Travelling abroad for the first time remains special, no matter how many places you visit in the following years. It open your eyes and teaches you so much about the world. And that is why Hong Kong is so special to me. This was something I had never done before, but when it began to happen, I was amazed. It was my first international destination, something completely new, strange, interesting yet very comfortable. I was completely overwhelmed by the grandeur of Hong Kong, Asia’s World City- the glittering skyscrapers, bustling harbours, big cruise ships, clean wide roads, double-decker buses, cramped accommodation, symphony of lights; all was brilliant.
I stayed near Victoria Harbour on the Kowloon Island for 6-days as it is the best budget option for the backpackers. The Victoria Harbour is perhaps the most scenic harbour in the world. It offers a link between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Island. The financial district of Hong Kong is located on the Hong Kong Island side and famous for its sky-scrappers. At the Kowloon Island side, there are notable tourist attractions of Hong Kong within 5 minutes to 15 minutes walk from the harbour (Considering the Clock Tower as a reference point). Here are few of the tourist attractions that I visited during my stay near Victoria Harbour:
1. Symphony of Lights: The world’s “Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show” by the Guinness World Records. This nightly spectacle combines interactive lights of 45 key buildings on both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon with musical effects to showcase the vibrancy and glamorous night vista of Victoria Harbour. You can also enjoy this show from the deck of the cruise ships and luxurious boats that operate in the evening at Victoria Harbour.
Opening Hours: Show starts exactly at 08:00 PM daily for 14 minutes. Enjoy this show from any convenient location along the harbour.
Admission: Free of Cost
Time Required: 14-minutes show.
2. Tsim Sha Tshui Promenade:This promenade is the best ways to get an uninterrupted view of one of the finest city skylines in the world. Always full of shutterbugs and love birds, the promenade is the most happening place in Hong Kong. It spreads from Star Ferry Pier to Intercontinental Hotel along the harbour.
Opening Hours: 24 Hours
Admission: Free of cost
Time Required: From Star Ferry Pier to Intercontinental Hotel, spend at sleast two hour gazing the skylines of Hong Kong Island.
3. Hong Kong Skylines: Hong Kong has one of the most spectacular skylines in the world. The high density of iconic skyscrapers squeezed between the mountains of Hong Kong Island near Victoria Harbour is absolutely breathtaking. The most outstanding view of the skylines is possible from the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade near the clock tower.
Other impressive vantage points are The Peak, 55th Floor of International Finance Center 2 (Free of cost for public viewing, just register with the security guard at entrance) and 43rd floor of Bank of China Building (open and free of cost for public.)
4. Avenue of Stars: After 3 years of renovation starting from October 2015, Avenue of Stars has reopened to the public from Janaury, 2019. About 3 minutes walk from the Clock Tower, it is just an extension of Tsim Sha Tsui promenade. The promenade commands a stunning panoramic view across Victoria Harbour. In the evening, it is a popular viewing place for the Symphony of Lights display.
It is a good place to go to see the glamorous stars of Hong Kong. The Avenue of Stars signifies a respect to the eminent Hong Kong film workers for their devoted contribution to local and world theaters.
Opening Hours: Always, but major performances in the evening between 05:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Entrance Tickets: Open sidewalk. Free of Cost.
Time Required: Depends on the performance in that evening. May take from 30 minutes to 2 hours.
5. Clock Tower: It is the only remnant of the former Kowloon Railway Terminus on the Kowloon-Canton Railway. Built out of red bricks and granite, the Clock Tower height is 44 metres, and it is topped by a 7-metre lightning rod. Few years ago, it was possible to reach on the top of the clock tower by a wooden staircase located within, but interior of the clock tower is now closed for the visitors.
Opening Hours: The interior of the tower is currently closed for the visit. Outside view is available for 24 hours.
Entrance Tickets: Free of Cost
Time Required: 15-30 miuntes
6. Star Ferry: More than 50,000 people daily cross the waterfront between Tsim Sha Tsui on Kowloon and Central on Hong Kong Island by the Star Ferries. The white and green ferries are the iconic symbol of Hong Kong. It was started about 120 years ago by a Parsi Merchant and later owned by the British. From the decks of these ferries, visitors get a sense of Hong Kong’s history and legacy.
Opening Hours: Between Tsim Sha Tsui and Central, the star ferries run between 6:30 AM to 23:30 PM with 6-12 minutes frequency as per peak hours of the day.
Ticket Costs: Mon-Fri (Except Public Holidays): Upper deck: HKD 2.50, Lower Deck: HKD 2.00.
Sat-Sun and Public Holidays: Upper deck: HKD 3.00, Lower Deck: HKD 2.40.
Expect concession for children (3-12 years), person with disabilities (upon production of Registration card ) and Person aged 65 or above (upon production of HKID or senior citizen card).
Time Required: 10 minutes to travel between Star Ferry Pier of Kowloon Island to Central Pier of Hong Kong Island.
