This is our second time in Hong Kong and we plan to visit unique places aside from Disneyland and Ocean Park. We bought an Octopus Card and make our way to our hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui. There are three ways to get out of the airport. You can ride a taxi which can be expensive, you can ride the Airport Express MTR which is fast, comfortable and quite expensive, or you can ride a public bus and probably the cheapest of the two. You can buy the Octopus card online, 711 stores located inside the airport or via the MTR's Customer Service Center located near the airport lounge. Take a look at the infographics below for a quick overview of Hong Kong International Airport.
Free newspapers along Tsim Sha Tsui
Tuklasera Tripid Tips:• Book airline tickets in advance
• Disneyland and Ocean Park tickets are sold cheaper in hotels
• Star Ferry ride to Hong Kong Central is cheaper than MTR
• Cotaijet is the cheapest ferry going to Macau
On our way to Ngong Ping cable car terminal.We purchased the Journey of Enlightenment Package for HKD 187.00 that includes the round-trip Ngong Ping Cable Car journey (standard / crystal cabin), entry to Ngong Ping Village's, Walking with Buddha and Monkey's Tale Theater Attraction.
GETTING TO THE TUNG CHUNG NGONG PING 360 TERMINUS
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| Breathtaking ride to Ngong Ping. |
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| Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal |
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| Cable Car Station Relay |
Chep Lap Kok International Airport( Left)
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| The piazza links up the various tourist attractions in Ngong Ping, including Po Lin Monastery, the Giant Buddha, Ngong Ping 360 cable car, Ngong Ping Village and Wisdom Path. It facilitates visitors to explore Ngong Ping, which is a popular tourist spot characterized by its religious setting and beautiful natural scenery. |
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| December to February is the perfect time to visit Hong Kong |
Average Temperature: 17oC – 26 oC
• Summer (June to August)
Hot, humid and sunny, with occasional showers and thunderstorms. The temperature can exceed 31°C but high humidity levels can make it feel even hotter.
Average Temperature: 26oC – 31 oC
• Autumn (September to November)There are pleasant breezes, plenty of sunshine and comfortable temperatures. Many people regard these as the best months of the year to visit Hong Kong.
Average Temperature: 19oC – 28 oC
• Winter (December to February)Cool, dry and cloudy, with occasional cold fronts. The temperature can drop below 10°C in urban areas.
Average Temperature: 12oC – 20 oC
Giant Buddha
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| Giant Buddha up close. You have to climb 268 steps to reach it. |
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| Urban landscape of Lantau |
Ngong Ping Piazza
A Christmas tree made of Ferrero Rocher Chocolates along Tsim Sha Tsui. You can get one but you have to pay for it.
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| Symphony of lights at Victoria Harbour. The light and sound show starts 8:00 pm everyday and lasts for about 14 minutes. |
Standing 44-metres tall, the old Clock Tower was erected in 1915 as part of the Kowloon–Canton Railway terminus. The once-bustling station is long gone, but this red brick and granite tower, now preserved as a Declared Monument, survives as an elegant reminder of the Age of Steam. It has also been a memorable landmark for the millions of Chinese immigrants who passed through the terminus to begin new lives not just in Hong Kong, but in other parts of the world via the city’s harbour.
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| Old Clock tower |
Getting to the Old Clock Tower
• Star Ferry from Central or Wan Chai and follow the signs. The Clock Tower is located next to the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry pier.
Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade
Stanley Market
This is the famous Stanley Market of Hong Kong. The merchandises here are cheap and lots of items to choose from. If you're looking for one of the best shopping experiences in Hong Kong, you must not miss Stanley Market.
Getting to the Stanley Market
• The ride is a very winding road though so those who get car sick in the back of cars need to beware if you find buses better then bus 6, 6A, 6X or 260 from Exchange Square bus terminus in Central will take you there. They are air-conditioned and comfortable as buses go.
