One of the must see places in Hong Kong is the Tian Tan Buddha in Lantau. An exceptionally popular…read moreplace for tourists and locals, it quickly gets crowded throughout the day. The Tian Tan Buddha is totally worth seeing and visiting (I'll review that another day) but what is lesser known is that in the area surrounding the Buddha there are many hiking trails. There are short day hikes, to long multi-day hikes that you can do. The mountains and forest are incredibly beautiful and if I had the time I probably would've taken the opportunity to hike all over them. Unfortunately I only had time to do one hike, which lead me to the "Wisdom Path." There are numerous wooden columns propped up along the hillside with verses from the sutra "Prajna-paramita Heart Sutra." I've uploaded a pic of the placard found next to this site. It's a beautiful place to visit and if you're there early enough, there are no people around to disturb the silence of the mountains. Looking out across the forest and hills, I can clearly understand why Hong Kong was settled so long ago and why people still flock to it's shores. My thoughts are interrupted by the song of a bird, and I smile, the wisdom path is a place worth visiting. Technical information: It's about a 10 minute walk from the monastery and there is almost no elevation. The path is semi-well maintained and wide enough for 4 people to walk abreast.

A short hike from the Big Buddha down the Ngong Ping fun walk will lead you to the wisdom path…read morewhich were passages from Heart Sutra inscribed on tall stone planks arranged in an infinity symbol. Kind of like a twisted version of Stonehenge. There was a path that takes you alongside the planks. Some parts were steep, but manageable with sneakers. The whole structure can also be viewed from a viewing platform a bit further down the trail. Here there were some signs describing the significance of the wisdom path and indicating which characters appeared on each plank. The fun walk took us past some abandoned buildings, but it seemed safe enough as the path was heavily used. It was interesting and definitely had a spiritual sense to the area, but can be skipped if short on time.

The Yuen Yuen Institute is a Taoist temple in Tsuen Wan District. The only way I know to get there…read moreis taxi from Tsuen Wan MTR station to Sam Dip Tam Lo Wai Road. My grand ma told me that they uphold eight virtues (filial piety, respect, loyalty, fidelity, propriety, justice, honesty and honour) when I was a kid. My grandparents are burial there. It's not a great sight-seeing place. But, I have to go there when I return to HK. The superintendent was very friendly and helpful. She guided me how to do the traditional manner of joss sticks and etc.

This is possibly the complex of temples that has impressed me the most in Hong Kong so far. It took…read moreus a while to get there from Wan Chai (MTR to Tsuen Wan Station and minibus uphill to the Institute, last stop). For a weekend, it wasn't busy at all and we were almost the only tourists. Most other visitors were locals that headed over there to pray. We could enjoy a peaceful time up there while observing the scenery. It didn't feel like Hong Kong anymore. This institute was established in the 50s by Chinese monks and it's dedicated to Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, the only temple in Hong Kong to gather these three religions. At the entrance you'll find the Arches of the Three Religions followed by Yuen Shun Temple and finally the Great Temple, a replica of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. Every single building is decorated with figures and sculptures of such richness, it's just difficult to describe. After this, we decided to walk down to the Western Monastery, preceded by a grand entrance. There, we asked for some information about it but no one was able to speak English (that little touristy is it?). We walked up a flight of stairs and arrived to a temple where monks were singing. That was it, the monks, and us. Such an inspiring time! I was especially enchanted by the Millions Buddha Tower a nice storey tower. Every bit we discovered surpassed the previous one in beauty and we left the place honestly amazed. I just wonder why this isn't promoted as one of Hong Kong's most important touristy spots but, actually, it may be better to keep it this way.

Sheung wan civil center is definitely one of the more modest looking theaters for shows and…read moreperformances to take place; located right next to the sheung wan wet market, this multiple story complex offers also badminton courts, gym rooms and rehearsal room to the neighborhood. The most vivid memory that i can recall for this place is the experience of lining up for tickets for Inter-varsity dance competition (IVDC) when i was still a executive committee member of the dance society in uni; due to some stupid policy each and every dance society has to go to urbtix to buy tickets for their respective uni. Since I live on the island side, i have to wait here overnight until the box office is open. Aside of that, the rehearsal room on the 10th floor is also a place i visit often. With the mirror and barre installed, it is quite perfect for dance rehearsals to take place. However, since the location is rather convenient and the price is insanely low when compared to studios of similar sort, you have to book in advance and compete against other applicants in speed in order to place your booking. Seriously, can't they just use other rooms for non dancing related activities? Says the selfish me

Highlight of my first Solo travel is my visit at the west of central Hong Kong. Start the walking…read moretour at the Western Market. Medicinal Stores and specialty shops are found at the Stretch of Wing Lok road. More of the quaint stores, art galleries, curious cafe and hip restaurants are located at Upper Lascar Row, Gough Street, and Hollywood road. Interesting street art are everywhere, free for public consumption.

