I'm in China for vacation, but apparently, the embassy screwed up my visa so that instead of the 60 days that I'm gonna be in China for, it's only 30 days multiple entry. As a result, my family decided to just go to Hong Kong on day 30 of our entry so the visas can last for another month, since for the purposes of visa, Hong Kong counts as a foreign country.

Gonna be there for 2-ish days - arrive afternoon, do something for the night, stay for another day, and then probably leave in the morning after.

So what's there to do in approximately one and a half days in Hong Kong? Any must-see/must-do events? Recommendations?

Elric

United Kingdom1327 Posts

June 29 2009 15:35 GMT

- Victoria Peak
- Tsim Tsa Tsui
- Taking the Star Ferry
- Breakfast = fresh bakeries
- Lunch = Dimsum
- Dinner = typical HK restaurant meal + crab/lobster
- Fan of shopping? -> Causeway Bay
- Fan of skyscrapers? -> go up the IFC2 (tallest building)
- Fan of markets, the Asian night time buzz? -> Mong Kok, Ladies Street

Have fun. Be warned though, it will be absolutely fucking boiling as well as incredibly humid. Bring umbrellas to shield yourself from the sun. Deodorant too.

konadora

Singapore66358 Posts

June 29 2009 15:40 GMT

Never been there myself, but from what my friends say, Hong Kong basically has two things - shopping and eating.

Carnivorous Sheep

Baa?21244 Posts

June 29 2009 15:43 GMT

Yeah, I was pretty hard pressed to think of something besides shopping that was a distinct Hong Kong specialty. We'll definitely be doing a lot of eating in Hong Kong, just need to figure out how to spend the time between meals haha.

omninmo

2349 Posts

June 29 2009 15:44 GMT

yo, gonna come to Beijing at all?

Carnivorous Sheep

Baa?21244 Posts

June 29 2009 15:47 GMT

Currently in Wuhan, I'll be in Beijing...sometime. Not sure when. Blargh xD

omninmo

2349 Posts

June 29 2009 15:56 GMT

ok, lemme know if you wanna eat some tasty hotpot, duck, or even italian. i live in dongzhimen which is right in the north east of the second ring road (super convenient). here's my cell 138 1082 1723. my name is michael

iceburn

United States303 Posts

June 29 2009 15:56 GMT

IFC building has a shopping center on like the first 10 floors, but the observation deck is only open Monday 9 - 3. They won't let you up unless you have business there.

Carnivorous Sheep

Baa?21244 Posts

June 29 2009 16:04 GMT

On June 30 2009 00:56 omninmo wrote:
my name is michael

Lolwut me too.

DragoonPK

3259 Posts

June 29 2009 16:08 GMT

#10

On June 30 2009 01:04 Carnivorous Sheep wrote:

Show nested quote +

Lolwut me too.

Not a coincidence. ITS DESTINY!

konadora

Singapore66358 Posts

June 29 2009 16:28 GMT

#11

On June 30 2009 01:08 DragoonPK wrote:

Show nested quote +

Not a coincidence. ITS DESTINY!

it's romance

Cambium

United States16368 Posts

June 29 2009 16:29 GMT

#12

http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?topic_id=75892

zulu_nation8

China26351 Posts

June 29 2009 17:02 GMT

#13

csheep did you get quarantined?

Railxp

Hong Kong1313 Posts

June 29 2009 17:16 GMT

#14

be sure to ride the trams! not the super expensive one to the peak, but the shitty $2 HKD ones that go all over the city center (central to causewaybay, all of them pass through this area). Feels different than if you are riding the subway(MTR).

+ Show Spoiler +

They look like this ^

Lan Kwai Fong (in central) is also a popular spot, mostly bars and nightlife. English speakers congregate here. Further up in Central (financial district) is Soho area where there are a lot of restaurants (mostly western style tho) You can get there via walking up the Central escalators (ask anyone and they will direct you to it.) If you don't mind the mini hike in hot weather.

