Hong Kong ideas [8am-4pm]

[RooFlyer]

Looking for suggestions for 1/2 to 2/3 day activities in Hong Kong, beyond the first and second tier of things usually suggested .. which I think I must have done, once or twice over the years. Am on QF 30 dep at 8:30pm, so want to be done and back to the hotel by 4:30pm; don't want to go across to the mainland and have been around the New Territories (and Macau, of course).

I've been looking at cruises to some of the outlying islands ... anyone done one of these, please? I'd even welcome a personal tour of the city by an individual who comes highly recommended.

 

[yohy?!]

Re: Hong Kong ideas

Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence | ­»´ä®ü¨¾³Õª«À] is an interesting half day look at the fall of Hong Kong during WW2.

Tian Tan Buddha | Hong Kong Ngong Ping 360 Official Website is another good one, the cable car itself is quite impressive for plane spotting on the way up and down.

AFCD Kam Shan if hiking is something of interest and you're staying in Kowloon - it's close by. Go spot some monkeys and explore the Kowloon reservoirs.

 

[samh004]

Re: Hong Kong ideas

I would definitely recommend the Ngong Ping 360 on a clear day. Amazing experience.

In HK I quite liked the science museum growing up, but haven't been there for years!

 

[mjgriffo]

Re: Hong Kong ideas

Mrs mjgriffo and I did a Hong Kong Foodie tour when we were up there in November last year - it was fantastic. The afternoon tour takes you to a bunch of places frequented by the locals that you probably wouldn't find yourself.

Well worth it - in fact it was the best experience of our whole 6 day trip.

 

[OATEK]

Re: Hong Kong ideas

Looking for suggestions for 1/2 to 2/3 day activities in Hong Kong, beyond the first and second tier of things usually suggested .. which I think I must have done, once or twice over the years. Am on QF 30 dep at 8:30pm, so want to be done and back to the hotel by 4:30pm; don't want to go across to the mainland and have been around the New Territories (and Macau, of course).

I've been looking at cruises to some of the outlying islands ... anyone done one of these, please? I'd even welcome a personal tour of the city by an individual who comes highly recommended.

We did the ferry trip to Lamma Island (Yung Shue Wan) for a very pleasant walk and lunch. Just a few shekels ($HKD16 each way weekdays, or $HKD22.30 weekends/public holidays). We covered the fares by loading some HKD onto out HK Express (Octopus) Card, as the ferries and I think buses are not covered by the general tourist tickets that cover MTR trips. Or you can get change at booths on the piers at Central and drop the coins in the slot at the gates. Similar story for the return trip at Lamma.

 

[burmans]

Re: Hong Kong ideas

We did the ferry trip to Lamma Island (Yung Shue Wan) for a very pleasant walk and lunch. Just a few shekels ($HKD16 each way weekdays, or $HKD22.30 weekends/public holidays). We covered the fares by loading some HKD onto out HK Express (Octopus) Card, as the ferries and I think buses are not covered by the general tourist tickets that cover MTR trips. Or you can get change at booths on the piers at Central and drop the coins in the slot at the gates. Similar story for the return trip at Lamma.

I'd second the ferry trip to an Island idea, my wife and I went to one of the smaller islands (Cheung Chau I think), no need for a tour, we took a ferry, enjoyed the fishing village, walked around, had lunch at one of the many seafood restaurants etc. Quite different to the normal HK experience although it fitted my expectation of what HK was like 50 years ago!

 

[BVT]

Re: Hong Kong ideas

Dialogue in the Dark.

Book an English language "experience". My world weary jaded 21 year old thought it was simply awesome!

Dialogue Experience

 

[kevinkhchan]

Re: Hong Kong ideas

Interesting options. Will be taking notes for our visit in March on our way back from HEL.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Re: Hong Kong ideas

One of Hong Kongs little known start-ups is Sam the Local | Your local friend, worldwide which could provide you with something unique and off the tourist path.

Depending on the time of year there are also beaches in repulse bay & stanley

 

[A330]

Re: Hong Kong ideas

You could spend a day hiking the Dragon's Back trail. It follows the ridge of the mountain on HK island. Get the MTR to Chai Wan then a bus to the start of the hike. You can also stop at Shek O for lunch or a swim at the beach.

 

[jojen]

Re: Hong Kong ideas

Take the cable car from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping, walk around the monastery and maybe climb the steps to the Big Buddha
Instead of returning the same way catch the bus from behind Big Buddha to Tai O fishing village. A walk along the streets and a ride in a bum boat is something to experience.