I have heard so much about Lam Tei before - The Steak House... The famous Red Seasons Aroma…read moreRestaurant where people have to line up for hours if reservation is not made before... And I am glad to have come here because one of my private tutee lives here. Basically I come here at least once a week and I would say that it is a rather nice and comfy neighborhood. Taking the Light Rail, I would say for first timer, the direction to Lam Tei Village is very difficult to navigate. You can either go over the foot bridge or cross the main road. Anyhow, once you see the narrow road that leads straight to Lam Tei, you just enter this village. And get ready to be wow by this place. At first it looks like one of those countryside streets where people on both sides are selling different products, you may find barber shop, bakery, grocery shops, wine shop for rich guys who live here as well. But then you will soon realize lots of tourists coming here for the restaurants here like the Steak House that denies your access if you do not make reservation before - kind of pricey - around HKD300 to HKD400 for a plate; or the Chinese restaurant, etc. Walk further in and you are surrounded with village houses, three storey or so. You can also see a Lam Tei temple. I guess the traditional side of this place is still well preserved. For outsiders, please be warned about stray dogs. I am so scared of dogs so whenever I finish my class at night, I have to take out my flashlight to make sure I am safe...

Hong Kong Arts Center (HKAC), non-profit, performing arts, independent films…read more HKAC is one of my favorite arts organization in Hong Kong. This arts Center provides different kinds of arts performances, like sculpture and photography exhibition, visual arts, and performing arts. Tou can see all these arts performance or exhibition in those presentation spaces and venues. I also watch lots of independent films here, like some documentary and young directors' first work. I am impressed by the seats in agnès b. CINEMA. This cinema is not that big, but the interesting thing is you can see lots of names on the back of the seats. It is because, it is a funding scheme called "Name a Chair", seeking support for the renovation and equipment update of the cinema.It is a 5-year chair naming scheme.If you have money and want to give some support, then you can consider to join this project. It will be big deal! haha

I am not sure whether you have heard of this but not long ago, Hong Kong was once criticized as a…read morecultural desert. Though some still believe it is as teenagers are encouraged to study Business and are discouraged if they pursue Arts related studies. Regardless, Hong Kong does provide quite a few opportunities for those who are passionate about arts and culture. (It is the mentality of the mass that is difficult to change). The Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC) is located at Wanchai which promotes contemporary arts, visual arts, or arts education. Because of the convenient location, there are quite a lot of students coming here after school to learn musical instruments or read some books here. Once you walk in, you may see quite a lot of artworks on display at the Jockey Club Atrium. Apart from that, below the ground floor you may also find studios (The McAulay Studio for example), theatres (agnès b. Cinema) and offices owned by international or local art organizations. The tower is consisted of fifteen floors and there are galleries, restaurats, a language centre or even a cinema. The best part of this place is the Pao Galleries where it hosts year-round art exhibitions. Over the years, it has held quite a number of programmes including the Art Walk every year. With the opening of Art Basel earlier this year, I can guarantee you that Hong Kong soon will not be called as a desert for arts and culture. If you would like to know more about this place, the arts on display or even the programmes, you may also join the guided tour (both English and Chinese), the tour lasts around an hour and it is completely free of charge. This is definitely a better choice than spending your time in a café. So next time if you are nearby, how about indulging yourself with art and fine dining here?

My second review in Hong Kong happens to be another establishment concerning history through the…read moreeyes of artists, this time with an emphasis on music, film, and literature. If you are familiar with any of Hong Kong's offerings over the years, a visit to the Hong Kong Heritage Museum is a must. To get there, ride the MTR to Che Kung Temple station and take Exit A. It was a rainy weekday in mid-May when I visited. Clear signages showed the path towards the museum, a large, somewhat imposing orange and red-bricked building. The exhibit I wanted to check out first was "Timeless Diva - Anita Mui" which showcased a collection of records from the famed songstress, a number of which were autographed. Other items on display included a selection of her concert outfits, magazine covers, and a rotation of video clips showing her singing prowess, quick-witted banter, and diverse acting chops. At one point, an announcement was made for the opportunity to watch a documentary on Sam Hui. It turned out to be a delightful, self-narrated autobiography of the man's childhood days playing around Diamond Hill, the Hui brother's comedic endeavors, and the inner workings of his mind when composing songs. Did you know the opening of "半斤八兩" was inspired by Eagles' "One of These Nights"? After the movie, the large exhibition of music and film was next door. One recorded conversation on display worth mentioning was a talk regarding the current state of Hong Kong pop compared to that of K-pop, our current generation's obsession. As for the other parts of the museum, the "Jin Yong Gallery" consisted of all the wuxia author's literary works readily available to pick up and read as well as beautiful illustrations of the characters. Naturally, Bruce Lee's exhibit was magnetic and powerful, which included personal photographs throughout his life as well as his teachings. There was also an emphasis on 3D models of his likeness for an immersive experience. Didn't really impress me too much, but I did appreciate the intent. There was a lot to explore and plenty I probably missed by lingering too long on select areas. I spent a whole afternoon here and would gladly do it again.

