Hong Kong, one of Asia's busiest cities, is a really busy place. Even as a tourist, one can feel the fast pace at which the city operates. That is perhaps why there are so many attractions for people to head to, where tourists are expected to head to numerous places to maximise their time in Hong Kong.
Besides visiting the main tourist highlights Hong Kong offers, you should also try to explore the city from a local's perspective. Try taking the star ferry after seeing Hong Kong from above at Victoria Peak. You should also look out for the Noonday Gun, a less-known attraction, where a cannon blasts off once every day at 12 pm without fail. Of course, make sure you prepare a lot of cash, where you can go crazy shopping at the many markets in Kowloon. Try the Ladies Market, and head to Sneakers Street to get some of the latest sports-related fashion wear. As long as you can handle the pace, you will be sure to enjoy Hong Kong tremendously!
For your convenience, refer to this list of attractions you should head to while in Melbourne!
1. Central - Mid-levels Escalators
2. Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum
3. Hong Kong Museum of History
4. Hong Kong Science Museum
5. Ladies Market
6. Madame Tussauds Hong Kong
7. Noonday Gun
8. Sneakers Street
9. Star Ferry
10. Victoria Peak
1. Central - Mid-levels Escalators
The Central - Mid-Levels escalator and walkway system is not exactly a conventional place of interest, but rather a transport system to bring people from one place to another. However, what makes this so interesting is that at some 800 metres, 20 escalators, and walkways connected by footbridges, it is said to be the longest such system in the world.
Originally built to link people between Central and Mid-Levels better, it has since allowed businesses littering the system to flourish, allowing visitors to conveniently use the escalators and walkways to get to a certain location. Tourists also head here to try the entire system, which takes some 30 minutes! Conveniently as well, visitors can head off at any one of the escalators to take a break at a cafe or restaurant!
This is quite a fun way of exploring Hong Kong, as you get to discover new places and eateries as you walk and travel along the escalators. It is also the way to travel if you wish to head to some museums, including Dr Sun Yat Sun Museum.
If you realise, most of the system involves one escalator and one walkway by its side. In the morning, the escalators are in a downward direction, so that people living in the Mid-Levels can get to work in Central. As such, during evenings, the escalators are changed to an upward direction so people knocking off work can get back home more comfortably. If you are intending to use this system and prefer the use of escalators, be aware of this!
Address: Jubilee Street, Central, Hong Kong
Opening hours: 24 hours
2. Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum
Located in Central, Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum can be found by making use of the Central Mid-levels escalators. It is also an integral part of the Dr Sun Yat-sen Historial Trail.
Although Dr Sun Yat-sen is probably more well-known for his activities in mainland China, he had quite a lot of ties with Hong Kong. In fact, it was in Hong Kong where he received his education. It was said to also be in this city where he first thought of and carried out his revolutionary ideas.
If you are a fan of history, especially Chinese history, then this museum is a must-visit. Indeed, in the permanent exhibitions, one will get to see precious artefacts related to Dr Sun’s early life in Hong Kong. Through this museum, find out how Hong Kong made Dr Sun Yat-sen who he was in his later years.
There are precious photographs of Dr Sun, including those with his family and some others with his revolutionary colleagues. Check out personal letters written to his family members, as well as military bonds that were issued in 1906 to support the revolutionary uprising.
If you happen to be a fan of architecture, you will be pleased to know that the museum also houses a model of the current building, and how it became to be used as the Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum today. This is really one great museum to visit, so be sure to head here when you are travelling on the Central - Mid-level escalators!
Website: https://hk.drsunyatsen.museum/en_US/web/sysm/aboutus/intro.html
Address: 7 Castle Road, Mid-Levels, Central, Hong Kong
Opening hours: 10 am to 6 pm (Mondays to Wednesdays, Fridays); 10 am to 7 pm (Saturdays, Sundays, Public Holidays); Closed on Thursdays
Cost: Free
3. Hong Kong Museum of History
Located just beside Hong Kong Science Museum, the Hong Kong Museum of History is a must-go for all cultural travellers.
This museum seeks to provide visitors with a taste of what Hong Kong was like, and how it has since evolved with time.
In the first gallery, visitors are first treated to pre-historic Hong Kong, which provides a glimpse of the species unique to Hong Kong. Next, visitors are slowly guided towards ancient times, as part of the different dynasties in China. It slowly brings visitors towards current-day Hong Kong, where they are treated to interesting artefacts and information about the Opium war, Japanese occupation, and modern Hong Kong.
Many exhibitions are life-size, so visitors can actually experience what it must have been like in Hong Kong many years ago. Find out what a traditional medicine store looks like, and how a tram looked like in the 1950s. Take a look as well how homes looked like before World War 2, and be in awe of the many important festivals locals celebrate throughout the year. Get especially excited about the famous Bun festival celebrated in Cheung Chau every year, and see how religious festivities are celebrated.
By the end of the visit, you will surely gain a much greater insight into how Hong Kong is like. This is definitely one of the best museums in Hong Kong, one that really allows visitors to appreciate the real Hong Kong. Make sure you head down here to understand Hong Kong!
