Hong Kong Travel, Holiday and Touring Guide.
Hong Kong, China is an ideal stopover choice whilst on long distance flights and there are plenty of trips and things to do whilst staying there.
Hong Kong Vacation Guides include a visit up to The Peak on the Peak Tramway and another day out to see the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery out on Lantau Island.
The first impression of Hong Kong is very positive - Hong Kong's modern, huge airport is
immaculate - so clean and roomy. There are lots of
pot plants around and of course shops and escalators everywhere - certainly a
distinct change from London's scruffy Heathrow or the cowsheds at Gatwick.
Hong Kong's airport is located around 35 kilometres outside of Kowloon and there
are several ways from the airport into Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. There are
fast and reliable underground services on the MTR, fast buses or easiest of all just
take a taxi (cost 480 Hong Kong dollars). As you get nearer to Kowloon
the roads become increasingly busy and inevitably it all can grind to a halt as
you end up in traffic jams - especially around Nathan Street.
The next impression is probably just the sheer amount of people moving around -
this is particularly noticeable from around late afternoon and well into the
evening when loads of people are out and about just wandering the streets.
Kowloon certainly has it's share of skyscrapers especially around Nathan Street
- many of these seem to be flats of course with most of the business capacity
being down on the front by Victoria Harbour and even more so over on Hong Kong
Island with it's incredible skyscrapers.
During the few days we spent on Hong Kong the air quality was appalling and
quite a few people out on the streets were wearing masks. When you are down at
the ferry terminal at Kowloon it is only a short distance across Victoria
Harbour waters to Hong Kong Island but at times you could hardly see across to
the other side due to the mucky air.
There are needless to say loads of shops along Kowloon's Nathan Street and
it's side streets where you can probably buy anything you can imagine. Expect if
you are from Europe to be frequently pestered about whether you want to buy a
suit or other clothes or perhaps a watch or a camera etc whilst you walk around
this part of Kowloon however unlike some countries - like in Egypt or Turkey -
you simply have to say "no thank you" and you are left alone.
Hotels and restaurants etc. We read a lot on the web about
the really small size of hotel rooms you tend to get in Hong Kong Hotels unless
you of course go 5 star and pay a fortune - well our only experience was of
where we stayed of course which was the Stanford Hillview just off Nathan Street
near Observatory Road on Knutsford Terrace, Tsimshatsui,- we found the standard
room to be of reasonable size and it had a nice bathroom.
The room was also cleaned and sheet-changed etc correctly and the staff were
courteous although they did not seem to know how to interact with you - the room
cost us 70 UK Pounds per night.
As far as eating out was concerned - well it is Hong Kong so you really can
chose to spend as little or as much on your meals depending on where you chose
to go. There are plenty of noodle bars in and around Nathan Street - sort of
noodle fast food and this is quite inexpensive. There are quite a few
restaurants on a small road which runs just off Knutsford Terrace near the
above-mentioned hotel - with quite a variety of food varieties available at
reasonable price though the wine is extremely expensive. If you want to spend
loads of money on your food then probably going over to Hong Kong Island and
then around Peak Road is the answer.
Hong Kong Island.
If you are staying in Kowloon then the ferry for Hong Kong Island leaves from
Victoria Harbour - at the harbour end of Nathan Street turn right and the Star
Ferry terminal is around a 5 to 10 minutes walk. The island is where most of
Hong Kong's businesses are located and therefore as mentioned there are lots of
incredibly high skyscrapers to house them all. Behind them and a little way up
the slopes are expensive flats - the higher up they are the more expensive they
become as the atmosphere improves and you have to pay for this of course.
Impressive as this all is we mostly enjoyed our trip because we walked through
the skyscraper bit to find the Peak Tram and take a trip on this famous rail
system.
Peak Tram. This old tram system has been running for over a 100 years
(it went into service in May 1888) and manages to haul it's two carriages up a
sometimes 27 degree incline from Garden Road near St John's Cathedral to
Victoria Gap - the 1.4km trip up gives some marvellous views of Hong Kong
Island. At the Peak you can walk higher up into Peak Tower where there are lots
of shops and a restaurant. Right at the top they have a viewing platform - you
have to pay to go into this area.
There are various walks from here - you can go up to Victoria Peak or you can
walk the Peak Circuit or the circuit down to Pok-Fu Lam Reservoir through the
Country Park. In fact a surprisingly large percentage of Hong Kong Island is
countryside and parkland and there are actually many walks you can enjoy if you
have the time - and energy.
The walk we did and described below combined all 3 - firstly up to Victoria Peak
Gardens, then via the Governor's Walk to the Peak Circuit, then down to the
reservoir and returned back to the Peak Tower. We then walked down via paths and
lots of steps to the Peak Tram Terminal and then on back to Hong Kong Harbour at
Central to get our Kowloon ferry.
Note on countryside walking - there are more than 40
types of snakes in Hong Kong - most of which are not venomous - however there
are Red-necked Keelback, vipers and kraits around as well as python, rat snakes
and so on so you should be aware of what's around you especially if you use the
narrower paths.
Leaving the tram terminal turn right to almost immediately reach a 6-way road
junction - if you want to walk up to Victoria Peak Gardens take Mount Austin
Road - this is an extremely steep road in places but is not busy with road
traffic so ok to walk.
When we reached the Governor's Gardens we had a look round and then took the
path known as the Governor's Walk. This path (note when we were there part
of the path was closed for repair and you might have to go back down the road a
little way to join this path) winds down and round the hillside again
offering really good views in places - and ends up quite steep as it reaches the
Peak Circuit.
