Why Hong Kong Has It All
A short walk from Victoria Peak
Many people often come to Hong Kong and think it is just a big, densely populated, fast-paced urban jungle. Of course, this does exist; however, it is so much more than that! I am going to tell you why I believe Hong Kong is unique and why it holds a special place in my heart.
I first came here in 2018 while waiting for my Chinese working visa to be processed. I was with my girlfriend, and we were staying at a hostel smack bang in the middle of Kowloon. I was instantly hooked with excitement; to me, it felt like the capital of the world. Once we moved to Guangzhou, mainland China, just a couple of hours north of the Hong Kong border, we were itching to experience being immersed in this magical city again.
Here is a breakdown of why I believe Hong Kong is special and why you should put it high on your travel list.
A Skyline Like No Other
You’ve probably seen the famous Hong Kong skyline online or on tv, countless times. This is Hong Kong Island, the more glamorous side of the city. Hong Kong Island is densely populated, with an array of skyscrapers, new and old, spread right across the island. If you want to experience both new and old Hong Kong, this is the place to be. Everything is crammed together with old historical colonial era buildings alongside traditional Chinese temples, buildings and modern skyscrapers.
Visually, it is truly stunning. With the backdrop of the lush mountain forests surrounding the city, it feels very unique. With the hilly roads and the old skyscrapers built during the 20th century, the streets are very narrow, which contributes to the exciting atmosphere of this part of Hong Kong. Walking around, naturally, you can feel the history all around you. Looking around, office workers and street vendors are all hustling away amongst crowds of people from all corners of the world. It is great to just wander around at whatever time of the day or night. There is always somewhere to eat or a great spot to enjoy a beer or coffee, amongst the many other things you can find.
It’s essential that you’re aware of the narrow, hilly streets, which are a lot of fun to explore; however, they can be tiring. Therefore, you can easily flag down one of the iconic Hong Kong taxis, also known as Dik Si, take the ding ding (tram) or the Hong Kong subway (the MTR) if you want to save your legs from getting too tired.
If you’re someone who wants to do a few touristy activities, you have an abundance of options on Hong Kong Island. Here is where Victoria Peak is located, right at the top of the island, overlooking the city skyline. Take either the city bus route 15 or the famous Peak tram to get here. You can also do lots of hiking trails from here too, which I will mention later on.
Take a stroll through Central, Kennedy and Wan Chai to immerse yourself in the city. Here you will find lots of art galleries too, as well as the Hong Kong Palace museum.
Kowloon and the surrounding mountains
Kowloon: The Pulse Across the Harbour
Across the water from the famous city skyline is Kowloon. This part of the city has a completely different feel from Hong Kong Island. It is more edgy and feels a bit rougher around the edges, but in a good way. It has kept its old charm of fast-paced Hong Kong, where people are buzzing around selling fruit and veg, clothes and street food. Kowloon to me feels exciting. The chaos and noise of the streets give me a buzz. Every angle of my vision, there is something to see, from the old rustic apartment blocks and shops to the drama happening on the ground and the varying smells of food from all over the world seeping through restaurant doors.
I would definitely recommend spending an afternoon or evening, or both, here if you have a few days in Hong Kong. There are plenty of small bars and so many restaurants to choose from to keep you entertained and satisfied.
Hiking the MacLeHose trail - Lantau Island
World-Class Hiking and Coastal Scenery
If you don’t know too much about Hong Kong, it is probably hard to believe that, amongst the skyscrapers and millions of people, are mountains boasting absolutely stunning scenery. There are hiking trails all across Hong Kong, whether that be around the famous Victoria Peak, overlooking the madness of Kowloon, or on the many outer islands.
If you are looking for nice leisurely walks for an hour or so, you can, of course, wander around the paths at the top of Hong Kong Island and enjoy the views of the city below. Or perhaps you can head over to somewhere like Lamma or Cheung Chau and follow the many beautiful paths they have to offer, surrounded by the sea. For a more leisurely hike, I personally prefer these two islands since the paths are much quieter compared to those that surround Victoria peak for example.
However, if you’re someone who wants to experience a more challenging hike in the mountains, I would suggest heading over to the mountains surrounding Kowloon, where you will find many country parks such as Tai Mo Shan and Ma On Shan. Or even better, take the ferry to Lantau Island, where you will find an abundance of exciting hiking routes. These range from coastal paths to paths taking you through the interior of the island, climbing epic peaks with views of the sea, the other peaks dotted around the island, as well as the city of Hong Kong. I specifically recommend doing one of the MacLeHose trails. If you’re keen to get some epic photos of the dramatic scenery, then this trail certainly gives you that opportunity.
