3 day hip urban adventure for the young and energetic

Our Local Expert Says:

Room stays include a bottle of house red and a box of deluxe chocolates.

Description:

The Kowloon Shangri-La, on the Tsim Sha Tsui East waterfront near train service to the New Territories and China and a 5-minute walk to Tsim Sha Tsui (there's also free shuttle service every 45 min. to the Star Ferry), is a popular choice for business travelers, the majority of whom are American. The well-trained staff (half have worked at the hotel more than 10 years) provides sterling service, which is probably one reason why repeat guests make up more than 55% of hotel occupancy; there's even a technology butler on hand 24 hours to iron out laptop snafus. The two-story lobby is one of the most spacious in Hong Kong, with an expansive white Carrara marble floor, massive Viennese crystal chandeliers, a fountain, and Chinese landscape murals. Rooms, offering either harbor views or rather mundane "garden views" (a popular euphemism for windows that face inland), are spacious (starting at 42 sq. m/452 sq. ft.), and luxuriously appointed, with ceiling-to-floor bay windows. If you the pay rack rates below, additional benefits include free airport transfer, free laundry service and dry cleaning, free buffet breakfast, free local telephone calls and Internet access, and a late 6pm checkout....

Our Local Expert Says:

Reknowned Hong Kong style breakfast place, all day tea restaurant with steamed milk and egg whites, tea sets. Fascinating service speed, long lines and complete Chinese crowd. Staff know how much you ought to pay simply by a glimpse at your plates. The scrambled eggs are nothing like anything you will have tasted elsewhere.

Description:

Very reknowned Hong Kong style all day breakfast place, all day tea restaurant with steamed milk and egg whites, tea sets. Fascinating service speed, long lines and complete Chinese crowd. Staff know how much you ought to pay simply by a glimpse at your plates. The scrambled eggs are nothing like anything you will have tasted elsewhere.

Description:

This traditional Tin Hau Temple is one of the most popular sites for the filming of Hong Kong gangster movies. Located just a block north of the Jade Market, it is yet another one of the many temples in Hong Kong dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea. The public square of this temple complex is a favourite place for Chinese chess players and acts as the communal heart of Yaumatei. In front of the main temple, there is a row of fortune-tellers, who are only to keen to help temple visitors see into the future.

Description:

Yaumatei is one of the liveliest districts in Hong Kong. One can easily spend a whole day wandering around the area, which is buzzing with traditional Chinese street-scenes. For the eldery to enjoy a chat and sip tea, this is definitely a glimpse into traditional Chinese lifestyle and excellent to explore on foot. Retirees love to gather around the public square in front of the Tin Hau Temple, and enjoy a game of Chinese chess as well as Horse race betting. Start by exploring Jordan Road and end off at Temple street. Along Shanghai Street, street shops sell traditional Chinese red wedding Gowns. Tin Hau temple is between the Market and public square street. A little further is the Jade Market with a wide range of jade products on sale. Sometimes the best times to visit are at night, the Temple Street Night Market is packed with people looking for bargain merchandise, and there are also Chinese fortune-tellers, Nepalese palm readers, Tarot Card fortune readers for that elusive look into the future.

Description:

The Goldfish Market is on Tung Choi Street south of Prince Edward Road West, and it is the place for fish lovers to go to for all manner of fish-related products. Not only are there all sorts of different kinds of fish, including many colourful tropical fish, but there are also other special sea creatures like small jelly-fish, Brazilian tortoises and dainty sea horses. Also on offer are a variety of fish tanks ranging from the ubiquitous bowl to enormous tanks, as well as all sorts of plants and rocks with which to create that perfect fish home.

Description:

Tung Choi Street (Ladies Market) and Fa Yuen Street are the essence of Mong Kok, Ladies market is probably the most famous street market in Hong Kong for tourists. Fa Yuen street sells sports-shoes and later turns into an outlet street market that locals tend to visit more. Mong Kok used to be a Mango Plantation Village and it is difficult to imagine now, Mong Kok has the reputation of being the most densely populated urban areas in the world. Pedestrian traffic is amazing so the best way to absorb its atmosphere is simply to walk the streets. Cars and people fight for road space, nothing is considered a traffic jam because most of the time the cars are just waiting for people to finish crossing. Rather than Nathan Road, take Sai Yeung Choi Street South, although hardly glamourous or relaxing, Mong Kok oozes with life and character. You should go in the evening after dark because then you can see the shop signs lit up in all kinds of neon lights in Chinese - just like what you see on postcards.

