trendy products & are ready to go a little further around the district?
• If so, The Festival Walk is the go-to place for you. 
• It is one of Hong Kong’s largest indoor shopping malls.
• You will find all the large brands here.
• The Walk is located at Kowloon Tong, just above the corresponding MTR station.

Snack-bars?

• Bath in the food’s Diversity.
• Looking for the one of the best dim sum shops of Hong Kong?
• Tim Ho Wan will offer you one of the finest selection of dim sums, or Asian sandwiches as they are also known.
• Not only it is great, it is also cheap.
• Your best bet is the baked barbecue pork buns.

• Want to eat outdoor?
• The So Kee is a dai pai dong, a rare traditional outdoor food stall.
• For the best of the street food experience, go for any suggestion or dish you will come across on that day.
• Or you can have a bowl of instant noodles with steamed or broiled meat and a fried egg as a topping.
• Really, it’s the occasion to try something you don’t know, since everything will look appetizing.
• Don’t forget the Hong Kong-style milk tea.

• Want a steak?
• The Flying Eagle is an old-school, Chinese-style steakhouse.
• Get into this European style atmosphere and order yourself a bowl of German soup & a plate of pork.
• Or a nice steak with fries & cabbage.
• Don’t forget the bread rolls & the heavy sauce.

Enter the
Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery

• Located in Sha Tin.
• The Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery (萬佛寺) is composed of 5 temples, 4 pavilions & 1 pagoda.
• Along the path, composed of hundreds of stairs, you will be accompanied by a myriad of statues.
• The path is long, you can take your time admiring each of the unique statues’ features.
• Watch the various poses & facial expressions.
• The path is located in Po Fook Hill Mountains of the New Territories area.
• Therefore, taking short breaks just for the view is a good idea.
• The hills & mountains are also the home of small monkeys.
• So if your walk is mildly paced they may approach you.

• Arrived at the monastery, have a look at the surroundings.
• The valley is beyond you.
• Walk around the peaceful pavilions.
• Walk along the nine stories & the veranda surrounded by the golden statues.

• The monastery is situated in a mountain area.
• Which means the rainfall is more frequent than usual, and the weather is globally more humid.
• Therefore, the monastery can be closed in case of heavy rainfall.

• Time & Fare
• The monastery is open from 9 am to 5:30 pm.
• Except special event or particular measures the monastery is open to the public every day.
• The restaurant opens from 10:30 am to 4 pm.
• It is closed on Thursdays.
• The admission to the monastery is free.

Dive in Hong Kong Ocean Park

• Hong Kong’s 1st marine theme park.
• Thrill rides, family memories & beasts from the seas and the land are all waiting, in Ocean Park.

Thrill rides

• The Wild Twister situated in Marine World | Summit.
  • One of the newest rides combining the properties of many other arm-based devices namely extended arms, twisting seats, independent axes pushing you away from the other participants & back to them.
• Rides’ Requirement: height between 137 cm (54″) and 195 cm (77″).

• Arctic Blast situated in Polar Adventure | Summit.
  • Traverse Ocean Park’s snows-cape wonderland on a sleigh!
  • Bring back photos of the fantastic frozen environment on a roller coaster!
• Rides’ Requirement: height above 100 cm (39″), age 4 or above.
  • Children under 6 must be accompanied by a 15 yo or above person.

• The Abyss, VR Space Voyage, situated in Marine World | Summit
  • A beyond the pale voyage up to Titan and then back to the blue planet.
  • Dive into the pitch black vista.
  • Gather alien resources & defend your ship from the asteroid tempests.
• Rides’ Requirement: height above 132 cm (52″), age 13 or above.
  • Virtual Reality’s Requirement:
  • The Park advises that any person with a serious medical condition, particularly eye-related, vision-related or epilepsy dizziness, to not use VR headgear.
  • All items affecting the VR headgear safe use must be removed.
• Complete consignes can be found on the Abyss page.

• Animals
  • The Giant Panda Adventure introduces you to different types of… Panda.
  • The giant pandas, you may already have seen everywhere, but also the smaller red pandas.
  • When you’re done, why not have a snack at the nearby Club Panda?

• The Grand Aquarium, situated in Aqua City | Waterfront, will bring you to the depths of the oceans.
  • Exposing before you a plethora of living beings.

• Marine Mammal Breeding and Research Centre situated in Marine World | Summit.
  • The animal care & ecological research center of the park.
  • The park motto being, ‘Connect people with nature’, this facility does a crucial part of the job.

• Time & trajet
  • The park is vast and you may not want to go through all of it on foot.
  • You can move from one attraction to the next via a Cable Car or by using the Ocean Express.
  • Both the Cable Cars & the Express are adapted for wheelchairs.
  • Ocean Park is opening from 10 am to 6 pm on weekdays, and 10 am to 7 pm on weekends and public holidays.
• Fare
  • The Adult ticket (aged 12 or above) is HK$498.
  • The Child ticket (aged 3-11) is HK$249.

• Others
  • Recently the access to the park is limited to visitors who have made a reservation.
  • More information about special measures on Ocean Park website.

Admire Tsim Sha Tsui‘s Waterfront

• Better arrive at the Waterfront in the evening, before the show begins.
• If you happen to be there at dusk then you’re in for some amazing pictures of the Sunset.
• You’ll also be able to catch a glimpse of Hong Kong skyline across the waters.
• If you are there really early there is a shopping plaza nearby as well as many restaurants.
• You can also get to the Museum of History and discover this Waterfront’s story.

• Lose yourself in a Symphony of Lights.
• At 8 pm, a wall of over 40 skyscrapers will display a myriad of sounds & lights.
• The show combines visuals, music & narration representing the spirit of Hong Kong. 
• The rain of light pours in synergy with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra performance.
• Light installations and LED displays on both sides of Victoria Harbor.

• After (or before) the show you can get to one of the many restaurants nearby.
• Looking for sweets?
  • Get to Yuk Yip Dessert.
• Need more Dim Sum?
  • Then let’s go to Bo Innovation.
• Want a warm beverage?
  • Lin Heung Tea House is next to you.
  • Try their Lotus seed paste bun.

Walk along the Dragon’s Back

• Walk under the Sun and over the green mantle of the hills.
• A trekking journey with amazing views, on a Dragon’s spine.
• Dragon’s Back is the most popular portion of a larger urban hike.
• Easily accessible, in the city and offering a diversity of panoramic views on the sea.
• May be the time to take some panoramic pictures.
• Glance at the bays, beaches & peripheral islands as you walk along the mountain ridge.

• Multiple tracks are available in function of your experience with trekking :
• The circular hike around Shek O is the shorter: walk for half the trek & take the bus back.
• The linear hike to Big Wave Bay is 8 km long, and takes in average 4 hours to complete.
• The full ride is a little longer, but you end up on a beach.
• At the end of the hike, you can have a snack at Big Wave Bay or Shek O beach. 
• Better start early in the morning.
• Do check the weather, because it could affect the difficulty of the journey.
• You can rest at one of the multiple viewing points.
• Guided tours are available.

• You jave the possibility to do some paragliding.
• Alone or in tandem.
• X-Fly Hong Kong proposes this service as well as training courses in paragliding.