30 Secrets & Things to do in Hong Kong
These are my carefully selected 30 hidden secrets & best things to do in Hong Kong - Pearl of the Orient. I included gems like Hing Kee, Luggard Street, Lan Fong Yuen, Yum Cha, Tim Ho Wan, Roasted Pigeon, Yik Cheong Building, Symphony of Lights and the beyond amazing Hong Kong Nightlife.
- Why: Perfect fusion of East Meets West
- When: Fall
- Accomodation: Stay in the Mong Kok (low-budget) or Central districts (high-budget) Airbnb ($47 USD OFF)
- Best Attraction: Lugard Road at Victoria Peak during sunrise
- Notes: 12% OFF Aqua Luna, 10% OFF Hong Kong Pub Crawl and 29% OFF Airport Express to HK.
Hong Kong may appear to be massive when you look at photos of its skyline, but trust me it is very conveniently packed and can be easily explored within 2 days. I recommend you kick-off Hong Kong at the Victoria Peak which offers amazing views of the Hong Kong island skyline, but avoid paying $7 USD for the Skyterrace, instead take a 15-minute hike on the Lugard Road which leads to the best skyline view of Hong Kong, an even better tip; take a 10-minute taxi ride at 7am to see the sunrise.
Places
1. Lugard Road at Victoria Peak
Unknown to most tourists, the best observation spot is free, just follow the hidden Lugard Road for a 15 minute walk for the most breathtaking sceneries. (map)
2. Yum Cha
Cutest dim sum chain in Hong Kong with bird cage pineapple cakes, pig shaped BBQ pork buns and goovy faces. Each steamer basket is roughly $6 USD. (map)
3. Oddies
Famous Hong Kong egg-waffles with soft serve ice cream and matcha for $9 USD. (map)
4. Mong Kok Flower Market
Get down with the local culture by snorring up all the incredible smells at the Flower Market. (map)
5. Yuen Po Bird Garden
Largest bird market in Hong Kong, birds are the locals most popular pet. (map)
6. Goldfish Market
A bizarre street seeing gold fish packed into tiny plastic bags, remember, everything is business in Hong Kong. (map)
7. Chungking Mansions
If you are feeling adventurous, it is worth strolling around the Chungking Mansions, where all cultures from around the world have gathered to do business, great for cheap bargains and illegal goods. (map)
8. Lan Fong Yuen
Best known for inventing the Hong Kong-style stockings milk tea. Tea filtered through stockings to remove all the residue for a more pure taste, just $3 USD. (map)
9. Yee Shun Milk Company
Hong Kong steamed milk, one of those classic dessert places, try their coffee flavoured milk pudding for $5 USD. (map)
10. Temple Street Night Market
Everything from trinkets, jade & antiques to electronics & watches sold in a bustling night market. Try out your bargaining skills here, but remember items are already dirt cheap. (map)
11. Hing Kee Restaurant
Truly local dishes like claypot rice bowls with toppings; minced beef, eel and pork jowls. Make sure to order their oyster cake appetizer, afforable local cuisine in Kowloon. (map)
12. Bruce Lee Statue
Hong Kong's biggest movie icon, Bruce Lee featured in many Kung Fu movies and is famous all around the world. (map)
13. Aqua Luna Boat
Located at Tsim Sha Tsui Pier 1, one of the last red sail Chinese junk boats, click the photo for a 12% discount for the Aqua Luna boat tour of HK. (map)
14. Symphony of Lights
World's largest permanent light and sound show, there are 42 participating buildings in the show with more buildings joining each year. Show starts at 8pm everyday and lasts for 10 minutes. (map)
15. Eyebar
Eyebar is the best rooftop bar with the best views of Hong Kong, order a Tsingtao for $13 USD to stay at least 1-hour to enjoy the sunset. (map)
16. Tim Ho Wan
Michelin-star rated dim sum, and the best dim sum I have ever eaten, just $3 USD to $4 USD per steamer basket like BBQ pork buns, Har Gow or Shumai. A-must-try experience! (map)
17. Noonday Gun
Jardine noonday gun is a local tradition from British colonial times, the gun is fired every day at noon. Getting to the gun is VERY VERY tricky, watch my video for exact directions. (map)
18. Hong Kong Promenade
Officially known as the Central & Western Promenade, a gorgeous waterfront area where many locals hangout during the weekends on sunny days. A great place to take in the city! (map)
19. Central-Mid-Levels Escalators
The largest covered escalator system in the world. Covering 800 meters with an elevation of 135 meters. Hong Kong is basically San Francisco on steriords. (map)
20. Man Mo Temple
Built in 1847 during the Qing Dynasty by wealthy Chinese merchants, it is an excellent place for photography and to overdose on incense. (map)
21. Ladder Street
To really get a good sense of how steep the streets are on Hong Kong island, visit Ladder Street. (map)
22. Ding Ding Trams
For just $0.30 cents USD, you can ride the famous ding ding trams from east to west Hong Kong island. (map)
23. Waterfall Park Statues Avenue
A hidden secret on Hong Kong island is the Avenue of Statues, 1000+ God and Buddha statues, perfect for photography. (map)
24. Yik Cheong Building
Also known as the Monster Building, this behemoth of a building complex is actually five interconnected towers built in the 1960s. (map)