• An alternative way would be to take the MTR to Chai Wan station, leave the station via Exit C and catch green minibus 16Mwhich will also take you to the Stanley market.
Green mini buses are not as comfortable as a regular bus or a taxi.
Nan Lian is a Chinese Classic Landscape Garden built in the Tang Dynasty style.A must place to visit when visiting Hong Kong. Located at Diamond Hill, Kowloon. The
Chi Lin Vegetarian Restaurant is Located at Long Men Lou in the
northeast corner of the garden. The restaurant sits behind a waterfall
and has a panoramic window which allow diners to look through the
cascading water into the gardens. The restaurant is managed by Chi Lin
Nunnery and serves high quality vegetarian food with a variety of
gourmet meals, notably the “Chi Lin Vegetarian Dinner” and set meals for
two and four people etc. Various Chinese dishes are available including
starters and stewed broths, main dishes and hotpots as well as congees,
rice vermicelli, noodles and rice plus a variety of beverages. The
restaurant serves lunch, dinner and also Afternoon Tea Sets. There is no
service charge.
Note: Camera tripod is not allowed inside.
Note: Camera tripod is not allowed inside.
Nanlian Garden and Chi Lin Nunnery
Shutter Speed 1/5 | Iso 100 | Aperture f3.5
Getting to Nan Lian Garden
• MTR Kwun Tong Line to Diamond Hill. Entrance to garden is about 5 minutes walk from exit C2 (Plaza Hollywood) at 60 Fung Tak Road (under flyover). There are tourist direction signs from the station exit.
• Bus routes 11,74X,75X,82X,82P,84M,85C,85M,91,91M,92,286M to Diamond Hill Public Transport Interchange (under Diamond Hill MTR Station). Bus routes 3B,10,11C,74X,91,92 stop near garden entrance on Fung Tak Road.
The garden can also be accessed directly from adjacent Chi Lin Nunnery by pedestrian footbridge over Fung Tak Road.
Sai Kung ( New Territories)
Sai Kung is known as ‘Hong Kong’s back garden’ because of the beautiful hiking trails and beaches in this area. The village of Sai Kung is also noted locally for its seafood restaurants, many of which congregate on the seafront, known as ‘Seafood Street’.
These laid-back eateries are a great way to recover from a day walking the hills, though the freshness of the seafood and the charm of Sai Kung village are enough to justify coming here to eat without hiking the hills.
Getting to Sai Kung
• MTR Hang Hau Station, then take the minibus route 101.
It is where you can see Kowloon from a hill across the Victoria harbor with buildings on Hong Kong Island in the foreground. The view is breathtaking, especially at the right spot and in good weather at night.
The earliest form of public transport in Hong Kong. On our way to Peak Tram Terminus.
Getting to Victoria Peak
Where to get cheap and discounted tickets
• Hotelinhongkong.net
• Golden Crown Guesthouse
• Ticketmart.hk
• CTS ( China Travel Services)
• Cosmicguesthouse
• H.K. Taisan Guest House
Travelmart,Taisan, Cosmicguesthouse and hotelinhongkong.net had the same ticket rates while CTS and Goldencrown ticket rates are much cheaper. Trust me you can save a few hundred pesos or dollars when buying attraction tickets from above.
Hong Kong is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city where East meets West, the lights are bright, the weather is always warm, and there’s a palpable sense of possibility in the air. It’s a place where people of all races, nationalities and religions live and work together. We definitely be back this coming December of 2013.
• Jade Market – The Jade Market, near the Gascoigne Rd overpass just west of Nathan Rd, has some 400 stalls selling all varieties and grades of jade from inside two covered markets. Unless you really know your nephrite from your jadeite, it’s probably not wise to buy any expensive pieces here, but there are plenty of cheap and cheerful trinkets on offer as well.
