Meandering along Hollywood road from Lan Kwai Fang towards Sheung Wan unveils a myriad of…read moretreasures, sights and smells, making it a wonderful lazy afternoon stroll. The journey starts with hip and stylish shops, art galleries, bars, restaurants and clubs. As you approach the escalator area, the scenes explodes up the mountain into Elgin St and the immediate neighborhood, transforming the entire area into a very hot bar, global restaurant and bar scene. Further down, the street transforms again into a Mecca for high quality Chinese antiquities such as furniture, calligraphy, stone, ceramic, porcelain, jade and other treasures. Just past the Famous Wen Wu temple you can jog down the stairs to yikes I think it's Lee St where you'll find a several block lane filled with Chinese Bric-a-brac, but it's still a fun browse for tourists. The point of my photos (and Reggie) is that as you meander through the modern art galleries, shops, restaurants and dealers, keep an eye out for the fleeting yet still present remnants of bygone Hong Kong, which still exist in the cracks, shadows and crevices of this modern, urban, sophisticated city. Enjoy!

Still wondering why it's called Hollywood Road, but it is a quintessential place to visit and a…read moremust -see when you have visitors in town. Everything from the old quirky antique shops, murals, coffee spots, hipster vibes, huge tree roots, to the international cuisine and wet markets in every corner, you gotta go. Art galleries, insta-worthy photo shoots happening, but don't get hit by a taxi!

Tai Kwun is a well renovated prison yard (Victoria Prison), the Central Police Station, and…read moreMagistracy that it once was, transformed into a large cultural hub with rotating exhibitions. They also have some shops, restaurants, and even guided heritage tours for ad additional cost. Otherwise, the place can be explored for free. It is accessible right off the Mid-Levels escalator and timing of the escalator's direction is crucial so that you don't wear yourself out before the exploration itself. The area is not extremely handicap friendly, so knowing that may help your travels. Tai Kwun is on top of the hill so it is steep as you walk down back to Central MTR Station. I got to visit all of the buildings on a self-guided tour and discovered that one of the prison cells housed Vietnamese revolutionary Ho Chi Minh amongst other historical inmates. Whether you're a history buff or just a curious explorer, Tai Kwun is a unique place to visit.

Tai Kwun (大館) is an incredible preservation success story. Located at the eastern end of Hollywood…read moreRoad in Central, this massive heritage complex is a must-visit, even though many locals have surprisingly never been here. My husband wanted to explore the rich law enforcement history of the former Central Police Station, and it turned out to be an unforgettable experience. The site is huge and exceptionally well laid out. We started at the Parade Ground & Barrack Block, a beautiful, wide-open courtyard flanked by classic colonial-era brick buildings. Walking through the Victoria Prison cell blocks with history dating all the way back to 1841, it offered an immersive and fascinating look at Hong Kong's early penal system. As an extra treat, we got a chance to see the Ora-Ora Shop: Summer Pop-up! at Galerie Ora-Ora (Shop 03-105-107, Barrack Block). It was the perfect blend of historic architecture and contemporary art. If you love history, art, or just a cool space to explore away from the hectic city streets, do not miss this absolute gem.

A historic police compound turned into a real-life Etsy market! Located in Central, PMQ 元創方 is…read morepacked with local artisan shops, unique design studios, and rich Hong Kong history. PMQ 元創方 stands for Police Married Quarters. It's a historic site turned vibrant creative hub in Central, Hong Kong. Rebuilt in 1951 as the Police Married Quarters, the compound reopened in 2014 for local designers. The architecture is beautiful, the vibe is incredibly artistic, and it is the perfect place to support independent creators. A truly unique spot for anyone looking for authentic local souvenirs.

This place is basically like a giant Etsy shop/Instagram photo opp…read more Came to take selfies in front of the koi staircase. Left with nearly a dozen pairs of cute and unique earrings crafted by HK-based jewelry maker @ashayatheone, for $8 to $15 (USD) a pair. Though I definitely spent more than I would have for souvenirs at the Ladies Market, it was worth it not to feel stressed out having to haggle on the streets of Mong Kok. Plus, I walked out with better quality stuff, supported a local business, and got to check out the current art exhibit ("LONG TIME NO SEE": a set of hand-drawn murals paying homage to the history of the PMQ building).

I came across this spot on Google Maps while wandering around Causeway Bay and thought, Why not…read moreswing by at noon and see it for ourselves?Just like the reviews said, it's a short ceremony without much fanfare. My husband, who's a third-generation Hong Kong resident, had no clue why they fire this thing every day either. Thankfully, a tour guide filled us in on the story: back in the day, the head of Jardine, a huge British development company, was arriving in Hong Kong. To welcome him, the company thought it'd be a great idea to fire a cannon in the harbor. But, of course, firing a gun in the harbor without permission didn't sit well with the government. As punishment, a judge told them, you like firing cannons? Fine. You'll do it every day at noon. And so, this tradition was born! Now, it's a fun little tourist attraction. If you're in Causeway Bay, it's a quick stop worth checking out. Plus, right next to it is the stairway to an underground tunnel that connects to all the shops and great restaurants across the highway--so you can catch the cannon, then grab a bite!

There is a sort of tradition with this place, namely that the gun is fired off every day at noon. I…read moresuspect it has something to do with the original British colony. It can be a bit tricky to get to, and you have to time it right, because they only fire it off at noon. Mind you, that can be a little annoying because you are coming all the way here just to hear a cannon be fired, and it is a pretty loud cannon at that. Still, if you have time to spare, it is worth checking out. Just make sure you end up here at noon.

An underrated and local spot to soak in the city views. Why pay to go up to the peak tower when you…read morecan go on this shaded looped to see the skyline from nearly all angles?! I took a taxi up here during the mid-autumn holiday weekend. Took my partner and I about an hour to do the loop and took some incredible photos while we were at it. There were not a lot of people, it was not overly crowded and people were able to get lots of photo ops. I highly recommend doing this vs. the peak tower because its what the local does and it feels much less touristy and more quiet.

If you need a quick beautiful 2 mile hike with spectacular scenery and views of Hong Kong, this is…read morefor you. The trail loops around Victoria Peak, and you can turn in and up the mountain and go see the Victoria Peak garden's as well. There are trees everywhere and even after a week after a typhoon, the walk was pleasant and there wasn't much damage. There are figs and all sorts of different trees in good condition, too many to list. The path is well maintained and there's almost always a good view. Lots of runners in the morning, and depending on the time of day the breeze is super good up there. Not much else to say except to see it yourself. It's pretty nice for a hike.

Really spacious and next to many artworks and displays outside. Has a souvenir shop with…read moreinteresting trinkets and also small business items.

The building's exterior is a major hot spot for Instagram pictures, as is the rest of the…read morepromenade. It really doesn't look like much at first glance, but it looks amazing in photographs. I, personally, have never saw a performance here, but I did go inside to use the restroom. There's also seats in the middle of the lobby, which is absolutely perfect for resting aching feet after strolling around East Tsim Sha Tsui.