Things to see and do Hong-Kong 香港

Completed in 1990 and rewarded with numerous international awards, this 70-storey structure and 367 m high is the work of Sino-American Ieoh Ming Pei (the author of the Louvre Pyramid). It evokes a pousse of bamboo climbing towards light. Climb on the 43rd floor to admire the view of Central and Kowloon.

This Taoist temple, one of the oldest in the island, is dedicated to two deities: Man, God of literature, and Mo, God of war better known as Guanyu. The latter is also the protector of restaurants, loan shops, the police… and Triades. Both gods were venerated by students and officials before their exams during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Let yourself be impregnated by the thick smoke flowing from the incense waves, some of which are so large that they burn for four weeks. We love the atmosphere that comes out of the place. Note, however, that there are several Man Mo temples in Hong Kong and that this one is the most famous (and most popular) of them.

Located inside Hong Kong Park, this charming museum is housed in the oldest colonial house in the territory, the Flagstaff House, built in 1846. She remained the residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the British forces until 1978. The permanent exhibition with tea theme shows an extraordinary collection of more than 600 teapots and objects dedicated to the tea ceremony. They date back to the West Pentecostal dynasty (1050-771 BC). We discover the different methods of preparing tea through ages. In the museum's small shop, tiny teapots, copies of old teapots and beautiful creations of contemporary artists are on sale, as well as art books on tea.

Built in 1266, it is the oldest temple in Hong Kong territory. On the right, a trail leads to a rock, placed under glass to protect it, with an inscription of 108 Chinese characters engraved in 1274 to mark the visit of an official.

Opened in 1864 near the Hong Kong Park, on the other side of Garden Road, it brings together, among other things, a wrought iron bandstand, an astonishing greenhouse, aviaries (ibis, flamingos pink…), and cages enclosing different species of monkeys, including large orang-utans. The Zoo section was added in 1975. A green corner in the urban jungle, it is one of the favourite places of taï-chi enthusiasts. They come here early in the morning to exercise the movements of shadow boxing.

We join this country Park 44 km ² by a beautiful road that follows the coastline. Be careful about twenty minutes to arrive at Pak Tam Chung at the Visitors' Center, at the entrance to the park entrance. Only minibuses, some taxis and park residents are allowed to cross it. We go to the Country Park of Sai Kung, because it is also the departure of the famous maclehose trail, 100 km long. Follow the paved road practically to the end, then take the trail after the dam. At each start of the trail, a map indicates the gradient, the level of difficulty and the layout. In the village of Hoi Ha at the beginning of the national park, you can rent a seamless boat on the seafront to see a very clear sea floor that is much clearer than the Hong Kong side. At the end of this road, the Long Harbor Pier has a local ferries service linking this fjord to the waters of a very pure blue to Tap Mun, a small island inhabited by a few fishermen where traffic is prohibited. The ferries that serve the port of Tolo also go to Long Harbor and Tap Mun. They allow access to the High Island Dam Lake with various sections of the Mac Lehose hiking trail. The beautiful bays with fine sand seem to invite you to swim. However, we have to observe some caution, and tides are extremely strong.

To the north-west, near the Chinese border, is an ideal observation point for amateur ornithologists. They will be able to study some 300 species of birds that call each year in these marshes, placed under high protection. The 300 ha of May Po Marshes consist of shallow ponds and dwarf mangrove. In addition to birds, some reptiles were elected on the reserve: the common snake, the Bennett's water snake and Chinese cobra, 1,50 m long, usually nocturnal animals, but it is not impossible to see them during the day. The venom of Chinese cobra is fatal to man.

To access the reserve, contact WWF (Tel (852)) 25264473) to obtain a permit. WWF organises visits on Saturday afternoon and has an office (May Po Marshes can be reached by bus or taxi departing from Sheung Shui on the KCR line).

A visit that is worth a visit. Set in a traditional village, the 500-year-old temple was founded by the Tang family. Nowadays, every member of the village still bears the same name. It is one of the most important clans in the New Territories. There are tablets dedicated to every ancestor, including that of Wong Kuwu, a princess of the Song Dynasty fleeing Mongolian troops in the th century. One of Tang's ancestors passed the mandarinal exam and was designated as an official at the Imperial Court. The site still hosts meetings (one pays tribute to the ancestors) according to Confucian morality. Once only men were accepted on the premises.

The village of Lei Yue Mun is a former lair of pirates and smugglers, partly built on piles. Situated on the seafront, this village has become a must for fish and seafood lovers. Here you can stroll between the stalls of the market, choose fish and seafood and bring them to a restaurant for cooking at its convenience. Lei Yue Mun has been able to preserve the atmosphere a little villains of the small fisherman villages of Hong Kong's past.

A long 3 km long, these two white sandy beaches are among the Most Beautiful in Hong Kong. Although isolated, they are supervised by maîtres from April to October and equipped with toilets and cabins. To recover, there are several options nearby or the nearby Tong Fuk village.

