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The complete Hong Kong Stopover Guide How to enjoy a stopover holiday in Asia's World City
Chapter 3…………………………… How to cover Hong Kong's "must sees" in one day
Introduction While the first chapter of this guide dealt with the basics of arriving at Hong Kong Airport, storing the luggage and choosing the right means of transport to get to town, this chapter will show you how to maximize a single day stopover in Hong Kong and manage to see some of the city's main attractions in just 12 hours or so… To begin with: Take the Airport Express Train to Hong Kong Station (the last station), or bus No A11 to Central Bus Terminus. (For more info, take a look at the first chapter: http://www.scribd.com/doc/26186201/Hong-Kong-Stopover-Guide-Chapter-1 )
Hong Kong Island Victoria Peak (or simply "The Peak") is one of Hong Kong's most popular tourist attractions and probably the best starting point. Having your breakfast or morning coffee while enjoying world-class views is unquestionably a great way to start your Hong Kong day-tour. Pacific Coffee, near the "upper terminus", is open daily from as early as 7:30 am, and is one of the best places to enjoy your "coffee with a view" at such an early hour of the day. The Peak Tram is the most popular (and scenic) way to get to The Peak... Riding the internationally-famous tram is not only one of Hong Kong's "must dos", but also provides the most direct route and offers good views over Victoria Harbour and the city's impressive skyscrapers. The tram operates daily, from 7 am to 12 midnight. It departs every 10 - 15 minutes and covers the full distance in approximately 7 minutes. A short walk from Hong Kong Station (exit C) will bring you to the Lower Terminus, on Garden Road, where you can buy the ticket and board the tram (you can also pay with your "Octopus Card") Unfortunately, clear days with good visibility become more and more scarce nowadays… Especially due to air pollution from the industrialized towns on the Chinese side of the border. Nevertheless, you should still make a point to go up to "The Peak" and hope that visibility will be good enough… For a fully detailed guide about The Peak and its attractions (including recommended nature-walks and details of the various attractions), visit the "Victoria Peak Guide": http://www.metropolasia.com/Victoria_Peak ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tsim sha Tsui
Down from "The Peak" walk back towards Hong Kong Station and through "the elevated walkway" to the pier from which the Star Ferry departs to Tsim sha Tsui. This historic ferry route is very popular with tourists and has long become one of Hong Kong's most prominent icons. Ferries ply daily on the route between Central and Tsim sha Tsui, from 6:30am to 11:30pm. At the time of writing, the fare for a single trip ranges from HK$ 1.70 for the lower deck to HK$ 2.20 for the upper deck, and Octopus cards are accepted. From the ferry building, turn right and walk along the waterfront to the Avenue of Stars: Hong Kong's answer to Hollywood's Walk of Fame, where floor plaques of Hong Kong film industry's who's who can be seen. This is also the best place to take photos of Hong Kong's spectacular skyline.
At the end of the "Avenue of stars" (passing New World Centre and InterContinental), you will see a footbridge with which you can cross Salisbury Road to the other side. It brings you to a rooftop garden (more like a "piazza") at the end of which you walk down and turn left to Mody Road, and immediately right to Chatham Road South. After walking along Chatham for a few minutes, you will reach the Hong Kong Museum of History, where eight tastefully set galleries tell "the story of Hong Kong"... From the geological changes that took place hundreds of millions of years ago, through prehistoric eras, notable historical events and until present day. The museum is fairly rich, with plenty of archaeological exhibits, old paraphernalia and costumes, as well as interactive exhibits, touch screens, interesting documentaries and so on... Try to allow at least 2 hours for the visit. If you wish to skip the museum and go directly to the markets, turn left to Salisbury Road (at the end of the "Avenue of stars") and use the pedestrian-subway to cross under the road and go to MTR – Tsim sha Tsui, from where you can travel to Yau ma Tei (Yung Shue Tau Square, Old Tin Hau Temple and Jade Market) or Mong Kok (Ladies' Market and other markets) – see details below. From Hong Kong Museum of History, cross Chatham Road South with the footbridge and proceed via Granville Road to Nathan Road, Kowloon's main thoroughfare. If you wish to opt to Yau ma Tei and visit the Jade Market and the Old Tin Hau Temple, turn right and climb up the street towards the corner of Jordan Road, but if you wish to travel directly to Mongkok, turn left and walk down Nathan Road to entry B-1 of Tsim sha Tsui MTR Station, from where it is only three stations away.
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Yau ma Tei, Jade Market, Temple Street Night Market and the old Tin Hau Temple Those of you who turned right to Nathan Road (from Granville Road) should walk up towards the junction of Jordan Road, passing by the historic buildings of St. Andrew's Church and The Former Kowloon British School (on 136 and 138 Nathan Road): Built in the early 1900s, those impressive structures are built of red bricks and feature fine Victorian and Gothic architectural styles. Turn left to Jordan Road and right to Canton Road, popularly known as Jade Street. Jade and its products are the main draw along this section of Canton Road, as well as in neighboring Jade Market, and there is certainly a lot to see (and to buy...). From Jade Street, you can turn right to Ning Po Street , where many traditional Chinese shops and businesses can be found. The Old Tin Hau Temple, just a couple of minutes walk from the Jade Market, was built in the 1880s and is one of Kowloon's oldest temples. Dedicated to Tin Hau (Matsu), Goddess of the sea, protector of seafarers and one of Hong Kong's most beloved deities, the temple is open daily, from early morning till around 5:30 pm and although it is not one of Hong Kong's most impressive temples, it's certainly worth a visit. Yung Shue Tau Square, just outside the Temple, is a good place to rest and enjoy the cool shade of the Banyan trees. The square comes alive in the late afternoon, when hawkers, Chinese chess players, Cantonese opera singers and fortune-tellers set up their small stalls...
