Investment Immigration to Hong Kong Focus on Life in Hong Kong: Hong Kong is a world-renowned international metropolis and the third-largest global financial center, second only to London and New York. Together with New York and London, it is known as "Nylonkong." It has earned reputations as the Pearl of the Orient, a shopping paradise, and a dynamic city. Famous local attractions such as Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Ocean Park attract millions of domestic and international tourists. 2015 is sure to be another popular year for tourism in Hong Kong. Today, let's take a look at the Top 10 tourist attractions in Hong Kong for 2015!
TOP 1 The Peak
The Peak, commonly known as Victoria Peak, towers over the western part of Hong Kong Island. At 554 meters above sea level, it is the highest peak on the island. To visit The Peak, you can take a car along the winding road to the summit. However, most tourists prefer the Peak Tram, as it is both a fast and highly scenic mode of transport to the top.
When night falls, standing on The Peak and looking out, the thousands of lights make Hong Kong Island and Kowloon look like two pearls embedded in Victoria Harbour, reflecting each other. The heart of the city, Central, is filled with skyscrapers, showcasing the prosperity of Hong Kong. As a result, The Peak has become the best place to view the beautiful night scenery of this "Pearl of the Orient," ranking alongside Hakodate in Japan and Naples in Italy as one of the world's three greatest night views. With its unique geographical environment and cultural landscape, The Peak attracts millions of tourists from home and abroad, making it a must-visit destination in Hong Kong.
It is recommended that travelers head to The Peak in the afternoon to visit the various exhibition halls, and by dusk, they can enjoy the night view of the city.
Address: 33 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong
Transport: Bus: Take the 15C shuttle bus from near Pier 8 of the Star Ferry in Central to the Peak Tram Lower Terminus on Garden Road.
Minibus: Take the No. 1 minibus from Central (International Finance Centre Phase II) to The Peak. Frequency: Every 10 to 12 minutes; Fare: HK$9.20.
TOP 2 Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland was developed through a partnership between The Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The development includes a Disney-style theme park, two hotels, and various shopping, dining, and entertainment facilities within the park. Hong Kong Disneyland includes: Main Street, U.S.A., Tomorrowland, Adventureland, and Fantasyland. Two hotels have been built in the park: the Victorian-style Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel and Disney's Hollywood Hotel, offering a total of 1,000 rooms for guests.
Visitors can share joy in this magical kingdom: find their favorite Disney characters in the park; experience the primitive jungle journeys of Asia and Africa in Adventureland; try the space fantasies filled with science fiction and reality in Tomorrowland; host a wedding with true Disney flair at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel; and feel the charm of the golden age of Hollywood in the 30s and 40s at Disney's Hollywood Hotel. Visitors can also enjoy cuisines from all over Asia within the park. In addition to Chinese and Western restaurants, the park offers other Asian specialties, including dim sum, roasted meats, and various authentic Chinese delicacies.
Address: Penny's Bay, Northeast Lantau Island, Tsuen Wan District, New Territories, Hong Kong
Transport: MTR: (1) It takes only 23 minutes from Hong Kong International Airport (take the Airport Express to Tsing Yi Station and transfer to the Tung Chung Line to Sunny Bay Station);
(2) It takes only 30 minutes from Kowloon Station;
(3) It takes only 33 minutes from Hong Kong Station; guests can also collect park tickets at Hong Kong Station;
Bus: (1) Bus routes R11, R22, R33, and R42 provide service during morning and evening peak hours.
(2) Passengers can take buses heading to the Airport/Tung Chung or AsiaWorld-Expo (i.e., "A" and "E" route buses) and transfer to route R8 at the Lantau Link Toll Plaza to reach Hong Kong Disneyland;
TOP 3 Ocean Park
Ocean Park is the largest marine-themed leisure center in Southeast Asia. Nestled between mountains and the sea and covering 215 acres, it combines marine wonders with amusement facilities. It is the best leisure destination for local residents and a must-visit for tourists from the mainland and abroad. It receives over 3.2 million visitors annually.
