HONG KONG
Fragrant Harbour
香港
CITY GUIDE
“When I went to Hong Kong, I knew at once I wanted to write a story set there.”
- Paul Theroux
BIRTHDATE -
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1841 the British took over a little backwater of about 20 villages. It was ceded to them after victory in the first Opium War
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7,700,000
AKA -
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Heung Gong (Cantonese)
MEANING -
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Fragrant Harbour, Spice harbour
RIVER -
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Sits at the mouth of the Pearl River Delta
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Photo by Chengting Xie on Unsplash
Iconic Star Ferry
HISTORY -
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After the British took over in 1842 the colony was filled with thousands of refugees escaping troubles on the mainland in the ensuing decades.
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1860 Kowloon was also ceded.
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1898 the New Territories with 235 islands were leased for 99 years.
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1937 the Japanese invasion of China brings more refugees and the Great Hong Kong Typhoon killed 11,000 people.
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1941 Japan occupies Hong Kong and the flow of refugees reverses.
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1946 British take over again and more refugees fleeing the Civil war between Mao and Chiang Kai Shek.
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Hong Kong enjoyed a period of economic growth until labour disputes and supporters of the Cultural Revolution stirred things up in the 60's.
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In 1968 the Hong Kong flu pandemic went world wide.
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In the 70's it became one of the "Asian Tigers" and the economy went from strength to strength.
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1997 the 99 year lease was up and Hong Kong was handed back to China under the One Country Two systems model.
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In 2019 a new law meaning people could be extradited to Beijing and put on trial their led to street protests that crippled the city for 6 months until the Corona Covid 19 virus came along.
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October to December is the best time to visit weather-wise.
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There are two seasons, dry and mild and hot, wet and sweaty. May to September (Typhoon Season) is hot and while December to February is cool.
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Most of the rain falls between May and September with August being the wettest month. January is the driest.
BOOKINGS -
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Everything should be booked well in advance to avoid disappointment
NAVIGATING -
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Before you go download Maps.me and all the relevant maps.
VISA -
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Chinese Medicine
TOP 10 - In No Order
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The Peak
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Star Ferry
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Hong Kong - Zuhai - Macau Bridge
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New Territories
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Dim Sum
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The Peninsula
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Hong Kong Disneyland
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Happy Valley Racecourse
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Waterfront Sound and Light Show
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Wan Chai Heritage Trail
FUN FACT -
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There are actually 263 islands in Hong Kong.
AIRPORT TRANSFER - HKIA Chek Lap Kok Airport (HKG) 35 km
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the Airport Shuttle Train runs every 10 mins and takes 22 mins - then there is a free shuttle bus to the hotels,
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there are hotel shuttle buses,
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Taxis - Red, Green and Blue,
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Public buses,
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Limosuines
SAFETY -
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Very safe city, watch out for scams
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Especially when shopping
FOOD -
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Dim Sum of course
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World's first Hello Kitty Dim Sum restaurant
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Roast Goose is a specialty with plum sauce
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Hong Kong BBQ pork and duck
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Image by Michael Kopp from Pixabay
Street Eating
NIGHTLIFE -
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Lan Kwai Fong known as party central is a popular night life area with over 90 restaurants and bars,
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Thursday night has "The Pub Crawl", being Hong Kong you can even do a vertical Pub Crawl,
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The Temple Street Night Market,
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Lockhart Road bars site of "The World of Suzi Wong" is not a red light area any more and the drinks are reasonably priced,
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SoHo and Tsim Sha Tsui are nightlife centres too,
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old style karaoke's in "Singalong Parlours",
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lots of rooftop bars,
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some bars don't close until 7 am
STAY -
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Most hotels are available on Booking.com unless otherwise stated. It's best to get bookings with free cancellation and pay on site when you get there. Hotels chosen are usually 3*** or 4 or 5 if they are good value. They are chosen firstly for their location, value for money, positive testimonials regarding cleanliness and service and features like rooftop terraces and great views.
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Since the end of Covid a lot of prices have gone through the roof. So if the selected hotel is out of your price range click on the location map and choose something cheaper nearby. Or you might prefer something else but try to stay in the same area.
