Introduction
Hong Kong is a gap year favorite, and it’s easy to see why. It has everything going for it the food is amazing, the nightlife doesn’t stop and the shopping is unbeatable. The city is famous for its skyscrapers and neon lights, but it also has a dark underbelly of illegal trading, corruption, and organized crime. Hong Kong was colonized by Britain in 1841 and returned to China in 1997. Due to the lawlessness that still exists, there are many things you should know before heading out on your Gap Year adventure 1 – The weather can be extreme The summer months can be hot, humid, and stiflingly wet with temperatures reaching into the 90s (Fahrenheit). On the other hand winter, months can be chilly with temperatures dipping into the 40s! It’s best to pack light layers so you don’t get caught out 2 Choose your accommodation carefully There are lots of hotels but they can all feel a bit faceless you’ll want something with local character. Check out our pick of cool places to stay 3 – You’ll need your wits about you Keep your bags close as street crime is rife 4 – Don’t eat at chain restaurants You won’t find much authenticity outside of districts like Kowloon and Central 5 Head up Victoria Peak early morning or evening There are great views from up here 6 Learn how to bargain when visiting street markets Bargaining isn’t common practice in Hong Kong stores so only do this at street market stalls 7- Be careful of pickpockets They’re everywhere 8- Take care when visiting nightclubs They tend to attract criminals 9- A word about Touts They will try to take you off somewhere by saying that something has been canceled/closed 10- Buses have numbers as well as names This will help if English isn’t spoken at your destination.
Victoria Peak
Victoria Peak is the highest mountain on Hong Kong Island, and it offers one of the best views of the city. The best way to get there is by taking a ride on Hong Kong Tramways’ Peak Tram a fun experience that will give you a chance to see some of the city’s most famous landmarks from above.
The tram takes passengers from Central towards Victoria Gap Road, then curves up past Old Peak Road before reaching its final destination at Victoria Peak Village. It takes about 15 minutes to reach the top and that’s if you don’t stop at any of the stops along the way! This trip can easily take up half your day if you want to do everything there is to do here; we recommend spending two or three hours exploring all that this area has to offer before heading back down again (or catching another tram).
Ladies Market
Located in the heart of Kowloon, the Ladies Market is a must-visit. It’s famous for its cheap and colorful merchandise, including clothes, accessories, and souvenirs from China. The market is located near Jordan MTR station; you can take Exit B2 and walk along Nam Cheong St towards Yue Cheung Rd. It’s about 15 minutes away from the MTR station by foot.
You can find a lot of cute items here at really affordable prices! If you want to buy something for yourself or as a gift for someone, this place should be your first choice as it has really good deals on clothes/accessories/souvenirs from China! Just make sure that whatever item you buy in the market comes with an official receipt so that when you leave HK (and go through border control), they won’t have any problems with letting you bring them back into Singapore because they will think that they are fake goods if there isn’t any proper paperwork proving otherwise 🙂
Hong Kong Park
Hong Kong Park is a great place to visit. It’s a great place to take photos, which is why it’s also a well-known spot for wedding photographers. It’s also a great place to relax, especially if you enjoy nature and the scenery around you while doing so!
The weather in Hong Kong can be pretty unpredictable; so if you’re going there during the winter months (December through February), I recommend bringing an umbrella with you at all times. This way, if it starts raining unexpectedly or if there are any sudden changes in temperature like one day being sunny and another day raining cats and dogs (literally), then at least your clothes won’t get wet because they’ll already be protected by that trusty little piece of cloth called “an umbrella” — which happens to come in handy quite often when visiting this country!
Wong Tai Sin Temple
The Wong Tai Sin Temple is a famous Taoist temple in Hong Kong, and it’s the most popular temple in Hong Kong. It’s located at Wong Tai Sin Park, which is next to Light Rail 2 station in this district.
The Wong Tai Sin Temple is dedicated to the god of wealth and business, so people come here for worship every day. The temple has been rebuilt several times over its long history, but its main structure remains as it was before World War II. Many people come here at nightfall to pray for their wishes to be granted by the gods inside this building!
Stanley Market
The Stanley Market is known as one of the best markets in Hong Kong. It’s extremely popular with locals and tourists alike, especially during the weekend. If you are looking to buy things that aren’t available anywhere else in Hong Kong, this is going to be your go-to-market.
This market has everything from clothing and accessories to art pieces and souvenirs. There are even local foods like dumplings! The market also features live performances by musicians or singers from time to time which adds a lot of energy to the atmosphere of this place.
If you’re interested in visiting this place but don’t know how to get there or what time would be best for you, then just follow these steps: First of all take MTR line 15 towards either Pok Fu Lam or Aberdeen station depending on where exactly you’re going (let’s say Aberdeen). After getting off at Aberdeen station take exit B1a and walk straight until Caine Road where after five minutes’ walk away from MTR exit A2b (which is next door) turn left onto Hollywood Road until reaching Stanley Street where after another five minutes walk uphill will bring us directly into Stanley Market!
Clock Tower, Kowloon
The Clock Tower is a popular tourist attraction. It is located in Tsim Sha Tsui and was built to commemorate the coronation of Queen Victoria on June 9th, 1887. It was completed on January 1st, 1912, and officially opened on February 12th of that same year. People visit this place to admire its beauty and also enjoy the view of one of Hong Kong’s most famous landmarks, Victoria Harbour.
In addition to being a famous landmark, it is also a meeting point for tourists as well as locals who want to take pictures with their friends or family members while they wait for something important like transportation or an appointment with someone else nearby.
Lan Kwai Fong/SoHo
Lan Kwai Fong/SoHo is located in Central, the main business district of Hong Kong. It is a popular tourist attraction with many bars, restaurants, and shops. It’s also a good place for to people watch and shop at night.
The area is famous for its red-light district where you will find many clubs and bars where people go to drink alcohol or dance all night long until the early hours of the morning.
Lantau Island
While there are many things to do in Hong Kong, no trip would be complete without visiting Lantau Island.
Lantau is the largest outlying island of Hong Kong and its home to several interesting locations, including:
- A range of waterfalls and hiking trails that are perfect for a day trip or weekend getaway with friends
- Some great beaches with white sand and crystal clear waters
- The famous Big Buddha statue on top of Tian Tan Mountain. This is one of the most iconic sights on Lantau Island! The Tian Tan Buddha sits 230 meters tall (or 738 ft), making it one of the tallest statues in the world. It’s also well worth climbing up there for sunset or sunrise views overlooking Tung Chung town below!
Hong Kong is a Great Travel Destination
Hong Kong is a great travel destination. It’s not only because it has such beautiful scenery, but also because of the many places that you can visit and explore in Hong Kong. There are many things to do in Hong Kong and each one has its unique style. Whether you want a beach break or an adventure, there is plenty to choose from in this city!
Conclusion
As Hong Kong is a small and densely packed city, it’s easy to visit all of these places on Weekends. There are loads of accommodation options, from serviced apartments to hotels and hostels, catering to all budgets. And don’t worry about the language barrier English is widely spoken throughout Hong Kong.