A minute walk on the hills summit leads you to the entrance to the Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club, the course of which extends throughout the peninsula. The club also features a swimming pool (open from April to November) as well as tennis, badminton and squash courts.

The largest of Clearwater Bay. It is supervised by nageurs, and equipped with cabins to change, a few restaurants of restaurants to feed and water games for children. Rames boats can be rented there, and the waters of the protected bay are generally very calm. The site is charming, even the days of great attendance in summer.

As most hikers do, go straight and go down to the beach. The views are wonderful and surprising. It takes 40 minutes before arriving at the small hamlet of Ham Tim, on a beach that precedes that of Tai Long Wan. There, two restaurants allow you to enjoy a well-deserved drink and to eat a Cantonese rice or fried noodles. You can also rent tents for the night. If you decide to camp, take care to place yourself in a sheltered place of the wind, because it is frequent that the nights are winding.

But you have not yet arrived! To reach the beach of Tai Long Wan, we still have to take a last small hill: Once the last restaurant is exceeded, turn left and climb the hill in the middle of the trees, following the trail. You will reach a small green lawn, surrounded by fat plants and large herbs overlooking the beach. You are there! If you are lucky and the wind has not recovered from garbage, the water is transparent and turquoise and the beach hemmed of white sand. As the beach is not monitored, take care of the currents that cause deaths every year.

If you are brave (and equipped for), take the Sharp Peak direction to the Nam She Au Pass and start the ascent. Once at the top, the view is exceptional. However, the rise is difficult: Do not run on Sharp Peak, if you are not experienced and equipped with good shoes, because the trail is sometimes steep, rocky and narrow. From there, you can either descend on the other side to reach the beaches by the west, or go back to your steps to reach the beach of Tai Long Wan through the village of Ham Tim. Take 4 hours at all, 2 hours a day.

It includes trees with plaques indicating the names of species and few rare plants. At May Po Marsh (a bird sanctuary in the northwest near the Chinese border), cormorants can easily be seen during winter, but it is much more difficult to see the leopard cat. It's May Po that you find the most beautiful mangroves of the entire south coast of China with large mud beaches where crabs abound.

There are three main hiking trails in the territory. The Mac Lehose Trail is certainly the most famous. It crosses the New Territories separately over 100 km. The Mac Lehose has become a real event in Hong Kong. Each year, in October, teams of four participants, who have been involved for months, compete in this race, the most famous Hong Kong. It is also a symbol of solidarity: the team must arrive complete under disqualification. For the normal hiker, you must take at least one week to browse it in its entirety. The various sectors are most often accessible by public transport. Get the trail maps, for sale at the government publications centre. Some are distributed free of charge in LTD tourism offices. The Hong Kong Trail Island Trail and the Lantau Trail trail are also very popular.

The peak of this natural park, 6,15 km ², is the High Junk Peak (344 m). For hikers, the park can be reached by following a hiking trail beginning at Tseung Kwan O on Clearwater Bay Road. It includes the two beaches of Clearwater Bay, Temple Tin Hau, and a golf club: the Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club, the course of which extends over the entire promontory of the peninsula. The club also features a swimming pool (open from April to November) as well as tennis, badminton and squash courts.

The most popular beach in Lamma. Green tea tasting in Herboland, a small organic tea farm on the side of Hung Shing Ye'beach, or stop at the beautiful Lo So Shing beach: You will enjoy the shade of trees covering sand, small restaurants and showers after bathing.

Opened since 2006, this 60-hectare park comprises plants, fish and animals living in water plants. You can discover all sorts of interesting things about the spawning of fish and birds, explore the garden with butterflies or mangrove fields and lilies, walking on paths that are set above the water where you can steal intriguing dragonflies. Different exhibitions outline the significance of this ecosystem, the diversity and conservation of species. It is advisable not to wear colour to avoid scaring the species.

This reserve, to the north-west, near the Chinese border, is an ideal observation position for amateur ornithologists. They will be able to study some 300 species of birds that call each year in these marshes, placed under high protection. The 300 hectares of May Po Marshes consist of shallow ponds and dwarf mangrove. In addition to birds, some reptiles were elected on the reserve: the common snake snake, the Bennett's water snake and the Chinese cobra, 1,50 m long, are usually nocturnal animals, but it is perfectly possible to see them during the day. Beware, the venom of the Chinese cobra is fatal to man.

A new attraction in Hong Kong, the Crystal Bus is the first imperial bus that combines tourism and culinary experience. The Crystal bus offers to discover the city along a route that includes about twenty famous places while having lunch or dinner. On the menu, the discovery of Dim Sum, a national dish that can be enjoyed in many Hong Kong shops, is a small portion cooked by steaming. This company offers not only classic city tours but also à la carte tours where the bus can be privatized. Reservations can be made on the website.