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Stopover in Hong Kong |
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Hong Kong Island Sights
For stopover travellers wondering whether to pay Hong Kong Island a visit during their stay, there are the places that may sway your decision. In truth there are not all that many sights on Hong Kong Island, but there are some very cultural spots which can make for an interesting day or two. The Wong Tai Sin temple, for example, is one of the most impressive Buddhist complexes in Hong Kong. The museum of Art and the Flagstaff House are also worth a visit. The latter is one of the oldest preserved colonial buildings with an impressive collection of all sorts of tea ware. An absolute must is to visit 'Victoria's Peak'. At the highest point of the island, you'll have a spectacular view of the surroundings. At night, you can see the sparkling lights of Kowloon trying to tempt you back!
Here are some examples of sights to see on Hong Kong Island and surrounding areas.
Old Man Mo Temple
The film ‘The World of Suzie Wong’ was party shot in this temple dedicated to the God of both literature and war.
Aberdeen Country Park
Built around reservoirs on Hong Kong Island, this park's splendid trails provide leisurely and attractive walks. The Park is readily accessible from many directions because of its closeness to urban areas.
Hong Kong Park
An oasis of green amid the urban landscape. More than 150 species of birds live in this carefully designed tropical "rainforest". The park is a 2 minute walk from the MTR Admiralty Station (via Pacific Place).
Hong Kong Zoological & Botanical Garden
Laid out in 1864 to the design of a nature-loving governor. They are open every day and are a popular place to join in the early morning tai chi exercises.
Aw Boon Gardens
A feast for the eye, this overload of pagodas, caves and statues. Oldest colonial-style building where you can visit an exhibition of all sorts of tea ware.
Victoria Peak
Go here when you want to experience some fabulous views of both the city and of some special birds and trees.
Wong Tai Sin Temple
Taoist Temple in Hong Kong
Ocean Park
The world's largest aquarium is located nearby Aberdeen. Quite expensive, quite an experience.
Museums
Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Museum of Chinese Historical Relics, Police Museum and Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence.
Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront
The Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront is a great way to see the skyline of Hong Kong island. The best time to go to the waterfront is at night, when you can see the skyline sparkling with light.
Central District
Central District is home to the business district and government buildings of Hong Kong. The Government House is located on Government Hill and is the official residence of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong. In the Central District there is also the ‘Mid-Levels Escalators’, the largest outdoor covered escalator system in the world.
Stanley Market
Stanley Market is one of the most famous markets in Hong Kong and a great place to buy souvenirs. The market is not very crowded and has a large variety of stalls. The market is a 3 minutes walk from Stanley Beach.
Ladies Market
The Ladies Market is in the centre of the Mongkok district. The locals refer to the market as the “Ladies Market” or “Women's Street”. The market sells mainly just clothing and therefore that’s where the name has come from.
Times Square
Times Square is one of the major landmarks in Causeway Bay and is a towering building with a large video screen. Inside the building there is a shopping centre and office tower complex. The shopping mall was the first ‘vertical mall’ in Hong Kong and has 9 storeys of shopping. The mall within Times Square was featured in the Laura Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life film.
There is an MTR station directly below the building and exit A1 leads onto the ground floor.
Nathan Road
Hong Kong is famous for it’s colourful Neon signs and Nathan Road has lots of them. Shops are lined up on both sides of the road and also in side streets. The road is crowded with people all day long and the road used to be known as the ‘Golden Mile’.
Nathan Road starts in the southern part of Kowloon.
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