25. Hoi Tin Tong Turtle Jelly
Considered a Chinese herbal medicin, able to cure many issues, like a bad hangover. Turtle jelly costs $15 USD, make sure to drench it with honey since it is very blend. (map)
26. Kwan Yu Roasted Pigeon
One of the most bizarre dishes is roasted wild pigeon, order a pigeon for just $6 USD, the meat is very gamey, totally worth a try! (map)
27. Yung Kee Restaurant
Famous for their signature charcoal roasted goose, a true local delicacy for $35 USD, crispy goose skin on juicy goose meat. (map)
28. Ho Lee Fook
Perhaps the restaurant with the most hilarious name, but well known for their incredible dishes. (map)
29. Hong Kong Pub Crawl
Enjoy an epic night out with locals, expats and travelers. 50% OFF on drinks at Lan Kwai Fong, order your 10% OFF wristband, click the link. (map)
30. Hong Kong Nightlife
Party at epic nightclub like; HQ, Zentral, Play Nightclub and the fun bars at Lan Kwai Fong. Watch my complete Hong Kong Nightlife guide! (map)
31. BONUS: Hong Kong Disneyland
If time permits, take a day trip to Lantau Island for a Disneyland adventure. Click here for 10% OFF on tickets! (map)
32. BONUS: Tian Tan Buddha
Since you are on Lantau Island also visit the Tian Tan Buddha, 34 meters tall, but remember it is quite the hike. (map)
33. Octopus Card
Get around Hong Kong easily with the Octopus Card for the Subway and Ding Ding Trams. (map)
Great attractions on Hong Kong island are the Yik Cheong building at Quarry Bay, easily reachable by subway and Oddies, Hong Kong style egg-waffles in the Central district.
Other typical places to visit are Lan Fong Yuen, for their special Hong Kong tea ($3 USD), filtered to actual stockings, leaving no residue. Also try their buns seared with condensed milk.
Hong Kong's architecture is very special since it is designed with Feng Shui in consideration, which harmonizes the building with people and their environment.
The most bizarre dish I must have eaten was the wild pigeon at Kwan Yu Roasted Meats in Causeway Bay, an entire roasted pigeon for $6 USD with a cup of extremely strong tea. A meal for champions to say the least.
For a more delightful dinner, venture out to Yung Kee Restaurant for their Signature Charcoal Roasted Goose for $35 USD. Crispy goose skin covered juicy goose meat, a true local delicacy.
Hong Kong also offers very fun restaurants and great for food photography, especially Yum Cha, for their cute dim sum steamer baskets containing piggy pork buns, pineapple bird cakes in a cage and funky molten custard buns. Make sure to poke a hole for the hot custard to ooze out of its mouth. I even ran into a few Reformatt subscribers from Japan and Hong Kong who were also dining at the same restaurant.
Another bizarre restaurant is Hoi Tin Tong where you can try out the local turtle jelly which apparently cures you from a hangover. Although pricey, at $15 USD you may expect a lot, but it is actually very blend until you pour some honey into the mix. Their best treat is the almond pudding, this was beyond delicious for just $2 USD.
Man Mo Temple, one of Hong Kong's oldest temples and is now a declared monument, dedicated to the gods of literature and war. Built in 1847 during the qing dynasty by wealthy Chinese merchants, it is an excellent place for photography and to overdose on incense.
The BEST Hong Kong dim sum can be experience at Michelin-star restaurant Tim Ho Wan, for extremely cheap prices, Shumai at $4 USD, Har Gow at $4 USD and BBQ pork buns at $3 USD, basically $1 USD per item. Absolutely ridiculously cheap for Michelin rated food. Arrive before 5pm to avoid any line-ups.
I was joined by my long time Hong Kong friends, who I often meet on my annual trips to Tokyo, for a Kowloon adventure. Ken, Akira, AWeichai and Zacky took me to Temple Street Night Market to level up on my street bargaining with the local vendors, topping it off at a typical Hong Kong restaurant; Hing Kee, for claypot rice bowls, oyster cake and a delicious crab experience.
If time permits, visit the local Hong Kong market; Flower Market, Bird Market and Goldfish Market in the Mong Kok district in Kowloon, just across the Victoria Harbour. Indugled yourself in the local Hong Kong culture at these markets. Top off your Kowloon adventure by taking a Victoria Harbour cruise on the Aqua Luna, Chinese Red Sail Junk Boat with 12% discount on tickets.
In conclusion I have to say that Hong Kong is one of the coolest cities I've ever been to but you have to remember, Hong Kong is a pure business city, the locals can be very rushed and occupied. Hong Kong never really focused on being a hardcore tourist destination so keep that in mind. This itinerary is ideal for 2 days in Hong Kong, everything is within close proximity so you won't spent too much time travelling around. Just do not forget to join the Hong Kong Pub Crawl for least one night, click here for 10% OFF on Hong Kong Pub Crawl tickets. Not convinced? than watch my complete Hong Kong Nightlife guide.
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