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A Day in Hong Kong: Exploring Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Side
Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, Photo by Monique Damp
The hustling, bustling concrete jungle, Hong Kong, is a city that never sleeps. With lots of shops and restaurants open till late, numerous attractions, endless events and great outdoor adventures, there is always something happening!
Having grown up in Hong Kong, I have never had a dull moment in the busy city. One day in Hong Kong isn’t long enough! But being a major stop over and global hub sometimes a day is all there is time for. So, what should you do?!
Start your day with exploring the spectacular views of Hong Kong from the Peak. You can take a taxi, bus, walk or the Peak Tram. Walking and the Peak Tram are the favourable options.
The Peak Hong Kong Trail, Hong Kong Kowloon side view. Photo by Monique Damp
There are multiple beautiful hiking trails, starting from different points along Hong Kong Island. The trails take you up out of the noisy city and into peaceful nature. My personal favourite is the Central Green Trail. It takes about 45-60 minutes, depending on your speed, firstly leading you next to the Tram line then taking you up through the calm forest.
If you are looking for a more casual approach, I would suggest the Peak Tram. The bright red tram offers a faster more scenic route, with an unforgettable experience of a steep vertical illusion. Get to the tram station early to avoid delay, wait time can get up to 3 hours on weekends.
The lower tram terminal can be easily accessed on 33 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong with single or return tickets available:
Adults: Single $37HKD, Return$52HKD
Children/ Senior: Single $14HKD, Return $23HKD
At the top there are restaurants, nature walks and shops. To find the best view point for free, take the Hong Kong Nature Trail. Starting at Lugard Road, it loops around the top of the peak and gives you spectacular view points of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon side. The walk is flat and is approximately 40-60 minutes.
The-Peak-Hong-Kong-Trail-map-from-official-Hong-Kong-Peak-website https://www.thepeak.com.hk/en/the-peak-experience/nature-walks
After some exploring, it is time to come down from The Peak to eat like a local at a Cooked Food Market. The Cooked Food Markets are located around Hong Kong such as in Sheung Wan and North Point. These places are known to be cheap and the food is fresh from the local markets. Take a stroll or catch a tram to explore Hong Kong Island while making your way towards the harbour for the Star Ferry to across to Kowloon side.
The Star Ferry is one of Hong Kong’s oldest and cheapest forms of transport. There are two routes, from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) or Wan Chai to TST. The ferry ride takes about 10 minutes offering a full view of Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour at a different eye level.
Cost, depends on day of the week and deck of the Ferry:
Adults: $2.20 HKD- $2.70HKD (Monday-Friday) & $3.10HKD-$3.70HKD (Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays)
Children: $1.60HKD-$1.50HKD (Monday-Friday) & $2.10 HKD- $2.20 (Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays
Leaves:
Every 6-12 minutes.
Star Ferry route map, from Hong Kong Star Ferry from official website : http://www.starferry.com.hk/en/service
Coming off the Star Ferry on the TST side there is a beautiful harbour walk along Victoria Harbour waterfront side called Avenue of Stars. The walk celebrates Hong Kong’s film industry with plaques of stars, including Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, while showcasing Hong Kong Island’s cityscape. It is worth getting a final look at the view before venturing into the concrete jungle of the Kowloon area.
Mong Kok Flower Markets, Photo by Monique Damp
If you are a shopping enthusiast, Kowloon side has got you covered! There are plenty of markets and shops to buy clothes, savours, food, art, toys and lots more. They are easily accessible from the Mass Transit Railway (MTR), buses or mini buses.
Some popular markets are, Mong Kok Ladies Markets, Goldfish Market, Mong Kok Flower Markets, Temple Street Night Market, Jade Market, Sneaker Street and many more.
If high end shopping is more your thing then also nearby is Canton Road. The street is full of major designer brands including Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Channel. Walk through and see if anything catches your eye.
Kowloon area is diverse so if shopping isn’t your thing, don’t worry! There are also great parks, public pools and roof top bars to cover any traveller’s expense.
Feeling a bit peckish? Pick yourself up a sweet or savoury treat from a local bakery. You have plentiful of choice, like walnut cookies, sesame and barbecue pork buns. My personal favourite treat is the pineapple bun. It’s a sweet soft bread with a pineapple looking crumbed coat topping. These should cost around $5HKD and are best when a little warm.
Kam Fat Restaurant, G/F Shop E 37 Jordan Rd Kowloon, Photo by Monique Damp
Finish off your day relaxing at the harbour while watching the famous Symphony of lights. The show highlights the city’s skyline with lights and lasers bouncing off the towering buildings. It starts at 8pm, nightly, with the best views being along the Victoria waterfront.
Symphony of lights, TST Hong Kong, photo by Monique Damp
If you ever get a chance to go back, here is still so much to do and see. Plenty of hikes, boat rides, shopping, attractions, fun night life, the races and more. This lively city with endless fun is the reason I keep coming back for more.
About the author
Monique Damp is an Australian who is passionate about travelling, giving recommendations, learning and meeting people. As a child, she moved to Hong Kong but returned to Australia for her studies, finishing with a degree in Media and Communications. Her strong wanderlust has taken her too many countries including working and traveling in Canada for 2 years and returning back to Hong Kong to work for 1 year. Now, she is an aspiring blogger, continuing her desire to explore new countries and share her experiences with others to help them with their own trips.
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