Mido Café, on the other side of the temple (corner of Public Square Street and Temple Street) is where you can feel a bit of the "old Hong Kong" ambiance. This almost mythological café has changed very little (if at all) since it first opened its doors, almost sixty years ago… From the temple, you can either walk or take the MTR to Mong Kok area, where some of Hong Kong's best open-air markets can be found…
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MongKok and its bustling markets From Yung Shue Tau Square (where the old Tin Hau Temple is), turn right to Public Square Street and proceed to Nathan Road (a couple of minutes), where you turn left and walk for a minute or two, to entry C of Yau ma Tei MTR Station, from where you can catch the train to Mong Kok (Only one station away). Alternatively, you can keep walking along Nathan Road to Mong Kok: Cross Waterloo Road and continue till you reach the corner of Dundas Street (third street after Waterloo), where you have to turn right, cross Nathan Road and enter the second street on your left (Tung Choi Street, which is more commonly known as "The Ladies' Market") – All in all, it should not be more than a 15 minutes walk from the Old Tin Hau Temple. If you took the MTR: From Mong Kok MTR Station – Take exit D-3 and you are exactly a step away from the market. As its name suggests, Ladies' Market is mostly about women's clothing, accessories, cosmetics, and the likes, even though you can find here more than a few booths that sell men's and children's stuff, including toys, clothes, bags, jeans and watches, just to name a few... Ladies' Market operates daily, from 10:30 am to 10:30 pm. Sai Yeung Choi Street South (parallel to Ladies' Market – between the market and Nathan Road) is a hot spot for local shoppers. The section south of Argyle Street is packed with shops of consumer electronic products at street level and upstairs bookstores above, and there are also some good cosmetics shops that can be found around here. To get here: take exit D-3 of MTR-Mong Kok and you are there... Fa Yuen Street (also known as Sportswear Street), parallel to Ladies' Market, features quite a few retailers that specialize in sports equipment and clothing. It's a good place to look for sport shoes, including rare shoes or special editions from different places. Goldfish Market – occupies the northern section of Tung Choi Street (the same street of Ladies' Market). There are numerous shops here that sell a range of tropical freshwater or marine fish, as well as different types of aquarium equipment. Open daily from 10 am to 9 pm. Fa Yuen Street Market occupies the northern part of Fa Yuen Street. It is full of shops selling bargainpriced trendy fashion and casual wear for men, women and children and they usually open between 10:30 am and 10:30 pm daily (the market also stretches along Nullah Road, all the way to Prince Edward Road West). Flower Market Road, in the northern part of MongKok, is a street market packed with flower and plant shops. At the far end of the street, turn left and enter Yuen Po Street Bird Garden (or, simply, the Bird Garden), where dozens of bird shops are located and hundreds of colorful songbirds in exquisitely crafted cages can be seen... The market also makes a popular meeting point for elderly bird owners... Open daily from 7 am to 8 pm.
How to get here: From Ladies' Market, continue northward with Tung Choi Street (Goldfish Market) till you get to the corner of Prince Edward Road, cross it to the other side and turn right, then enter the second street on your left (Sai Yee Street) and the first street on your right is Flower Market Road. From here, you can walk back to the other end of Yuen Po Street, from where you can turn right to Prince Edward Road and walk along it, back to Nathan Road and Prince Edward MTR station (exit B-1 is right next to the corner of Nathan and Prince Edward).
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Recommended restaurants and eating places Hong Kong boasts endless eating places that cater for every taste and budget: From glamorous gourmet establishments, where the world's rich and famous have their luxurious dinner of fois gras and truffles, to traditional "Dai pai dong" stalls and humble "Cha Chaan Teng" cafés where delicious Cantonese fare can be enjoyed... Below is a short list of some recommended restaurants and local eateries in MongKok, No matter what your taste or budget is, there is always something there to suit you… Curry A La King on 88 Soy Street, a couple of minutes walk from Ladies' Market, is a paradise for curry lovers, serving a wide selection of scrumptious curries from different Asian cuisines. Satay King can be found on Ladies' Market itself (24 Tung Choi St.) and as its name suggests, Southeast Asian 'satays' are the main fare here… MongKok Fung Shing Restaurant, on 749 Nathan Road, Just before the corner of Prince Edward Road West, is another Hong Kong culinary institution, very much known for its superb dim-sum and delicious crispy chicken. Fu Kei Restaurant on the 5th floor of King Wah Centre (on the corner of Nathan Road and Shantung Street) is serving fabulous food from different Chinese cuisines. Good Hope Noodle (好旺角粥麵專家) on 146 Sai Yeung Choi Street South (near exit B-2 of MTR-Mong Kok) is a rather humble eatery which has been serving some of the best Wonton Noodles in Hong Kong for God knows how many years. Tanyoto Hotpot Restaurant on Grand Tower's 5th floor (639 Nathan Road – near the corner of Shantung Street) is serving a good selection of authentic, spicy Szechwan dishes, as well as some excellent hotpot dishes. Still within Grand Tower: M Garden, on the 6th floor, is one of Hong Kong's most popular vegetarian restaurants, serving a wide variety of vegetarian Chinese dishes. Last but not least, Little Sheep (4th floor, 16 Argyle Street) is one of Hong Kong's most favorite hotpot restaurants, serving Mongolian style hotpot. Tip: Visit the Hong Kong Restaurant and Nightlife Guide for a fully detailed guide of Hong Kong's most recommended restaurants and eating places: http://www.metropolasia.com/HongKong/Restaurants_Nightlife_Guide
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That's it... You can now catch the MTR to Central, from where you quickly walk to Hong Kong Station (there is a pedestrian passage) and continue with the Airport Express, back to Hong Kong International Airport.