Visitors can use the cable car and indoor escalators to travel between the park's various attractions, and climb the Ocean Park Tower to enjoy the pleasant scenery of the South China Sea. The Ocean Theatre features talented performances by dolphins and sea lions that will leave visitors full of praise. In addition, you can watch seals and penguins, visit the Bird Paradise, Goldfish Pagoda, Shark Aquarium, and Butterfly House. Exciting and fun attractions include the Crazy Roller Coaster, Ferris Wheel, and Raging River. Children can play in the children's playground.
Address: Nam Long Shan, Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen, Hong Kong
Transport: Special Bus: Direct special buses are available from Admiralty MTR Station or Central Star Ferry Pier.
Payment Method: (1) Pay the fare by Octopus card or cash when boarding (no change provided).
(2) Purchase tickets at the Admiralty Citybus ticket office (Ocean Park special line) and drop the ticket into the fare box when boarding [Ocean Park tickets are also sold at the ticket office].
Bus: Causeway Bay 72, 72A, 92, 96, 592 (Citybus); Central 6A, 6X, 70, 75, 90, 97, 260 (Citybus) and 262 (New World First Bus); North Point 41A (Citybus); 38, 42 (New World First Bus); Shau Kei Wan 77, 99 (Citybus); Cheung Sha Wan 171 (Citybus/KMB); Diamond Hill 671 (Citybus/KMB); Kowloon Bay 107 (Citybus/KMB); Sha Tin 170 (Citybus/KMB)
TOP 4 Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center
Located on the Wan Chai waterfront, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center has a magnificent appearance and consists of two buildings. The old wing was completed in 1988, and the new wing was expanded in 1997. The design of the new wing focuses on a streamlined roof, resembling a giant bird spreading its wings, which has become a landmark of the Wan Chai waterfront. The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center is the preferred venue for large-scale international conferences and exhibitions.
Address: 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Transport: (1) Taking the ferry from Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier to Wan Chai is a very convenient route. After disembarking, it is only a two or three-minute walk to the Convention and Exhibition Center. Moreover, the ferry price is cheap (HK$2.2), and you can experience the pleasure of crossing Victoria Harbour.
(2) Bus routes 25a, 25c, 8, 8p.
(3) MTR Wan Chai Station Exit A1, walk along the covered footbridge towards Victoria Harbour for about ten minutes, and follow the road signs to arrive.
TOP 5 Repulse Bay
The coastline in the southern part of Hong Kong Island is winding and naturally possesses many beautiful beaches. Located in the south of the island, Repulse Bay is one of the most representative beaches in Hong Kong. Repulse Bay has clear water, fine sand, a long beach, a wide beach bed, and calm waves. Summer is the busiest time at Repulse Bay, with large numbers of swimmers flocking for sunbathing or swimming. The beach is crowded with people, and the various swimsuits form a colorful picture.
At the eastern end of Repulse Bay, under the shade of trees, lies the religious-themed Kwun Yam Shrine. Two huge statues, "Tin Hau" and "Kwun Yam," stand facing the sea, accompanied by statues of auspicious figures such as the Dragon King, the River God, and the Gods of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity, all of which are lifelike. Nearby is the seven-colored Cihang Pagoda, which is magnificent and attracts many tourists to take photos. There are some restaurants, fast-food shops, and supermarkets around the beach. The seaside cafes are great places to enjoy the sunset and the sound of waves hitting the shore. The beautiful scenery of Repulse Bay makes it one of the famous high-end residential areas on Hong Kong Island, filled with luxury residences. These buildings, nestled against the mountains and facing the sea, form a unique landscape in Repulse Bay that makes people linger.
Address: South of Victoria Peak, Southern District, Hong Kong
Transport: (1) Take the MTR Tung Chung Line or Airport Express to Hong Kong Station Exit D, walk to the Central Exchange Square Bus Terminus, take bus 6, 6A, 6X, 66, or 260, and get off at Repulse Bay.
(2) Buses 40, 40X, 52, 63, 65, 73, 260, 973 can reach the destination.