If you're into pop culture, this is the museum to visit!! Honestly HK has so many museums, each…read morewith its own flavor, but this museum features topics/themes that people are more familiar with such as HK's entertainment industry history, Bruce Lee, Jin Yong's popular martial art stories, Cantonese opera, and others. As a museum nerd, I was drawn by a visiting exhibition on ancient Chinese women and their daily life (as most history records focus on men). Although tucked in the northern New Territories in Sha Tin area, this museum is actually accessible by 3 different MTR stations and other minibus/buses. It was actually so much bigger than I thought! Loved how everything had great descriptions (in both Chinese and English). Tickets are pretty cheap and definitely worth it because I could easily spend 2-3 hours here!

The Sam Tung UK Museum was significant in architecture and history. And it showed the Hakka culture…read moreand history through the objects, the video clips and so on. We can find some opinions of the visitors towards this museum. According to most of the visitors, the Sam Tung UK museum is worth to visit as it presenting the Hakka history and cultural. Most of them praised the exhibition there was "great", "excellent" and they enjoyed the visiting and also, stated that they would come again and encourage their friends to come here as the exhibition was "informative". Moreover, the exhibition and also the museum itself can let the visitors know more about the development of Tsuen Wan and Hakka culture, for example, a visitor has stated that the video clips and the displays made him know more about the Hakka culture such as the Hakka women, the traditional Hakka snacks and the architecture characteristic of Hakka people. The Sam Tung UK museum was a place to display the Hakka culture and history because Sam Tung UK itself was the heritage for the Hakka lived in the past. However, there were some limitations in presenting the Hakka culture. The Government should make some changes to eliminate those weaknesses. Also, the exhibition such as the Rice agricultural was displayed since 2008. It should be changed to another and thus to catch the attention of more visitor. It stills a good place for us to connect the history and culture of Hakka. When I have visited here, I really had that feeling. It is so amazing and I feel great to connect the history here.

Macpherson Stadium has gradually become a popular venue for cultural activities and performances…read moreafter the redevelopment programme of the site. Just a few weeks ago, my favourite YouTube musicians had a concert in Hong Kong as a part of their Asian tour. I was so excited to buy the tickets at a reasonable price. That was the first time I've been to the MacPherson Stadium. The easiest route is to go out from Exit E2 of the Mong Kok MTR Station, then walk along the Nelson Street to the junction of the Yim Po Fong Street. It takes around 10 minutes to reach the Stadium. There is a huge poster board right next to the entrance of the stadium. Seeing the board when we arrived, we started to become hysterical and wanted to take photos of it. Yet, perhaps due to the number of people entering the arena and some safety issues, the security guards forbade us to do so. Anyway, watching the concert should be the highlight of the day! After collecting the ticket stubs, the staff members there led us to our seats. The stage faced three sides, i.e. left, central and right. The arena wasn't as large as I expected (my expectation was something like the one in the AsiaWorld-Expo, where my first concert took place...), and even though our seats were at the yellow zone which was the central-facing area behind the standing zone, the distance to the stage wasn't that long - at least I could see my favourite singers clearly at the second row of the zone! Having our seats settled, we were super hyper and waited till the show commenced! Okay I realise I'm supposed to write a review on the stadium but not the concert itself. I'll try to avoid going off-track! I can tell you - the show was fantastic! But I'd like to point out some areas that this newly-operated stadium needs to improve. One important element for a successful musical performance was the stereo set. Sometimes the background music was larger than the microphone, which somehow affected the overall quality of the performance. The lighting system also requires room for improvement. I agree that lighting helps enhance the atmosphere of the show, but light beam was so strong that I couldn't really see the stage. After all, the arrangement was nice generally. A final note: having tickets of the highest price may provide you with some privileges on top of the vicinity to the stage. A case in point is the meet-and-greet session. Though it wasn't stated on Cityline, it did happen! Unfortunately I was one of those people who missed the chance to greet my favourite musicians in person... So, if you really love the artist and the tickets are affordable, I highly recommend you do so :)