FLIGHTS -
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Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) - has direct flights from 121 destinations in 37 countries all over the world except South America. From South America it's probably easiest to link up with the west coast of the US or possibly Madrid or Johannesburg in South Africa.
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Before the old Kai Tak Airport closed down in 1998 flying into Honkers could be very exciting.
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Once you have bought your tickets get some travel insurance to cover yourself
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DAY TRIPS -
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Island Hopping
OVERNIGHTERS -
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Macau - on the worlds longest bridge
COSTS -
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Hong Kong is one of the world's most expensive cities but it can be done on the cheap with a bit of creativity. See SAVING MONEY in Money in Travel A - Z. For the 3 night stopover it is assumed you'll be blowing the budget a bit, but nothing crazy.
RACES -
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If you fancy a flutter at the races you have the spectacular Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednesday nights and Sha Tin Racecourse on Sundays. Serious gamblers should go to Sha Tin but if you're looking for fun Happy Valley is the place for you.
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The MTR (Mass Transit Railway) if you put where you are and where you want to go in google maps and click train, it will give you all the information you need
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Taxis are plentiful, cheap and mostly honest
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The Star Ferry is a convenient way
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to get across the harbour
MUST DO -
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Drink Pantyhose Tea
SHOPPING -
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Photo by Andres Garcia on Unsplash
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HONG KONG STOPOVER 3N
Highlights - food, icons & energy
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Hong Kong - the Fragrant Harbour that came about because the British drank too much tea and the government had to redress the trade imbalance. It's come a long way and you'll have a lot to cram in to your 3 days here. In the old days there was an exciting approach flying in to the airport which occasionally went amiss. Now it has moved to another island and everything is much safer. You can even check in before you get to the airport.
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It's a great place to eat so seek out some of the special places. Dim Sum is a real treat here. They even have a "Hello Kitty" Dim Sum restaurant. Also very good is Stocking Tea and BBQ - goose, duck and pork. Shoppers will have plenty to look at but remember to be on your guard for scams.
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Some of the iconic activities would include catching the Star Ferry, ride the Peak Tram (Right hand side is best) at sunset to take in the incredible views and Afternoon Tea at the Peninsula.
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Do a walking tour through Kowloon. Watch A Symphony of the Stars and stroll the Avenue of the Stars. Hit the Temple Street Night Market. Go back in time to a Canton Singing House, try a vertical pub crawl and catch some live music at Ned Kelly's Last Stand.
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They say a New York minute is a Hong Kong second. So use your time wisely and have a ball.
STAY - Tsim Sha Tsui - Take your pick - if you can save money by skipping breakfast do it, you don't want to waste meals on hotel food. Hong Kong is a great place to eat.
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Hotel Hart **** - great location in the centre close to restaurants and bars, 2 minute walk to MTR Station, terrace with city views, 24 hour desk and coffee machine in the lobby, tour desk
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The OTTO Hotel *** - excellent location near MRT, bars, restaurants, sun terrace with city view
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The Kowloon Hotel **** - great location opposite the Peninsula Hotel at the centre of the Nathan Rd shopping paradise, connected to TST MRT station, 4 restaurants, free shuttle to Kowloon Station, close to a lot of shops and restaurants, bar - Happy Hour, massage, tour desk, 24 hour desk
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Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel ***** - great location as a part of Harbour City with easy access to the Star Ferry and Hong Kong Cruise Terminal, outdoor swimming pool and fitness centre, 2 restaurants, cafe, bar, tour desk, 24 hour desk
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Gateway Hotel Marco Polo **** - Free Mini-bar restocked daily, excellent location in the Harbour City Shopping Complex, al fresco terrace with lounge and bar, restaurant, fitness centre, barber / beauty shop, 24 hour desk, tour desk
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SPLURGE - if you want to go up market a bit have a look here
Day 1 -
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Arrive and take the Airport Express to Kowloon Station. From here take a free shuttle to your hotel.
