Things to Do in China

Hong Kong, one of Asia’s biggest and most international cities, also enjoys one of the world’s most impressive skylines, particularly at night. With the Victoria Harbour splitting the city in two, Hong Kong is a forest of skyscrapers squeezed together in front of a backdrop of green hills on both the Hong Kong Island and Kowloon sides.

To fully appreciate the size and scope of Hong Kong’s downtown area, you need to see it from above, and there are a variety of ways to do it. One of the best and most popular views is from the top of Victoria Peak. The vantage point from the top of the funicular lets you see the South China Sea, Central, Kowloon and the mainland extending into the distance. For a similar view, though not a 360-degree one, head to the International Financial Centre Tower 2 (2IFC). You can register at the front desk to ride up to the public observation deck on the fiftyfifth floor free of charge (and other tourists).

At night, Hong Kong’s skyline lights up beautifully, and 44 of the skyscrapers on both sides of the harbor participate in the Symphony of Lights, a nightly light and laser show. For nighttime views of both sides of the skyline, take a harbor ferry cruise at or after sunset.

The Huangpu River, extending over 71 miles (113 kilometers), flows through the middle of Shanghai’s, dividing the city into two parts – Pudong to the east and Puxi to the west. The port where the river empties into the East China Sea has now become the largest port in China and in 2012 became the world’s busiest container port.

Walking along the Huangpu River juxtaposes the colonial buildings of Old Shanghai with the towering, ultramodern skyscrapers that now dominate the skyline. While it’s possible to experience the Huangpu River from the banks with a walk along the Bund, the best way to see both sides is on a river cruise.

Most cruises start from the Bund and go upstream before turning south towards the Yangpu bridge. Boats depart throughout the day, but after the sun sets and the buildings to either side of the river light up, the Shanghai skyline becomes even more impressive than usual.

In a modern international city like Hong Kong, public transportation is both abundant and efficient, so you’re never short on options for how to get around. If you really want the authentic Hong Kong experience, you should ride the Hong Kong tramways at least once.

The tramways in Hong Kong are one of the city’s earliest forms of public transportation, their use going back more than 100 years. They’re also one of the most environmentally friendly. It’s also the only tram system in the world to operate with only double-decker trams, which a known as the Ding Ding by locals.

You’ll find the trams running along Hong Kong Island from Shau Kei Wan to Kennedy Town on six major routes. They’re frequent and inexpensive, and you can use a Hong Kong Octopus card to pay your fare if you don’t happen to have change. Even if you don’t use the trams for transportation purposes, hop on one for an inexpensive people-watching excursion through one of the oldest parts of Hong Kong.

During the time when the Forbidden City served as the residence for the imperial family, the palace was divided into an inner and outer court. The outer court was where the emperor came to conduct official business, and the inner court served as the living quarters and private gardens for the royal family. In the days of the Ming Dynasty, only royal family members, the emperor’s concubines and eunuchs were allowed within the walls of the inner court.

Visitors enter the inner court by passing through the Gate of Heavily Purity (Qianqing Men) flanked by two bronze lion statues. Inside, the court contains three halls similar to the three found in the outer court. The Palace of Heavenly Purity was where the emperors lived until the 1720s, while the Hall of Union houses the throne of the empress. The third hall, the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, contains an imperial bedchamber of the empress. Behind the halls, you’ll find the Imperial Garden, a private retreat for the royal family members.

The amount of glass, steel and concrete in Hong Kong can be overwhelming but the city has several beautiful green lungs, the biggest and most central of which is Hong Kong Park.

Like everything in this city the park is innovative and modern. The design blends the sleek architecture of the surrounding areas with a more natural landscape. On a stroll you will find lush green fields and trees set against a backdrop of skyscrapers. The park's main motif is “flowing water,” and different areas are linked together by running streams, waterfalls and ponds.

The biggest attraction here is the Edward Youde aviary which features pink flamingos, vibrant parrots, goofy hornbills and many more species. Also spread out among the greenery are several historical sites including the former British army barracks. Between exploring the many playgrounds, sculptures and gardens it would be easy to forget you're in Hong Kong at all.

A former British colony, Hong Kong today is international and cosmopolitan, with diverse influences from China, Britain and beyond. While it is technically part of China, it really operates as its own country, with its own currency, laws and border controls. Vibrant, innovative and ever-changing, it is also one of the busiest deep water harbors in Asia and a prime shopping destination.

How to Get to Hong Kong
Cruise ships dock at the Ocean Terminal in Victoria Harbor, located on the southwestern edge of the Kowloon Peninsula. When you disembark there, you’ll be within easy walking distance of shops, restaurants and many major attractions, as well as the city’s underground transit system.

One Day in Hong Kong
With only one day in Hong Kong, you could easily spend most of your time on the Kowloon Peninsula. However, to see a bit more, start by taking the Star Ferry over to Hong Kong Island.  There, take the Peak Tram funicular railway up to Victoria Peak to enjoy 360 degree views around Hong Kong.  Spend some time along the walking trails that encircle the peak and then make your way back to Kowloon.

Your next stop should be the Hong Kong Museum of History, where you can spend a couple hours perusing innovative exhibits that offer a good look into Hong Kong’s fascinating past.  Other museums of interest include the International Hobby and Toy Museum, the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Dialogue in the Dark – a unique exhibition that requires you to explore using your non-visual senses in complete darkness.

Grab lunch and then it’s time to hit one of Hong Kong’s famous markets - the Ladies’ Market on Tung Chi Street, offering clothing, traditional souvenirs and sometimes tacky tchotchkes. From there, you might head to the Tsim Sha Tsui area for more shopping mixed in with colonial buildings and modern high-rises. Or, make your way to the Temple Street Night Market to enjoy a variety of entertaining street performers.

Beijing has modernized so rapidly that it’s hard to imagine what it must have been like in decades past. One neighborhood, however, has managed to hold on to its old-style hutong architecture: the Back Lakes (Hou Hai or Houhai). Named after the three Shichahai lakes in the area, the Back Lakes neighborhood is one of the last remaining places in Beijing where you can see traditional courtyard-style houses.

While wandering the hutongs allows visitors to see Beijing as it once was, the streets surrounding the lakes, particularly Hou Hai (the largest of the three) show you a modern, hip and multicultural side of Beijing. The banks are lined with shop, stalls, restaurants, bars and hookah dens catering to tourists, locals and the city’s sizable expatriate population alike, making it a fun and bustling place to browse for souvenirs. The breeze from the lake offers a respite from the heat, and boating activities are also available on the lake itself.

The best way to enjoy the Back Lakes area is to take a pedicab tour of the old hutong neighborhoods in the afternoon. Afterward, take a leisurely walk around the lake before settling in to a table at a restaurant or bar balcony for dinner and drinks as you watch the world go by.