Visited the Peak around 8:30-10:00 p.m. after returning from Macau to catch the iconic Hong Kong…read morenight view right before an incoming typhoon. It turns out everyone else had the exact same plan, so it was extremely crowded. The views were absolutely stunning and well worth seeing, but keep in mind that waiting for the return bus late at night can take a while when crowd levels are high. Taking the bus up along Stubbs Road offers a great, scenic route to the top. Highly recommend visiting for late-night city views. Just be prepared for potential queues.

The Peak (aka Victoria Peak) is a popular tourist attraction and one of the best way to see the…read morestunning Hong Kong skyline. There are several ways to get there. If you like outdoors and able to tolerate the humidity, I suggest walking up (takes about an hour) and take the tram down. Taxi/car is another option. If you're lazy like me, we took the tram up and down. We also didn't buy tickets in advance or Edge Observation Deck since my schedule was ever changing. It does get crowded on the weekend and during sunset hours. The tram ride is about 10 minute or so. It was quick. There are a bunch of shops, and restaurants. We were happy to see another Bakehouse up there and grab some pastries. We walked around, took lots of pictures and spent about 30-60 min here. Highly recommended.

The bus took us up the hills slowly where at points you could see Kowloon and Hong Kong. It was…read moresuper foggy by the time we reached the top of Victoria Peak aka The Peak. We walked to the vista point but the view was obscured by heavy fog. That was a shame because the view would have been great had it been clear. The Peak Tower building hosting the tram had many shopping opportunities as well as eateries. It was interesting to see the foods offered. We visited a souvenir shop which was packed with visitors and a bit crazy. The store accepted US dollars and credit cards. The tram ride is one of the most iconic things to do when visiting. It required tickets and the queue went quickly. The ride downhill was much quicker than going up by bus. It was well worth the cost and quite unique.

As with any major city, there are tourist attractions that everyone will flock to, and Victoria…read morePeak is one of them. I do think the view is beautiful, and it's famous for a reason! We bought our tickets on Klook to get a pass that included the Peak Tram ride as well as entry to the Sky Terrace. I think if its your first time, it's worth paying the extra few bucks to get the entire view - after all, you made it all the way up there already! There are many vendors selling trinkets and food/drinks. Cute souvenirs can be found here, although overpriced as expected. If you have visitors coming for the first time, I do think its worth the trip, but maybe you don't need to go more than once.

The Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront is one of Hong Kong's must-visit attractions, offering breathtaking…read morepanoramic views of Victoria Harbour and the iconic Hong Kong skyline. It's also home to the Avenue of Stars and is a popular spot to watch the nightly 8:00 PM Symphony of Lights show. We decided to skip the Symphony of Lights because we had already watched it on YouTube and didn't think it was something we needed to see in person. Instead, we spent our time strolling along the waterfront, both during the day and at night, and we enjoyed it so much more. On our second day in Hong Kong, we walked along the waterfront before taking the Star Ferry to Wan Chai. The harbor views were beautiful during the day, but the nighttime scenery was even more spectacular. The city lights reflecting on the water created an unforgettable view, and I ended up taking tons of photos! We were also happy that our hotel was within walking distance, so we visited the waterfront several times during our trip. Whether you're taking a leisurely walk, enjoying the harbor views, or simply relaxing by the water, the Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront is definitely a must-see when visiting Hong Kong.

Strolling around Tsim Sha Tsui ("Tsimsy" as it is referred to by expatriates) is a great way to…read moreabsorb the beat of Kowloon - it moves QUICKLY and is full of sounds, sights and cooking aromas everywhere. The pulse is ADDICTIVE. The energy is BOUNDLESS. Kowloon is one of my favourite places in the world.

The Golden Bauhinia…read more.. A giant statue of the Hong Kong flower sits prominently in front of Golden Bauhinia Square which is located on Hong Kong Island and is a popular tourist destination as it sits right along Victoria Harbour and with that there's no designated parking spot but we were blessed to have a friend that took us around the island and dropped us for a quick pic and to enjoy the stunning glory that represents Hong Kong. Yes it's absolutely a tourist spot as you need to be a bit patient to get a clear shot of it while avoiding locals making the most of it by asking for money in exchange to take your and/or group shot of it with ease. There's many spots to enjoy on this island and though this is a simple yet complex spot to get to does give you a lovely view of the harbour taking in the beauty that Hong Kong has to offer. Thank you!

Compared to the many landmarks and tourist attractions in Hong Kong (#1), the Golden Bauhinia…read more(金紫荊廣場) is not terribly impressive beyond its tasteful design and prominent position in front of the HK Convention Centre. It stands 6 meters tall overlooking the beautiful Victoria Harbour and faces the mighty skyscrapers of Kowloon. For those not in the know, this is where the "Handover" occurred (#2) almost exactly 20 years ago. Every single day there is a flag ceremony held by the HK Police Force, who yawnfully raise the flags of China and Hong Kong, while Police Band plays the national anthem, followed by a performance from the Police Pipe Group. This happens daily at 8am and it's a (boring) show from start to finish. Of course, a majority of the people here are heaps of tourists who came off of a shuttle bus. It's an attraction, but not a serious one. I'd bundle it along the same lines as the Symphony of Lights (https://www.yelp.com/biz/uNe6EPhUrC2sm-IHohSR2Q), just worse music and way less colorful. ___________ (#1) Is there more awe than the Tian Tan Buddha? The Peak? 10,000 Buddhas Monastary, Bank of China Tower, or Dragon's Back? Even he view from anywhere in the ICC? Exactly. (#2) England says farewell to Hong Kong. HK says hello to China.