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Settle in and get your bearings. Time to start crossing a few icons off of the list. If you get in too late you can do this tomorrow evening. Catch the Star Ferry across the harbour and take the tram up to the peak for sunset. The lower terminus is at the Garden Road Tram Station a 20 minute walk or short taxi ride from the pier. There is a 15C bus but it's probably quicker to walk. Avoid weekends when it is very busy.
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Sit on the right hand side of the tram going up for the best views. Book ahead etc. When the tram comes back down it will be going backwards and so will you. If this doesn't sound appealing just get a one way ticket up and catch the bus down. You could easily spend a few hours up there with shopping, restaurants, hikes and tourist stuff so don't rush it.
Image by nextvoyage from Pixabay
Cargo ships at sunrise
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Make your way back down to Lan Kwai Fong to get the evening going. Plenty of great restaurants and bars here that spill out onto the streets. It is liveliest on Friday and Saturday nights when you can also join a pub crawl. On Thursday's are a lot of specials for the ladies. There are long Happy Hours and what they call Spree Hour. This combined with the fact you can buy a drink from 7-11 and drink it on the street makes it a cheap area to drink in.
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SoHo is just down the road and the legendary Wanchai of Suzi Wong fame (much changed now) is a couple of stops away down the rails. So while you're here you might as well make a night of it. Uber and taxis are available to get home. The Star Ferry closes at 11.30 pm.
DAY 2 -
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As you're in Hong Kong, Dim Sum would be a good way to start the day. Try to get there before 10 am to avoid the lines. Weekends are busy too and you might have to change where you decide to go.
Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
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Time for a bit of a DIY walking tour of the Kowloon side of things. If you are having afternoon tea at the Peninsula Hotel you'll need to be dressed neat casual (no sportsware or beachware). If necessary it's not too far from the hotels and you could go home and change, which could be handy for dinner anyway. Make your way to -
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The Hong Kong Museum of History - and learn a bit about this unique city
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Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade - make your way down to the waterfront and turn right
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Avenue of the Stars - dedicated to Hong Kong's film stars
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Hong Kong Museum of Art - one of the best collections of Chinese art in the world
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Hong Kong Space Museum - an extensive range of activities for children and adults
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The Peninsula Hong Kong - Hong Kong's iconic hotel famous for it's afternoon tea served in the Lobby with it's own orchestra available from 2pm - 6pm. You'll be having a buffet dinner at around 8.30 pm so lets call this lunch. Even if you're not imbibing you'll want to spend a bit of time exploring the "Grande Dame of the Far East".
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Head home to freshen up or keep the good times going and head to rooftop Eyebar to enjoy the sunset and a signature Suzi Wong cocktail. You can get picked up at your hotel for the dinner cruise but it's probably easier just to turn up at the Kowloon Hotel which is just across the road from the Peninsula. Just be there around 7.15 pm. The cruise lasts for 3 hours and features A Symphony of Lights from the wonderful vantage point of being out on the water as well as a dinner buffet, live band and dancing as well as the amazing night views of Victoria Harbour.
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You can get free a/c drop off to your hotel or head out to a few local bars depending on your energy levels and how hard you hit the buffet. Here's a few to get you started.
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DAY 3 -
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A change of pace today. Get out of the city and relax over a nice long open air seafood lunch out over the water at Sok Kwu Yan on Lamma Island. Lamma Rainbow is one of the best and most famous of the numerous seafood restaurants on the island. Plus they have a website where you can book a waterside table in English. Also they have their own free ferry that has a pick up at Tsim Sha Tsui. The trip is around half an hour plus stops. If you're feeling lazy just stay where you are enjoying a few cold beers / wines and catch the ferry back when you're ready.
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Otherwise there's a bit to see and do on the island. Not far from the restaurant is one of the Kamikaze caves which were used to hide speedboats during WWII. Continue on to the fantastic Family Walking Trail which will take you to Yung Shue Wan the other main village on the island offering some great views along the way. It is only 4 kms and will take an hour.