Description:

This infamous road extends all the way through 4 districts. This road is the artery of Kowloon Peninsula, join the throngs of shoppers and tourists for a wander down Hong Kong's most famous strip. You'll be hustled by touts, bustled by crowds and dazzled by the glittering window displays. It stays busy until past 2am and it will be what you've envisioned on postcards. Park Lane is the major shopping area on Nathan Road, then there's St. Andrews Church and Granville Road which branch off. Nathan Road, was named after governor Sir Matthew Nathan but everyone thought such a wide road was unnecessary at that time of 1880's and Nathan Road became known as "Nathan's Folly." Nowadays, across Tsim Sha Tsui, at the start of Hong Kong's famous 'Golden Mile'. With glittering neon lights and crowded roads lined side by side with tourist shops and just about everything else you could imagine.

Description:

Stretching from the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry to Hunghom, this promenade offers some of the best views in Hong Kong, especially at night, when the Hong Kong skyline is lit up with neon signs. The Promenade is a popular place for lovers, joggers, photographers with tripods and the occasional fisherperson fishing in the waters of the harbour. During the Chinese New Year fireworks display, tons of people crowd into the area to watch the spectacle.

Description:

One of the National Geographic Traveler "fifty places of a lifetime" - crossing the Victoria Harbour in Star Ferry. The Star Ferry has preserved its original looks, feel and smell since the 1960s era when Star Ferries were the main form of transport for Hong Kongers to cross the harbor between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. What is meant by a Star Ferry trip is the main line from Tsim Sha Tsui to Central. Gaze up at Hong Kong's majestic skyline, which is an erratic stretch of skyscrapers, hotels and apartment blocks. The nighttime views, when Hong Kong glitters like a diamond, are a dramatic Red Neon lights and Golden glitter reflected against the lapping waters. As the cheapest therapy in town, few people disembark in anything but the lightest of moods.

Description:

The most elegant symbolic skycraper in your mind along Hong Kong's waterfront. Built by American Chinese architect IM Pei and completed in 1989 around the time of the joint declaration.

The 74 storey Bank of China's feng shui was reputed to be bad news - well not for the bank itself but for all the buildings around it. Its sharp corners, built in four triangular glass and steel shafts with an oriental flavour of the spikes on the roof, supposedly radiates bad vibes.

Nevertheless, there is no observation deck on the 73/F so instead the highest that you will be able to go to is the 64/F where the majority tourists take photos of the stunning harbour views.

Description:

OK, who wants to see an escalator? Well, this 800-metre hillside escalator starts from Connaught Road Central, runs to the Hang Seng Bank Building on Des Voeux Road Central, then passes through the Central Market and continues to climb past Hollywood Road to the prime Mid-levels residential district. The free ride from Central to Conduit Road takes about 20 minutes, a lot quicker than walking up which usually takes forever. The longest covered outdoor escalator system in the world, the system took two and a half years and more than HKD205 million to build.

Description:

Not only home to some of Hong Kong's glitziest skyscrapers, Central is also host to many glamorous boutiques, department stores and shopping malls. Top-end international designer labels as well as home-grown talent cater for those never seen in last season's collection. Anyone on a budget need not despair though, as small side streets are crammed with market stalls overflowing with cheap clothing and fashion accessories. Although never empty, the pavements become even more crowded at lunchtime as sharp-suited business people flock to trendy restaurants and coffee shops offering tasty but pricey Asian and international cuisine. Jam-packed noodle bars, tucked into steeply inclined lanes around the Central Market, offer an equally filling alternative at rock-bottom prices. Central provides a melting pot of icy cool fashion and food outlets surrounded by hot and humid market streets, a mix that typifies Hong Kong's attitude of 'anything goes'. Glamorous 'ladies that lunch' shopping in expensive boutiques; business people dining in chic eateries; market stalls offering anything from fresh vegetables to designer copies: Hong Kong's premier shopping district has all this and more. Payment... read more

