A guide by PuddingnPie
The seated Buddha at the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau is a well-know “must see”. The normal route is by boat or hovercraft to Mui Wo (aka Silvermine Bay) on Lantau, and then by a (somewhat white-knuckle) bus ride up to the mountain monastery. A different approach, for those who fancy a walk, is to take the ferry from Central to the tiny neighbouring island of Peng Chau. From there, hop on a kaido (a very small ferry boat) for the short crossing to the Trappist Monastery on Lantau. From here it is an easy and well-marked two-hour walk, peaceful and highly scenic, to Mui Wo.
The Peninsula in Tsim Sha Tsui is famous - and very expensive. However you can visit for much less. You can try high tea in the lobby, but the real pearl is the bar on the top floor of the hotel (there's also a restaurant there).
It has the most amazing view of HK Island. Stupid prices, but just have a small beer and drink in the view. Or, even better, check out the view from the gents.
Tsim Sha Tsui - from HK Island, the Star Ferry is terrific value and also has a stunning view.
Cat Street, also known as Upper Lascar Row, is a lane in Sheung Wan not far from the Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road.
It oozes character and is crammed with shops selling everything from antiques to bric-a-brac, attracting serious collectors, dealers and the casual shopper.
Take the steps across the road from Man Mo Temple, and it's the first lane on your left.
Great hippy vibe, some cool laidback bars, quieter beaches, wonderful seafood restaurants and amazing green mountains to climb round the back. A brilliant day out. Try to find the crazy old man with a yellow beard selling second hand books, or try the curry at the cafe next to Diesel's bar.
Star Ferry pier 3 (used to be) - couple of quid, a half hour ferry ride and bingo.
34th Floor Restaurant with 270 degree views overlooking Victoria Park, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and Victoria Harbour.
All you can eat dim sum, sushi, sashimi, miso soup, freshly cooked noodles, sandwiches, quiches, fresh Fruit, chocolate fountain, Haagen-Dazs and cakes. Add all you can drink sparkling dry white wine and a price of HK$200 each (about £15) and you have a full stomach, few drinks, happy wife and happy wallet.
And if you have not had enough you can go back on a Sunday. Less of a buffet, more of a meal, and unlimited champagne instead of Sparkling Wine. HK$250 each.
Saturday Sparkling Tea Buffet is 1pm to 4.30pm.
Sunday Bubbly Brunch is 11.30am to 3pm.
Book early to get a window seat!!
www.excelsiorhongkong.com/
281 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay MTR Exit D1
For the best views and pictures take a 20p (First Class) trip on the Star Ferry between Central and Kowloon. Takes 5 minutes to cross the harbour, but provides great views of the skyline, even better at nightime.
Take the ferry from Central Ferry Station, across from the Mandarin Oriental station.
It’s a beautiful setting, reached via a long staircase with life-size golden Buddhas on either side and when we arrived about 10am it was almost deserted.
Incense burns everywhere, with gifts of flowers and fruit to Buddha left on tables outside the temples and pagoda. There is a vegetarian restaurant and a small souvenir stall.
KCR to Sha Tin
Imagine Muji, but rethought by Danny La Rue. G.O.D. is HK's kooky brand of clothes and household goods. I hate shopping, but I love this place.
Leighton Centre, Causeway Bay
If you have the budget and fancy an evening of cocktails and piano music you have to go to the InterContinental Hotel.
If you get there for 8 o'clock, you can also see the light show the skyscapers perform nightly on Hong Kong Island.
My partner and I had a lovely evening of drinking expensive drinks, watching the scenery and he treated himself to a cigar.
18 Salisbury Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong; Tel: 852 2721 1211; www.hongkong-ic.intercontinental.com/
This is the oldest traditional teahouse in HK. Straight out of the 1930s – the decor came from the original restaurant 100 years ago. The teahouse has a fantastic retro atmosphere. There’s excellent tea, great dimsum at lunchtime and at night the food is good, but it can be quiet.
Luk Yu is straight out of the movies, and is the actual scene of an old-style triad killing.
24 Stanley Street, Central, Hong Kong; tel: 852 2523 5463
Within the concrete jungle of Central and away from the shopping malls, is a haven: beautiful gardens containing exotic shrubs, sculptures and fountains, a fantastic zoo housing shy orang-utans, noisy monkeys and pretty birds. And surprisingly, it is FREE.
Entrance is on Albany Road. Open daily.
Cycling is a great way to see Hong Kong in the autumn sunshine, and this film shows you how to pack in rural scenery, temples, local food and even a day at the beach.
If you have broadband, download the high-res version by following the link below; otherwise you can watch it low-res in eight episodes on youTube by searching for HK cycling bend.
To get to this beach, take the bus from downtown Hong Kong. It’s about a 30 minute ride. There is a beautiful temple on the beach. There are loads of reasons to recommend it: nice sand, swimming area, great photo opportunities and nice sunsets. Bring an umbrella because there isn’t much shade.
Walk the star-studded esplanade of Kowloon waterfront at night and look over at Hong Kong island in all its laser beamed glory! It's the best way to see the skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island.
Vegetarian south Indian restaurant with several north Indian dishes. Dosas and sweet lassis are wonderful. Very good value. Staff are great.
61 Mody Road, Mirror Tower, Kowloon
IIn Shek Kip Mei one is able to see exactly how some of the territories poverty locked 40% live. It is one of the few accessible places where one can still find first generation public housing blocks in all their glory.
HK has wilfully forgotten the very people whose hard work and labour allowed it to prosper. It is important for people living in HK as well as those visiting to realise that the much publicised shopping malls and expensive hotels, eateries, and clubs that service expatriates and the local elite do not represent the HK the majority of residents recognise.
HK's majority are, amazingly, all too often the forgotten people. It certainly puts into perspective the shopaholic culture and the trend towards excess that characterises what was once the heart of HK: Central district. A heart does not distinguish between those who are a part of the hang send economy (those with property) and the vast majority who are not.
Shek Kip Mei is one of several such districts visitors hardly venture. In some ways it is a gem as these are the only districts of HK that advertisers don't bother to smother.
Visitors wanting to understand the real HK, or those who really believe HK has found, or more correctly found but lost, that elusive form of capitalism that seems to work for all, ought to take a trip down to Shek Kip Mei.
HK does show that Chinese capitalism (whatever that means) can work and can be fun for the cream. I wouldn't taste the milk.
Take the MTR to Shek Kip Mei station. Exit and walk west
For a near-free tour of HK island's major attractions, travel on the upper deck of the old electric tram, from Kennedy Town in the west, through central to Quarry Bay and beyond in the east. You can peel off at Wan Chai for Happy Valley and the horse races.
Though very slow, you see virtually the whole of HK island and savour its flavour at street level, jumping off wherever you want - each trip is just HK$1-2 (20p). Avoid rush hour. Watch out for pickpockets. Anyone tall should find a seat quick, or face a crick neck all week.
If there's a few of you, hire your own tram, complete with its own bar for a Friday night trawl. Ask the tourist board.
All major HK island MTR stations, just look for the tracks, listen out for the clanking bell