• Ngong Ping 360 – Bringing the masses in ever greater numbers to Po Lin is the 5.7km Ngong Ping 360, a cable car linking Ngong Ping with the centre of Tung Chung (downhill and to the north).The ride is well worth taking, offering spectacular views over the airport as it transports you from the high-rise apartments of Tung Chung to the more rural landscapes of Lantau.• Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade – One of the finest city skylines in the world has to be that of Hong Kong Island, and the promenade here is one of the best ways to get an uninterrupted view. It’s a lovely place to stroll around during the day, but it really comes into its own in the evening, during the nightly Symphony of Lights, a spectacular sound-and-light show involving 44 buildings on the Hong Kong Island skyline, which runs from 8pm to 8.20pm.
• Tai O –A century ago this mostly Tanka village on the west coast of Lantau was an important trading and fishing port, exporting salt and fish to China. Today Tai O is in decline, except perhaps as a tourist destination offering an intriguing glimpse of the life of a traditional fishing village.• Avenue of the Stars – One of the finest city skylines in the world has to be that of Hong Kong Island, and the promenade here is one of the best ways to get an uninterrupted view. It’s a lovely place to stroll around during the day, but it really comes into its own in the evening, during the nightly Symphony of the Stars, a spectacular sound-and-light show involving 20 buildings on the Hong Kong Island skyline, which runs from 8pm to 8.20pm. Along the first part of the promenade is the Avenue of the Stars, which pays homage to the Hong Kong film industry and its stars, with handprints, sculptures and information boards, a brave but ultimately lacklustre effort to celebrate Hong Kong’s film…
• Peak Tower – The anvil-shaped Peak Tower makes a good grandstand for many of the best views of the city and harbour. On Level P1 there’s an outpost of Madame Tussauds, with eerie (and often creepy) wax likenesses of international stars, as well as local celebrities such as Jackie Chan and Michelle Yeoh. There is an open-air viewing terrace (adult/child $30/15) on Level 5.
Tuklasera Tips
• Book your hotels online for discounts
• Book airline tickets in advance
• Disneyland and Ocean Park tickets are sold cheaper in hotels
• Star Ferry ride to Hong Kong Central is cheaper than MTR
• Cotaijet is the cheapest ferry going to Macau
Rundown of Expenses• Travel tax - Php 1,620 / person• Airport terminal fee - Php 800 / person• Food - Php 800.00 /pax/ day• Hotel - Php 1500 / day
• Ngong Ping (Enlightenment Package) - Php 1,043.00 /pax (includes cable car ride roundtrip and entrance to attractions)
• Octopus card - Php 800.00 / pax
• Bus to Stanley market - Php 200.00 / pax
• Bus to Sai Kung - Php 170.00 /pax
These laid-back eateries are a great way to recover from a day walking the hills, though the freshness of the seafood and the charm of Sai Kung village are enough to justify coming here to eat without hiking the hills.
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| We have to travel by bus to reach the floating market of Sai Kung |
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| The seafoods here is quite expensive |
• MTR Hang Hau Station, then take the minibus route 101.
Victoria Peak
Generally known by the locals as the Peak, Victoria Peak is another postcard scenery.It is where you can see Kowloon from a hill across the Victoria harbor with buildings on Hong Kong Island in the foreground. The view is breathtaking, especially at the right spot and in good weather at night.
 |
| Another a must place to visit when you visit Hong kong. |
Where to get cheap and discounted tickets
• Hotelinhongkong.net
• Golden Crown Guesthouse
• Ticketmart.hk
• CTS ( China Travel Services)
• Cosmicguesthouse
• H.K. Taisan Guest House
Travelmart,Taisan, Cosmicguesthouse and hotelinhongkong.net had the same ticket rates while CTS and Goldencrown ticket rates are much cheaper. Trust me you can save a few hundred pesos or dollars when buying attraction tickets from above.
Hong Kong is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city where East meets West, the lights are bright, the weather is always warm, and there’s a palpable sense of possibility in the air. It’s a place where people of all races, nationalities and religions live and work together. We definitely be back this coming December of 2013.