Description:

Popular for decades, Yung Kee started out in 1942 as a small shop selling roast goose, which did so well that it soon expanded into a very successful Cantonese enterprise. Through the years, it has won numerous food awards and is the only restaurant in Hong Kong ever to be included in Fortune magazine's top 15 restaurants of the world (although, it must be added, the award was back in 1968). Its specialty is still roast goose with plum sauce, cooked to perfection with tender meat on the inside and crispy skin on the outside; a half bird, enough for five or six people, costs HK$210 (US$27/£14), while a smaller portion for two people costs HK$120 (US$16/£7.80; note that goose is pulled from the menu any time there's an avian flu scare). Other specialties include thousand-year-old eggs and any of the fresh seafood, like braised garoupa tail. Dining is on one of the upper three floors, but if all you want is a bowl of congee or takeout, join the office workers who pour in for a quick meal on the informal ground floor.

Description:

The Cenotaph was erected in remembrance for those who sacrificed their lives in the First World War and the Second World War. From Statue Square you will see, not just the Cenotaph but also the three main bank towers of Hong Kong: HSBC, Bank of China and the Standard Chartered. This greenery amidst the three giant buildings is Central's "green lung" and a gathering place for thousands of foreign Filipino maids on Sundays. Right next to the Cenotaph there is the swank Mandarin Oriental Hotel and Princes' Building and of course the Landmark. The MTR is the best mode of transport to use to get to Central. Surrounding Status Square, the legislative Council (LEGCO) is an impressive reminder of colonial times still standing next to futuristic chrome and glass, it used to be the next best thing to the British parliament but now the High Court has moved to Admiralty.

Description:

This secluded cafe located in Central is a fun place to relax with a coffee. The interior is clean and bright, allowing ample room for the ten or so customers that can be seated at any one time. Coffee and tea cost are available and various snacks and simple meals will abate the hunger pangs. Breakfast is the best deal so if you are staying in the vicinity and like a big meal at the start of the day--or the end, depending on your particular nocturnal habits--then this is a great diner for stocking up on energy.

Description:

Built in 1855, and extensively redesigned during the wartime occupation by the Japanese, Government House has been home to 25 British governors until 1997. Today, it is used for entertaining VIPs, and for fund-raising events. Government House is closed to the public, but it throws open its doors for one Sunday in March every year, allowing the populace an opportunity to view the gardens filled with beautiful azaleas. Alternatively, the 46th floor of the The Bank of China Tower is a great place for a birds-eye view of this monument to Hong Kong's colonial history.

Description:

No visit to Hong Kong is complete without a visit to the Peak. What is the most authentic way of getting there? The Peak Tram no doubt. Before the Peak Tram opened, hardly anyone travelled to the Peak. Part of the experience is watching the faces of tourists glow with delight as they climb the steepest slopes of Victoria Peak on the Tram. The Tram, which is itself an attraction, dates back to 1888 with new and larger cars installed in 1989. These cars are pulled by 1,500m steel cables wound on drums. Passengers sit back for a literally vertical ride enjoying panoramic views as the car steadily makes its way to the top. The Peak Tram station is located right opposite the Hong Kong US Embassy and the best way to get to the Tram station would be to take the bus. Expect long queues if you go right before 7pm, the peak is a tourist haven and you will be able to take postcard pictures of Victoria Harbour line.

Description:

If you haven't been to Victoria Peak (also known simply as the 'Peak'), then you haven't been to Hong Kong! All visitors to Hong Kong should go to the Peak for panoramic views of the city, which have to be amongst the most spectacular in the world, especially at night. A walk around the Peak reveals further scenic vistas over the greener western parts of Hong Kong Island, and the viewing platforms on top of the Peak Tower and Peak Galleria are a must for anyone with a camera. A tram will get you to the top. You can check the website for specific details.

Description:

Unbeatable ambience beneath the stars with first-class service to match keeps this restaurant on the hall-of-fame list of Hong Kong restaurants. The menu embraces dishes from all over the globe, with Indian dishes such as tandoori chicken marinated in yogurt and herbs, as well as barbecued meats and fish, and salads. The atmospheric indoor seating is provided in what used to be the old Victoria Peak rickshaw terminus, but everyone's seating favourites are the outdoor tables on the terrace.