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).

The Observation wheel is a fun ride right next to the ferry terminal. The line is kind of long but…read moremoves quickly. You get to go around the loop three times with a few strangers in the cabin but it's still a nice view. Honestly my main complaint is the windows need to be cleaned more often because it's hard to take pictures through the hazy glass. It's a good deal for 20HKD.

Hong Kong Island…read more.. As a first timer for everything I've experienced on the first few days in Hong Kong riding a ferry to Hong Kong Island was nothing that I've ever experienced...hmmm well maybe visiting relative in Hiroshima at one of the islands but that was years ago so here I am with Nadine and the group to meet up with a friend from the group who has so amazingly taken us on a tour. Getting off the ferry and exiting the pier the first thing I saw is this massive Ferris wheel thing which is The Hong Kong Observations Wheel a stunning way to get a Birdseye view of the island and Victoria Harbor. Not sure of the details but what a stunning feature that I probably would've rode if given the chance...maybe on another trip perhaps! Thank you!

I always say that one of the most amazing things of Hong Kong is the fact that, in 10 minutes cab…read moreride, you are in the middle of nature. How many cities can say that? And how cool is that? In most other big cities, you may need to get on a train, pay a high fare and travel for a couple of hours. It also means you need to plan. That's not the case in Hong Kong and whether you are a hiker or not, you can still enjoy beautiful landscapes and retreat for a few hours. Feeling like an easy Sunday hike? One of your options is Tai Tam Tuk Reservoirs, located at the Tai Tam Country Park, in the East side of Hong Kong Island. That's what three of us did early on a Saturday morning a few weeks ago. We only walked for about an hour, contemplating the nature and chatting. It is a very easy hike, flat and signaled all the way, mostly sheltered by trees so there is plenty of shadow. We went through the main stone bridges, of similar design but different heights and dating back to the 20s. They are all English style building classified as I Grade heritage. And so is the huge dam, that you can see from afar. What impressed me more was the bright turquoise water, and the contrast with the greenery and the intense blue of the sky, which created such an inspiring view! If you are in need of a deep breath of pure air outside of the city, but not feeling like hiking up the hills, get on a cab and head to Tai Tam, you'll feel alive again.

Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir is part of the Tai Tam group of reservoirs which were erected from the late…read more1880s into the early 1910s when Hong Kong's demand for water constantly outstripped supply. Tai Tam Tuk is the biggest one of out the group and probably the one seen by most people as they make their way to Stanley, when they pass by the precariously narrow dam road that lines one side of the reservoir. This is truly one of Hong Kong's scene of natural beauty where within 20 minutes from bustling Central you can get to somewhere that's basically been untouched since the beginning of time. One of the favourite routes to take in all this would be to take a hike from Parkview (which is at the top of the hill) and walk down past the smaller reservoirs up top and then onto this main body of water where it joins back with the main road. One of the attractive features of this route would again be the masonry of the buildings here, being built at that time it had a very heavy British influence and much like parts of Hong Kong; you would at times think whether you really are on the edge of the South China sea or somewhere Somerset. This is also a particularly popular path as the route is mainly downhill hence making it easier for families and it takes around 2 hours in total. Locals and tourists alike- I will be willing to bet my money that you won't be disappointed.

Pokfulam Village is a strange place. It is both a housing site and a tourist sight (see what I did…read morethere? Nice!), an included in the Unesco list of heritage sites of the world. Sure, it is one of HK's last surviving village sites, and it is upholding a great tradition that is fast being obliterated by the likes of Swire, Cheung Kong, and Jardine, but is it that interesting? Hmmmm, perhaps as a curiosity, a glimpse into old village life, but probably not much else, as it is a bit of a slum and there is not that much to do there. If you go onto Google or Wiki, you can find a lot of information about the traditional dragon makers, the dairy farm and other bits and pieces, but be warned, these sights are not so open to the public or tourists. These fun activities and historical tours have been put on for journalists to write about. It is unlikely that you or I will ever get to see them making the dragon "costumes". However, do go there for a different look at HK, and make sure you take you camera. Around every corner, the mood and image of the village changes. From the "rich side of town", where the houses are clad in tile, through to the outskirts, which seem to collect an inordinate amount of old washing machines, you'll probably catch a glimpse of an old dear cooking a family feast on a single gas ring, the off duty cabbies playing mah jong, the urban farmers watering their crops from the waterfall that runs through the village, or the locals burning incense and offerings in giant drums. It's really quite enlightening, to see so many diverse "images" and aspects in one single patch of land only a few hundred metres across. If, during your trek through the winding streets, you get thirsty (the wind never gets through there so it feels stifling), head back to the "main central road" where there are a few mom and pop stores selling cold drinks and snacks. Make sure you take a lot of mozzie repellant, they are a beast there. Also, be wary if, like me, you don't like dogs. There are a lot in the village, and granted they are all behind fences and in private gardens, but do have a tendency to throw themselves against the fences and give you a startle. Oh, and they never stop barking, yap yap yap all day long!