Hong Kong is one of our favorite places to visit because it has everything! Delicious food, beautiful beaches and green areas, a stunning skyline, boat tours, a nightly light show, and much more!
Although Hong Kong is a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China, its geography is unique as there are three main territories: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. There are also 260 smaller islands located around Hong Kong, so visitors can enjoy the best of both worlds: the amenities of a major city and the thrill of being on an island.
Here are 23 pictures to inspire you to visit Hong Kong!
Victoria Peak
One of the main tourist attractions in Hong Kong is Victoria Peak. This is thanks to the stunning view you get from the top. Victoria Peak is 1,811 feet above sea-level, so you can easily see all the unique skyscrapers, Victoria Harbor, and some of the surrounding islands.
Getting to the top is easy as you can take an old-fashioned tram from the bottom. Alternatively, you can take the bus, hail a taxi, or even hike to the top.
Once at the top, you will be greeted by Peak tower mall with cute shops, cafes, and restaurants. Head to the top to get to the observation platform and enjoy the view.
The Choi Hung Estate
The Choi Hung Estate basketball court may seem like a strange tourist attraction, but it has grown in popularity thanks to the rainbow-colored building. Photographers love the area because of the unique shots they can get there, like the ones above.
As the Choi Hung Estate is an active housing area with tons of residents using the basketball courts, try to be respectful. As beautiful as it is, this is their space, and you don’t want to try to take it over. Look for an empty court to avoid interrupting any basketball games.
Temples
As Hong Kong residents are predominantly Buddhist, there are plenty of beautiful Buddhist temples around that tourists can visit.
One of our favorites is the Man Mo Temple pictured above. It is centrally located and has been around since 1847, so it provides a great juxtaposition between the old temple and the new skyscrapers nearby.
Another great temple to visit is Po Lin Monastery, home of Hong Kong’s Big Buddha. This Buddha is aptly named as it is 34-metres tall and weighs 250-tonnes. Po Lin Monastery is on Lantau Island, so it makes a great day trip.
If you’re looking for a great temple to visit on Kowloon, look no further than Wong Tai Sin Temple. It is not solely a Buddhist temple but is dedicated to Taoism and Confucianism as well. All three religions inspire the design, so it’s one of the most unique temples we’ve seen.
Markets
No trip to Asia is complete without a visit to a market, and Hong Kong has plenty to offer. One of the most popular ones is Temple Street Night Market, open daily from 7 pm to 10 pm. The market is easily accessible by public transport, just find the nearest MTR station.
At Temple Street Night Market, visitors can find clothes, souvenirs, toys, jewelry, and much more. Of course, a night market wouldn’t be complete without food, which Temple Street Night Market has plenty of.
If you’re looking for a great daytime market, the Cat Street Antique Market has plenty to offer. Despite the name, you can find more than just antiques at this market. It’s a great place to find a unique gift for your friends and family.
Jade is well-known and loved in Chinese culture, so if you’re on the hunt for the best jade, Yua Ma Tei Jade Market is a great place to stop. You can find plenty of jade, pearls, and gems either lose or in necklaces, earrings, bangles, and much more.
Victoria Harbour
One of the best parts of Hong Kong is Victoria Harbor. The harbor is a channel between Hong Kong Island and the mainland, so to get from one to the other, you will need to stop at Victoria Harbor.
But there’s plenty more to do at Victoria Harbor than just take a boat across the channel. One of our favorite things to do is take a bot tour on a junk boat, retro Chinese boat, historic ferry, or even a big cruise ship. You can choose from different packages as you can have afternoon tea on board, lunch, a dinner buffet, or just drinks. You can even enjoy the daily light show, A Symphony of Lights, from a boat!
Before or after your boat tour, you can visit the rest of the harbor area. There is a cute little carnival with a Ferris wheel that will help you enjoy the skyline from another perspective.
See all the islands
As Hong Kong is made up of more than 200 islands, there’s plenty to see! Most people choose to stay on Hong Kong Island or the mainland as they are the most central. Getting from one island to the other is easy as the main ones are all connected by public transport.
If you are visiting Hong Kong to go to the iconic Disneyland, you may want to stay on Lantau Island instead. Lantau Island is also home to the Big Buddha we mentioned earlier, so it’s a great place to stay.
Lamma Island is the third largest island in Hong Kong and is much less visited by tourists. But, if you have time, it’s a great island. Lamma Island is home to hipster and creative types, so there are plenty of boutiques, craft stores, cafes, and beautiful hiking trails. It is very different from the rest of Hong Kong, so it’s worth a stop!