48 hours in Hong Kong – Weekend Edition
Hong Kong In Less Than 48 Words
Hong Kong likes to call itself “Asia’s World City”, and is best known as one of the world’s leading financial and trading centers. Basically, it is a Chinese city with a longtime British influence, and is a teeming metropolis that can overwhelm anyone with its frenetic energy.
The view of Hong Kong’s skyline from Victoria Peak (Photo by J Rosenfeld)
First 24 Hours
You can fly to the busy city of Hong Kong via the Hong Kong International Airport, which is located on land reclamation at the Chek Lap Kok Island. From there, you can catch a train at the Airport Express rail link (00 852 2881 8888, website), which will take you directly to the city center. The ride will cost you around HK$100.
Hong Kong is made up of a small peninsula and around 260 small islets, but getting around the city is fairly easy – thanks to its very efficient public transportation system. However, it is still advisable to pay a visit to its main tourist office (Causeway Bay MTR station, 00 852 2508 1234, website), where you can learn valuable tourist information. It is open daily from 8 am to 8 pm.
CHECK IN: Get your bearings back at Hong Kong’s hotels
You can arrange for a nice place to stay in during your 48 hour visit in Hong Kong at one of its excellent hotels. One of the best in the city is the Mandarin Oriental (No.5 Connaught Road, Central, Hong Kong, China, 852 2522 0111, website). It offers complete amenities, excellent room service, and a convenient location near the Central MTR station.
Mandarin Oriental suite (Photo from Google images)
A nice alternative is the Four Seasons Hotel (No.8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong, China, (852) 3196-8888, website), which has spacious rooms and bathrooms, attentive service, and nice views of the harbor. You can also try out the Island Shangri-La Hotel (Supreme Court Road, Pacific Place, Hong Kong, China, (852) 2877 3838, website). It is a five-star hotel with decorated rooms and a lush garden on the 41st floor.
VICTORIA PEAK: Let’s take a view
A popular tourist attraction in Hong Kong is the Victoria Peak, which is located at the western half of the Hong Kong Island. At a height of 1,811 feet, it is considered to be one of the highest peaks in the city, and is best known for its great views of the Victoria Harbor, central Hong Kong, and the city’s 260-plus islands. To get to the summit, you can ride the Peak Tram (33 Garden Road, 00 852 2522 0922, website). It is open daily from 7 am to midnight, and a one-way ticket will cost you HK$20. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can opt to hike all the way up via the mountain’s walking trails.
OCEAN PARK HONG KONG: Amuse yourself
Entrance to Ocean Park (Photo from Google images)
Get yourself entertained at the Ocean Park Hong Kong (Aberdeen, Hong Kong, (852) 3923 2323, website). It is a large amusement complex containing a marine mammal park, an oceanarium, and an animal theme park. Ocean Park, as it is simply called, is the 15th most-visited theme park in the world, and features exhibits of various marine life, as well as a Giant panda habitat. It also has 19 rides to offer, most notably its two rollercoasters. The site is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, and admission will cost you around HK$250.
TEMPLE STREET: Have a flea market experience
Have a flea market experience at the Temple Street Night Market, which is perhaps the busiest night market in Hong Kong. It is full of shops selling a wide range of Chinese souvenirs like satin jackets, chopstick sets, bags, and shirts. The place is also a popular hotspot for men’s fashion. You’ll definitely see an array of roadside diners and stalls hawking local street food.
Shop for cheap merchandise at neon-filled lights of Temple Street Night Market (Photo by Jacob)
DINNER TIME: Discover Hong Kong’s restaurants
You are guaranteed a delicious dinner at the restaurants available all over the city. One of the best in the city is Nicholini’s (88 Queensway, Conrad Hong Kong Hotel, Hong Kong, 852 2521 3838), which offers an excellent menu and an extensive wine selection that you can enjoy while taking in views of the Hong Kong skyline. A nice alternative is Hutong (1 Peking Rd, Hong Kong, 852 3428 8342, website). It serves both traditional and modern Chinese dishes, and the best options are the stewed fish head, sea cucumber salad, and poached frog legs with sponge cucumber.
