Hong Kong Disneyland
Topic: Hong Kong must see attractions

#	Author	Message
1	Malin Wed 4/30/2008 4:47a	This has nothing to do with the Disneyland park, but I'm guessing in order to do some trip planning the mods will have no issue with me posting it in the HKDL section. Now on to my question I would like to know what are the must see attractions that are available to do in Hong Kong besides the Mouse. I already have a few must do things but I wanted to know what you all think! Already planned on the first night is a trip to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre for a James Blunt concert. I have purchased online a Hong Kong Disneyland Vaule Annual Passport, which I will be using maybe a couple of times during my trip. On Monday the 19th of May I have purchased a day ticket to Hong Kong Ocean Park, with intentions of avoiding the carnival type rides and concentrating on the Animal exibits and the views from the cable cars that travel up the summit. I think I'm going to dedicate 3-4 hours here. I also will be considering trips to the Peak and Macau. What do you think of the plan so far, and is there anything I'm missing out on here, that I simply must see. All advice would be welcomed and greatly apreciated.
2	SuperDry Wed 4/30/2008 9:20a	Sounds good so far. The Peak, via the funicular railroad (in operation over 100 years) is a must. What I'd recommend is go up there in the late afternoon, and include a walk around the road that circles the peak itself ("The Peak" stores/restaurants are not actually at the tip of the peak). It's about a 3km walk and has some great views. Then, stay for dinner so you have a chance to see the view once it's completely dark. Go back out Lugard Rd part way until you get to the place with the view - it's a better and different view than from "The Peak" itself IMHO, and will have almost no people. Be sure to walk along the waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui after dark, perhaps when the nightly light show goes on (8pm?). You mention Macau - another great day trip is Shenzhen, just over the border in mainland China. Unlike Hong Kong and Macau, you need a visa to go to Shenzhen. When I was last there, Shenzhen visas were available on the spot at the border. I hear this is definitely not possible any more for US passport holders, but may still be available for others. In any event, a full-blown Chinese visa can be obtained through your hotel's concierge in Hong Kong in about a day. It's very interesting to step over the border into the mainland and see how it's immediately apparent that you're in a different place. I don't know quite how to explain it, but they do manage to give off a "communist" feel almost right as you step over the line, but once you're through the immigration/customs checkpoint, you're loose in the city. And now, there's a subway in Shenzhen so it's easy to see things other than what's right at the border. There's also the Ngong Ping 360 gondolas that take you from near the airport to the top of a peak elsewhere on Lantau Island to see a famous giant outdoor Buddha. The gondolas are only a couple of years old and make it much easier to get to the Buddha. As far as other transportation, even though you'll probably spend a lot of time on the MTR (subway), don't miss at least one crossing of the harbor on the Star Ferry. And, also, if you're interested in infrastructure, check out the Mid-Levels Escalator System. It's just a series of outside escalators and speed ramps, but it's almost a km long and serves as a full-fledged mode of public transportation in its own right, perhaps unique in the world. In the evening, check out the Lan Kwai Fong and SoHo (in HK's case, South of Hollywood Road) neighborhoods. While you're in Hong Kong, you might as well also visit the famed Wan Chai area, a favorite stopping point for sailors on shore leave and others looking for trouble of one sort or another. But, it's safe to just walk down Lockhart Rd and see the area. Most importantly, just soak in the vibe of being there and the energy that is ever-present in Hong Kong. It's kind of hard to explain, but the city itself is the biggest attraction, and is more than the sum of its part.
3	davewasbaloo Wed 4/30/2008 12:28p	>>>And, also, if you're interested in infrastructure, check out the Mid-Levels Escalator System. It's just a series of outside escalators and speed ramps, but it's almost a km long and serves as a full-fledged mode of public transportation in its own right, perhaps unique in the world.<<< Superdry - FYI if you are ever in Barcelona, the Olympic Village has similar. Malin - I agree with SD, the Buddha, Funecular Railway, Light Show, and Star Ferries are a must.
4	leemac Wed 4/30/2008 12:41p	Lantau's Big Buddha is a must - especially as it is so easy to get there now (the old bus trip was harrowing). Victoria Peak is fun too - especially after the refurbishment. On a clear day the path around the peak allows you to see HKDL. Stanley market is fun if you like that sort of thing. Otherwise great shopping downtown around The Landmark hotel. The racetrack is also great fun if it is race season. If you love urban developments the IFC is a must - great architecture. Plus the Pacific Place complex at Admiralty.
5	leemac Wed 4/30/2008 12:43p	Macau is a definite trek - and can be expensive if you take the high speed transport alternatives. It is an incredible place - especially the Cotai Strip (which is the landfill between the two islands). I'm not convinced it is worth the effort unless you gamble. SEZ is an incredibly odd place - Western Town is just very freaky indeed. Again I'm not convinced you should go if you have never seen China before (SEZ is a very bad example of mainland China - it is far from indictive of the rest of the nation).
6	Malin Wed 4/30/2008 4:12p	Thank you all for the replys it appears I've probarely got more than enough to keep us occupied during the trip. SuperDry great recomendation to visit the Peak late Afternoon. I think it sounds like a plan to arrive take in the surrounding views, and enjoy the walk around the paths. Before checking out the EA Zone and Madame Tussauds, before catching a meal and checking the views out at night. Due to this being a first time I would request guilded tours for places like Macau and China. That way I get to catch a few of the main highlights. I'm not really a gambler but I'm guessing if you enjoy Vegas, you should like Macau. I'm guessing a day trip to Shenzhen is like a day trip from San Diego to Tijuana, not really a great deal to see or do but you visit anyway to say you've been. With the talk about not spending two full days at Disney I may consider a full day at the park, with the other day only spending half a day here and the remainder over at Ngong Ping 360, as I've heard its quite near the park. I will be taking all recomendations into consideration and I thank you all for posting them.
7	Mr X Wed 4/30/2008 5:20p	***Macau is a definite trek - and can be expensive if you take the high speed transport alternatives.*** I took the high speed boat and IIRC it took exactly one hour. I don't remember it being ridiculously pricy, but it was certainly more than the slower options. I did have plenty of time, so all I can say is the cost was not so shocking as to make me want to take the slower boat (and conversely, I did NOT take the helicopter as THAT particular price was way out of range lol). I'd agree that Macau is not essential unless you are a casino head like myself.
8	Mr X Wed 4/30/2008 5:21p	***SEZ is a very bad example of mainland China - it is far from indictive of the rest of the nation*** Does it have a similar boarder vibe to Tijuana? I felt like that place seemed very disconnected from the rest of Mexico that I've seen.
9	leemac Thu 5/1/2008 2:43a	SEZ is just a massive industrial city that effectively supplies HK (and a lot of the rest of the world now) with goods. It is a sprawling disaster of a city - Chinese cities typically have great town planning (except Shanghai) but SEZ was just left to grow as it felt it. You can't really appreciate how big it is until you have seen it from the air. It is definitely like HK's poorer brother but looks modern if nothing else.
10	leemac Thu 5/1/2008 2:45a	<<With the talk about not spending two full days at Disney I may consider a full day at the park, with the other day only spending half a day here and the remainder over at Ngong Ping 360, as I've heard its quite near the park. >> Yup - it connects to the MTR on Lantau at Tung Chung so it is an easy ride from HKDLR (albeit two MTR trains as you need to change at Sunny Bay).

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