Stay : Experience Hong Kong for the first time for a long weekend
a megalopolis of all possibilities, Hong Kong is often imagined as an urban ogre where pedestrians have little right to exist and where buildings made of concrete and polished glass swallow the sunlight. This is not the case. On the occasion of a stay - even a short one - in Hong Kong, you will realize that, far from these fantastic considerations, discovering the city is an enchantment
Summary of the stay
Best time to go
3 days
€€€ - Luxury
Detail of the stay : Experience Hong Kong for the first time for a long weekend - 3 days
Day 1: The heart of Hong Kong Island
Steps: Île De Hong-Kong
Start your stay by making yum cha, i.e. drinking tea with dim sum. Go to one of the oldest specialized tea houses in Hong Kong: Lin Heung Tea House, on Wellington Street. The atmosphere of the place is a perfect place to taste these subtle Cantonese bites
Once your stomach is full, take a cab to Garden Road - to the Peak Tram station. This symbol of Hong Kong climbs almost vertically to the top of Victoria Peak, the best viewpoint on the island to admire the bay and the surrounding islands. Walking paths start from here: allow an hour to walk around the peak on a pleasant shaded path. Then go back down in the opposite direction, either by funicular or by bus: the winding descent gives a good idea of the city's crazy real estate density.
Back on Central, go through the Lanes (Li Yuen Street), those sloping alleys between Des Voeux Road and Queen's Road and lined with stalls selling various accessories. Eat along Gage Street, another picturesque shopping street with typical restaurants like Lan Fong Yuen and Kau Kee. From there, Hollywood Road is a short walk to the art and antique galleries. Cat Street (Upper Lascar Row) has small shops selling souvenirs made in China: portraits of Mao, statuettes of gods, stamps, movie posters and other chinoiseries. Go into the Sheung Wan district to find traditional pharmacopoeia shops or original designer boutiques. From there, stroll to the Western Market, a beautiful period building with textile and souvenir shops, and take the streetcar to Admiralty and relax in the wood-paneled library of the Island Shangri-La Hotel at Pacific Place.
Finally, to end your day on a convivial note, head to Staunton Street to one of Soho's restaurants. There is plenty of choice, depending on your mood. Continue your discovery of the neighborhood by having a drink in one of its many lounge bars, for example on Elgin Street. As the evening progresses, move closer to Lan Kwai Fong to try your luck in a nightclub, unless you want to change neighborhood by going to Wan Chai and its very lively Lockhart Road.
WESTERN MARKET
Day 2: Discover Kowloon, the "Chinese" peninsula
Steps: Péninsule De Kowloon
Take the Star Ferry from Wan Chai or Central to Tsim Sha Tsui and the Kowloon Peninsula. For a comprehensive look at Hong Kong's history, start at the exciting Museum of History. If you're feeling studious, there are other museums nearby, including the Museum of Arts. Otherwise, wander down Nathan Road and take a look inside Chungking Mansions, the building made famous by Wong Kar-wai and a cosmopolitan hive of activity where everything can be bought and sold
For lunch, head to Mong Kok and its countless stores. There, have a quick bite to eat at one of the stalls where everyone is queuing up, or take the time to sit in a more traditional restaurant. Stroll through the Ladies' Market on Tung Choi Street and continue on Fa Yuen Street, the paradise of second-hand clothes. Across Nathan Road, Shanghai Street, one of the oldest shopping streets in the area, is worth a visit for its string of traditional stores and pawnshops. From there, the Jade Market is not far. At the end of the afternoon, back to TST and afternoon tea in the lobby of the mythical Peninsula Hotel.
Be sure to be on the Harbour Front promenade before 8pm. Stroll along theAvenue of Stars, meet Bruce Lee (or at least his statue...) and wait for the Symphony of Lights light show to start. The show lasts about 20 minutes, illuminating the bay with its perfectly orchestrated laser show. For dinner, a visit to the Temple Street Night Market in Yau Ma Tei is a must. In addition to souvenir stalls, this vast market also gathers a number of street restaurants, most of them with English menus, such as Mido Café. For a nice and chic end of the evening, have a drink in one of Kowloon's panoramic bars and enjoy the night view of Hong Kong once again.
Day 3: Getaway in Lantau
Steps: Île De Lantau
By taking the West Rail Line of MTR, departure to the Stop at the terminus of Tung Chung, where the Ngong Ping 360 cable car takes you to the Ngong Ping village and to the Visit this beautiful example of traditional architecture, turn on some incense sticks and climb the steps to the giant Buddha of Tian Tan. Take advantage of the view before heading down to the monastery.
Then, lunch at choice: vegetarian at the monastery's restaurant or seafood in the fishing village of Tai O. The visit of the village, which is joined by bus 21 from Ngong Ping, will take two hours if you let yourself be lost in this maze of makeshift dwellings. Some temples are scattered here or there, and one of the village's ancestral activities, the manufacture of shrimp paste, still persists in broad daylight. From Tai O, bus 1 takes you to Mui Wo (Silvermine Bay) through the long . A swimming stop is possible, otherwise, go to the pier of Mui Wo whence ferries leave for Hong Kong Island.
Ideas for holidays and week-end breaks Hong-Kong 香港
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