Description:

Getting there: Take the Peak Tram or mini bus number 1 from City Hall terminus to the Peak. Walk down Harlech Road, then take the first right to enter Lugard Road.

From Victoria Peak, walk down Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road into the glorious Pok Fu Lam Country Park, which is filled with indigenous shrubs and trees. After about a half hour descent there is a junction. Choosing the road on the left leads to a further one and a half hour walk to Aberdeen. For a shorter option that can be finished in an hour, continue along Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road to the end where it joins Pok Fu Lam Road. Catch bus number 7 from Pok Fu Lam Road or Aberdeen back to Central.

Description:

Housed in a building - the former ice house for a dairy manufacturer and built in 1892 - that is as cool and funky as the art inside, the Fringe Club is the undisputed centre of the local alternative arts scene. The main Nokia gallery hosts a panoply of exhibitions and installations, from photos to performance art. The attached Fringe Club Bar also serves as the AGFA gallery, and focuses on work by local artists. This bar is, incidentally, also one of the cheapest spots for drinks and live music in the area.

Description:

If you don't embarrass yourself by falling down the stairs leading to this hip basement venue, decorated in chic Asian style, you might find this a welcome refuge for an early evening drink or a quiet place to chill Monday and Tuesday nights. Things heat up the rest of the week after 9pm, however, when the resident DJ's house music entices people to the small dance floor. Open 6pm Monday to Friday and 8pm Saturday, closing at 1am Monday to Thursday and 5am Friday and Saturday.

Description:

Members only club with a large bar and a small dance floor.

Description:

Repulse Bay is one of the more controversially styled beaches, and may or may not the best choice for swimming. Deep Water Bay along the South Coast is a better choice for swimming and Repulse Bay is a better place for a suntan. This popular sandy bay has many facilities, such as shops, restaurants and bars, and during the summer the beach is packed with young friends, families, old couples. The eastern end of the beach is home to statues of the goddess of mercy, Kwun Yun, and the goddess of the sea, Tin Hau. The nearby Tin Hau temple is a sure draw The nearby temple houses many other religious figures, including a four-faced Buddha draped in pearl necklaces and ornaments. In front of the temple is the Longevity Bridge, and it is said that anyone crossing it can add three days to his or her life. Repulse bay is home to millionaires so be sure to pay attention to the many Villas around this area that may cost over billions.

Description:

Unless you're planning a trip to the beach, this wonderful, veranda-like restaurant is the only reason to venture to this destination on Hong Kong Island's south side, though you do pass it by on your way to Stanley when coming from Central. A throwback to Hong Kong's colonial days in a setting reminiscent of an exclusive private club, the Verandah boasts a stylish yet relaxed atmosphere, with tall ceilings and whirling fans, starched tablecloths and flowers, and windows open to the sea. If you can, book a table more than a week in advance and arrive starving at its famous Sunday brunch, complete with a jazz band. Otherwise, from the regular menu, you might wish to start with the Verandah's famous Caesar salad (topped with a choice of grilled chicken breast, grilled prawns, or home-smoked salmon), followed by lobster bisque or wild mushroom ravioli. For a main course, you might choose a lobster dish or the filet of U.S. prime beef tenderloin with merlot-braised oxtail. With its excellent service, great food, and wonderful ambience, this is a very civilized place where you'll want to linger.

Description:

Stanley used to be common fishing village located on the southernmost part of the Island and now has developed to be a famous tourist spot. The main transport that takes you to Stanley would be the buses. Stanley is typically referred to as Stanley Market. A great place to hunt for keychains with English to Chinese names, Chinese calligraphy pens, tourist jade pendants and plenty of souvenir T-shirts. One of the best T-shirts read "I am lost in Hong Kong". If shopping is tiring, there are places to relax and enjoy the view, with rows of bars and restaurants along Stanley's waterfront for you to fill your stomach. A visit to Stanley would not be complete without making a trip to the 18th century Tin Hau Temple and its two beaches: Stanley Main Beach and St. Stephen's Beach, on the western side. Both beaches are sandy and rocky. A better choice to take a short trip to the nearby Deep Water Bay for swimming.

