The Ladies Market, The Symphony of Lights, Ocean Park, The Avenue of Stars, The Peak – these are all great and essential destinations for tourists visiting Hong Kong. But, something that these attractions all have in common is that they are, for the most part, places to merely observe and photograph.
What about destinations for more pro-active or adventurous visitors to Hong Kong? Below is a list of Hong Kong attractions for tourists interested in exploring Hong Kong's unique heart, and not merely its many tourist areas.
Chungking Mansions
This labyrinth of budget guesthouses, Indian restaurants, and cheap malls is the best place to witness the cultural melting pot of Hong Kong. Immigrants from all corners of the world, cheap and tasty international cuisine, and the dodgiest characters Hong Kong has to offer – get lost amongst it all, and buy fake Rolex watches and fitted suits to celebrate surviving.
Young Person Karaoke
Experiencing Hong Kong should mean experiencing Cantonese past times. The Red Box/Green Box chain of private karaoke rooms has a great selection of English songs, and the sound systems and service are the best in Hong Kong. Patrons typically pay for the night (rather than by the hour), and have their private rooms until 5:45AM.
Old Person Karaoke
It is possible to sometimes randomly walk through a park or public area and find older Hong Kong people singing karaoke and dancing. A more permanent outdoor karaoke establishment can be found next to the palm readers in Temple Street Market. This is a great alternative to the young and funky karaoke of private singing rooms, and can sometimes be even more entertaining.
Endless Hong Kong Malls
The last place tourists might want to end up on their adventures is at a mall, but Hong Kong malls are truly in a league of their own. As an example, the New Town Plaza in Shatin has everything from budget Chinese vegetarian restaurants, to high fashion boutiques, to enormous international supermarkets.
Tourists should not be surprised if they run into Lion Dance performances or C-Pop stars signing autographs as they try to navigate New Town Plaza's 9 floors on their search for facial whitening cream (another must-do Hong Kong experience).
Hong Kong's Star Ferry
Hong Kong's Star Ferry typically features on "Top Ten" Hong Kong destination lists, but there is no reason to only ride ferries between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Ferries can be taken to many outlying islands, and also to Macau. When riding the Star Ferry, an often overlooked option is to ride on the ferry's lower deck. This means being closer to the water, and it costs less too.
When taking ferries to farther away destinations, such as Lantau or Cheung Chau Islands, it is always more exciting to travel on a wet and stormy day or night.
Alleyways and Stairwells in Mong Kok
Mong Kok is, according to The Guinness World Records, the most densely populated area on earth (with roughly 130,000 people per square kilometer). People-watching and Mong Kok's street food are reason enough to visit this commercial area, but it is Mong Kok's well-hidden gems that make this area truly exciting. Every alleyway and stairwell promises a surprise, offering everything from secret, cheap restaurants to stores specializing in Nazi paraphernalia.
Hui Lau Shan
Possibly as popular as Starbucks in Hong Kong, this dessert restaurant is hard to miss in Hong Kong's commercial districts. With Hui Lau Shan's high quality and refreshing desserts and drinks, it is impossible to understand why it has not yet become a multinational restaurant. Most desserts are fruit-based, but there are also more adventurous options such as bird's nest and harsmar.
Get Lost Traveling Around Hong Kong
One of the greatest experiences Hong Kong has to offer is being lost between destinations. Thanks to Hong Kong's first rate transportation system of trains, buses, mini-buses, and cheap taxis, it is almost impossible to really get lost, but it can still be fun to try. Picking a random destination while on a train, or taking a bus without knowing where it is heading, can typically result in worthwhile adventures of some sort.
Food Other Than Dim Sum
Hong Kong is often said to be a place to shop, and that is true to an extent, but more than anything it is a place to eat. And while eating authentic dim sum should be on anyone's itinerary, Hong Kong's vast array of international and fusion cuisine is just as important to experience.
The cheapest food options should also be sampled, such as the many fruit-juice stalls in areas such as Jordon. More adventurous items, such as "stinky tofu", can be easily found by following one's nose in areas like Mong Kok.
Go Out in a Typhoon
Umbrellas are useless when the rain is falling horizontally or coming upwards from the ground. Planning trips in September means a higher chance of being caught in a typhoon. If the cyclone is ranked "T8" or above, a better option is to rent a hotel room with a good view and watch the show.
Hong Kong is much more than tourist areas, and experiencing Hong Kong demands more than passive observation; Hong Kong is a city that needs to be experienced with an adventurous attitude.
But most importantly, Hong Kong tourists should discover their own favorite places. Being able to find one's own Hong Kong is what makes Hong Kong such an exciting and worthwhile city to visit and explore. Learning some helpful travel tips will also help make Hong Kong an enjoyable and hassle-free experience.
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