TOP 6 Avenue of Stars
The Avenue of Stars, themed around the history of Hong Kong's film industry and aimed at honoring the achievements of superstars and behind-the-scenes film workers, is located on the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade. The avenue is 440 meters long, extending from beside the Hong Kong Museum of Art to opposite the New World Centre. The Hong Kong Avenue of Stars was designed after the Hollywood Walk of Fame, cost HK$40 million to build, and was officially opened on April 28, 2004.
The ground of the Avenue of Stars is embedded with plaques of 73 film celebrities, more than 30 of which have celebrity handprints. At the entrance of the avenue, there is also a Hong Kong Film Awards bronze statue and a small stage for performances. Along the avenue, there are snack kiosks, souvenir kiosks, some film-related sculptures, and rest seats for visitors to enjoy. In addition, you can also find some "Star Ambassadors" wearing roller skates shuttling back and forth on the avenue, providing quick assistance and services to visitors. Strolling along the Avenue of Stars, tourists can leisurely enjoy the famous Victoria Harbour scenery, the characteristic buildings along the coast of Hong Kong Island, and the city's brand-new multimedia light and music show, "A Symphony of Lights."
Address: Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Hong Kong (adjacent to the Hong Kong Museum of Art)
Transport: MTR: From MTR East Tsim Sha Tsui Station Exit J, follow the road signs, and walk for about 3 minutes.
Ferry: Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui Pier
Kowloon Motor Bus: 13X, 203, 208, 215X, 219X, 230X, 26, 260X, 268B, 269B, 28, 35A, 41A, 5, 5A, 5C, 69B, 8, 81C, 87D, 8A (Circular), 8P (Circular), 98D, K16, N216 (Overnight service), N241 (Overnight service), N271 (Overnight service), N281 (Overnight service)
TOP 7 Wong Tai Sin Temple
Wong Tai Sin Temple, also known as Sik Sik Yuen, was built in 1921 and is one of the famous temples in Hong Kong. The temple design is rich in color, magnificent in architecture, and resplendent, full of traditional Chinese temple architectural features. According to the "Autobiography of Chishongzi" in the temple, Wong Tai Sin was originally named Huang Chuping and was born in Lanxi City, Jinhua County, Zhejiang Province, around 328 AD. At the age of 15, he began to learn Taoism under the guidance of an immortal and practiced in a stone chamber on Chishong Mountain. He practiced diligently for 40 years without eating human food and finally achieved the Tao. After achieving the Tao, he punished evil and promoted good among the people, and gave medicine to the sick. Because he lived in seclusion on Chishong Mountain, he is also called the Chishong Immortal.
Wong Tai Sin Temple covers an area of more than 18,000 ping. In addition to the main hall, the Great Hall, there are small gardens, the Three Saints Hall, the Good Wish Garden, and small stalls for believers to buy incense and peace charms. The Nine-Dragon Wall in the temple is modeled after the Nine-Dragon Wall in the Forbidden City in Beijing, and the poem inscribed by the President of the Buddhist Association of China on the wall adds to the traditional Chinese characteristics of Wong Tai Sin Temple. It is said that prayers at Wong Tai Sin Temple are "answered," and the fortune sticks are particularly accurate, but the results obtained only interpret the fortune of that year. Therefore, around the Lunar New Year, it is the time when the incense at Wong Tai Sin Temple is most prosperous, and believers come one after another to ask about their fortune for the whole year and to offer thanks.
Address: Basement, Xinguang Centre, 120 Lung Cheung Road, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Transport: MTR Wong Tai Sin Station Exit B2, follow the signs and walk for a few minutes to arrive.
TOP 8 Tsim Sha Tsui
Tsim Sha Tsui is located at the southern tip of the Kowloon Peninsula and is the most important commercial center, tourist area, and shopping paradise in the Kowloon district. In addition, the area has many cultural and educational centers, such as the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong Space Museum, Hong Kong Museum of History, and Hong Kong Science Museum, etc.