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When you reach the other village there are a heap of shops, cafes, restaurants and bars to keep you occupied. You can catch a public ferry from here back to central anytime you like. They run until 11.30pm so you could stick around for dinner if you like or have a little pub crawl.
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Or it might be nice to cruise back while the sun sets and go back to the hotel to freshen up. Don't forget to get your packing sorted out if you have an early start in the morning. Then make your way to Hong Kong's last night market at Temple Street. It should take a good few hours to take this spectacle in as well as feed and water yourself. If you want to see a bit of history pop into the Canton Singing House at 40 Temple Street.
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Make your way south to the bar area of your choice Hart Avenue or Ashley Road. Hart is better for the first two hotels and Ashley for the rest. For something different have a look at Ashley 23 where you can do a vertical pub crawl. It has 15 floors of restaurants and bars and is located at 23 Ashley Road which is a pub street. Just down the road is Castro's which has good value drinks and good music as well as Ned Kelly's Last Stand. It's your last night so let your hair down. You can sleep on the plane.
DAY 4 -
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Finish off your last minute shopping and when the time comes make your way to Kowloon Station and take the Airport Express back out and you're on your way.
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MEET HONG KONG 10N
HIGHLIGHTS - CHINA, BRITAIN & PORTUGAL
Hong Kong 2N - Yung Shue Wan 2N - Macau 3N - Hong Kong 3N = 10N
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Start off seeing the iconic sights of Hong Kong. Start off with Dim Sum for brunch at one of the best local places. Have a dinner cruise out on the harbour and watch the light show. Hong Kong has a Dialogue in the Dark which is a highly recommended experience.
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The best weather here is between September and December. The wettest weather is from April to September with July being the hottest month. January is the coldest month. In reality it's a year round destination.
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How about a nice long lazy fresh sea food lunch out over the water. A lot of people don't realise Hong Kong actually has over 250 islands and therefore lots of coastline which means lots of beaches and interesting destinations for day trips. Maybe a day at Disneyland. What about the 60 kilometer cycle track through the New Territories and Hong Kong even has it's own UNESCO Global Geopark.
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Head out to Macau the old Portuguese Colony. Catch the bus out and the ferry back. Yes there is now a 55 kilometer bridge connecting the two cities. Macau often gets forgotten when people travel to Hong Kong but it really has a lot to offer and has a different feel about it. Gamblers will love it for the casinos. Thrill seekers can jump off the AJ Hackett Macau Tower the highest bungy jump in the world. Bungy jumping turned out to be a pretty good idea didn't it and a lot of hard work I'm sure. Foodies will love Portuguese egg tarts, Minchi (minced beef and potatoes), Tacho (Portuguese stew), Capela (meatloaf), African Chicken, Pork Chop Bun, Stewed Tamarind Pork, Salt Cod Fritters and Macanese Style Portuguese Chicken.
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Taipa Old Village is a great place to experience the old world charm and the Colonial Buildings of a bygone era. It's good for shopping and eating too. When you wander into Senado Square you will feel like you're back in Portugal. Visit the museums, iconic Ruins of St. Paul's, Giant Pandas, parks, temples, bridges and just hang around and do a spot of people watching. You'll be glad you came.
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Finish off with a few nights back in Honkers. Maybe lash out and stay at the Peninsula or some other 5***** hotel with a phenomenal view of the harbour to leave indelibly etched in your mind. It might only be 10 days but you'll have the memories for a life time.
STAY - Tsim Sha Tsui - Take your pick - if you can, save money by skipping breakfast because it's a great place to eat out.
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Hotel Hart **** - great location in the centre close to restaurants and bars, 2 minute walk to MTR Station, terrace with city views, 24 hour desk and coffee machine in the lobby, tour desk
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The OTTO Hotel *** - excellent location near MRT, bars, restaurants, sun terrace with city view
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The Kowloon Hotel **** - great location opposite the Peninsula Hotel at the centre of the Nathan Rd shopping paradise, connected to TST MRT station, 4 restaurants, free shuttle to Kowloon Station, close to a lot of shops and restaurants, bar - Happy Hour, massage, tour desk, 24 hour desk
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Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel ***** - great location as a part of Harbour City with easy access to the Star Ferry and Hong Kong Cruise Terminal, outdoor swimming pool and fitness centre, 2 restaurants, cafe, bar, tour desk, 24 hour desk
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Gateway Hotel Marco Polo **** - Free Mini-bar restocked daily, excellent location in the Harbour City Shopping Complex, al fresco terrace with lounge and bar, restaurant, fitness centre, barber / beauty shop, 24 hour desk, tour desk
Day 1 - Hong Kong
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Arrive and take the Airport Express to Kowloon Station. From here take a free shuttle to your hotel.
