hong kong stopover: an evening in asia's world city

8/14/2019 Hong Kong Stopover: An evening in Asia's World City

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Chapter 4 Spending an evening in Asia's World City


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Hi everybody and welcome to the fourth chapter of Metropolasia's Hong Kong Stopover Guide.

While previous chapters dealt with basics like "Arrival at the airport and getting to the city" (Chapter 1),

"Visiting attractions and places-of-interest near the airport itself" (Chapter 2) and "How to cover Hong

Kong's 'must sees' in one day" (Chapter 3), this chapter will guide you how to spend an evening in Asia's

World City.

1) The "Symphony of Lights"

Awarded the world's "Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show" by Guinness World Records, the

"Symphony of Lights" is a nightly orchestrated light, sound and laser show featured on 37 key buildings

on both sides of Victoria Harbour.

It starts every evening at 8pm and is best seen from theAvenue of Stars and the Tsim Sha Tsui

Waterfront. Another recommended vantage point is the promenade at Golden Bauhinia Square in

Wanchai, on Hong Kong Island.

The Avenue of Stars, from where the show can best be seen, is Hong Kong's answer to Hollywood's Walk

of Fame, with floor plaques that honor the who's who of Hong Kong's thriving film industry.

To get there: Take the Airport Express to Kowloon Station. From the station, take shuttle bus K-3 to thePeninsula Hotel, or (better) K-2 to Sheraton Hong Kong. Use the pedestrian subway near the Sheraton to

cross under Salisbury Roadto the other side, where the Tsim sha Tsui Waterfront Promenade and the

"Avenue of Stars" can be found.

If coming by bus: Take Citybus' route A21, alight outside Tsim sha Tsui MTR Station, enter the station

and use the pedestrian-subway-network to get to Tsim sha Tsui Waterfront Promenade and the "Avenue

of Stars" (You can also follow the signs to New World Centre).

2) The Night Market at Temple Street

Although the famous "Night Market" has long become a tourist clich, it is still a good place to fetch afew bargains and feel a bit of a true 'Hong Kong market ambience'

The brightly lit stalls sell everything you can think of: Asian antiques and costumes, Footwear and

clothes, Electronic gadgets and watches, CDs and computer games... You name it


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There are also more than a few food-stalls and eateries around, where you can indulge on simple,

delicious Chinese food.

Cantonese opera singers and fortune tellers can be found in Yung Shue Tau Square, on the other side of

Temple Street, just outside the old Tin Hau Temple.

The market is open daily from 4 pm to 11 pm (although it gets busy only from 7 pm and onwards).

Getting there: From Kowloon's Airport Express Station Take shuttle Bus K-1 to MTR Jordan (From MTR-

Jordan exit A, walk along Jordan Road away from Nathan Road. The third street on your right hand side

is Temple Street)

If coming from Tsim sha Tsui's Waterfront Promenade: Use the pedestrian subway to cross under

Salisbury Road to the other side, and continue (underground) to Tsim sha Tsui MTR Station, from where

you take the MTR to Jordan (one station away) and continue on foot (see above).

If coming by bus from the airport: Take Citybus' route A21, drop off outside the Nathan Hotel, on 348

Nathan Road, cross Nathan Road to the other side and proceed with Pak Hoi Street for a minute or two

(it crosses Temple Street).

3) Mong Kok and its markets

MongKok, north of Tsim sha Tsui, is where some of Hong Kong's best open-air markets can be found.

The area is slightly less touristy than Tsim sha Tsui (Not to mention Hong Kong Island) and prices,

accordingly, are usually lower...

Other than a variety of open-air markets, Mongkok is home to some of Hong Kong's best restaurants and

authentic eateries.

Ladies' Market - stretches along Tung Choi Street in Mong Kok and is one of Hong Kong's most popular

open-air markets. As its name denotes, this market specializes in women's clothing, accessories,

cosmetics, and the like, although you can find here more than a few stalls that sell men's and children's

products... Soft toys, clothes, bags, jeans and watches... just to name a few.

The market is open daily from 10:30 am to 10:30 pm.


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Getting there: From Kowloon's Airport Express Station Take shuttle Bus K-6 to Royal Plaza Hotel(departs once every 24 minutes last one leaves at 11:10 pm): Ladies Market is just a few minutes walk

from the hotel.

From Tsim sha Tsui (Symphony of Lights or Nathan Road) and from Jordan (Temple Street's Night

Market), take the MTR to Mong Kok Station: Take exit E-2 of MTR-Mong Kok to the east side of Nelson

Street and proceed to the market (2 minutes walk), Exit D-3, on Argyle Street is also close to the

market.

If coming by bus from the airport: Take Citybus' route A21 and drop off at the bus stop outside Argyle

Centre, on 688 Nathan Road

4) Victoria Peak

Victoria Peak, or simply "The Peak", as it is popularly known, is probably Hong Kong's most popular

attraction. The postcard-views of the metropolis and its surrounding harbors are simply unbeatable,

especially at night, when the countless skyscrapers are flashing in millions of dazzling lights...

Up at the top, there are two adjoining shopping malls, namely Peak Towerand Peak Galleria, that boast

a variety of restaurants, cafs, shops, "unique attractions" and tourist traps... (Including Hong Kong's

excellent Madame Tussauds, as well as some really good restaurants with fabulous views)

Recommended venues around "The Peak" include Caf Deco (A good choice of both Asian and western

delicacies, and great views...), Bubba Gump (seafood, and shrimps in particular...), The Peak Lookout

(a fabulous restaurant, located in a charming colonial house), Tien Yi (an upclass restaurant, serving

contemporary Chinese cuisine) and Pacific Coffee, near the "upper terminus", which is the best place to

enjoy your "coffee with a view", even at an early hour of the day...

