Hong Kong is a vibrant city that offers many sightseeing opportunities to visitors. From world-class museums to ancient-old temples, the city has something for everyone.
If you're looking for a culturally-rich experience, don't miss out on the city's street markets. These lively places are filled with enthusiastic vendors selling everything from clothing to electronics and souvenirs.
1. Kowloon Walled City
Once part of the Chinese empire, Kowloon Walled City became an enclave in British colonial Hong Kong after the Opium Wars. The Qing dynasty, however, never fully ceded control over the area, and the British eventually decided to destroy it.
While the area largely remained lawless and a hotbed of criminal activity, it also grew to become home to a variety of small businesses. Some, like the noodle factory in this photo, were opened by local entrepreneurs.
As more and more squatters took up residence, they began to build their own buildings on the Walled City's site. This was a common practice in Hong Kong, as rents were low and there was no need for business licenses or permits.
2. Hong Kong Museum of History
The Hong Kong Museum of History offers an overview of the territory's natural, archaeological, ethnographic, and local history. Its eight galleries and hundreds of exhibits include life-size dioramas and multimedia displays.
The permanent displays begin with faux geological rocks that represent the volcanic origins of Hong Kong - a great entry point to get a sense of its long and fascinating history. Moving on, the permanent exhibits take visitors through the Neolithic era to Hong Kong's evolution as a fishing village and modern metropolis.
The Hong Kong Museum of History is also home to a number of other attractions and special exhibitions. For example, it runs a "Recreating a Classic" temporary exhibit which takes a journey through 400 million years of Hong Kong's history in a highly interactive and immersive way.
3. Ocean Park
Ocean Park is Hong Kong's largest marine-themed amusement park and a great destination for family fun. Located on the southern part of the island, it features modern world-class thrill rides, state-of-the-art aquariums and land and aquatic zoo areas for all ages to enjoy.
The park is separated into two main sections: the Summit (Headland) and the Waterfront (Lowland). Its attractions are divided into eight zones: Amazing Asian Animals, Aqua City, Whiskers Harbour, Marine World, Polar Adventure, Adventure Land, Thrill Mountain, and Rainforest.
Visitors can explore different themes, including Old Hong Kong, a section evoking the streets of Hong Kong in the 1950s and 1960s from different perspectives. The park also offers special animal experiences where you can meet your favourite animals up close and learn about their lives and conservation issues.
4. Lai Chi Wo
The northeastern New Territories is home to many stunning natural landscapes, with Lai Chi Wo – a 300-year-old Hakka walled village – offering a perfect escape from the city. With diversified habitats ranging from mature Fung Shui wood to secondary forest, shrub land, freshwater streams, agricultural wetland, mangrove, mud flat, rocky shore and inner sea, the area boasts a wealth of biodiversity.
A UNESCO Global Geopark, the once-thriving village has recently gained a new lease of life and is now a popular destination for hikers and ecotourists. Farmers are back growing rice and vegetables, while old homes have been converted into visitor centres.
5. Sky100
Located on the 100th floor of the International Commerce Centre (ICC), Sky100 Hong Kong is the only indoor observation deck in the city offering 360-degree views of Hong Kong Island, Victoria Harbour and Kowloon Peninsula. It's also home to a large-scale interactive multimedia exhibit and a comprehensive guest center.
Among the features that make Sky100 one of the top attractions in Hong Kong is its 28-metre-long multimedia story wall which showcases 100 fascinating local tales and anecdotes told from a local perspective. It also has Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality installations that offer visitors a brand new experience of the city.