If you have the time whilst on holiday in Hong Kong then this Peak Circuit is
really worth doing - and also the route is pretty well flat.
You walk mostly on a narrow care-free road - we turned right from and went round
it clockwise - yet again the view of Victoria Harbour and Hong Island and it's
scrapers was excellent. The whole circuit is around 2 miles or 3kms. When you
reach the Peak Junction to complete the circuit you need to continue along
Harlech Road - and then you reach your start point by the Governor's Walk path
exit.
From this junction we took a path on the left which is marked to Pok-Fu Lam
Reservoir - this really nice path descends down to reach a picnic area where
there are some seats plus an old gun emplacement. The clearly marked path
continues down quite steeply and on steps in places - passing through trees and
foliage to reach a metal road by the reservoir.
Turn left and follow the road soon passing some toilets to reach a bridge -
cross over and then turn left in effect staying on the road - this climbs very
steeply in places but really was a pleasant if somewhat breathless walk. The
road eventually joins a main road near The Peak Terminal - carry on straight
ahead and then turn right in front of the Terminal and Shops to reach Findlay Road.
Continue down the road and then turn left at the road junction - this narrow
road winds on down to reach Plantation Road by Barker Road Tram Station.
Continue along Barker Road for about 1km and then just after passing some tennis
courts on the left and the Old Victoria Hospital on the right take the signed
Chatham Path which leaves on the left. This is actually called the Central Green
trail - this is a really nice descending path which has many shrubs and trees
either side of it and also lots of birds.
Further down the path ignore a dead end path going right - just continue to
reach May Road - cross this busy road and then go left for a short distance to
reach Clovelly Path leaving on the right. This path soon joins Brewin Path, turn
right and follow Brewin Path to eventually reach Magazine Gap Road - cross this
and continue down steps onto the Tramway path. The path is clearly marked as it
continues down mostly on steps to finally arrive at the Peak Tramway Terminal.
The variety, shapes and sizes of the numerous boats wandering about in and
around Victoria Harbour were really excellent to watch - and we took quite a few
boat photos whilst down on the Kowloon side of the waterway.
There is actually an excellent pedestrian area along here - lots of seating
around plus cafes and restaurants etc. - and of course this is where Kowloon's clock tower is situated.
Holiday Sightseeing on Lantau Island, China visiting the world famous Big Buddha, Po Lin Monastery and then by bus to Tai O fishing village before returning to Mui Wo.
Lantau Island China. Situated at the mouth of the Peal River Lantau Island is the largest island in Hong Kong with an area of around 145 kms - apart from the 85 foot high Giant Buddha statue - Tian Tan Buddha - the Island contains Hong Kong's Disneyland and also Hong Kong's International Aiport. Po Lin Monastery and the Big Buddha are open to the public between the hours of 10:00 and 17:45
Getting to Lantau Island. If you are staying at Kowloon you have to take the Star Ferry across
to Hong Kong Island - then take the Lantau Ferry which leaves from just along the jetty. Once at Mui Wo the bus station is right next to the terminal ferry with buses
leaving frequently for the Monastery and the Big Buddha - you need to catch bus
no.2. The ferry option makes quite an
enjoyable hour long way to get over to Lantau Island with - smog permitting - really good views of both Hong Kong
Island and it's huge skyscrapers and the Kowloon side whose skyscrapers anywhere else would be equally impressive. There are also loads of boats crossing and going through the Victoria Harbour area from junks to ferries
to small container ships - this waterway is so busy that it's almost like watching a "boat motorway" at times.
Another way to get to Po Lin Monastery and the Big Buddha is via MTR - this is
on the Tung Chung Line from Hong Kong - get off at Tung Chung Station and then
take bus 23 to Ngong Ping.
Po Lin Monastery - also known as the
"Buddhist Kingdom in the South" - was built in 1920 by three Zen masters and is
an international Buddhist retreat. The Monastery is really
colourfull and impressive with the many dragons and other Chinese mythical
figures painted on the walls and ceilings - it's easy to take lots of photographs around and inside the building.
Once you have visited the monastery it is not too difficult to spot the
Big Buddha - this impressive statue was completed on the 29th December 1993
which also marked the birthday of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. You have to pay a small entrance fee but this does include the right to
a free vegetarian meal once you finsihed looking round. The 268 steps of climbing up to the top is quite
significant if the weather is hot and/or humid but well worth it of course with excellent views across the island.
When back down the steps make sure you retain your entrance ticket - head
back to the Monastery and you will find on it's left a vegetarian cafe where
your ticket entitles you to a meal and a drink. Actually this vegetarian meal
plus a nice sweet was really delicious - heaped plate full and most tasty.
The plan was then to head over to Tai O and the bus for this fishing village leaves on the road leading out from the bus terminal
(not at the bus terminal) at a bus stop on the left hand side of the
road out.
The Chinese fishing town of Tai O is situated on the Northwest of Lantau Island and
is over 300 years old - it has quite a few really interesting houses
particularly because they are built on wooden stilts out in the water - there is also a fish market on it's
narrow main street selling amongst other things salted fish and shrimp paste.
You can easily wander around the side streets for some
time just picking up the atmosphere of the place - the various waterways,
fishing boats and stilt houses (pangwu).
From Tai O a frequent bus service takes you back over the island to the ferry
at Mui Wo. However if time permits do not just head back to Hong Kong, instead
walk out inland alongside the river - apart from lots of wildlife on the river
itself you also soon reach the centre.
By the bridge there are several paths marked out to follow - for instance if you continue on you can walk out
into some pleasant countryside and then on to the old village - along here we saw many butterflies and birds.
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