7. Hong Kong Museum of Art: Five minutes walk from Victoria Harbour on Salisbury Road. Established in 1962, but moved to present location in 1991. Its collections now number in excess of 15,700 art objects, including Chinese paintings and calligraphy works, antique Chinese treasures, paintings of historical significance as well as creations by local artists. The highlights of the collections are on display in the exhibition galleries.
Opening Hours: Daily 10:00 AM to 05:00 PM, Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays 10:00 AM to 05:00 PM, Closed on Thursdays (except Public Holidays), Closed on the first two days of the Chinese New Year
Entrance Tickets: Free admission on Wednesdays except the special exhibitions, which may requires a ticket of HKD 10. On other days, standard ticket cost is HKD 10.
Time Required:At least 2 hours in exhibition galleries.
8. Hong Kong Space Museum: Adjacent to the Museum of Art on Salisbury Road. Commissioned in 1980, this museum has two thematic exhibition halls: the Hall of Space Science and the Hall of Astronomy on the ground and first floors respectively. The exhibits, predominantly interactive, enable visitors to learn through a series of entertaining and educational experiences. You can experience the moon walk, glider flying, rocket launching; etc inside the museum. Stanley Ho Space Centre of the museum is a 3D Dome theater and shows movies (popularly known as Omnimax and Sky shows) on various astronomical and scientific subjects from Solar System to Cosmic Collisions to Extreme Planets.
Opening Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday : 01:00 PM to 09:00 PM, Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday : 10:00 AM – 21:00 PM, Closed on Thursdays and Public Holidays, Closed on the first two days of the Chinese New Year
Entrance Tickets: For exhibition halls: HKD 10
For Stanley Ho Space Centre (Dome Theater): HKD 32 (Stalls) and HKD 24 (Front stalls, first four rows in the front)
Discount is available for full-time students, people with disability (and one accompanying minder) and senior citizens aged 60 or above. Price will be half of the standard tickets. Free admission on Wednesdays for exhibition halls only, not for theater.
Time Required: 3 hours in exhibition halls and one hour at 3D dome theater.
9. Hong Kong Cultural Center: Adjacent to Clock Tower on Victoria Harbour. Openned in 1989, this center is a multipurpose performance facility. To cater for performing arts of all variety, the center is designed to house three major performing halls, namely the Concert Hall, the Grand Theater and the Studio Theater. There is also an Exhibition Gallery and four foyer exhibition areas. Other ancillary facilities include eleven rehearsal and practice rooms and two conference rooms.
Opening hours: 9 AM – 11 PM daily, Box office Service hours: 10 AM – 21:30 PM daily
Entrance Tickets: Entrance is free of cost. However, for the events you have to buy the tickets from the ticket counter located inside.
Tickets can also be bought by the On-line Internet Booking : www.urbtix.hk
Time Required: Depends on the shows and performances
10. The Iconic Buildings of 1881 Heritage, The Peninsula and Hotel Intercontinental:
1881 Heritage: 5 minutes walk from Clock Tower. This Former Marine Police Headquarters Compound, constructed in 1884, is now officially renamed as 1881 Heritage. It features luxury shops, fine dining establishments and hip bars. There is a heritage hotel and hall to showcase the history of the site. The compound is a declared monument since 1994 as it is one of the four oldest surviving government buildings in Hong Kong.
There is a scheduled 3-D light show named as ‘Our Harbour-Our Stories’ at 08:30 PM on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and on public holidays. Colourful and impactful, the synchronised light show highlights Hong Kong’s traditions and cultural icons as well as Victoria Harbour’s changing landscape.
Admission Tickets: Free guided tours are conducted every day. Prior reservation is available through a phone call.
Time Required: 30 minutes to 2 hours
The Peninsula is a magnificent hotel building about 5 minutes walk from the Clock Tower, in front of the Hong Kong Space Museum. The impressive grandeur of Hotel Peninsula is visible from the outside only. It was opened in 1928 and expanded in 1994. The luxurious hotel boasts of a large fleet of Rolls Royce Cars (Phantom these days) from the very beginning. All cars are traditionally painted in the distinctive Peninsula Green.
Hotel Intercontinetal is a 5-star hotel located on the Salisbury Road,100 meters away from the Museum of Art facing Victoria Harbour waterfront. It offers amazing views of Victoria Harbour, Symphony of Lights and Skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island. It features a spa, a large infinity pool which overlooks Victoria Harbour and 2 celebrity restaurants which offer 24-hour in-room dining.
11. Harbour City Mall: 2 minutes walk from the Clock Tower. Harbour City, the largest of the Hong Kong shopping mega-malls, stretches for more than half a mile along Canton Road. The massive mall offers everything like clothing, accessories, jewelry, cosmetics, antiques, electronic goods, furniture, housewares, toys, arts and crafts, confectionery shops, restaurants, cinemas and much more. It comprises about 700 shops, including 50 restaurants. Ocean Terminal Deck is also there on the top of the shopping mall to enjoy the breathtaking view of Victoria Harbour.