Description:

The giant bronze Buddha Statue at Po Lin Monastery is the biggest seated, outdoor image of its kind in the world - is Lantau's number one attraction. Despite the hordes and tour buses full of tourists who flock there and the often themepark like atmosphere, it's difficult not to be impressed by the grandeur of standing right next to the Big Buddha. The Buddha is not the fat, jolly Buddha often portrayed in tacky souvenirs. Avoid the weekends, but you can stay overnight at the monastery's dormitories and wander the temple grounds early next morning. Whilst you are at Bid Buddha, why not take some time to tour "Lantau" Island as well?

Description:

What would you expect to find next door to the Big Buddha? The answer is, of course, the largest Buddhist monastery in Hong Kong. Once a peaceful haven for Buddhist monks, this monastery is now firmly on the tourist trail. Wander around the temples, take in the views of the surrounding lush countryside and do not forget to sample some of the vegetarian cooking served by the monks in a huge dining hall. Try to get to the monastery via Mui Wo, and you will experience a truly hair-raising bus journey along narrow, steep and windy roads. Great fun!

Description:

This is the biggest of all the outlying islands, almost twice the size of Hong Kong Island. Although the new town of Tung Chung next to the airport is bringing more people to Lantau, the island is still largely unspoilt and undeveloped. The general atmosphere is tranquil with many hiking trails snaking across the rugged peaks. Lantau Peak is the highest, and at nearly 1,000 metres, it is almost twice as tall as Victoria Peak. Home to the Big Buddha (not to be missed on a trip to Lantau) and the Po Lin Monastery, this escape from hectic city life should be on everyone's itinerary.

Description:

The most important exhibition and convention venue in the territory, the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre was the site of the 1997 handover ceremony of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China. The new wing of the centre has a bird-influenced design, giving the impression that the building is about to take flight. Its harbour-facing glass curtain wall is the largest in the world and the promenade surrounding the new wing offers impeccable views over

Description:

Once a red light district during the Vietnam War, Wanchai, in many tourist guidebooks, is still linked with the name Suzie Wong. Although it had the reputation of being a sailors' paradise in the late 1950s, it is mainly a business and entertainment area nowadays. Bars, dance halls, nightclubs and karaoke rooms co-exist with modern office plazas, art centers and a wide variety of inexpensive restaurants. The rows of narrow streets house all sorts of interesting shops including printers, small fashion outlets, sign-writers and so on. You can also find many street stalls around the area.

Description:

Thai, Indian and Malay fusion with a good selection of wines. Come experience coriander, cumin, chilli and lemon grass. Great place to spice up the evening. It's a great place for a meeting or a chat.

Description:

This is the place to ponder the state of the Hong Kong arts scene, discuss the works of Brecht, or ostentatiously read books by authors with unpronounceable East European names. The Fringe Club Bar is where the alternative arts crowd gathers for drinks and to sample some of the excellent programmes on offer. The choice of drinks might be limited but this is one of the more convivial places for a civilized evening out in Central.

Original music in its gallery bar from 10:30pm on Friday and Saturday with jazz, rock and world music getting the most airplay. There's a pleasant rooftop bar open in the warmer months. The intimate theatres, each seating up to a hundred, host eclectic local and international performances in English and Cantonese.

Description:

Try to discover yourself standing outside SOGO department store, facing the busiest pedestrian intersection in Hong Kong Island. Small shops, large department stores, modern shopping centres and market lanes all jostle for attention. Jardine's Bazaar and Jardines' crescent are crowded stalls selling cheap clothing. And the crowds come, particularly on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Be sure to arrive only after 3pm because most boutique fashion stores. Ever-expanding pedestrian-crowded areas ease the rush as shoppers purchase anything their heart desires: designer goods, mainstream clothing, factory outlet bargains, electrical goods, modern furniture, household items, food from around the world and much more. Cinemas, coffee shops, karaoke bars and a myriad of restaurants provide getaways from all that retail therapy, but not necessarily from the crowds. You can backtrack to Victoria Park and get away from the most concentrated areas of consumerism on the island, as well as the crowd.

