10 things to do in Hong Kong
We know most Thais have heard of Hong Kong – the land of snaking cobblestone alleyways and rows of dim sum or char siew rice hawker stalls.
But you may be wondering what’s still open post-pandemic and whether a trip there will be worth it. From hunting for hidden murals around Peng Chau to catching the tram up to The Peak, Hong Kong’s vibrant streets are still full of surprises for travellers.
So, if you’re looking for things to add to your itinerary, check out these 10 things to do in Hong Kong, while planning your year-end getaways.
1. “Board” a cruise liner-shaped mall in Whampoa
If regular malls sound too typical, head over to the Whampoa district to get a full-fledged boat-touring experience, sans the motion sickness. Measuring a hefty 360 feet in length, the retired cruise liner mall is a cheeky reference to how Whampoa has historically been one of the busiest shipyards in Asia.
Besides mid-range apparel shops, there’s no shortage of entertainment options including a theatre, bowling alley and arcade for the kiddos. Shout-out to the Japanese grocery chain AEON as well, for those who wanna grab some rarer flavours of Kit Kat.
Do note that we’d recommend coming here in the evenings, as Whampoa is famous for amazing views of Victoria Harbour. If you’re headed here from the Causeway Bay area, you can take a short ferry ride to Hung Hom Ferry Pier.
How to get there: Get off at Whampoa Station and walk for 4 minutes to reach The Whampoa.
The Whampoa Hong Kong
Address: 6 Shung King St, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: 8AM-11PM, Daily
Telephone: +852 2121 8344
The Whampoa’s Website | Google Maps
2. Chill at Central Market with over 200 stalls & live music
From a dated building to a revitalised shopping hotspot with vibrant community spaces for events, Central Market is considered one of the OG shopping spots to explore. Home to over 200 market stalls – including indie hawkers and bespoke beverages – we’d make a beeline here to get our stocking milk tea fix ASAP. If you’re a fan of street food, especially Hong Kong-style curry fishballs, you won’t be disappointed by a visit here.
Already got your food, and wondering what’s next? The highlight of Central Market – unlike other shopping centres – is community areas where guests can either watch a show or even perform in one themselves to make their talents known. Simply grab a seat on the parquet floor at the event space to be a part of this.
How to get there: Get off at Central Station (Blue Line) or Pottinger Street Station (Green Line).
The Central Market
Address: 93 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: 10AM-10PM, Daily
Telephone: +852 3618 8668
The Central Market’s Website | Google Maps
3. Take a boat ride to Peng Chau to hunt for artistic murals
Many people might mistakenly believe that Hong Kong is only filled with high-rise buildings, but we know that’s not true. So if you’re getting a lil’ bored of the concrete jungle in Tsim Sha Tsui, consider taking a ferry to Peng Chau, a small island along the north-eastern coast of Lantau Island. The island used to be pretty typical, but it’s been refreshed with street art, hipster cafes, and quaint artisan shops.
If you ask us, we’d reckon you should make a stop by this mini alley at Leather Factory for a spot of graffiti-hunting. We heard the alley is a popular photo spot for enthusiastic globetrotters, so don’t forget to cross this locale off your checklist to prevent FOMO.
Once you’re done exploring, grab a drink at minimalist cafe The Edible Projects before heading back downtown. The smol coffee shop is easily identifiable by its white-and-canary yellow colour scheme, and we adore its chic-minimalist, almost-Parisian vibes.
How to get there: Take a short ferry ride from Central Pier to Peng Chau Pier. Check out their website for more detailed info on planning your trip.
Peng Chau Island
Address: Peng Chau Island, Hong Kong
HKKF’s Website | Google Maps
4. Learn about history & culture at Hong Kong Palace Museum
Whilst many enjoy shopping at massive malls or strolling in parks, some travellers – us included – are curious to learn about the culture of the places we’re visiting. As for the Hong Kong Palace Museum, it’s home to an extensive collection of historical artefacts to say the least.
Although the museum boasts a modern, minimalist exterior, the indoor halls house traditional items dating back to ancient Chinese dynasties and treasures from the Forbidden City, which appear in various forms ranging from paintings to textiles, jewellery, and pottery.
The admission fee is HK$50 (~฿236) for adults and HK$120 (~฿566) for a special exhibition ticket. For those who love learning about history and culture, we bet this place will be worth your time.
How to get there: Get off at Austin Station and take Bus 296D to the museum.
