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At Attractions on this page Attractions This bustling waterfront town is located on one of the southern tips of Hong Kong Island. Two centuries ago, Aberdeen was a pirates' den, and later it became a simple fishing village. Today, it is a modern, vibrant area of Hong Kong. Fishing life is still popular, and traditional boats are in abundance, acting as floating homes for thousands of people. Docked side by side in the harbour, they are a contrast to the modern high-rise communities visible on the hillside above. For a closer look at Aberdeen life, take a sampan ride, or head to a floating restaurant for a delicious seafood meal.
At the southern tip of Kowloon, on the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade, the Avenue of Stars pays homage to the Hong Kong film industry and its stars, and also offers some of the best views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island. It is also the best place from which to view the Symphony of Lights laser light show, which starts at 8:00 pm nightly.
Happy Valley Racecourse is an oasis of green in the middle of the city. Offering the only legal form of gambling in Hong Kong, the racecourse attracts large, enthusiastic crowds during the racing season, from September to late June.
On Lantau Island, Hong Kong Disneyland is easily accessed and features the best rides, shows and attractions from Disney parks around the world.
This upbeat neighbourhood has narrow streets lined with Western-style restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Together with nearby lanes that are also lively with bistros and pubs, Lan Kwai Fong makes up Hong Kong's most fashionable nightlife area.
Ocean Park is a huge oceanarium and theme park, with more than 40 major attractions – from roller coasters to an Atoll Reef and a giant panda habitat. A cable car connecting the lowland and headland sections of the park offers tremendous views of Hong Kong and the South China Sea.
With its resort-like atmosphere and breathtaking views, Repulse Bay has one of the most popular beaches on Hong Kong Island. Around the bay are luxury apartment blocks, shops, restaurants, the famous Repulse Bay Hotel and an unusual shrine to Kwun Yam, the Goddess of Mercy.
SoHo, south of Hollywood Road, is a lively neighbourhood with many bars and fashionable restaurants serving cuisines from around the world. Hollywood Road and Upper Lascar Row are crammed with antique shops and open-air stalls offering everything from Ming furniture and lotus lamps to Mao badges and old snuff bottles. Above SoHo, Mid-Levels is an exclusive residential area on the lower slopes of Victoria Peak (usually known simply as The Peak). The Central-Mid-Levels Escalator, which is the longest covered outdoor escalator system in the world, provides easy access to and from the Central district, as well as an intriguing glimpse of the area’s street life.
Stanley’s open-air markets are famous for their bargains in silk garments, sportswear, jewellery and crafts. The narrow streets are always crowded, and bargaining is de rigueur. After you've worked up an appetite, a variety of restaurants and bars awaits in nearby Stanley Main Street. Stanley is also home to waterfront restaurants beside the
beach and historic (1842) Murray House – an elegant European-style building that was dismantled in 1982 to make way for another building, and eventually painstakingly reassembled at its present site.
In the New Territories, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery is approached via a steep climb, but is well worth visiting. Reflecting Hong Kong’s deep spirituality, 12,800
miniature statues line the towering walls of the temple, each in a slightly different pose. The complex also features several other temples and a nine-storey pagoda.
One of Hong Kong's must-see attractions is the world's largest seated outdoor bronze statue of Buddha, the Big Buddha. Climb the 260 steps from Po Lin Monastery up to the majestic Buddha, which stands 26 metres (85 feet) high and took 10 years to complete. Weighing 220 tonnes (242 tons), it was unveiled in 1993 and, aside from attracting Buddhists from across Asia, the magnificent statue has transformed the remote monastery into a popular tourist attraction.
Victoria Peak (often known simply as "The Peak") is Hong Kong's premier visitor attraction with one of the world's most stunning cityscapes. At 550 metres (1,805 feet) above sea level, it offers dazzling views of Hong Kong Island, the harbour, Kowloon and the hills beyond. At the top, in the Peak Tower, there are over 10,405 square metres (112,000 square feet) of shopping, dining and some of the city's best entertainment attractions. The wok-shaped building is a Hong Kong icon. Stroll through Ripley's Believe It or Not Odditorium, and Madame Tussauds – the famous wax museum from London. You can reach Victoria Peak via the Peak Tram and enjoy fabulous views on the way. The tram station is a short drive from the Hotel. Trams operate daily every 15 minutes.
