A short stopover in Hong Kong

Basically the best way to see the city is to wander aimlessly around taking in everything; the smells, the sights and the people.

A must do is the short trip on 'The Peak Tram' which strangely takes you to The Peak. From here you get a fantastic view of the city and a look at the surrounding islands and harbours.

To avoid the pollution and rush of the city, take the short bus ride to Stanley. Here you have the market, the beach, and a shopping mall, as well as pubs and restaurants. The bus station is right next to the Star Ferry which is a must if you want to visit Kowloon.

There is so much to do in Hong Kong that you'll be kept busy for days, whether you want to shop on Kowloon or visit the smaller islands that make up Hong Kong, or whether you just want to sit in a cafe and watch the world go by...Hong Kong has everything for everyone.

Quick Tips:

The people are really helpful and most will speak English though some are reluctant to do so, particularly the bus drivers...so make sure you have a map with you so you know roughly where you want to get off.

Best Way To Get Around:

Walking is the best way but buses are cheap and simple. The major hotels offer free shuttle buses to various locations, including the shopping areas and the MTR (the Subway, which can be useful to avoid tired legs!).

The hotel staff could not be more helpful. They even run a shuttle service from the airport which is either included in your package or $75 (Hong Kong Dollars) each way. The rooms were clean, the restaurant offered a fine array of western and chinese breakfasts in a buffet style. In the room were several useful leaflets, including maps of the surrounding area, a map showing how to get back to the hotel including the address in Chinese for showing to taxi drivers. The bathroom came equipped with the expected 'goodies'...shampoo, soap etc. The shower was hot and powerful which after a long flight is fantastic.

The hotel is slightly out of the main Kowloon area but it's advantages include the free shutle bus to Tsim Tsum (shopping area and Star Ferry) plus another shuttle to the MTR (Subway). These buses run in both directions all day and well into the night, though walking from the Star Ferry only takes about 30 minutes. And walking is the best way to take in the nightlife, allowing a detour to the Temple Street Night Market and temple, for example. There are also various shops and facilities around the hotel.

The Peak in Hong Kong is a must for an traveller however fleeting their stop in the city. I made it the first port of call on my first morning and I'm glad I did as the haze/smog/pollution set in after that and the view just wouldn't have been the same. So go early in the morning and if possible again at night to see the city lights.

The Peak Tram leaves from near to the Botanical Gardens on a regular basis though you can expect a queue no matter when you go as it's probably Hong Kong's top attraction. (Alternatively take a bus up the winding road to the top). The tram is on a steep incline and interesting in it's self. Once there the view from the Peak Galleria is great. On one side is the city of Hong Kong with Kowloon in the distance, the other side you have outlaying islands and boats. There is the option to trek up to the very summit of Victoria Peak but I opted for ice cream and the view from Peak Galleria. You can get out on the roof from many angles to take any variety of photos too which is fun.

You can walk back down via the Botanical Gardens or take the tram or bus back down dependant on your energy levels. Don't miss this fantastic view.

Starting as I did from the Kowloon side the Star Ferry is next to the Old Colonial Clock Tower. There are two levels to the green and white boats, the First Class level costing $2.20HK and the lower Second Class level costing $1.70HK. You can either pay at a token booth or by depositing coins in the slot which tends to be faster. Then the whistle blows, the gates open and people shove and barge on inorder to get the best seat. The seats are comfortable enough for the 5 minute ride to the other side and the ride seems to take you back in time to when the ferry was the only way to get across the harbour. At the other side (Hong Kong Island in my case) expect the pushing and shoving to begin as people exit the ferry just as quickly. On HK Island, the ferry docks near to the City Hall.

The ride is relaxing whatever time of day you take it and has to be done at least once to 'complete your HK experience'.

After deciding Stanley would be a pleasant break from the hustle of the city I tried to find where to take a bus there. Eventually I discovered the #260 express bus - fairly empty for some reason and from the back of the top deck I had a great view at some stunning scenery. It wasn't as express as expected but with the scenery I wasn't going to complain, we arrived eventually. The market is huge and is accessible down small twisting passages. The variety of clothing and souvenirs on store is huge so allow time for browsing. Haggling is also an option in many of the stores, walk away after being quoted a price and they'll call you back with 'an offer'. I got some good deals on key chains and smaller souvenirs.

Once you've had enough of shopping there is the nearby Tin Hau Temple where locals were praying and lighting incense.

There are also several pubs on the beach front, pleasant places to have a drink away from the noise of the city before catching the bus back. There are several buses back so be sure your's goes to where you want to be. Occasionally the drivers will refuse to speak English, fortunately I was rescued by a local lady who translated for me and the driver finally notified me in English of my stop! For time away from the pollution and noise of the city this is a great place to go.