Nicholini’s (Photo from Google images)
Have a taste of the Netherlands in Hong Kong at Orange Tree (17 Shelley St, Hong Kong, 852 2838 9352, website), which is an authentic Dutch restaurant that serves vegetarian, beef and poultry dishes. You can also try out Bombay Café (1 Ngan Wan Road | Mui Wo, Lantau, Hong Kong, China, 852 2984 1847). It is considered to be one of the best Indian restaurants in Hong Kong, and the must-tries there are the kebab and curry.
Next 24 Hours
Your next 24 hours in Hong Kong can be used to discover the city’s other tourist attractions. One of the best sights that remain to be explored in the city is the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery (221 Pai Tau Village, Sha Tin). It is one of the city’s most popular Buddhist temples, although it is not actually a monastery – no monks live there. The complex covers an area of eight hectares, and is best known for its collection of around 12,000 Buddha statues. It also contains the preserved body of Yuet Kai, who had commissioned the sculpting of the statues.
Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery (Photo by James Cridland)
HONG KONG MUSEUM OF ART: Appreciate art
Art lovers will definitely enjoy themselves at the Hong Kong Museum of Art (10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, (852) 2721 0116, website). It is considered to be the main art museum of the city, and features a collection of Chinese art, calligraphy, statues, and modern works by local artists. The site is open daily from 10 am to 6pm, and admission will cost you around HK$10.
Hong Kong Museum of Art (Photo by Ian Muttoo)
BIG BUDDHA: Visit Hong Kong’s famous resident
A trip to Hong Kong probably will not nearly be complete without visiting its famous resident, the Big Buddha. Also called the Tian Tan Buddha, it is considered as one of the tallest seated outdoor bronze Buddhas around. It was finished in 1993 to coincide with the birth of Gautama Buddha, measuring 34 meters in height and 250 metric tons in weight. The statue sits on a lotus throne at the top of a three-platform altar, and is flanked by six smaller bronze statues. The “throne” features three halls: The Hall of Universe, The Hall of Benevolent Merit, and The Hall of Remembrance, and is said to contain a relic of Gautama Buddha himself.
Tian Tan Buddha (Photo by Chee Hong)
You can reach the statue via a MTR train ride from downtown Hong Kong to the Tung Chung Station in Lantau Island. From there, you can ride a bus or a cable car to the site, and then clamber up the 268 steps to the statue itself. The site is open daily from 10 am to 5:45 pm, and admission is free.
HONG KONG PARK: Unwind, rewind
You can relax and unwind at the Hong Kong Park (19, Cotton Tree Drive, Central, Hong Kong, (852) 2521 5041, website), which is a popular public park. It consists of a natural landscape covering an area of 80,000 square meters, which is dotted with modern designs and facilities. The park is a nice place to take leisurely strolls, have photograph sessions, or even have a picnic. It also has a sports center, an aviary, and a small museum of tea wares. The site is open daily from 6 am to 11 pm.
NIGHTLIFE: Enjoy Hong Kong’s vibrant nightlife scene
Jazz night at Ned Kelly’s Last Stand (Photo by Casey Yancey)
At night you may proceed to Hong Kong’s bars and clubs to have a taste of the city’s exciting nightlife. One of the most popular is Ned Kelly’s Last Stand (11A Ashley Rd, Hong Kong, 852 2376 0562, website). It is an energetic pub fueled by jazz music, with happy hour specials and a delicious Australian menu. A nice alternative is Club 97 (9 Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong, 852 2186 1897), which is a great place to dance the night away, and offers a diverse cocktail menu.
You can also try out the MO Bar (G/F, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Hong Kong, 852 2132 0077, website). It is a popular bar designed by internationally renowned Adam Tihany, and is known for its glass water walls, sculptured metal fixtures, and classy ambience. Another is Propaganda (1 Hollywood Rd, Hong Kong, 852 2868 1316), which is a dance club frequented by a crowd of ex-pats, tourists, and locals.
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