Wong Tai Sin Temple is a large and vibrant Taoist temple. Dedicated to a god who is worshipped by business people, the sick and those trying to stay well, it is constantly abuzz with people praying and fortunetellers divining the future through chim (fortune sticks) or palm readings. The temple also has a lovely park called the Good Wish Gardens – a peaceful green spot with waterfalls tumbling over rocks.
The popular Yuen Po Street Bird Garden is where locals go to show off their prized songbirds. Showcased in ornate cages, the birds are pampered and often fed honey nectar to sweeten their songs. There are about 70 stalls selling a wide range of bird paraphernalia, from cages to bird snacks.
City tours Victoria Harbour is one of the busiest and most impressive natural harbours in the world. The spectacular backdrop of the Hong Kong skyline becomes even more impressive as darkness falls and the dazzling neon lights make the city glitter. One of the best ways to experience it is on board the popular Star Ferry between Central and
Tsim Sha Tsui. Cruises set sail from piers on either side of Victoria Harbour in the morning, afternoon, evening and at sunset.
Full-day excursions Macau, on China’s southeast coast, combines the cultures of East and West with colourful Chinese shops all vying for attention with distinctive colonial architecture. With a rich 400-year history of coexistence between Portugal and China, its fusion of Asian and Mediterranean cultures makes for a fascinating getaway. The historic centre of Macau is designated a World Heritage Site and the territory's casinos are also a major attraction for visitors from China and Hong Kong.
Once a simple fishing village, Shenzhen is a thriving metropolis of seven million on the Chinese mainland, boasting numerous historic sites as well as excellent shopping and bargain hunting. Take in one of Shenzhen's three theme parks – Splendid China, the China Folk Culture Village and Windows of the World, each with its own unique features. You can reach Shenzhen by bus or train to the boundary, where a bridge leads into Shenzhen City.
Local excursions Wetland Park is a world-class eco-tourism facility aimed at promoting green tourism, and provides education on environmental protection and wetland conservation. It is home to a stunning array of wildlife, including birds, dragonflies, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, butterflies and fish.
Lamma Island, also known as Po Liu Chau, is Hong Kong's third largest island and is enjoyed for its laidback lifestyle and natural beauty. The most popular area on the island is Yung Shue Wan, a pretty, tree-shaded village where the streets are lined with small restaurants, pubs and shops.
The New Territories lie between the Kowloon hills and the boundary with mainland China. It is a fascinating area to visit, with temples, theme parks and Hong Kong’s highest mountain peak, Tai Mo Shan.
The Ngong Ping 360 cable car is accessed from Tung Chung on Lantau Island. During the 5.7-kilometre (3.5-mile) cable car ride, visitors enjoy panoramic views of Lantau’s mountainous terrain as they journey to a cultural themed village and Tian Tan Buddha, the world’s largest seated outdoor bronze Buddha statue.
The Outlying Islands showcase a way of life that has remained unchanged for decades, their countryside and fishing villages a marked change of pace from the hectic city. Cheung Chau is a densely populated island with a thriving fishing community, and is home to Hong Kong’s famous Bun Festival. Just a short ferry ride away is Lantau Island, home to great beaches, spectacular mountain walks and the world's largest seated outdoor bronze Buddha. Peng Chau is a small, flat island with a floating community of fishermen.
Museums The award-winning Hong Kong Heritage Museum has magnificent displays on Cantonese opera, the cultural heritage of the New Territories, a Children’s Discovery Centre, and an impressive art collection.
The Hong Kong Museum of Art celebrates China’s cultural heritage through an impressive collection of over 13,000 works of art including Chinese paintings and calligraphy works, antique Chinese treasures, historical paintings and creations by local artists.
One of the city’s most recent additions, the Hong Kong Museum of History showcases 6,000 years of history focusing on the territory’s archaeology, natural history, ethnography and local history.
