Hong Kong

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Hong Kong Island
(part 2)



Hong Kong Island (part 1)

Get off from MTR in the direction of Wing Lok Street from where many small roads take you up the hill to Hollywood Road, which then leads into Lower Lascar Road (known to tourists as Cat Street). In these streets are a myriad of antique and bric-a-brac shops, the perfect place for unusual souvenirs or, possibly, genuine antiques for the serious collectors. Most of the side streets in this area are packed with stalls selling cheap clothing, leather goods, food and everything needed in everyday life at prices that you will not find in the shopping plazas.

MTR: 1. Sheung Wan

Chi Kung Miu (Red Building)

Kuan Yin Miu (Goddess of Mercy Temple)

Hong Kong Island Map

Between the junction of Hollywood Road and Ladder Street, is the Man Mo Temple. It was built in Ching Dynasty - 1847, dedicated to two deities, "Man Cheong Tai" (deity of Literature - sitting on the left ) and "Kung Tai" (deity of War - sitting on the right).

Actually "Man" stands for Studying and "Mo" stands for Martial arts. Normally for those would like to acquire wisdom and good results in their studies could make a wish whilst touching the golden hand with a pen in front of "Man" deity; those wishing to acquire righteousness or honesty should make a wish whilst touching the golden knife in front of "Mo".

This temple is never short of worshipers, offering incense and food to the deities especially during the first and the fifteenth-day of each Chinese lunar month, Chinese New Year, major festivals and before or after the school terms. The temple next door, houses different deities and Buddha(s).

It is well worth to look around, slowly witnessing the bustle and activities of the locals, or offering incense to the deities and make some wishes like the locals do. You never know "wishes may come true" !

Opening hours: 8:00am to 6:00pm every day. Open at 7:00am for some special days.

MTR: 1. Sheung Wan

Man Mo Temple

Temple next to Man Mo Temple

Ko Shing Street, Bonham Strand Street, Burd Street, Jervois Street, etc.

To experience traditional Chinese life, the area around Wing Lok Street is the best place to explore; packed with shops selling herbs, dry food, tea, whole-sale shops, bird's nest, snake shops to name but a few. In this area many of the traditional, old Chinese Buildings do not give way to the skyscrapers but stand proudly side by side with them. It is worth a walk around, searching for this type of building and absorbing the interesting local life style.

MTR: 1. Sheung Wan

Herbs shop

Traditional Chinese Building



Herbs shop

If you have a day to spare, take an hour high speed Jetfoil to Macau from here. It is well worthwhile taking time to explore this place. Visa will be granted upon arrival.

MTR: 1. Sheung Wan

Wan Chai

Wan Chai is the home of "Suzie Wong", known for its rasping nightlife especially at the western end of Lock Hart Road and Jaffe Road, where pubs, discos and bars are located. During the day, it is worth a visit to the side roads between Johnston Road and Queen's Road East, where you can find street markets selling all types of vegetables and livestock, traditional Chinese pawn shops, old Chinese buildings, all sorts of small shops, factory outlets etc.

MTR: 4. Wan Chai

Hennessy Road

Traditional Pawn Shop

Follow the sign when exiting from MTR, after walking pass the tallest building in Hong Kong (Central Plaza), you will reach the Convention Center. This is a massive sea-facing building which has the world's largest "glass curtain" (seven storeys high window). Go up to the 7th floor where a superb harbor view will detain you for a long time. The new wing with its distinctive roof structure was the location for the Hong Kong handover to China, which took place at midnight on the 30th June 1997. (see photo below - CC)

MTR: 4. Wan chai

Arts Center

Located at 2 Harbour Road, a different variety of local and international exhibitions are sited in here throughout the year.

MTR: 4. Wan Chai

Museum of Chinese Historical Relics

Located at 29 Harbour Road Causeway Centre, it permanently exhibits China's cultural treasures.

MTR: 4. Wan Chai

Causeway Bay

Hennessey Road

Enormous number of restaurants can be found in this area and also the popular shopping area for the locals.

MTR: 5. Causeway Bay

Hennessy Road

Time Square

From MTR follow the exit into Times Square where there is a multitude of hotels, shops (including a branch of the famous Lane Crawford), plazas, restaurants and other places of interest. This is one of the busier areas of Hong Kong, so be prepared for large crowds on the pavements.

MTR: 5. Causeway Bay

Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter

This is situated by the waterfront in front of World Trade Center, where junks, sampans and yachts will moor during the typhoon season.

MTR: 5. Causeway Bay

Victoria Park Hong Kong Island Map - F

This is the biggest park in Hong Kong, offers numbers of sporting facilities, open space for relaxation, children's playground..etc. One could also join the early morning Tai-chi class with the locals in order to witness a different life-style.

MTR: 5. Causeway Bay

This is a world-class horse-racing-course, with the world's largest 35x8 meters Diamond Vision Screen. Races operated twice a week from September to June.

Transport: Happy Valley Tram (see Public Transport)

Aberdeen

Countless numbers of boats, sampans and junks in the harbor are the big attraction in this area. Getting into one of the sampans for a trip to a famous floating restaurant or touring around the harbor is a must in order to experience the unusual rowing method of propulsion favored by the "boat people".

Town center

By the water front

Ocean Park

Close by to Aberdeen is the Oceanaria theme park which is worth to stay for a full day visit, also experiencing the connected cable car and escalator.

A special city bus no 629 from Star Ferry in Central and Admiralty (MTR), or take green minibus No.6 from Star Ferry Pier (Hong Kong Island) - daily except Sunday and public holiday.

Stanley

This is popular market town for locals and tourists located on the southern side of Hong Kong, full of market stalls, small shops, restaurants etc. Of special interest is the large building known as Murray House, which used to be the headquarters of the Public Works Department located in Central; it was taken down and rebuilt in its present location.

Take Bus No. 6, 6X or 260 from Exchange Square in Central or go to Chai Wan via MTR (exit C), take green minibus No. 16M.

Public Transport Map

Beaches

Several beautiful beaches are located on the Southern side of the Island, such as Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay and Shek O.