The most famous attractions in Tsim Sha Tsui include the former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower, the Avenue of Stars, and the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. Enjoying the night view of Victoria Harbour and the "A Symphony of Lights" multimedia light and music show along the waterfront near the Hong Kong Cultural Centre is an indispensable sightseeing project in Hong Kong. In addition, Tsim Sha Tsui is the area with the highest concentration of international brand stores and is a shopping district that tourists must visit. Tourists who like to buy beauty and cosmetics must not miss the cosmetic specialty stores located in Harbour City and Granville Road.
Tsim Sha Tsui Former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower
Standing in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Plaza, the Tsim Sha Tsui former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower is 44 meters high and built of red brick and granite, with clocks installed on all four sides.
The Tsim Sha Tsui Railway Station of the Kowloon-Canton Railway was built in 1913. Due to the First World War, some equipment and installations ordered from the UK could not be delivered to Hong Kong on time, and the internal construction of the Tsim Sha Tsui Railway Terminus was once forced to be shelved. It was not until March 28, 1916, that the Tsim Sha Tsui Railway Terminus was officially opened.
The Clock Tower of the Tsim Sha Tsui Railway Terminus was completed in 1915. Due to improper construction arrangements, the one-ton clock inside the tower was not installed until 1920 and began operation in March 1921. The Kowloon-Canton Railway Terminus was relocated to its current location in 1978, and the old Tsim Sha Tsui Railway Station was demolished, leaving only the Clock Tower. The Clock Tower was listed as a statutory monument in Hong Kong in 1990.
TOP 9 Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay (originally called East Point) is located west of the central north coast of Hong Kong Island and is the main commercial and entertainment hub in Hong Kong. There are many large Japanese department stores and large shopping malls in the area. Many people compare Causeway Bay to Shinjuku in Japan because it is a famous shopping, entertainment, and food center in Hong Kong, and also a hot spot for office ladies to go shopping. If you are interested in understanding the fashion preferences of Hong Kong office ladies, you should visit here (especially around SOGO Department Store or Times Square). There is also a typhoon shelter on the Causeway Bay waterfront, which has special "sampan restaurants."
Causeway Bay is the busiest area in Hong Kong with the highest concentration of mid-to-high-end shopping and dining. There are various types of Hong Kong-style shopping malls and Japanese department stores, and the streets and alleys are filled with shops of all sizes and various restaurants, which will definitely satisfy your shopping and dining desires!
The route for shopping in Causeway Bay can start from Windsor House on Great George Street in the east of Causeway Bay and end at Times Square in the west. Along the way, there are Hang Lung Centre, Fashion Walk, Island Beverley, WorldWay Centre, SOGO, Causeway Bay Plaza, Mitsukoshi, Jardine's Bazaar, and Lee Gardens, etc.
TOP 10 Big Buddha
Near the square in front of Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island, Hong Kong, there is a solemn and magnificent Buddha statue, the "Big Buddha." The Buddha is composed of 200 bronze castings, 26 meters high, and weighs 220 metric tons. It is the world's largest outdoor bronze seated Buddha. The face of the Big Buddha is modeled after the Vairocana Buddha of the Longmen Grottoes, and the texture of the clothes and the headdress are modeled after the Shakyamuni Buddha statue in Cave 36 of the Mogao Grottoes. The Big Buddha sits on a lotus flower, symbolizing purity rising from the mud. Inside the three-story base, which symbolizes the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, there is an exhibition hall displaying various Buddhist artworks such as murals, calligraphy and paintings, and the relics of Shakyamuni Buddha. The Big Buddha has now become a famous religious building in Hong Kong.
Transport: (1) Take a ferry from Central Pier No. 6 to Mui Wo Pier, and take the New Lantau Bus No. 2 from Mui Wo Pier to reach the destination. The fare is 17.2 yuan on weekdays and 27 yuan on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.
(2) Take the New Lantau Bus No. 23 from the bus terminus outside Exit B of Tung Chung MTR Station, which takes 35 minutes. The fare is 17.2 yuan on weekdays and 27 yuan on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.
(3) Walk for 2 minutes from the Tung Chung MTR Station to the Tung Chung Cable Car Station, take the Ngong Ping 360 cable car to the Ngong Ping Cable Car Station, and walk for 5 minutes to reach the Big Buddha.