Lovin' it at Hong Kong: Itinerary Must-Haves

It has been 9 long years since my last visit to Hong Kong. Within those years of absence, Hong Kong has continued to flourish and sparkle as a perfect travel destination. That said, my latest trip to this Asian food and shopping paradise was one that's filled with lots of new discoveries.

Unfortunately, we had very limited time available. With only 2 and a half days worth to roam around the city, we made our top 3 must-visit places and made sure to include this in our tight schedule.

Avenue of Stars and Symphony of Lights

As I was creating our trip itinerary, Paul just made one tiny request. This is to visit the place where you can see the statue of Bruce Lee. I was initially dumbfounded. Where on earth will I find this place? After much research, I finally landed here.

Luck must have been on our side as this is within walking distance from our hotel. So, on our first day, we headed towards the Hong Kong Harbor in Tsim Sha Tsui to check out the Avenue of Stars.

We passed through the MTR tunnel and came out at SOGO where we stopped for a quick lunch. Following the signs inside the adjacent mall, we finally reached the strip where we came face-to-face with none other than Bruce Lee, himself.

Oh, Paul had a blast taking photos of the hand prints that lined up the entire harbor strip. We also checked out the souvenir shops and drooled over the yummy smell of grilled cuttlefish. We enjoyed walking hand-in-hand with the cool breeze blowing on our faces. For me, the perfect time to visit the Avenue of Stars is in the late afternoon when the sun is about to set and you can take your time while waiting for the Symphony of Lights.

I'm a lover of the arts and I truly appreciate an artistic production most especially when it is composed of lights and music. I'd say, the highlight of my Day One in Hong Kong was the sight of the most beautiful skyscrapers covered all over with lights that goes on and off to the beat of the music. It's truly a sight to behold and everyone who visits Hong Kong should watch this. After all, with its three viewing points, there's really no reason to miss the Symphony of Lights. You can watch the show along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, the promenade at the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai (Hong Kong Island) or on board one of the sightseeing ferries in the Victoria Harbour.

Victoria Peak

This spot is actually a re-discovery as it has been a childhood favorite of mine. I love riding the Tram that takes us up to The Peak. Arriving at The Peak, we marvel at the view that one can see of the entire city.

While at The Peak, you can also visit the Madame Tussauds Museum (HKD 150) that showcases famous celebrities such as Jackie Chan, Barack Obama and Yao Ming. Nature-lovers can also try hiking through the four trails available. Shopping fans and food lovers will also enjoy with the numerous shops and food outlets found there.

How to get there: From the Star Ferry pier, we took bus 15C which has an open top where we were able to enjoy the view as the bus brings us to the Lower Tram Terminus.

Mongkok

I've mentioned a lot of times that Hong Kong is every shopper's haven. Being a bargain shopping fan, I made sure that we get to visit Mongkok during the 2nd day in Hong Kong. Despite having tired legs and aching shoulders, we took the MTR to Mongkok to visit the infamous Ladies Market.

The Ladies Market is a long street lined up with bargain stalls selling clothes, souvenir items, shoes, bags and a lot more. Contrary to its name, the market does not only cater to the ladies but also to the gentlemen as well.

We spent the rest of the evening satisfying our shopaholic hearts with the cutest trinkets, tops and shoes. Of course, haggling is a must here. You'd be surprise with how low some stalls can go.

There are still a lot of places to see in Hong Kong but for this short trip, I'm glad that we were able to visit these three exciting spots that has surely made it all worthwhile.

Of course, there's still more sights such as the Hong Kong Disneyland, the Lantau Island, Ngong Ping 360 and a lot more!

* Symphony of Lights photo by Paul Ang

Related post:
Lovin' it at Hong Kong: 101