Fun free things to do in Hong Kong
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Museum of History
Contact:
- +852 2367 1124
- visit website
Location:
- Kowloon Park, Haiphong Road
- Tsim Sha Tsui
- Hong Kong,Hong Kong
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Map
Description:
From the Hakka to the Hang Seng, from Neolithic to Neocapitalist, this excellent information-stop will divulge everything you ever wanted to know about Hong Kong's history but were too afraid to ask. On show are old photographs, ancient costumes, snuffboxes used by former governors, and even a reconstruction of a 100 year old street. Guides are available and a good half-day spent roaming the exhibitions will leave you educated, elated and exhausted. Plenty of bars in the Tsim Sha Tsui area are on standby to boost faltering spirits. Free all day Wednesday.
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Mid-levels Escalator
Contact:
- +852 2807 6543
Location:
- Connaught Road
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Map
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.
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Yuen Po Street Bird Garden
Contact:
- +852 2807 6543
- visit website
Location:
- Yuen Po Street
- Mongkok
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Map
Description:
Originally, the bird market was on Hong Lok Street, but it relocated to this Chinese-style bird garden on Yuen Po Street. There are hundreds of birds on display and the price of a bird is often decided by how well the bird sings. Apart from the birds, there are also other accessories for sale, including bamboo and teak cages, ceramic water vessels and food containers, and different types of bird food, including live crickets sold by the bag-full.
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Early Morning Tai Chi Watching
Contact:
- visit website
Location:
- Gloucester Road
- (Victoria Park)
- Hong Kong,Hong Kong
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Map
Description:
To China this may seem like a rather insignificant everyday happening, but to a westerner, seeing hundreds of voluntary Tai Chi devotees going through the paces is quite the Kodak moment. Each morning in the rising mist of dawn Victoria Park fills with the concentrated focus of Tai Chai disciples, who, through their movement, seemingly match the silent feel of the moment. It is not only a spectacle of sight, but also of Chinese culture in general.
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Bank of China Tower
Contact:
- +852 2826 6888
- visit website
Location:
- 1 Garden Road
- Central
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Map
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. -
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Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade
Contact:
- +852 2508 1234
Location:
- Tsim Sha Tsui
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Map
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.
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Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens
Contact:
- +852 2530 0154
- visit website
Location:
- Albany Road,
- Central
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Map
Description:
Located near the Old Government House, the Zoological and Botanical Gardens is a popular place for parents to bring their children on the weekends. The gardens are divided into two main areas: plants and aviaries in one area and animals in the other. Although the zoo is not that big, it is one of the world's leading centers for captive breeding of endangered species, and thus is worth visiting. It is also a great place to take pictures of the kids with the various spotted, striped and feathered animals on show.
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Wong Tai Sin Temple
Contact:
- +852 2320 2883
Location:
- upper edge of Wong Tai Sin Estate
- Wong Tai Sin
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Map
Description:
Hong Kong's most popular place of worship because of its reputed good blessings. Or wishes almost exclusively centered around money. People flock here to earn enough merit for a big win at the horse races, the lottery or any other windfall the powerful Wong Tai Sin, god of good fortune and healing, may bestow. Even if you aren't a temple fan, this really is the one to visit, simply to watch the crowds of devotees. It's a crowded, colorful spectacle and famed for its soothsayers Wong Tai Sin Temple was founded on the lower slopes of Kowloon Hills over half a century ago after a shepherd boy gained immortality through his good deeds and mystical healing powers. Tossing a bamboo can full of joss sticks and make offering of food or fruit, which isn't left behind because the god is never that hungry and no one wants good food to go to waste.
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Man Fat Monastery (Ten Thousand Buddhas)
Contact:
- +852 2691 1067
- visit website
Location:
- Pai Tau Tsuen
- Shatin
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Map
Description:
A red pagoda marks the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple, making it clearly visible from nearby Shatin KCR station. There are 12,800 Buddhas housed in the temple, each in a slightly different pose. The statues have all been donated by worshippers and were handmade by 12 craftsmen from Shanghai, who took ten years to complete this project. There are more than 400 steps leading up to the temple, so a pair of comfortable shoes and some water is essential. The climb up to the temple leads past a modern Buddist temple, often mistaken for the Ten Thousand Buddas Temple.
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Aberdeen Country Park
Contact:
- +852 2508 1234
- visit website
Location:
- Aberdeen Reservoir Road
- Aberdeen
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Map
Description:
Aberdeen Country Park covers 410 acres, with Aberdeen Upper and Lower Reservoirs at its very heart. Simple exercise units are dotted along the park trails, providing a useful place to warm-up and stretch before a spot of hiking. There are also barbecue and picnic areas inside the park, an ideal place for gathering with friends at the weekend. Other facilities include the visitors' centre displaying botanical and insect specimens, and an education trail introducing the different plants in the park. The park connects to the Pok Fu Lam Country Park and to Wanchai by two different trails.
Hong Kong
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Colonial Duddell Street Steps
Contact:
- +852 2508 1234
- visit website
Location:
- Central
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Map
Description:
So the fun evening of partying in Lan Kwai Fong is over, but what to do about a night that is definitely still young? Okay, how about grabbing a few cans of beer from the bar and walking to Duddell Street, which is only five minutes away. Just off Ice House Street, the stone steps at Duddell Street were built between 1875 and 1889 and are lit by the only surviving gas street lamps in Hong Kong. An ideal spot, in fact, for whiling away those late night hours, relaxing and enjoying the night air.
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Lantau Trail
Contact:
- +852 2807 6543
- visit website
Location:
- Mui Wo, Lantau
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Map
Description:
This popular trail is a circular route that begins and ends in Mui Wo, also known as Silvermine Bay. It consists of 70 kilometers of easy, difficult and at times torturous hiking. A good hiker can cover the trail in a couple of days, camping at designated spots, though it is best to take your time and dawdle rather than race. The trail is divided into 12 sections and maps are available from the Government Publications Office next to Pacific Place. Check the weather before you set off, take a mobile phone and let someone know your route.