Some of my favourite hikes have been on Lantau Island. You can very easily escape the noise of the city and be in the countryside in no time. The bonus is that there is still an abundance of birdlife, and even wild boars roam around.
Finally, if hiking is something you are passionate about and want to enjoy if you visit, I suggest downloading a hiking app to find routes of all levels. I personally use Alltrails. This app is super easy to use and has an abundance of routes across Hong Kong, which are simple to navigate.
A World of Flavours
Another great thing about Hong Kong is that you will find pretty much any cuisine you are looking for. Whether you are exploring the urban jungle of Kowloon or Hong Kong Island, you will be able to taste food from all over the world. Because people from all corners of our planet call this incredible city home, they have brought their food with them.
If you are exploring one of the smaller or less-known islands for the day, you won’t struggle to find somewhere to get local food for breakfast. If you fancy a more western-style breakfast, then even on small islands like Cheung Chau or Lamma, you will find plenty of options.
Having stayed on Cheung Chau and Lamma a number of times, there are always a few places I end up returning to because of the great food and atmosphere they offer. If you find yourself on Cheung Chau and are craving a western breakfast, I would definitely recommend Space Cafe. The coffee here is excellent, the breakfast is seriously good, and it’s a great place to people-watch on this busy, exciting little island. My girlfriend and I always end up at this place for breakfast at least once every time we are in Hong Kong. We absolutely love sitting outside and watching the locals interact with one another. The community on Cheung Chau seems very close, and everyone seems to know each other. For the age we are living in, I personally find it a very warm place to be. It makes me want to live in a place like this. I am reminded how important having a community around you is to feeling connected to fellow humans on a daily basis.
If you are going to Lamma Island, then I’d highly recommend Little Thai by Bee. They serve lots of different Thai food, including, of course, curries. I would confidently say it's one of the best Thai restaurants I’ve eaten at outside of Thailand. The prices weren’t too bad either, probably 20% cheaper than most restaurants in the city.
Additionally, literally next door to this Thai restaurant is a really tasty place called Spicy Island Restaurant & Bar, serving Indian food. Again, I’d say for Hong Kong, their prices are quite reasonable.
In the heart of Kowloon
Laid-back vibes on Lantau Island
Laid-Back Islands and Beautiful Beaches
If you are feeling a bit tired of the city and fancy relaxing and soaking in the sun, head over to pretty much any island, and you will find many beautiful beaches. I personally really enjoy the main beach on Lamma called Hung Shing Yeh Beach, which has a few nearby cafes and restaurants. The water is pretty clean here and is a refreshing place to swim. If you fancy somewhere a bit quieter on this island, take a hike along the coastal path to Lo So Hing Beach. This beach has very similar views looking out to sea but can often be enjoyed alone.
Cheung Chau and Lantau also have great beaches. Clean water and lots of sand to lie down on and chill. Head over to Mui Wo beach (Lantau), which is a 5-minute walk from the ferry pier. If you’re in Cheung Chau, stroll over to either Tung Wan Beach or Kwun Yam beach which are also really nice. Both are fantastic swimming spots and haven’t been super busy whenever I’ve visited.
To be honest, there are probably over hundreds of beaches all across Hong Kong, so have a further search online to find more information. What’s great is that there are so many great paths to take, that you can stumble across a lot of quiet, relatively unknown beaches which are most of the time truly stunning.
In a Nutshell
If you’re someone like me who enjoys a bit of everything whilst travelling, Hong Kong is the place to be. Culture, exciting urban atmosphere, stunning scenery, unique architecture, and great food are all here in this little corner of East Asia. I would recommend spending at least 3-4 days here if you want to experience it all. During my time living in Guangzhou, I’ve probably visited nearly ten times, and I always find new places to visit. I love how you can be in the bustling city and then be hiking in the mountains or swimming in the sea in less than an hour. I don’t think there are many places in the world where you can experience this.
Hong Kong will always have a place in my heart because of how unique it is. I particularly love the nature, the culture and the fact that it’s a huge melting pot of cultures. So, most definitely put Hong Kong high up on your travel list if you fancy experiencing a bit of everything in a unique way.
Tung Wan Beach, Cheung Chau