For a fully detailed "mini guide" of Victoria Peak, including suggested nature walks, click here:

http://www.metropolasia.com/Victoria_Peak


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Naturally, you would want to climb up to the peak with the world-famous "Peak Tram".

The historic red-painted tram climbs the stiff 400m gradient in seven minutes, providing spectacular

views of the city, and riding it is not only one of Hong Kong's "must dos", but also the most direct way of

getting to "The Peak".

The tram operates daily, from 7 am to 12 midnight. It departs every 10 - 15 minutes and covers the full

distance in approximately 7 minutes.

Getting to the Peak Tram Lower Terminus: From Hong Kong's Airport Express Station

Take exit C and turn left to Des Voeux Road Central. Walk along it, pass the HSBC Building (you will also

have to cross it to the other side) and turn right to Garden Road, with which you climb to the terminus.

(You can also access Des Voeux Road Central through Alexandra House take exits A2 or B2 to the

elevated walkway, turn right and walk to Alexandra House).

If coming from Kowloon side (Tsim sha Tsui symphony of Lights / Jordan Night Market / Mong Kok

Ladies Market), take the MTR to Central, than take exit J-2 to Chatter Garden, walk through the garden,

cross Queen's Road Central and continue up along Garden Road (you will see the terminus on your left

side, opposite the American Consulate General).

If coming with the Star Ferry (from Tsim sha Tsui pier, few minutes walk from the "Symphony of Lights"): Walk straight through the elevated walkway until you get to Alexandra House, turn left to Des Voeux

Road Central, cross it to the other side (where HSBC building stands) and after a couple of minutes turn

right to Garden Road, with which you climb to the terminus.

If coming by bus from the airport: Take Citybus' route A11 and drop off on Queensway (Near Queensway

Plaza and exit C-1 of Admiralty MTR Station). Cross Queensway to the other side (with the footbridge)

turn right, and after a couple of minutes turn left to Cotton Tree drive, with which you climb to the

terminus.

The Peak Tram might be the most popular method of getting to Victoria Peak, but getting to the peak

is also possible via other means of transport:

Green minibus No. 1 connects Central and The Peak. It departs from the bus interchange, next to Hong

Kong's Airport Express Station (on Finance Street through exit F) every 10 minutes or so, daily, 6:30 am

- 12 midnight, and charges around HK$ 8 each way.


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Bus No. 15 can be boarded at Central's Ferry pier bus terminus, as well as next to Exchange Square, on

Connaught Road Central (use exit D of Hong Kong Station, if coming by Airport Express). A bus leaves

every 10 - 15 minutes (daily, 10 am - 12 midnight) and it costs around HK$ 9.2 each way (HK$ 4.6 for

children and senior citizens).

Did you know ?

Many tourists don't know that getting to Victoria Peak by bus or minibus is also a worthy experience,

so if you have the time, try to go one way with the tram and the other with a minibus, passing on the

winding road, through the lush forest that covers Mount Victoria's slopes, and enjoying breathtaking

views of Hong Kong Island's southern coast.

5) Late Evening shopping at Causeway Bay

Causeway Bay is Hong Kong's trendiest shopping district. The small cluster of streets around Causeway

Bay's MTR Station houses some of the city's best department stores, shopping malls and prestigious

shops. Hong Kong yuppies just love Causeway Bay and consider it the city's "fashion barometer"... The

place to go to when you want to know what's new and "in"...

Other than trendy fashion shops, Causeway Bay is home to one of Hong Kong's most popular bazaars,

Jardine's Crescent, where plenty of inexpensive fashion accessories can be found.

The area's shopping venues stay open until relatively late, which means you can start your evening here

and move somewhere else later on (although there are also plenty of great restaurants and cafs around

this area see recommendations below)

For a fully detailed article about Causeway Bay's shopping options, go to:

http://www.metropolasia.com/Hong_Kong%27s_Shopping_Districts/Causeway-Bay

The entrance to both Jardine's Crescent and Jardine's Bazzar is next to exit F of the MTR station. From Jardine's Crescent, you can enter Lee Gardens Two (Caroline Centre), and move onwards to

The Lee Gardens, using the footbridge (open until 10 pm daily).

Times Square, one of Hong Kong's most popular shopping and entertainment malls can beaccessed directly from Causeway Bay's MTR station (exit A shops are open daily till 10pm and

dinning/ entertainment venues stay open later).

Great George Street and Paterson St. can be accessed through MTR-Causeway Bay, exit E


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To get to Causeway Bay: From Hong Kong's Airport Express Station, walk to Central MTR Station (direct

pedestrian link) and take the MTR to Causeway Bay Station.

If coming from Kowloon side (Tsim sha Tsui symphony of Lights / Jordan Night Market / Mong Kok

Ladies Market), take the MTR to Causeway Bay Station.

If coming by bus from the airport: Take Citybus' route A11 and drop off on Hennessy Road, Near Wan

Chai Fire Station. Then walk a few steps ahead and turn right to Percival Street (cross Hennessy Road

there is a footbridge at Causeway Bay Plaza), which takes you to Times Square and the other shopping

centres.

For more information about Hong Kong, including recommended restaurants and nightlife, shopping tips,

suggested do-it-yourself trips and accommodation reviews, visit the Hong Kong Travel Guide at

metropolasia.com : One of the best online-travel-guides to Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore :

http://www.metropolasia.com/Hong_Kong

hong kong stopover: an evening in asia's world city

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