Most of the 500-plus exhibits at the Hong Kong Science Museum are interactive, revealing the mysteries of a wide range of science-related subjects. The focus of the museum is the 20-metre (66-foot) Energy Machine. It produces spectacular audiovisual effects demonstrating various forms of energy.
One of the world's largest and most technically sophisticated planetariums, the Hong Kong Space Museum is enjoyed equally by children and adults. A prominent city landmark, its dome holds the Hall of Space Science, the Hall of Astronomy and the Space Theatre Planetarium. The wonders of space science and astronomy come alive, via the high-tech displays in two interactive exhibition halls. Thrilling wide-screen Omnimax and Sky Show movies play in the Space Theatre. Each presentation is shown in English; headphones for simultaneous translation in Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese are available free of charge.
Shopping Causeway Bay is one of Hong Kong’s most popular shopping districts, with Japanese department stores, the trendy boutiques of Fashion Walk and the ultra-modern Times Square.
The city’s most prominent architectural landmark with its 88-storey tower, the IFC mall is accessible by elevator from the Hotel. The complex encompasses fashion boutiques selling the world’s premium brands, specialty stores, excellent restaurants and a cinema.
A visit to the Jade Market is a must for jade lovers and collectors alike. Here you will find over 450 stalls, selling everything from rare and valuable carvings to simple and inexpensive trinkets. If you go, be prepared to bargain. You'll find the Jade Market at the junction of Kansu and Battery streets in Kowloon.
The Ladies' Market is the place to find bargains on women's fashions. It is known to be especially good for jeans and accessories. In exploring the stalls you will also find men's and children's clothing as well as toys, cosmetics and souvenirs.
Ocean Terminal is Hong Kong's stylish cruise ship facility, overlooking world-famous Victoria Harbour on the Kowloon side. Next to it is Harbour City, the largest shopping mall in Hong Kong, and one of the main tourist attractions in Tsim Sha Tsui. With over 700 shops, 50 restaurants and five cinemas, it combines a one-stop shopping and entertainment experience with stunning harbour views.
One of Hong Kong's landmark addresses, located between Central and Wan Chai, Pacific Place is a stunning collection of superb shopping, fine dining and entertainment venues. Spread over 2.6 hectares (6.5 acres), Pacific Place is one of the largest downtown commercial and retail centres in the world.
With its wide boulevard lined with trees, this shopping area has a European feel. Here you will find numerous retail outlets, as well as a small branch of the popular Yue Hwa Chinese Products Emporium. Just behind the shopping boulevard is Kowloon Park, the largest urban park in Kowloon. The Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre are at the southern end of Park Lane Shopper's Boulevard.
This historic building has six storeys of shops, featuring factory outlets and Italian and French designer shops. Other specialty stores carry cashmere, silks, jewellery and embroidery.
Hong Kong's most famous open-air market opens at 2:00 pm but really comes to life in the evening. This bustling market, spanning half a dozen blocks, features an array of stalls selling items ranging from clothing, watches and leatherwear to arts and crafts. Fortune-tellers will gladly read your future, while the occasional Cantonese opera singer entertains in the background.
Completed in 1994, massive Times Square has altered the landscape of Causeway Bay. The development is home to a 12-storey shopping arcade with over 200 shops, restaurants and a cineplex. It is topped off by two office towers. Just outside is Times Square Plaza. Here you will find the city's largest Sony Jumbotron, the site of New Year's celebrations and one of the most popular meeting spots in Hong Kong.
One of the city's main shopping districts, Tsim Sha Tsui is the heart and soul of Hong Kong. It offers a wide array of exciting shops, bars and restaurants. One of its highlights is the massive Harbour City, the largest shopping mall in Hong Kong, with over 700 shops and restaurants. Nathan Road, known as "The Golden Mile," will dazzle you with its sights, sounds and smells. For factory outlet clothing, stroll along Granville Road and Cameron Road. If brand name products are what you desire, Sun Plaza and Park Lane Shoppers Boulevard offer a host of popular Japanese and European labels.
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