We chose our hotel situated in WanChai. It is not a very popular choice for many people, because WanChai itself, one district in Hongkong, neither is a shopping zone nor has many scenic spots. It is the very reason for that prices of hotels in WanChai are cheaper than other hotels. However, WanChai has a very good transportation network and you can find tube, old metro bus and boats there. And our hotel is very close to the Tube station, ten minutes' walk and also WanChai is adjacent to those tourist hot spots, eg. Causeway Bay, the Central. These are all places we would like to visit. So we made such choice and it proved that our choice is a wise one. But if you like to visit Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui, or KowLoon, WanChai would not be desirable because it is based in Hong Kong Island, the south side of the Victoria bay.
We arrived in the hotel by the hotel bus shuttle from the airport on the early morning of the first day. Because we got many luggages, we decided to use the shuttle. As soon as we were trapped in the traffic jam, we regretted. The whole trip took almost 3 hours.
After checking in, we ventured out to start our discovery. The first thing we did is to get an Octopus card at the WanChai tube station. Different from the Octopus card in London, the deposit is required for 50 hk$ as the credit and passengers are only allowed to use the credit once. Also the recharge only accepts times of 100hk$. Then we took the tube to cross the bay.
We got out at Jordan station from Exit D and arrived at Nathan Road. There are a lot of fashion or jewellery shops along the road. Toward the north, we located Austin Road and walking along it, we found Kimberrey road. There is Knutsford Steps and taking the stairs, we found out a hub of international restaurants and pubs. It is in the city centre but it is very quiet and we all liked the atmosphere there. After Knutsford Zone, we walked back along Nathan road and went to Kowloon Park. There we surprisingly found a lovely animal park, swans and all kinds of flamingos having their sunbath in the lake. We sat on the bench and had our Hongkong style breads and cakes as our small lunch. If you visit this park, do find the exit which leads you to the bay. We accidentally found this exit and walking across a bridge and a golden colored hotel, we arrived at one Bay-View platform from which you could have a gorgeous view of Hongkong island. Then we went back along the path we came and got out of the park from the exit which is close to the Temple Street, a very old and well known street in Tsim Sha Tsui. Then we took the tube to get to Mong Kok, two stations away. It is very crowded there, similar to Oxford Road. Tired of walking in the crowd, we retreated in one Shopping Mall, LangHam Place. We like super escalators there and we took the escalators to go to the top and then walked down along the stairs to see all kinds of shops. We also found a very good restaurant in this place called Ming Court which has very good price among ones ranked with two Michelin stars.
After the Mung Kok, it was already 6pm and we went back to Tsin Sha Tsui. Waling along "Avenue of Stars", we arrived at the spot to watch "Symphony of Lights" starting from 8pm. It is must-see stuff and all skyscrapers around the bay came back to live with all dynamics of lightening. When it was finished, we went to the dock and took the Star ferry to go back WanChai (Yes, there is ferry dock in WanChai!). Before 10 pm we went back to the hotel and ended our first day in Hongkong.
The second day! We went out at 8am and took the metro and arrived in Sheung Wan, three stations away. First we went to a Congee restaurant recommended by a Chinese Gourmet, Cai Lan. Take the A2 exit and look for a street called Hillier Street. The restaurant called "Sheng Ji" is there. Now it has more than one shop along one street. Obviously it is very well known and the place which sells congee was already full. We had to stay at its another branch and they delivered the congee cooked next door to our table. The congee was delicious and definitely recommend it for those who love congee, because my husband had not have congee that often, after having a big bowl of congee, he did not feel that good but he did appreciate the taste.
After the breakfast, we went back to where the tube station is and the Western Market is nearby. It is an Edwardian building. Then by following the directions in its Compass Square, we arrived at the Seafood market which sells all kinds of dried seafood, such as abalone, sea cucumber and dried fish. Then we passed by the birdnest market and other markets selling herbs or something else. It was not difficult for us to find the well known antique market as well. Walking along the Hollywood road, we walked from the Sheung Wan to the Central. Then we reached the longest outdoor escalator. It is single direction, going up after 10am and going down from 7am to 10am. We had to go down the hill to meet one friend at lunch time so it was pity that we could not take it. The views and streets at each entrance are very nice. We had lunch with our friend in the Central and then she brought us to have dessert at one well known Hongkong Caferia, "Tan Dao" which was once used as a shooting place for one movie where a famous pop singer Jack Zhang was acting. We had very delicious tarts and fruit tea there. Then we passed by the towers of Bank of China, HSBC, Bank of American and came to the ticketing office for Peak Tram, a must-go place. The queue was long and after half an hour, we were in the tram and landed on the very top of the TaiPing Hill. The whole view of Hongkong is laid out in front ot us. When we came back to the central, it was already 6pm. Then we treated us a Hongkong style dinner.
The third day! On the morning, we got out from the Central MTR station and intended to take the escalator up the hill. Then we realised that we were too early and the escalator was going down. So again we had to climb up stairs. First we found a western cafeteria where there is Wifi. We had our breakfast and used the wifi there. Then according to its road signs, it was very easy for us to find Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Museum. We spent two hours there. When we got out, it was 12pm and we were all very hungry already. Again, we climbed down the stairs in the opposite direction of where the escalator is going and got out from one exit where the žó÷ëœÖ(Ge Ling Jie, sorry for forgetting its English name) is. The most famous restaurant for cooking snakes is right in front of us, She Wang Fen. We challenged our nerves and tasted the snake here. Many gourmets have come here and we ordered dished with good recommendations. They did taste delicious. After the lunch, we took the tube to visit "Lan Tau Peak" and the Giant Buddha. Lan Tau is out of the city centre so one afternoon should be allowed for this trip. It is one hour's trip to go there by train. Then we took the tram for half an hour to reach the top of the Lan Tau Moutain. In the tram we could view the Hongkong airport very clearly and watched those giant planes taking off one by one. The giant buddha itself and the process of building it are very impressive. When we were back from Lan Tau, it was already 6pm. Then we went to Causeway Bay, another district we have not been. It is a shopping centre, known for many shopping malls, eg. Times Square. We did not have some shopping plans so we had a look around. It is very crowded so we were not particularly fond of it. We tried some local delicacies in a restaurant called "Chi Ji" situated at Luo Su Street, on the right side of the front gate of Times Square. Then we went to a well known dessert shop Xu Liu Shan and had our dessert there.
Walking back toward Wan Chai and enjoying the night views of Hongkong, we caught DingDang bus which is the oldest bus on rails back to our hotel and ended our three days' tour in Hongkong happily.
The morning after, we decided to take the Airport Express to go to the airport. Although we got plenty of luggages, we did not particularly hard to carry them to do transference from one station to another. The trip was efficient and very comfortable. We enjoyed our trip so much that we decided to keep our Octopus cards with us for next time!
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