Description:

Carved along the hillside was built in 1844 for the British regiment attached there and named after the holly wood trees that used to line the street. It winds its way down from the upper section of "Central" into the heart of Sheung Wan at Queen's Road West, and makes for a fascinating stroll. At night, the upper part of Hollywood Road is home to crowds and crowds of young and professional groups of people come and party in the clubs of SoHo (South of Hollywood Road). Soho is gaining a growing reputation as the place to seen partying. The Western District of the road are lined with dozens of antique stores and other shops selling all manner of merchandise. Here you can buy snuff bottles, carpets, bird cages ornate name seals that are made to order, paintings etc. Most of the stores are for the serious collector but as move farther and farther down west, the glass fronted stores with expensive displays give way to traditional Chinese knickknacks or making and selling coffin, funeral wreaths and antique reproduction.

Description:

Housed on the third floor of one of Central's busiest and trendiest shopping spots, this small gallery features works by artists from Hong Kong and mainland China.

Description:

Brash, glittering it's the tourist's Hong Kong with an overwhelming mass of people and shops. Most of the cheapest hotels are around here, including Chungking Mansions - a steep contrast between the Peninsula which is just right across the Road. All buses that have "Star Ferry" written on them will take you to Tsim Sha Tsui, you can always take the MTR Subway as well, the best exit to get out would be Exit A. Start at the star ferry pier and explore Harbour City, Hong Kong's mega mall complex that is luxury and stocks eye-candy handbags as well as the lastest fashion. There are a number of excellent world class museums, a dome shaped Space Museum, the Cultural Centre but the History Museum being the highlight.

Description:

One of Hong Kong's star attractions and one of the deepest container ports in the world, the harbor is shielded on both sides by stunning skylines-skyscrapers and Victoria Peak on one side, and the Tsim Sha Tsui shoreline on the other. Everyday, hundreds of ferries, tugs, junks, speed boats, and barges chug up and down the shore, carrying people and cargo, only pausing for typhoons. Best viewed from the famous Star Ferry, or the Harbour Cruises.

Description:

El Cid's serves up the usual Spanish cuisine and, if you are lucky, you will be serenaded by a flock of Flamenco funsters. The interior decor is a little boring, but you can sit outside the restaurant - but still inside the shopping centre - where you can get a little more peace. The tapas dishes are small and quite expensive - expect to pay around HK$50 per portion. Paella is the most expensive dish at HK$260 for two, and the succulent sucking piglet costs around HK$120. A four-course lunch should work out at around HK$70 a head, an absolute bargain.

Description:

Just as Admiralty is the extension of Central, Tsim Sha Tsui East is the extension of Tsim Sha Tsui. This big piece of land was the result of a large reclamation project in the 70s and did not exist until 1980. Now it has become a major hotel, shopping and nightlife area, with excellent views of the harbour and the north-shore of Hong Kong Island. The Museum of Science and the Museum of History are also in this area.

Our Local Expert Says:

Baby backs are infamously succulent and tender at Tony Roma's. Coleshaw salad is also very well made so that its not soggy. Great place for work teams to congregate together after work and chat.

Description:

Comfortable and clean, this respected ribs restaurant sits a large crowd, making this an ideal venue for parties of more than eight persons. Beware though-the dress code prohibits shorts and sandals!. The spinach artichoke dip is excellent as is the Thai Peanut Salad, and although vegetarian dishes are generally scarce, the staff can rustle up meat-free dishes.

Description:

You might come here for the free wireless access but you should stay for the food, which ranges from Western-style pastas to chicken teriyaki to Sichuanese spicy noodles. Teas, in flavors from hazelnut to almond, are brought to the table in porcelain pots resting on a small fire. The cafe also features a rack of Chinese magazines for sale and a range of pastries.

Description:

While worth a visit, this memorial museum, commemorating the atrocities suffered by the Chinese during the Japanese invasion of Nanjing in 1937, certainly does a heavy-handed job of explaining history, from the funerary-style orchestral music piped on the grounds to the giant statues of human limbs that greet visitors at the museum's entrance. Located at Jiang Dong Men, itself an execution and mass burial site during the invasion, the museum consists of an outdoor exhibit, a coffin-shaped viewing hall containing some excavated victims' bones, and pictures and artifacts documenting the Japanese onslaught, the massacre, and the aftermath. Photographs of tortures and executions, many taken by Japanese army photographers, are quite gruesome, as are reproductions of the blood-soaked clothing of the victims. The final room documents the reconciliation, however tenuous, between the Chinese and Japanese.

