Chapters
“The impulse to travel is one of the hopeful symptoms of life. ” - Agnes Repplier
Hong Kong is somewhere you have to visit as there are so many things to see and do once you get there! It's one of the most popular destinations in the world for tourism and people flock there every day of the year.
Whether you’re visiting a temple, heading to the tops of skyscrapers, or going for a bite to eat, there’s something for everyone. However, that does mean it can be difficult to choose exactly what to do.
How can you make the most of your trip to Hong Kong?
Don’t panic, we’re here to help. Here's what you need to know about some of the best attractions in Hong Kong.
Kowloon
If you want to enjoy the views of Hong Kong that you’ve only been able to see in photos until now, you’ll need a high vantage point from a skyscraper. Fortunately, Hong Kong is home to many of them, particularly in Kowloon.
There are popular tourist spots around Nathan Road like Mong Kok, and Yau Ma Tei. With local markets and shops, there’s so much to experience.
Then there’s Tsim Sha Shui by the sea. This is where you can enjoy the daily light show or have a nice walk by the water.
Find out more about visiting Hong Kong
Victoria Peak
Victoria Peak can be reached by the Peak Tram funicular railway and offers a spectacular view of Hong Kong. Between forests and skyscrapers, the sunset here is particularly beautiful.
Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, Victoria Peak is the highest point on the island and the Peak Tram is a remnant of Hong Kong’s colonial past. After all, Hong Kong was a British colony until the late 90s and while it's now a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, there's a lot of international cultures for you to experience. From Victoria Peak, you can see the New Territories and all of Hong Kong’s historical buildings.
The Peak is a great spot for history lovers and a lot of people who travel enjoy taking photos of the destinations they visit and Victoria Peak is one of the best places in Hong Kong for views of your destination.
Find out why you should visit Hong Kong
Tai O
“Do you want to live happily? Travel with two bags, one for giving, the other for receiving.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Hong Kong is full of hidden gems. Tai O is a fishing village on the island of Lantau. You can get to it by cable car or by ferry.
There’s the village of Ngong Ping, the largest seated bronze Buddha in the world, and the Po Lin Monastery. The Buddha is at the top of 268 steps with some excellent views at the top.
There’s also the Mui Wo and Cheung Sha beaches. In comparison to the city centre, this is a much quieter part of Hong Kong.
Find out more about accommodation in Hong Kong
Sheung Wan
Sheung Wan is a beautiful part of Hong Kong. There are shops to pick up local produce and places where you can enjoy typical Hong Kong food with restaurants and street food.
This part of Hong Kong offers a more authentic experience of the city and is probably one of the best places to go if you want to see what Hong Kong is like.
Sheung Wan is Hong Kong’s historic heart, which makes it like an open-air museum where you can walk around and keep discovering things.
If you want to experience Hong Kong, head to Sheung Wan.
Find out more about the cost of visiting Hong Kong
Temple Street
At the end of the day, you should head to Temple Street. This is home to markets selling almost everything you could imagine from souvenirs to traditional dishes. If you're looking for good food or just a bit of shopping, this is the place to go.
Temple Street is worth visiting for the night market and gets its name from the Tin Hau temple. It’s sometimes referred to as Men’s Street to differentiate it from Ladies’ Market, another of Hong Kong’s must-see sights. However, everyone’s welcome.
Make sure you go to a cha chaan teng, a typical Hong Kong café. The best time to visit is from 19:00 to 22:00.
This is a great part of the city to walk around.
Hong Kong Park
Hong Kong is more than just a concrete jungle. Hong Kong Park is full of fountains, aviaries, and green space, perfect for a relaxing break during a busy day. The park is also beautiful.
Hong Kong Park is designed in such a way that it feels like part of the city. It works with the natural landscape rather than attempting to change it. It’s also a great change of pace during a visit to the city.
In the park, you can enjoy:
- Greenhouses
- The Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware
- The Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre
- Waterlily ponds
- Play areas for children
- Aviaries with over 80 species of birds
There are also bird-watching walks and tours scheduled on Wednesday mornings so you can enjoy this place as part of a group, which is great if you're travelling on your own.
You can enjoy the local nature as well as the local culture.
The Clock Tower
The Clock Tower is to Hong Kong as the Statue of Liberty is to New York City. This iconic red-brick and granite structure stands at 44 metres tall.
You can almost touch the lightning rod at the top if you climb the wooden staircase to the top. The Clock Tower was built in 1915 and is reminiscent of the Industrial Revolution.
On the south banks of the Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon, the Clock Tower is not only a landmark for locals but also a popular tourist destination.
Avenue of Stars
This is much like the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles and was inspired by it. It pays tribute to the stars of the Hong Kong film industry.
On the waterfront between Victoria Harbour and Tsim Sha Tsui, this avenue offers excellent views of the city and also features a bronze statue of Bruce Lee, one of the biggest stars of Asian cinema.
At the end of the year, many Hongkongers celebrate here.
Beyond shopping malls and skyscrapers, Hong Kong has a lot to offer locals and tourists. Whether it’s a stop-off on a tour of Asia or your main destination, there are plenty of things for you to enjoy.
When will you be going?
If you'd like to learn more about Chinese languages and Cantonese, in particular, consider getting help from one of the many experienced and talented tutors available on Superprof. When learning languages, no two students are the same and there are different types of private tutorials for every type of learner, budget, and level.
One-on-one tutorials are an excellent way to learn a foreign language as you're the only student in the class and will enjoy plenty of opportunities to practise, ask questions, and converse with your private tutor. Similarly, the tutor will tailor the sessions to you, what you want to learn, and how you like to learn. Generally, these types of tutorials are the most costly, but they're also the most cost-effective since every minute of the lesson is spent helping you to get better at your new language.
If you can't find any local private tutors, you can always look for online tutoring. With an online tutor, you can be taught by people all over the world, including those from places like Hong Kong and other areas where Cantonese is spoken. Much like with face-to-face tutorials, you can get one-on-one online tutorials and spend a lot of time practising your language skills with your private tutor. However, since the tutor doesn't need to travel to their students, they can charge less than their face-to-face counterparts.
Group tutorials are probably the best option for those on a tight budget as you can share the cost of the tutor's time with the other students in the lesson. While you won't get as much time to practise your Cantonese with the tutor, you will have other students to practise with and this can be better for students who'd be nervous practising their Cantonese with somebody who's already mastered the language.
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