Hong Kong Palace Museum
Address: 8 Museum Drive West Kowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: 10AM-6PM, Mon, Wed, Thurs, and Sun | 10AM-8PM Fri, Sat, and Public Holidays | Closed on Tuesdays
Telephone: +852 2200 0217
Hong Kong Palace Museum’s Website | Google Maps
5. Tour art galleries at K11 Musea & enjoy retail therapy
Let’s continue our list with an unmissable spot for shopaholics. If you’re the kind of person who goes straight to a mall on payday, you shouldn’t miss K11 Musea.
Opened in late-2019, K11 Musea, located at Victoria Dockside, has become a much-loved shopping spot for shoppers. The mall offers such a wide range of luxury-branded retailers that a one-day trip might not suffice to fully explore every floor.
Besides global brands you’ll be familiar with, there are art exhibits scattered around the mall, from paintings to installations to murals, that will make for a unique shopping experience.
TL;DR If you’re a fan of the SIAM family of malls in Thailand – which blends retail therapy with art galleries – this one’s for you.
How to get there: Get off at East Tsim Sha Tsui Station (Brown Line) / Tsim Sha Tsui Station (Red Line).
K11 Musea
Address: 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: 10AM-10PM, Daily
Telephone: +852 3892 3890
K11 Musea’s Website | Google Maps
6. Pay your respects to Tian Tan Buddha at Lantau Island
For the pious, Hong Kong offers many auspicious attractions that many embark on pilgrimages to yearly. Of these landmarks, a visit to Tian Tan Buddha – located at the top of Ngong Ping in Lantau Island – is definitely not for the faint of heart. That’s because you’ll have to hike up a 268-step stone staircase to reach the top.
That being said, we encourage you to werk those calves and get up to the viewpoint for a chance to pay your respects to Buddha up close, and to appreciate stunning 360° views of the well-forested Lantau Island.
Don’t forget to pack your trusty DSLR camera and we’d recommend avoiding a visit on a day with bad weather. On rainy or foggy days, you may not be able to see the statue clearly, so do check the weather forecast in advance.
How to get there: Take the MTR to Tung Chung Town, followed by Bus 23 or a Cable Car to Ngong Ping Village. Alternatively, take a ferry from Central, followed by Bus 2 from Mui Wo Ferry Pier.
Tian Tan Buddha
Address: Ngong Ping Rd, Lantau Island, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: 10AM-5.30PM, Daily
Telephone: +852 2985 5248
Google Maps
7. Celebrate Disney’s 100th anniversary at Hong Kong Disneyland
2022 is a significant year for Disney as it marks its 100th anniversary, having released a slew of trailers for live action remakes of Pinnochio, The Little Mermaid, and even a surprise sequel for Enchanted.
For Thais who adore theme parks with a touch of nostalgia, there’s no better way to pay a timely tribute to the characters we love than to visit Southeast Asia’s only Disneyland over at Lantau Island in Hong Kong.
Besides getting your hands on exclusive Disney 100 merch, watch live musical shows and shoot virtual baddies on the thrilling Marvel attractions – Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle we see you – at Tomorrowland.
The theme park also revamped the Sleeping Beauty Castle and renamed it Castle of Magical Dreams. Inspired by the Disney Princesses and Queens, be prepared to be awed by the design elements that are dedicated to each of these heroines.
Come sundown, the castle becomes the canvas for a breathtaking light show titled “Momentous” where familiar Disney and Pixar characters from films such as Dumbo and Tangled make appearances in a heart-tugging story of love and courage.
P.S. Frozen fans should hang tight for 2023 when they’ll launch the world’s first World of Frozen theme park, with Elsa’s Ice Palace and a Frozen-themed coaster named Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs.
How to get there: Take the MTR’s Disneyland Resort Line at Sunny Bay Station or a 30-minute train ride from Kowloon Station, Hong Kong Station and HKIA Station.
Hong Kong Disneyland
Address: Lantau Island, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: 10.30AM-7.30PM, Weekdays | 10.30AM-8.30PM Weekends
Telephone: +852 3550 3388
Hong Kong Disneyland’s Website | Google Maps
8. Admire the world’s largest handmade wooden building at Chi Lin Nunnery
Based on traditional design motifs dating back to the Tang Dynasty, Chi Lin Nunnery is an architectural marvel to say the least – it’s literally the world’s largest handmade wooden building. A special kind of wood – cypress wood – was used to build the nunnery, and it’s made entirely without the use of nails.