Description:

More peaceful than Sun Yat-sen's mausoleum is the tomb of the founder of the Ming dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang (1328-98), also known as the Hongwu emperor. The tomb served as a model for subsequent Ming and Qing emperors' tombs in Beijing. The site has recently been polished up with funds from UNESCO after being deemed a World Heritage Site, but the explanations of the tombs are in Chinese only with strange diagrams. Zhu Yuanzhang was the only Ming emperor to be buried in Nanjing. The Sacrificial Palace, one of the tomb's main buildings built in 1383, houses memorial tablets. The Ming Tower, a rectangular citadel, served as the command point of the tomb. Nearby, Shixiang Lu is a pleasant walkway half a kilometer long lined with stone carvings of 12 pairs of animals. The second half of the passageway, flanked by pairs of soldiers and mandarins, leads to Four Square Pavilion, which consists of a tall stone tablet enclosed by four walls. Built in 1413, the pavilion's tablet contains 2,000 characters inscribed with the life story of the emperor Zhu Yuangzhang, written by his son Zhu Di.

Description:

This magnificent mausoleum for Dr. Sun Yat-sen (Sun Zhongshan), widely revered as the founder of modern China, has become a mecca for Chinese tourists seeking to pay their respects. Sun Yat-sen died in Beijing in 1925 but wasn't interred here until 1929, when construction of the mausoleum was complete. (In 1912, while hunting with friends in Zijin Shan, Sun had expressed his wish to be buried here.) The tomb itself is at the end of a long, steep set of stairs beginning with a Memorial Archway made of white Fujian marble and capped by blue glazed tiles. Symbolizing the white sun on the blue background of the Guomindang flag, the colors also marked a departure from the yellow tiles used to honor all of China's previous emperors. At the top of the 392-step grand tomb passage, a white marble statue of Dr. Sun sits under the pretty mosaic roof of the Memorial Hall. The Republican government's constitution is inscribed on the side walls. Dr. Sun's marble coffin lies in the hushed domed chamber in the back. On the way down, you'll be treated to a nice view of downtown Nanjing and its surroundings. Make sure to get here early or late in the afternoon, as the place fills up like a zoo.

Description:

A beautiful, high-ceiled villa with a traditional Chinese roof, this is where Chiang Kai-shek and his wife, better known as Madame Chiang Kai-shek, often spent weekends when China's capital was located in Nanjing. The second floor consists of a massive bedroom, parlors, and a dining room decorated with large national government maps.

Description:

Established in 1998 with only eight tables, this restaurant has since grown into a top restaurant with two locations. The house specialty is Tianmuhu yutou, a delicious white fish-head soup made with fish from nearby Tianmu Lake. Other tasty dishes here include shuijing xiaren (tender sauteed shrimp) and pansi yu (deep-fried fish-tail filets in sweet-and-sour sauce).

Description:

F-Stop hosts some of the best live music in Lan Kwai Fong, Thursday through Saturday nights. Its bar is stocked with fine real ales and lots of tequila. Inside, competition for space at the bar is keen but the open-front design lets drinkers enjoy the band from the street. Not as classy as the swankier bars around, this loud drinking den is unpretentious and down-to-earth.

Description:

This is definitely the most original restaurant in Hong Kong in terms of decor, menu and style. Located above the Fringe Club, M at the Fringe is worth visiting, even if you can only afford the dessert platter! The spacious roof garden can accommodate about 120 folks. The extensive menu offers a great choice for vegetarians, as well as meat and fish dishes. The bar food consists of Tapas, fish cakes, tortilla chips and dips. The pastry tart and the Mandarin Beluga Caviar are great ways to start. The dinner menu of haute cuisine features the likes of Suckling Pig and salt encased lamb.

Description:

A famous spot among locals, Honeymoon Dessert serves up some of the most authentic chinese dessert specialties in Hong Kong. The Durian pancake is a mainstay. Be adventurous and try Honeymoon.