Originally Posted By Malin This has nothing to do with the Disneyland park, but I'm guessing in order to do some trip planning the mods will have no issue with me posting it in the HKDL section. Now on to my question I would like to know what are the must see attractions that are available to do in Hong Kong besides the Mouse. I already have a few must do things but I wanted to know what you all think! Already planned on the first night is a trip to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre for a James Blunt concert. I have purchased online a Hong Kong Disneyland Vaule Annual Passport, which I will be using maybe a couple of times during my trip. On Monday the 19th of May I have purchased a day ticket to Hong Kong Ocean Park, with intentions of avoiding the carnival type rides and concentrating on the Animal exibits and the views from the cable cars that travel up the summit. I think I'm going to dedicate 3-4 hours here. I also will be considering trips to the Peak and Macau. What do you think of the plan so far, and is there anything I'm missing out on here, that I simply must see. All advice would be welcomed and greatly apreciated.
Originally Posted By SuperDry Sounds good so far. The Peak, via the funicular railroad (in operation over 100 years) is a must. What I'd recommend is go up there in the late afternoon, and include a walk around the road that circles the peak itself ("The Peak" stores/restaurants are not actually at the tip of the peak). It's about a 3km walk and has some great views. Then, stay for dinner so you have a chance to see the view once it's completely dark. Go back out Lugard Rd part way until you get to the place with the view - it's a better and different view than from "The Peak" itself IMHO, and will have almost no people. Be sure to walk along the waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui after dark, perhaps when the nightly light show goes on (8pm?). You mention Macau - another great day trip is Shenzhen, just over the border in mainland China. Unlike Hong Kong and Macau, you need a visa to go to Shenzhen. When I was last there, Shenzhen visas were available on the spot at the border. I hear this is definitely not possible any more for US passport holders, but may still be available for others. In any event, a full-blown Chinese visa can be obtained through your hotel's concierge in Hong Kong in about a day. It's very interesting to step over the border into the mainland and see how it's immediately apparent that you're in a different place. I don't know quite how to explain it, but they do manage to give off a "communist" feel almost right as you step over the line, but once you're through the immigration/customs checkpoint, you're loose in the city. And now, there's a subway in Shenzhen so it's easy to see things other than what's right at the border. There's also the Ngong Ping 360 gondolas that take you from near the airport to the top of a peak elsewhere on Lantau Island to see a famous giant outdoor Buddha. The gondolas are only a couple of years old and make it much easier to get to the Buddha. As far as other transportation, even though you'll probably spend a lot of time on the MTR (subway), don't miss at least one crossing of the harbor on the Star Ferry. And, also, if you're interested in infrastructure, check out the Mid-Levels Escalator System. It's just a series of outside escalators and speed ramps, but it's almost a km long and serves as a full-fledged mode of public transportation in its own right, perhaps unique in the world. In the evening, check out the Lan Kwai Fong and SoHo (in HK's case, South of Hollywood Road) neighborhoods. While you're in Hong Kong, you might as well also visit the famed Wan Chai area, a favorite stopping point for sailors on shore leave and others looking for trouble of one sort or another. But, it's safe to just walk down Lockhart Rd and see the area. Most importantly, just soak in the vibe of being there and the energy that is ever-present in Hong Kong. It's kind of hard to explain, but the city itself is the biggest attraction, and is more than the sum of its part.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>And, also, if you're interested in infrastructure, check out the Mid-Levels Escalator System. It's just a series of outside escalators and speed ramps, but it's almost a km long and serves as a full-fledged mode of public transportation in its own right, perhaps unique in the world.<<< Superdry - FYI if you are ever in Barcelona, the Olympic Village has similar. Malin - I agree with SD, the Buddha, Funecular Railway, Light Show, and Star Ferries are a must.
Originally Posted By leemac Lantau's Big Buddha is a must - especially as it is so easy to get there now (the old bus trip was harrowing). Victoria Peak is fun too - especially after the refurbishment. On a clear day the path around the peak allows you to see HKDL. Stanley market is fun if you like that sort of thing. Otherwise great shopping downtown around The Landmark hotel. The racetrack is also great fun if it is race season. If you love urban developments the IFC is a must - great architecture. Plus the Pacific Place complex at Admiralty.
Originally Posted By leemac Macau is a definite trek - and can be expensive if you take the high speed transport alternatives. It is an incredible place - especially the Cotai Strip (which is the landfill between the two islands). I'm not convinced it is worth the effort unless you gamble. SEZ is an incredibly odd place - Western Town is just very freaky indeed. Again I'm not convinced you should go if you have never seen China before (SEZ is a very bad example of mainland China - it is far from indictive of the rest of the nation).
Originally Posted By Malin Thank you all for the replys it appears I've probarely got more than enough to keep us occupied during the trip. SuperDry great recomendation to visit the Peak late Afternoon. I think it sounds like a plan to arrive take in the surrounding views, and enjoy the walk around the paths. Before checking out the EA Zone and Madame Tussauds, before catching a meal and checking the views out at night. Due to this being a first time I would request guilded tours for places like Macau and China. That way I get to catch a few of the main highlights. I'm not really a gambler but I'm guessing if you enjoy Vegas, you should like Macau. I'm guessing a day trip to Shenzhen is like a day trip from San Diego to Tijuana, not really a great deal to see or do but you visit anyway to say you've been. With the talk about not spending two full days at Disney I may consider a full day at the park, with the other day only spending half a day here and the remainder over at Ngong Ping 360, as I've heard its quite near the park. I will be taking all recomendations into consideration and I thank you all for posting them.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Macau is a definite trek - and can be expensive if you take the high speed transport alternatives.*** I took the high speed boat and IIRC it took exactly one hour. I don't remember it being ridiculously pricy, but it was certainly more than the slower options. I did have plenty of time, so all I can say is the cost was not so shocking as to make me want to take the slower boat (and conversely, I did NOT take the helicopter as THAT particular price was way out of range lol). I'd agree that Macau is not essential unless you are a casino head like myself.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***SEZ is a very bad example of mainland China - it is far from indictive of the rest of the nation*** Does it have a similar boarder vibe to Tijuana? I felt like that place seemed very disconnected from the rest of Mexico that I've seen.
