Hong Kong suggestions?

[Yu_Gi_Oh]

I need to go to Hong Kong for a visa thing next week, so I'm just going to be hanging around alone there for a few days. I live on the mainland but know nothing about HK. Does anyone have any restaurant suggestions, or other activities not involving alcohol? Will my Chinese mobile phone work there? What is it like in contrast to the mainland? Is there anything I should know before I go?

 

[Dan U]

It's massively touristy obviously but going up the Peak is great, not recommended if it's cloudy though.

Boats to the islands are also lovely, I went to Lantau and Lamma iirc (it's a few years since I've been)

On one island is the big Buddha statue on top of a big hill and you can get a hair raising cable car down towards the airport and then get the train back in to town

The bird garden up near the flower market on kowloon side was good and the ten thousand Buddha's monastery which is a bit of a journey out but worth a visit.

Bowling around the elevators and bars of mid levels is probably less fun if you aren't drinking

It's a few years since I've been so no specific food recommendations but I don't recall eating a bad meal the whole trips I've had but my mate lives there and was choosing!

Have you been to Macau? Worth a trip on the jet boat if you have time and passports allow. It's properly nuts.

 

[bi0boy]

Do you like walking? There are some great trails e.g. the Dragon's Back route on HK Island. You can start from Chai Wan MTR and end up on Shek O beach and get the bus back.

Food wise when I get hungry I just window shop some of the random little eateries that the locals use and pop in one that appeals.

The worst bit is Tsim Tsa Shui IMO as it's full of branded luxury goods shops and consequently incredibly dull.

 

[bi0boy]

On one island is the big Buddha statue on top of a big hill and you can get a hair raising cable car down towards the airport and then get the train back in to town

Worth doing this, especially for the "free" meal that comes with the entry ticket, you get given numerous plates of fresh veggie stuff.

 

[Dan U]

Do you like walking? There are some great trails e.g. the Dragon's Back route on HK Island. You can start from Chai Wan MTR and end up on Shek O beach and get the bus back.

Food wise when I get hungry I just window shop some of the random little eateries that the locals use and pop in one that appeals.

The worst bit is Tsim Tsa Shui IMO as it's full of branded luxury goods shops and consequently incredibly dull.

my mate who lives there does loads of walking and camping, i hadn't at all realised how much of HK was national and marine park until i went. loads of wildlife too.

we walked from the Peak down to his then apartment on Robinson Road (all downhill and not that far tbf so not the best example)

 

[Winot]

<bump>

Going there on holiday for a fortnight at Easter. 4 nights Lantau Island; 2 nights Macau; 7 nights Tsim Tsa Shui.

Anyone know about the buses on Lantau - e.g. can we get to Big Buddha, Ocean Park, Tai O fishing village without hiring a car?

Also any hiking tips appreciated, either on Lantau or the New Territories. Are the trails well-signposted or is it worth buying a guidebook? We'll have daughters 10 & 12 so won't be doing anything too hardcore.

 

[Yossarian]

Yep, you can get buses and taxis most places on Lantau - Ocean Park is on HK island and there's now an MTR going there, would definitely recommend it over Disney.

The trails are reasonably well signposted but it would be worth at least printing off a few maps, most sections of the Lantau Trail would be walkable with a 10 and 12-year-old if it's not too hot, Hong Kong island is a little easier to divide into shorter hikes and the Dragon's Back is probably the best of them.

The outlying islands are definitely worth a look too, Lamma has its charms and the walk between Sok Kwu Wan and Yung Shue Wan might be my favourite short hike in Hong Kong - though if I was to pick just one, it'd be my former home, Cheung Chau - it's like a busy part of Kowloon crossed with a Greek island and there's nowhere else quite like it on Earth.

 

[Winot]

Yep, you can get buses and taxis most places on Lantau - Ocean Park is on HK island and there's now an MTR going there, would definitely recommend it over Disney.

The trails are reasonably well signposted but it would be worth at least printing off a few maps,'oat saw toons of the Lantau Trail would be walkable with a 10 and 12-year-old if it's not too hot, Hong Kong island is a little easier to divide into shorter hikes and the Dragon's Back is probably the best of them.

The outlying island are definitely worth a look too, Lamma has its charms and the walk between Sok Kwu Wan and Yung Shue Wan might be my favourite short hike in Hong Kong - though if I was to pick just one, it'd be my former home, Cheung Chau - it's like a busy part of Kowloon crossed with a Greek island and there's nowhere else quite like it on Earth.

This is excellent info - thanks. Weather should be 20-25C so not too bad.

I've been to HK a few times before for work and am looking forward to a holiday there. Have spent time on Lamma before as a friend lived there and wanted to stay there but there's very little accommodation so ended up on Lantau.

Will check out Cheung Chau.

 

[colacubes]

We did 3 days in HK on our way to Vietnam before Christmas. Would definitely recommend Cheung Chau. Was the only outlying island we made it to due to our short stay, but really liked it.

Would also recommend this place for super cheap and amazing food:

The world’s cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant - Tim Ho Wan, the Dim-Sum Specialists, Hong Kong Traveller Reviews - TripAdvisor

They've actually got a couple of branches - the one we went to was in an unassuming row of shops inside an MTR station.

 

[Yossarian]

I'd recommend a weekday instead of a weekend for any island trips, the ferries etc. can get pretty busy.

The HK government has got some excellent hiking resources with maps, level of difficulty, etc.

Enjoy Hiking The Hong Kong Trail

 

[ricbake]

Was a long while back but the Star Ferry is a must between HK and Kowloon - Shopping in Tsim Sha Tsui, a mall that goes on for ever... Poor Mans Night club (market) in Mong Kok - The YMCA in Kowloon is good to stay - the higher rooms have superb views of the harbour.


ETA - missed the bump - so..