-
Settle in and get your bearings. Time to start crossing a few icons off of the list. If you get in too late you can do this tomorrow evening. Catch the Star Ferry across the harbour and take the tram up to the peak for sunset. The lower terminus is at the Garden Road Tram Station a 20 minute walk or short taxi ride from the pier. There is a 15C bus but it's probably quicker to walk. Avoid weekends when it is very busy.
-
Sit on the right hand side of the tram going up for the best views. Book ahead etc. When the tram comes back down it will be going backwards and so will you. If this doesn't sound appealing just get a one way ticket up and catch the bus down. You could easily spend a few hours up there with shopping, restaurants, hikes and tourist stuff so don't rush it.
Image by Marci Marc from Pixabay
Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
-
Make your way back down to Lan Kwai Fong to get the evening going. Plenty of great restaurants and bars here that spill out onto the streets. It is liveliest on Friday and Saturday nights when you can also join a pub crawl. On Thursday's are a lot of specials for the ladies. There are long Happy Hours and what they call Spree Hour. This combined with the fact you can buy a drink from 7-11 and drink it on the street makes it a cheap area to drink in.
-
SoHo is just down the road and the legendary Wanchai of Suzi Wong fame (much changed now) is a couple of stops away down the rails. So while you're here you might as well make a night of it. Uber and taxis are available to get home. The Star Ferry closes at 11.30 pm.
DAY 2 -
-
As you're in Hong Kong, Dim Sum would be a good way to start the day. Try to get there before 10 am to avoid the lines. Weekends are busy too and you might have to change where you decide to go.
Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
-
Time for a bit of a DIY walking tour of the Kowloon side of things. If you are having afternoon tea at the Peninsula Hotel you'll need to be dressed neat casual (no sportsware or beachware). If necessary it's not too far from the hotels and you could go home and change, which could be handy for dinner anyway. Make your way to -
-
The Hong Kong Museum of History - and learn a bit about this unique city
-
Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade - make your way down to the waterfront and turn right
-
Avenue of the Stars - dedicated to Hong Kong's film stars
-
Hong Kong Museum of Art - one of the best collections of Chinese art in the world
-
Hong Kong Space Museum - an extensive range of activities for children and adults
-
The Peninsula Hong Kong - Hong Kong's iconic hotel famous for it's afternoon tea served in the Lobby with it's own orchestra available from 2pm - 6pm. You'll be having a buffet dinner at around 8.30 pm so lets call this lunch. Even if you're not imbibing you'll want to spend a bit of time exploring the "Grande Dame of the Far East"
Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
-
Head home to freshen up or keep the good times going and head to rooftop Eyebar to enjoy the sunset and a signature Suzi Wong cocktail. You can get picked up at your hotel for the dinner cruise but it's probably easier just to turn up at the Kowloon Hotel which is just across the road from the Peninsula. Just be there around 7.15 pm. The cruise lasts for 3 hours and features A Symphony of Lights from the wonderful vantage point of being out on the water as well as a dinner buffet, live band and dancing as well as the amazing night views of Victoria Harbour.
-
You can get free a/c drop off to your hotel or head out to a few local bars depending on your energy levels and how hard you hit the buffet. Here's a few to get you started.
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DAYS 3 - 4 - Lamma Island
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A change of pace today. Have a sleep in. Leave your luggage with the hotel and take enough for a couple of days in a day pack. Take your book. All of the hotels have left luggage, only Otto's charge for it. As you would imagine weekdays are much quieter than weekends.