Originally Posted By leemac SEZ is just a massive industrial city that effectively supplies HK (and a lot of the rest of the world now) with goods. It is a sprawling disaster of a city - Chinese cities typically have great town planning (except Shanghai) but SEZ was just left to grow as it felt it. You can't really appreciate how big it is until you have seen it from the air. It is definitely like HK's poorer brother but looks modern if nothing else.
Originally Posted By leemac <<With the talk about not spending two full days at Disney I may consider a full day at the park, with the other day only spending half a day here and the remainder over at Ngong Ping 360, as I've heard its quite near the park. >> Yup - it connects to the MTR on Lantau at Tung Chung so it is an easy ride from HKDLR (albeit two MTR trains as you need to change at Sunny Bay).
Originally Posted By katsmom Because of the olympics, visa's are no longer available to us Americans outside the US. If you want to go to Shenzhen, you have to get the visa at home. I'd also recommend a trip to the Hong Kong History Museum. Not world class, but it gives a good indication of what people used to live like, and many buildings like those depicted are still here today. Although, the gov'e just tore down the last ones without kitchens and bathrooms about two years ago. Go to the "old villages" in Yuen Long. For typical HK shopping go into Mong Konk or Prince Edward Ladies street.
Originally Posted By Malin Katsmom how does getting a day Visa apply to someone holding a British Passport? And I was actually going to ask about museum's as I'm under the impression Hong Kong has quite a few good ones available. By the way I read your most recent May day trip over at MiceChat, a board I will no longer be posting at, due to a number of reasons. But I think if you have time you should repost it here. 105 minute wait for Its A Small World sounds insane.
Originally Posted By katsmom Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but, It doesn't matter which country you are from, you need to get the visa at home now. Paranoia has set it. Unless your consulate can get it done fast, you won't be able to cross the border.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros The HK History Museum is really good. We got there mid-afternoon, and definately felt like we had to rush on a lot of things, and missed a lot. It starts with the cavemen, and goes into how the general HK area has been occupied basically since the dawning of time. There were a lot of random things that I had no idea about, and I really learned a lot. The older stuff seemed to get a little repetative after a while (around 1400-1700, but I'm not very familiar with Asian history in general so that may have affected things), but the more modern stuff (basically starting with the British) had a whole bunch of really interesting exhibits about various aspects of the culture and daily living. I would recommed planning at least half a day there (they seemed to close fairly early if I remember correctly, like 4-5ish), but one could easily spend several days in there. It also seemed like our taxi had a hard time finding it, but that may have just been us, since there were a bunch of taxis waiting around once we got there.
Originally Posted By gardabble As for going to Shenzhen there really ain't much to see. You have Window of the World and Happy Valley at the end of the Lo Wu subway line and then there is Mix C a shopping centre similar to Festival Walk in Kowloon Tong. It is the 3rd stop from Lo Wu subway line (dai-ket-yuen aka the Big Theatre). The only thing that I would mention about this shopping centre is that there its the only Taco Bell in the area. It's not the Taco Bell you find in the states.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but, It doesn't matter which country you are from, you need to get the visa at home now. Paranoia has set it.*** Wow, that stinks. Is this only for China? I wonder what would happen in my case (I'm an American living abroad in Japan).
Originally Posted By Mr X ***It's not the Taco Bell you find in the states.*** Cardboard tortillas, eh?
Originally Posted By Malin <<< The HK History Museum is really good. We got there mid-afternoon, and definately felt like we had to rush on a lot of things, and missed a lot. It starts with the cavemen, and goes into how the general HK area has been occupied basically since the dawning of time. There were a lot of random things that I had no idea about, and I really learned a lot. The older stuff seemed to get a little repetative after a while (around 1400-1700, but I'm not very familiar with Asian history in general so that may have affected things), but the more modern stuff (basically starting with the British) had a whole bunch of really interesting exhibits about various aspects of the culture and daily living. I would recommed planning at least half a day there (they seemed to close fairly early if I remember correctly, like 4-5ish), but one could easily spend several days in there. It also seemed like our taxi had a hard time finding it, but that may have just been us, since there were a bunch of taxis waiting around once we got there. >>> Thanks FerretAfros for the mini review, I've visited the website and at $10 Hong Kong dollars it doesn't seem like you can go wrong here. Sounds like a decent way to spend a few hours. The site offers a nice 10 minute video explaining the highlights. <a href="http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/History/en/intro.php" target="_blank">http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Muse...ntro.php</a> Are there other museums around Hong Kong that could be worth considering a visit to. I see the Hong Kong Scince museum is in the same complex.
Originally Posted By Malin <<< Wow, that stinks. Is this only for China? I wonder what would happen in my case (I'm an American living abroad in Japan). >>> Mr X from what I can gather its only a Chinese rule and is tempory, until after the olympics. Visa applicants are increasing in a large number and need longer waiting time in the visa office recently. If you don't reside or work in Hong Kong permanently, you are required to apply Chinese visa from the Embassy or Consulate-General of Peoples' Republic of China in your resident country. You are welcome to China for tourism, business, visit of the Olympic Games <a href="http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/bgfwxx/default.htm" target="_blank">http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/...ault.htm</a>