Website: https://hk.history.museum/en_US/web/mh/index.html
Address: 100 Chatham Rd South, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Hong Kong
Opening hours: 10 am to 6 pm (Mondays, Wednesdays to Fridays); 10 am to 7 pm (Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays); Closed on Tuesdays (except public holidays)
4. Hong Kong Science Museum
Hong Kong Science Museum is a family-friendly museum that is suitable and fun for children of all ages.
Science is the topic here and visitors will get to understand this topic in various fun ways. With four storeys in total, there are interesting exhibits on food, animals, the environment, and even aviation. It is stated that there are more than 500 exhibits on display, which provides for much educational entertainment for the young ones. Children can and indeed, are encouraged, to get hands-on with the different exhibits.
It is conveniently separated into different sections, so children understand the type of science they are enjoying! Some sections include food science, telecommunications, transportation, and electricity and magnetism. For aviation lovers, check out the life-size DC-3 aeroplane on the top level, which was Hong Kong’s first airliner!
Look out for their science demonstrations, which takes place daily at scheduled timings. Some examples of such demonstrations consist of liquid nitrogen and artificial clouds, both of which sounds really fun for everyone!
At times, there are also special exhibits where adults will surely enjoy as well. During our visit, we managed to view the special exhibit “Eternal Life: Exploring Ancient Egypt”. It had quite a few precious artefacts on display, including mummies found in present-day Egypt. It was definitely amazing and enjoyable for everyone to learn something new!
Website: https://hk.science.museum/en_US/web/scm/index.html
Address: Science Museum Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Opening hours: 10 am to 7 pm (Mondays to Wednesdays, Fridays); 10 am to 9 pm (Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays); Closed Thursdays (except public holidays)
5. Ladies Market
Ladies Market is one of the street markets in Hong Kong visitors simply have to visit. Think of cheap souvenirs, last-minute luggage, and t-shirts, and you get an idea of what Ladies Market is about.
As with most street markets in Asia, put on your bargaining cap and enjoy the process as you purchase your t-shirts and fridge magnets. Be sure to enjoy the atmosphere as well, since it is bounded to be crowded with tourists, and walking is made difficult by the throngs of people passing by. It is good fun as you haggle with the store owners, and be satisfied with your souvenirs as you head back to your country.
Make sure you get multiple magnets, so your friends and family can receive a nice souvenir from Hong Kong! Proud that you made it to Hong Kong? Be sure to get more than 1 t-shirt so you can wear them on your meet-ups with your friends! Just remember though, that many stores sell similar, if not identical products. So take your time to walk around the market and explore!
Address: Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
Opening hours: 12 pm to 11 pm (We do see some stalls closing by 10 pm)
6. Madame Tussauds Hong Kong
Madame Tussauds needs no introduction, and throughout its locations around the world, there are bound to be throngs of visitors snapping pictures with their favourite celebrities and politicians.
Over at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong, expect nothing less. While the popular wax figures are always going to be the usual suspects (think Hollywood stars and superpower politicians), the good thing about Madame Tussauds in an Asian city is exactly the Asian influence. Expect to see K-pop stars, Hong Kong singers, and Asian athletes, figures you will not find in a European Madame Tussauds.
If politics is your thing, you will not be disappointed. Some famous Asian figures include the popular Joko Widodo, Narendra Modi, and Mahatma Gandhi. Check out Xi Jinping, and perhaps snap a picture with him too! It can get really busy as visitors start to head in after breakfast.
So, we highly recommend heading here first thing in the morning to beat the crowd, and to get some precious pictures with your idols!
Website: https://www.madametussauds.com/hong-kong/en/
Address: Shop P101, The Peak Tower, No. 128 Peak Road, The Peak, Hong Kong
Opening hours: 10 am to 10 pm daily
Cost: Varies. From HKD188 per person for students and late entries. Please refer to their website for the latest promotions and online-only deals.
7. Noonday Gun
The Noonday Gun is somewhat of a hidden attraction in Hong Kong. Located in Causeway Bay, the artillery piece, the Noonday Gun, is fired once at noon, every day.
This practice originated in the 1860s, where a Jardine employee would fire off a round as a gun salute each time a senior executive entered Hong Kong. At one point, a British naval officer was annoyed at hearing this so often, as he was new to Hong Kong, and felt that the salute should be awarded only to government officials and senior officials in the military. Hence, Jardine was ordered to fire a round at noon every day. This tradition was thus kept alive and continued, even though the artillery piece has since been replaced.
To get there, one requires some patience. It is only accessible via an underground pass, linked to The Excelsior Hotel. You will need to head to the underground car park of the hotel, locate the linkway, and walk over to the site.
Once there, you may find that a Jardine employee is already preparing to fire off the round. Remember to snap some pictures and take a video if you are keen to show this off to your friends. Just be warned, that it is really extremely loud! Do not be fooled by Hollywood movies where it shows such artillery firing off rounds at a manageable sound level.
After the round is fired off, the area will be opened to visitors for about 30 minutes, where you can check out the artillery piece, and take the all-important photographs. This is something really cool to check out in Hong Kong!