• Jade Market – The Jade Market, near the Gascoigne Rd overpass just west of Nathan Rd, has some 400 stalls selling all varieties and grades of jade from inside two covered markets. Unless you really know your nephrite from your jadeite, it’s probably not wise to buy any expensive pieces here, but there are plenty of cheap and cheerful trinkets on offer as well.
• Ngong Ping 360 – Bringing the masses in ever greater numbers to Po Lin is the 5.7km Ngong Ping 360, a cable car linking Ngong Ping with the centre of Tung Chung (downhill and to the north).The ride is well worth taking, offering spectacular views over the airport as it transports you from the high-rise apartments of Tung Chung to the more rural landscapes of Lantau.• Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade – One of the finest city skylines in the world has to be that of Hong Kong Island, and the promenade here is one of the best ways to get an uninterrupted view. It’s a lovely place to stroll around during the day, but it really comes into its own in the evening, during the nightly Symphony of Lights, a spectacular sound-and-light show involving 44 buildings on the Hong Kong Island skyline, which runs from 8pm to 8.20pm.
• Tai O –A century ago this mostly Tanka village on the west coast of Lantau was an important trading and fishing port, exporting salt and fish to China. Today Tai O is in decline, except perhaps as a tourist destination offering an intriguing glimpse of the life of a traditional fishing village.• Avenue of the Stars – One of the finest city skylines in the world has to be that of Hong Kong Island, and the promenade here is one of the best ways to get an uninterrupted view. It’s a lovely place to stroll around during the day, but it really comes into its own in the evening, during the nightly Symphony of the Stars, a spectacular sound-and-light show involving 20 buildings on the Hong Kong Island skyline, which runs from 8pm to 8.20pm. Along the first part of the promenade is the Avenue of the Stars, which pays homage to the Hong Kong film industry and its stars, with handprints, sculptures and information boards, a brave but ultimately lacklustre effort to celebrate Hong Kong’s film…
• Peak Tower – The anvil-shaped Peak Tower makes a good grandstand for many of the best views of the city and harbour. On Level P1 there’s an outpost of Madame Tussauds, with eerie (and often creepy) wax likenesses of international stars, as well as local celebrities such as Jackie Chan and Michelle Yeoh. There is an open-air viewing terrace (adult/child $30/15) on Level 5.
Tuklasera Tips
• Book your hotels online for discounts
• Book airline tickets in advance
• Disneyland and Ocean Park tickets are sold cheaper in hotels
• Star Ferry ride to Hong Kong Central is cheaper than MTR
• Cotaijet is the cheapest ferry going to Macau
Rundown of Expenses• Travel tax - Php 1,620 / person• Airport terminal fee - Php 800 / person• Food - Php 800.00 /pax/ day• Hotel - Php 1500 / day
• Ngong Ping (Enlightenment Package) - Php 1,043.00 /pax (includes cable car ride roundtrip and entrance to attractions)
• Octopus card - Php 800.00 / pax
• Bus to Stanley market - Php 200.00 / pax
• Bus to Sai Kung - Php 170.00 /pax
wow! wonderful place.
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beautiful place keep traveling po and enjoy. You inspire people to love travel.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteThank you guys! :-)
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ReplyDeletehi po... im a 27 yr old filipina traveler who will visit Hongkong in Sept 17-24 this year.
ReplyDeletethis is my first time to go there and i'm also a budget conscious fellow. im looking for the cheapest accommodation that I can find since it will be my solo trip. any advise pls? thank you :)
hi po... im a 27 yr old filipina traveler who will visit Hongkong in Sept 17-24 this year.
ReplyDeletethis is my first time to go there and i'm also a budget conscious fellow. im looking for the cheapest accommodation that I can find since it will be my solo trip. any advise pls? thank you :)
The cheapest accommodation you can find in Hong Kong is at Mirador Mansion in Tsim Sha Tsui http://www.cosmicguesthouse.com/. But if you can spend a few hundred pesos I recommend Golden Crown Guesthouse or Taisan Guesthouse :-)
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