While my last few posts have been about other places I have travelled to I still have been able to explore Hong Kong during the weeks between these travel weekends. The great thing about Hong Kong is that there are an endless number of things to do, although I can imagine it being overwhelming if you are only here for a couple of days. In this blog I will discuss some of the coolest things to take part in here in Hong Kong.
The first of these is commonly known as the biggest tourist attraction that Hong Kong has to offer, Victoria Peak. The Peak overlooks the entirety of the city and provides awesome views both at night and during the day. I like how at the top you can see Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. There are a variety of ways to get to the top including hiking, riding the tram, or a combination of the two. Additionally, there are lots of trails you can take beyond the viewing platform itself to explore the surrounding mountainous region.
Another must see event is the Jockey Club Racing on Wednesday nights at Happy Valley Raceway. Each Wednesday night during the Fall semester there are eight to ten horse races where people from all over the world come to watch. Even if you are not a fan of horse racing (I certainly was not) the environment itself is so vibrant. I have been to Happy Valley at least three times and each time I have had an awesome time hanging out with my friends. I have only bet on two of the races but coincidentally won both of those bets.
The International Financial Center (IFC) in the heart of Central is another cool place to check out. It is easily the largest (and possibly most expensive) shopping mall in Hong Kong. Although that might discourage you from going it is refreshing to see all of the Western brands in the heart of a major Asian city. The IFC also has a bar/hangout area that overlooks the water which is a great place to grab dinner or spend some time with friends. This is where we took in the fireworks during the Chinese holiday season. Even just walking around the area allows you to observe the financial district of one of the most influential financial hubs of Asia.
Kennedy Town is also a must see place. It is unlike the others in that there is not a set activity there other then going there, but it is one of my favorite areas of Hong Kong. It is positioned on the very Western edge of Hong Kong Island and therefore provides a spectacular view along the ocean. There are some great food places here and one of my favorite things to do is to grab sushi take-out there and bring it to the water where you can eat while overlooking the water. Lai Kwai Fong might be the clubbing area of Hong Kong’s night life but if you are looking for a low key place to grab a drink and talk with friends Kennedy Town is the place. There are tons of bars that have great deals on food and are much quieter and more relaxing than the Lai Kwai Fong area.
Big Wave Beach and Repulse Bay are two other must see destinations. I group them together simply because they are both similar and if you were to do one you probably would not have to do the other. They are both beaches with some hiking areas nearby. Despite Hong Kong’s water not being the cleanest, if you swim out far enough you get to cleaner areas that are very nice. The water is so warm because of Hong Kong’s tropical nature and it reminds me very much of the Caribbean Islands’ water. The surrounding landscape is also so surreal, massive skyscrapers along with mountainous nature behind the beach. Fortunately, Hong Kong’s weather allows beach season to continue all the way through to November. As a New Yorker who studies in Boston, this could not be more foreign to me.
Causeway Bay would be an additional place I would recommend to visit. In the center of it you will find “Times Square,” Hong Kong’s take on the iconic New York area. It is neat to walk through the four way intersection and take a picture in the middle with all of the people walking by. You will most likely find yourself in Causeway Bay to go shopping at Ikea as well. Without any Bed Bath and Beyond’s and stores like it Ikea is the place to go for all of your bedding and furniture needs. Lastly there is a movie theatre there where I have had the privilege of seeing Kingsman 2 and Justice League.
Finally, Lantau Island has lots of great opportunities to go hiking including the most famous one, the Big Buddha. Big Buddha is a giant Buddha statue and the second most visited tourist attraction after Victoria Peak. There are lots of other religious activities that one can take part in nearby the Buddha statue and it is worthwhile to check out some of the other Lantau Island trails if possible.
Clearly there is an abundance of things to do in Hong Kong despite having travelled a lot to other nearby cities. I am glad that I am here for this whole four month period because if I weren’t I am not sure I would have gotten to see all of the excellent parts of Hong Kong I have described above. One thing that is worth mentioning is the lack of urgency I originally had when I came here. I kept telling myself in the beginning of the semester that I had lots of time to explore Hong Kong and that for now I should not focus on seeing all of the tourist attractions yet. I think it would have been much easier to do then though before school got busy and I had lots of free time.