Address: Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay, Kellet Island, Hong Kong
Opening hours: 12 noon every day
8. Sneakers Street (Fa Yuen Street)
Located along Fa Yuen Street, this place is also known as Sneakers Street, famous for its rows of sports shops selling various sports merchandise, and especially sneakers.
Each store has its products priced aggressively due to intense competition, and this is only good news for visitors. Locals and tourists visit this place alike, and many stores are selling similar clothes and shoes, so you can compare between stores before committing to a purchase.
Famous brands include Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Puma, and the likes. The great thing about these shops is that they also stock the latest products, so you do not have to worry that they only carry previous-season shoes. If you are in for some collector’s items, take your time and scout the shops. Some of them do sell them!
Often, they also offer discounts if you buy more, further enticing you to stick to their store for all your purchases. Take your time and consider carefully, since you have all the time in the world!
Just remember, consider your airline’s baggage allowance first if you intend to buy a lot!
Address: Fa Yuen Street (South of Argyle Street), Mongkok, Hong Kong
Opening hours: Varies from shop to shop, but most are open between 11 am and 11 pm
9. Star Ferry
Not quite a tourist attraction or place of interest, the star ferry is a mode of transport commonly used by locals to make the crossing between Kowloon and Hong Kong island. However, what is so fascinating about this transportation method is the amazing sights one gets to enjoy while on the ferry.
Depending on your location, you can start from any of the three locations. If you are on Hong Kong island, you can choose either Central Star Ferry Pier or Wan Chai Star Ferry Pier to make the crossing to Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier at Kowloon. If you are at Kowloon, you can choose to alight at either Central or Wan Chai Star Ferry Pier.
Needless to say, the views are amazing, where you get to see Hong Kong’s famous skyscrapers from a ferry at sea. On the other side, you will also have an amazing view of the International Commerce Centre, which houses the highest hotel in the world, The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong.
The best part about this service is the low cost involved. As this service was designed to ferry locals daily, it is an essential mode of transport and costs are kept low. For sure, tourists take the ferry multiple times just to soak in the views!
Check out their official website for more details!
Central/Tsim Sha Tsui service:
Wan Chai/Tsim Sha Tsui service:
Address: Kowloon Star Ferry Pier; Central Star Ferry Pier; Wan Chai Star Ferry Pier
Opening hours: Varies. From as early as 6.30 am till as late as 11.30 pm
Costs: HKD2.70 (Mondays to Fridays); HKD3.70 (Saturdays, Sundays, Public Holidays)
10. Victoria Peak
Victoria Peak is possibly the most famous attraction in Hong Kong. Throngs of tourists head up to the peak all year round, whether by the tram, a hike, or even via a taxi.
Most first-time visitors will surely head up via the Peak Tram, which consequently sees a long queue every single day of the year. Be sure to head up first thing in the morning if you wish to beat the queues. Even so, be prepared for a queue of some 30 minutes to an hour long! Skip breakfast is all we can say!
However, do note that travelling by taxi is also a good way, as it allows you to beat the various queues. If all you want is to see the view of Hong Kong from the Peak, this is the way to go.
The view from the Peak is simply beautiful. Depending on the weather, you will either face a cool breeze or harsh winds smashing your face. Either way, it is an experience in itself. Check out the world-famous Bank of China building and look out all the way to Kowloon, and try to spot the Ritz-Carlton! At night, it looks equally beautiful, with the night lights showing off its beauty to visitors.
Be warned though, that travel conditions can change suddenly. This means that you might encounter a clear view in one minute, but fog can arrive almost immediately to cover the entire city. This is just part of the experience at the Peak. If you have time, wait it out, enjoy the breeze, and pray that you will get one more chance to see the city!
The Peak Website (includes information on ticket prices to the Peak tram and observation deck at Victoria Peak): https://www.thepeak.com.hk/en
Address: The Peak, Hong Kong
Opening hours:
The Peak Tram Lower Terminus: 7 am to 10 pm daily
The Peak Tower: 10 am to 10 pm (Mondays to Fridays); 8 am to 10 pm (Saturdays, Sundays, and Public Holidays)
Sky Terrace 428: 10 am to 9 pm (Mondays to Fridays); 8 am to 9 pm (Saturdays, Sundays, and Public Holidays)
Costs:
1. Peak Tram Sky Pass (includes tram tickets and Sky Terrace 428 ticket):
(With return tram tickets): HK$99 for adults; HK$47 for children (ages 3 to 11) and seniors (aged 65 and above)
(With single tram ticket): HK$ 84 for adults; HK$38 for children (ages 3 to 11) and seniors (aged 65 and above)
2. Peak Tram tickets:
(Return tram tickets): HK$52 for adults; HK$37 for children (ages 3 to 11) and seniors (aged 65 and above)
(Single tram ticket): HK$ 23 for adults; HK$14 for children (ages 3 to 11) and seniors (aged 65 and above)
3. Sky Terrace 428 tickets: HK$52 for adults; HK$26 for children (ages 3 to 11) and seniors (aged 65 and above)
Google Maps: List of attractions and food places in Hong Kong!
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