Opening Hours: 24 Hours (Ocean Terminal Deck:07:00 AM to 12:00 AM)
Admission: Free of Cost for Harbour City as well as Ocean Terminal Deck.
Time Required: Depends at your shopping capacity. May take 30 minutes to 3 hours.
12. China Hong Kong City: 15 minutes walk from the Clock Tower. Also known as the Golden Gateway to China, this commercial complex includes five office towers, shopping centers, a hotel and a ferry terminal. The ferry terminal is populary known as China Ferry Terminal. It is one of three cross-border ferry terminals in Hong Kong and provides ferry services to Macau and Mainland China. The pier has operated since 1988. It operates from 06:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Monday to Friday, and 06:00 AM -02:00 PM on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.
Opening Hours: 24 hours
Admission Tickets: Free of Cost.
13. Nathan Road: 10 minutes walk from the Clock Tower. It is the most important road of Kowloon Island near Victoria Harbour. The Golden Mile of Hong Kong is lined with exclusive shops, restaurants, hotels and throng with the tourists and the locals alike. You can get everything from shoes, clothes to the suits, watches; from genuine Rolex at extravagant prices to the first or second copy of Tag Heuer at throwaway prices on the Nathan Road.
You can meet many Indians on Nathan Road, who will try to sell you the fake watches, suits and provide you the guidance for nearby Indian or Pakistani Restaurants. They pull at you, block your walking movements, even if you are not interested. But the most notable Indians there are the tailors. There is an Indian tailor every 100 meters, with the familiar calls of Bhai, suit lena hai kya (Brother, Are you interested in the suits?) Tourists across the world are always excited to come to Hong Kong and get a suit made here, and this is where Indian Tailors find their opportunities.
Nathan Road is also famous for its neon glowing signboards of Canon, Sony, Nikon and Olympus at the shops selling tax free cameras and accessories. When I went to buy a genuine Canon Battery for my DSLR, the shopkeepers tried to sell me a local battery, though at cheap price. Therefore, keep this fact in your mind while shopping at one of the shops on Nathan Road.
14. Kowloon City Park: 15 minutes walk from Clock Tower. The scenic spots mainly include the Maze Garden, Color Garden, Chinese Garden, Roof Gardens, Banyan Court and Bird Lake. The site was once home to the British Army’s Whitfield Barracks part of which has been restored and houses the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Center. The park has a small aviary with around 40 species of 140 birds including macaws and parrots; Bird Lake with over 200 birds including swans, flamingos, ducks and pochards; Chinese Garden with lotus ponds and rock cascades; maze garden; sculpture walk; a 200-metre loggia providing shelter and seating in wet weather and landscaped roof gardens above Park Lane Shopper’s Boulevard.
Opening Hours: 5:00 AM to 12:00 Midnight.
Admission Tickets: Free of Cost. Every Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m,the park provides the activity of watching birds for tourists free of charge.
Time Required: 2 to 4 hours
15. DHL Balloon: 30 minutes walk for clock tower. The 22m-wide air balloon offers a 100-meter-high flying experience. It is a nice way to see the panoramic view of Victoria Harbour and adjacent skylines. But make sure that weather is good enough to enjoy the ride.
Opening Hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 21:45 PM
Admission Tickets: Day flights tickets HKD 150 for adult and HKD 75 for child (must be over 1.2 m height) from 10:00 AM to 18:45 PM
Night flights tickets HKD 250 for adult and HKD 175 for child (must be over 1.2 m height) from 19:00 PM to 118:45 PM
Time Required: 15 minutes for each ride, with just a few minutes at the top height
The long list of tourist attractions near Victoria Harbour is very exciting. From the amazing views of the city to the soothing experiences in its parks, from the learning in the museums to the joy of shopping, it has so much to offer that it won’t stop amusing you.
Hello
Very beautiful pics and very nice and informative blog. All the best !!!
Bye
Thanks Sachin.. 🙂
Stunning imagery. Shopping heaven out there.
lovely post again!! that green and white boats look awesome!! liked that colorful one as well.
most of the buildings are pretty old, right?
Nathan road market sounds like those typical chor baazar markets of India
Hi Deb, Nathan Road is not like a chor baazar markets of India..It may be a lower-end market for Hong Kong..by Indian standards, it can beat many of our best markets in terms of shopping malls and availability of genuine clothes, watches and jewelleries and even for the electronic items like camera. You only have to be at the right shop.
Beautiful! Very well compiled, a complete guidebook… if ever I will visit Hongkong, I know where I need to look up to! Thanks.
Thanks for visiting this post.
You have a lovely travel blog. Keep travelling.
Thanks..keep travelling.