A walk along Reclamation St and Canton Rd (behind the Cordis Langham place ) is definitely something to see. You never know what you might find in some of the hardware shops. Very interesting watching their activities on the footpath and road.

If you are in Hong Kong over a weekend a ride on the Aqua Luna junk is very relaxing, but not on a cold and windy day as it was when I did it with our daughter .

Mid level escalators, and getting off a couple of time and exploring the streets is also very interesting.

i LOVE Hong Kong and cannot wait to return in November and March !!!

jojen

 

[Pushka]

Re: Hong Kong ideas

Ngong Ping cable car.

 

[RooFlyer]

Re: Hong Kong ideas

Many thanks to all for the suggestions ; some I've managed to do before, others are new and very welcome. This time for me I think its going to be the Museum of Coastal Defence first up, then check-in at Kowloon Station then to Ngong Ping 360 hopefully via the water (although if the weather is carp the Foodie tour looks a starter!) then straight to the airport . Don't know how I haven't done this to date.

The "Dinner in the Dark" (from Dialogue in the Dark - thanks BVT) sounds interesting - maybe something for the visit after this one! As to "Love in the Dark", well :shock: . Sam the Local sounds tremendous too.

 

[ShaneN]

Re: Hong Kong ideas

check-in at Kowloon Station then to Ngong Ping 360 hopefully via the water

I can recommend the ferry to/from Ngong Ping, I have done it in the reverse direction, from Ngong Ping to Central. Very scenic bus trip from Ngong Ping village to Mui Wo along the south shore of Lantau, then ferry to Central.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Re: Hong Kong ideas

I can recommend the ferry to/from Ngong Ping, I have done it in the reverse direction, from Ngong Ping to Central. Very scenic bus trip from Ngong Ping village to Mui Wo along the south shore of Lantau, then ferry to Central.

Yes keep your eyes out for the high security prison.. But seriously it's a good day trip that circle. The other option is to head to the west end of Lantau island to Tai O

 

[Isochronous]

Re: Hong Kong ideas

Many thanks to all for the suggestions ; some I've managed to do before, others are new and very welcome. This time for me I think its going to be the Museum of Coastal Defence first up, then check-in at Kowloon Station then to Ngong Ping 360 hopefully via the water (although if the weather is carp the Foodie tour looks a starter!) then straight to the airport . Don't know how I haven't done this to date.

The "Dinner in the Dark" (from Dialogue in the Dark - thanks BVT) sounds interesting - maybe something for the visit after this one! As to "Love in the Dark", well :shock: . Sam the Local sounds tremendous too.

That's a good museum actually. It's also free admission on Wednesdays, which I believe is true for all HK museums FYI.

 

[jukebox333]

Re: Hong Kong ideas

Whenever I stopover in HKG, if time allows, I get out to Chueng Chau island; there's a row of cheap seafood restaurants along the "boardwalk" that have fresh and tasty dishes on off - plastic chairs and table cloth stuff (i.e. locals, not so many westerners) but a great way to disconnect from the Metropolis.

Our go-to place is at the end of the strip, the New Baccarat, but they all seem well patronised.



A fast ferry gets you there in under 45mins.

 

[badseed]

Re: Hong Kong ideas

I'm also off to HKG on Sunday, with 3 nights before heading off to Zermatt to hike around the Matterhorn

We're planning on doing the Ping Shan Heritage trail, Ngong Ping, Lamma Island and just the other general touristy stuff. Monday is a public holiday so slightly less frequent trains etc.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Re: Hong Kong ideas

Depending on the time of year there are also beaches in repulse bay & stanley

Less busy and nicer beaches in Shek O and Sai Kung.

 

[Allegro Vivace]

Re: Hong Kong ideas

For those considering going to Hong Kong and visiting well known Tsim Sha Tsui sites the three big sites will be closed- The SCMP has reported as follows

"The Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong Space Museum and Hong Kong Museum of Art are all closing for periods ranging from one to four years, with their closures overlapping each other by at least five months.
Completion of the Space Museum renovation is due at the end of 2016 while part of the Avenue of Stars, Salisbury Garden, is due to be re-open in 2017. The Museum of Arts is scheduled to return in 2019.
one reason behind the renovation of the venues was to set the stage for celebrations in 2017 marking the 20th anniversary of the city's handover to the mainland and the start of a new term of office for the chief executive."

One interesting walk is the Yuen Long Ping Sahn heritage trail.

There is a series of walks available from the HKG Tourism web site