To really enjoy the night lights of Hong Kong, you really should go either to the Peak at night or take the Star ferry across the water to Tsim Sha Tsui

Hong Kong actually has an interesting wilderness side to it that most people miss. If you are the outdoor type, you can try visiting the outlying islands of hong kong. Which are less developed and have more of a "village" feeling than bustling city, also a good place to rent bikes and go for a chill ride+beach. There are also numerous hiking paths all over HK. OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL CONSUME A DAY.
Photos of the non-city side of hong kong:

http://www.hkoutdoors.com/gallery2/v/hk_outlying_islands/

Fuck Disney Land, if you really do want to go to an amusement park, goto Ocean Park instead. Disney here is a sad, lame joke compared to other Disneys.

If your looking for other interesting cultural perspectives, you might want to check out the cemetery/temples and watch little old Chinese ladies burn paper money for the dead and families share lunch next to their relatives' grave.

OH and you can visit the Big Buddah too. Heres another tourism website that could be helpful:
http://www.hong-kong-travel.org/PoLinMonastery.asp

If shopping is your thing, you probably want to stay off HK island because thats where the more expensive shops are. Tsim Sha Tsui + Mong Kok have more factory outlet shops and cheap electronics ect. Although you might want to beware in Mong Kok because some loony bastard has been pouring acid off high buildings. There have been i think 3 cases or so in the news in the past 2 months. =p Not trying to scare you but just thought you should be aware.

Good eats: if you can read chinese/get someone who knows how to read chinese, www.openrice.com is a good restaurant review website. Although the food quality overall is quite good in Hong Kong, so dont get too hung up in choosing a restaurant.
>> CHEAP FAST WIDE SELECTION GOOD FOOD:
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Hong_Kong/Restaurants-Hong_Kong-Tsui_Wah_Restaurant-BR-1.html

uhhh i was gonna stop at trams but i got carried away and its bed time now lol so hope this helps

---

Edit: wear a mouthmask if you have the sniffles/cough. Everyone and their grandma is ESPECIALLY paranoid about swine flu here. Because the stupid media over hyped it to the point where everyone (especially moms with children) think allergies = OMG U NEED TO BE QUARANTINED. If you dont, you will draw dirty looks is all.

There is a bakery shop in damn near every single MTR (subway) station. $5-8 HKD will get you a decent yummy breakfast bun, if you are in a hurry and dont want to sit down in a restraunt.

Oh and you should also try out the local(?) deserts. There are desert shops/cafes all around. Most people walking around the street should be able to point you to one. =p

---
Edit2: If you only speak english, MTR(subway) and Taxi will probably the two main means of transport around the city. Unless you are going to the outlying islands, going from one place to another within Hong Kong Island city should take you MIN 5mins and MAX 45mins. The MTR is uber convenient and even intersects with the train that goes into china as well as the airport train. Taxi fare is the cheapest in the world. My friend tells me Mc Donalds is also cheapest in the world in Hong Kong (@_@?)

OH GOD I HAVE TO STOP ADDING MORE.

omninmo

2349 Posts

June 29 2009 17:31 GMT

#15

On June 30 2009 02:02 zulu_nation8 wrote:
csheep did you get quarantined?

my friend's friend from california was quarantined for like 5 days when he arrived in beijing last week. they put him in the quarantine hotel free of charge but it was "dry", i.e. no booze.

Carnivorous Sheep

Baa?21244 Posts

June 29 2009 17:42 GMT

#16

Nah didn't get quarantined.

ilovejonn

Canada2548 Posts

June 29 2009 18:09 GMT

#17

oh em gee, fellow hong kong peoplez!

imDerek

United States1944 Posts

June 29 2009 19:10 GMT

#18

eat and eat a lot

TonyL2

England1953 Posts

June 29 2009 23:25 GMT

#19

I'm going to Hong Kong in a couple of weeks too, and yep eating is my main priority. Then some shopping, play some mahjong with relatives and then some reading

I like the really cheap soup noodle bars most

Sigh

Canada2433 Posts

June 30 2009 03:34 GMT

#20

The arcades in HK are amazing. Enough said