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Time to get out of the city and relax over a nice long open air seafood lunch out over the water at Sok Kwu Yan on Lamma Island. Lamma Rainbow is one of the best and most famous of the numerous seafood restaurants on the island. Plus they have a website where you can book a waterside table in English. Also they have their own free ferry that has a pick up at Tsim Sha Tsui. The trip is around half an hour plus stops.
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You'll be spending a couple of nights out here but it will be in the other village called Yung Shue Wan. It takes an hour to walk the 4 kms of the well marked Family Walking Trail. First of all you will go past one of the Kamikaze caves which were used to hide speedboats during WWII. Continuing along the trail will take you across the island offering some great views and points of interest along the way.
Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
STAY
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When you reach Yung Shue Wan check into the Bali Holiday Resort for 2 nights - in a great location looking down the beach, it has a BBQ terrace on the roof with great sunset views, make sure you book it for one of the nights and organise some fresh seafood to cook up and something to wash it down with. Head up there with some sundowners to get the night started off as well.
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There is no shortage of shops, cafes, restaurants and bars around here to keep you occupied. There are those walking trails and beaches to discover. Go for a walk and take your book. Enjoy a break from the big city.
DAYS 5 - 7 - Macau
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You should be across Hong Kong's history but what do you know about it's Portuguese neighbour Macau. Known as the world's casino capital It was handed back to China 2 years after Hong Kong in 1999. It's historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Listed Site. With it's part colonial and part Las Vegas architecture you'll find it quite different to Honkers. Catch a bus there over the world's longest sea bridge at 55 km and catch the ferry back.
Macau Skyline
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When you're ready take the ferry back to Central then across to Tsim Sha Tsui (from now on referred to as TST). Back to the hotel for your gear or a changeover in gear if you think you can survive another 3 days using your day pack. It will be a lot easier going through customs with only your day pack. There are restrictions on luggage not to be bigger than 56cm x 36cm x 22cm and only one piece. For the direct Onebus service take the underground up Nathan Rd to Jordan MTR Station, from here walk 400m west on Jordan Rd to the Jordan Bus Station at 505 Canton Rd. Get off at the Sands Macau when you arrive. Take a taxi or use the LRT line to get to your hotel. Just work it out with google maps or some humans.
STAY
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In the historical Lisboa Hotel ***** - great location in the heart of Macau, it has a casino, restaurant, indoor pool, fitness centre, ATM, 24 hour desk
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Sintra Hotel *** - great central location close to the sights as well as shops, restaurants and bars, on-site restaurant with Dim Sum and Portuguese wines
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Hotel Metropole *** - excellent location in the middle of everything, 3 minute walk to Senado Square, restaurant, soundproof rooms
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Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
SEE & DO
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On the first day once you've settled in go for a walk around and see how many UNESCO World Heritage Sites you can see in one afternoon. This walk will drop you off at Macau's Fisherman's Wharf which is quite a complex. In fact it is the largest themed leisure and entertainment centre in Macau. So you could spend a good part of the evening here and check out a few casinos on the way home. You may also want to see the Cybernetic Fountain Show while you are out and about. Stop where ever when you get hungry and thirsty and if you don't have time for everything you want to see just come back on day 3 -
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Grand Lisboa - city landmark lotus flower which is very handy for navigating
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UNESCO D. Pedro V. Theatre - the first western theatre in all of China
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UNESCO St. Augustine's Square - 4 UNESCO sites
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Rua da Felicidade - Happiness Street, once the red light street but no more happy endings, good for souvenirs and delicacies
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UNESCO Senado Square - 2 UNESCO sites, you'll think you're in Europe, one of the top 4 squares in Macau with Portuguese meeting of the waters paving. A good place to eat Portuguese egg tarts and pork chop buns
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UNESCO Ruins of St. Paul's - #1 iconic site
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UNESCO Monte Fort and Macau Museum - #1 historic tourist attraction
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UNESCO Guia Lighthouse and the Military Tunnels - with bonus city views
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Grand Prix Museum - a must for the petrol heads
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Macau Fisherman's Wharf - an unusual world of fantasy
SEE & DO - Day (2)
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Have some coffee and custard tarts on they way out to a big day and night out starting at Taipa Old Village. A great place to eat and spend the day. Hire a bicycle and ride around, pick up some souvenirs. Bus or taxi is probably the easiest way to get there or you could walk (5kms) across the Governador Nobre de Carvalho Bridge which will take you an hour.