You may be wondering how that’s possible, but the only way to understand how much care went into its construction is by admiring it up close. Try to spot the interlocking wood structures that lock the temple’s foundations, pillars and walls into place.
In the evenings, you’ll also be able to spot glowing LED strips along the ground floor, roof and stairs to guide visitors around over its 33-sqm premises – including a library, bell tower and pagoda.
How to get there: Take the MTR to Diamond Hill Station, and it’s a short walk from Exit C2 in Kowloon.
Chi Lin Nunnery
Address: Chi Lin Nunnery, 5 Chi Lin Dr, Sheung Yuen Leng, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: 9AM-4.30PM, Daily
Telephone: +852 2354 1888
Chi Lin Nunnery’s Website | Google Maps
9. Ride an inclined tram for panoramic views of Wan Chai
Most Thais would be familiar with the BTS skytrain, and the feeling of watching the cityscape whizz by. Hong Kong’s tram system elevates this experience – no pun intended – with charming forested landscapes surrounding the tracks on the way up to Victoria Peak.
In a scene straight out of a K-drama, the tram chugs along at a leisurely pace so do glance out the windows as the train climbs 396 metres above sea level towards Victoria Peak amidst the falling autumn leaves.
Since seats are reclined within the cabin, guests will notice a slight optical illusion – the buildings you pass uphill will look like they’re leaning at an angle of up to 25.7 degrees. If you sit on the right side of the train, they’ll even appear to ‘fall’ towards The Peak.
If you’re headed here in end-2022, you’re in luck. They’ve recently launched their new generation trams which have more seats and wider windows in August. Tickets are priced at HK$52 (~฿245) for adults on return trips, and HK$23 (~฿108) for children (aged 3-11) or seniors (aged ≥65). A pro-tip is to buy the Octopus card – their equivalent of our Rabbit card – in advance. Thanks to the stored value, simply tap it and breeze through the turnstiles ahead of the queues.
How to get there: Take a 9-minute walk from MTR Central Station or a 12-minute walk from MTR Admiralty Station to The Peak Tram’s gantry.
The Peak
Address: 33 Garden Rd, Central, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: 7AM-12AM, Daily
Telephone: +852 2522 0922
The Peak’s Website | Google Maps
10. Meet Jackson Wang and Z.TAO at Madame Tussauds
Fans of Madame Tussauds in Bangkok will be all too familiar with how the famed wax museum made our dreams of rubbing shoulders with 2PM’s Nickhun or One Direction come true.
Over at Hong Kong’s iteration of the attraction, however, expect to find an entirely different cast of famous figures to make precious memories with – including GOT7’s Jackson Wang, Exo’s Z. TAO, and Cai Xukun of popular idol survival show Youth With You fame. You’ll notice that Jackson may look extra familiar as his outfit was actually donated by him.
Besides K-pop stars and K-drama oppas, we’d also recommend dropping by the Fashion section which is home to fabulous figures who’ve graced the covers of Vogue & Elle. Think Johnny Depp, Angelababy and one of the most popular Kardashians AKA Kendall Jenner.
We’d recommend pairing this bonus pit-stop with your tram ride up to Victoria Peak, as it’s on the way and would be a fun pre-dinner activity with bae.
How to get there: Take a tram from The Peak Tram station. Madame Tussauds Wax Museum is housed conveniently in The Peak Tower mall.
Madame Tussauds
Address: Shop P101, The Peak Tower, No, 128 Peak Rd, The Peak, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: 11AM-8PM, Daily
Telephone: +852 2849 6966
Madame Tussauds’ Website | Google Maps
Plan a post-pandemic trip to rediscover Hong Kong
After 2 years of shelving our travel plans, most of us are raring to jet-set off to places less travelled. We’d argue instead that there’s value in rediscovering once-familiar locales that have taken on a new lease of life in recent years.
For your year-end post-pandemic trip, Hong Kong is a pretty safe bet as it offers plenty of activities – both indoors and outdoors – for foodies and culture geeks alike.
Image courtesy of Hong Kong Tourism Board
Just a 3-hour flight away from Bangkok, Hong Kong is a strong contender in our books as the year-end destination to watch in 2022 and beyond.
Check out more new things to do in Hong Kong
Cover image adapted from (Clockwise from Left): SHUJA OFFICIAL, @salty_sandals, Chapman Chow via Unsplash
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This post was brought to you by Hong Kong Tourism Board.