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For lunch you could try the Restaurante Littoral with authentic dishes which have been handed down through the generations for more than a hundred years. Also down this way is the 24 hour Broadway Food Street where you could have lunch, dinner or late night eats. Now make your way to the Macau Giant Panda Pavilion where you can see the very cute Red Pandas as well. Stretch your legs and stir up that appetite.
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On your way back up towards the village you will find Studio City Macao, the Parisian Macao, Grand Lisboa, Wynn Palace, Galaxy Macau, the Venetian Macao and the House of Dancing Water where you should definitely catch the evening show. The casinos provide entertainment, rides, replicas, spectacles, shopping, eating as well as gambling. So check out their websites and work out what you want to see and when and make a plan tp explore this exciting zone. Don't forget all of the rooftop bars and restaurants in Taipa Old Village either.
Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-t
o font for titles, paragraphs & more.
SEE & DO - Day (3)
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Free day today to do anything you want to. A day at the pool of a flash casino - or a waterpark - or the beach - on the golf course - on the go-kart track - some more UNESCO sites - having a sangria bath - the world's highest bungy jump - Tea tasting at the Macao Tea Culture House - free on weekends - Lord Stow's Custard Tarts - 18 hole mini golf at the Venetian and anything else you wanted to see, eat or drink but haven't got to yet, today is the day.
DAYS 8 - 10 - Hong Kong
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When you're ready to head back to Hong Kong make your way to the Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal and take the hour long Hong Kong TurboJET to the China Ferry Terminal in TST. They run every 30 minutes.
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Go back to your old hotel and either, book in for the next 3 nights or try one of the other hotels mentioned earlier, or splash out and stay somewhere with amazing views of the harbour. If you don't want to splash out for 3 nights you could do it on the last one. Here's a few to have a look at, book high level floors to make sure you have amazing harbour views. Some of these are comparatively cheap and you never know you might find a great special -
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The Peninsula Hong Kong ***** - #1 for prestige, indoor Roman swimming pool, 8 award winning restaurants and bars, fleet of Rolls - Royce Limousines with their own colour - "Peninsula Green", Mini Cooper S Clubman's and a helicopter, the hefty nightly rate doesn't buy you breakfast either which costs extra.
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Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers ***** - oversize windows, on the waterfront and a great shopping street, walking distance to the MTR and ferry, outdoor pool with stunning views, hot tub and sauna, 8 dining options, cocktails and sunsets at Sky Lounge, minimarket, great value
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The Harbourview **** - large windows, Kong Kong side, overlooking Victoria Harbour, 2 restaurants, tour desk, great value
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Ibis Hong Kong Central & Sheung Wan *** - Hong Kong side, bar and restaurant, central location near shops and restaurants, free shuttle to the Kong Kong Airport Express Station, cafe
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By the time you've checked in to where ever you've decided upon and ready to head out it will probably be after lunch. Use google maps to work out your trains so you may want to do it before you leave the hotel. Make your way to Dialogue in the Dark and do one of their activities. To be led around in complete darkness for an hour is quite a profound experience that can change the way you view things in life. It can also freak you out if you suffer from claustrophobia so think about it before you go in. They have a range of activities so try to find one which sounds appealing. You might even like to come back later for Dinner in the Dark.
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Happily back out in the sunshine appreciating your eyesight more than you ever have make your way to the Ten Thousand Buddha's Monastery. Round out the afternoon climbing up the hill and taking it all in.
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Make your way to highest bar in the world, the Ozone Bar at the Ritz Carlton for sundowners and the best views in the city. If you want to see the light show again from a different vantage point head down to the TST Promenade for 8PM. If you'd like to try hotpot for dinner pick one of these places. It's one of the healthiest ways to eat. For something different after dinner you could visit a comedy club or two. Big day tomorrow depending on how energetic you're feeling.
DAY 9
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Have a hearty breakfast today you're going to need it. Unless you take Option Below. There is a 60 km scenic bike track which crosses the New Territories from Tuen Mun in the West to Ma On Shan in the East. Have a look at their website and work out how many sections and which sections you want to do. You can hire bicycles along the route and drop them off in other places. (have a look at the Marker Map) It only takes around 4 hours to do the lot and you could go east - west or west - east depending on the wind direction. Here is a video of the 20 most scenic spots and points of interest. It takes about 45 minutes to either end by MTR to TST MTR. You could time it to have a sunset BBQ at Butterfly Beach. They have the largest number of BBQ pits in Hong Kong and the nearby Butterfly Village Market has all the BBQ supplies you may need.
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The best way would be to go west to east from Tuen Mun to Ma On Shan then take the bus or taxi / uber to "one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world" - Timeout - Sai Kung. Get here as early as you want because there is plenty to do, see, eat, drink, etc. From here you can take the red mini bus back to Dundas St. Mong Kok or taxi / uber back to TST. Head to the vibrant sea front for dinner and drinks aka Sai Kung Sea Food Street.
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Option B- if for some reason you don't ride bikes, aren't well or just don't want to do it you could do a half day bus tour of the Geopark area. Instead of getting the coach back to town you could join up on a half day boat tour at the Volcano Discovery Centre in Sai Kung. Catch the 15 minute sampan over to Yim Tin Tsai Island for salt pans and other surprises. This would leave you back here for dinner and drinks later on. More information above.
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Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
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Tikitiki Bowling Bar - the Supernova of all bowling venues
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Beach Bums & Cannibals - the Steakhouse arm of Tikitiki
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Sweetheart Desert - English menu
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Sai Kung Seafood Street - complete with mystery creatures
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Loaf On - has a Michelin star - so does Sai Kung Sing Kee
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The Bottle Shop HK - get a few souvenirs
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CANA LATIN BAR - South American Tapas
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Dot Com Sai Kung - now Cozy Coffee
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Duke of York Pub - Sai Kung's oldest pub
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Turtle by the Sea - open air and sea front
Sai Kung Sunset
DAY 10
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All too quickly the last day comes around and you've barely scratched the surface. Today you're going to Lantau Island to see the Big Buddha and Disneyland. If you'd rather spend the whole day at Disneyland just skip the first bit. Or vice versa if you're not into Disneyland. If there's something else you've been wanting to do go for it.
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After breakfast take the Tung Chun Line from Kowloon Station to Tung Chung Station. From here ride the Ngong Ping Cable Car which is a major attraction in it's own right. The views are breathtaking and it will take you an hour from Kowloon to the top of the Cable Car. Tian Tan Buddha is one of the largest sitting Buddha's in the world. There is a tourist village and a monastery and you can get refreshments in both.
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Back down the way you came and take the same line back to Sunny Bay Station. From there take the line to the Disneyland Resort Station. All up it should take about 50 minutes. Fridays and weekends are busy here so it's probably worth juggling your days to avoid them.
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As it is smaller than most Disneyland's it is easier to navigate and see everything you want in a day. It is also situated in a picturesque setting. When you get hungry there's plenty to choose from. You might want to hang around after dark when the spectacular night time shows come on. The rides close at 7.30pm weekdays and 8.30 pm on weekends. Then there is the parade and fireworks, lasers etc which finish at 9.15pm. The last train from Sunny Bay is after midnight so that won't be a problem.
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Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
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Catch the train back to Sunny Bay and then Kowloon Station which should take around half an hour depending on crowds. Once you're back in TST you can have one big last night out at your favourite bars and pubs. Stretch the night out with some Siu Yeh - the secret fourth meal.
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Check if your hotel has airport shuttle service and how much it is. If it's no good make your way back to Kowloon Station and the Airport Express. Here is a list of hotels and places for free transfers. Enjoy your flight and your memories.