We began our first and only full day in Hong Kong bright and early. With so much to do in Hong Kong and such little time available, we planned a day full of things to see and do. We started with breakfast at a sit down in Tsim Sha Tui that we came across on our way to the MTR station. There were plenty of dishes to choose from, most of which combined breakfast meats with Hong Kong noodles. They also offered more Western options such as bacon, scrambled eggs, and toast. This is the meal where Emily fell in love with lemon tea which she continued to crave throughout our time in Hong Kong.
Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car
First on our list of things to do was to take the Ngong Ping 360 cable car on Lantau Island to see the Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery. For many people, the cable car is simply the fastest way to visit the Tian Tan Buddha, as it sits high atop the hills of Lantau Island in Ngong Ping village. For us, the cable car ride was the main event. A glass-bottom cable car ride amidst the lush, green hills and scenic bodies of water surrounding Lantau Island provided an almost insurmountable aerial view of the region. The ride lasts about 20 minutes and is not for the height-fearing traveler. Even Emily (who, previously unknown to me, has a hidden “discomfort” with heights) was slightly bothered by the glass-bottomed gondola swaying in the wind high above land. Still, if you and your travel companions can tough it out, the views from this ride are breathtaking, and you won’t regret mustering up the courage to give it a try.
Here are a few tips if you’re planning to take the Ngong Ping 360. The cable car leaves from the Tung Chung MTR station. The entrance is easily found right outside the station with plenty of signage visible as soon as you depart the train. Buy your tickets in advance! Our tickets only cost about $35 USD for the round trip crystal (glass-bottom) on the way up and standard cable car return. Buying in advance allowed us to be the very first passengers in line and avoid major waiting lines. The Ngong Ping 360 opens at 10:00AM, and I would recommend going first thing in the morning, even if you booked advance tickets. Also, there is a Starbucks both at the Tung Chung MTR station exit as well as at the top of the cable car ride in Ngong Ping village for those coffee addicts such as myself.
Tian Tan Buddha
The crown jewel at Ngong Ping is certainly the Tian Tan Buddha. While we were disappointed to learn the structure was completely somewhat recently in 1993, it is still impressive and a neat link to Hong Kong culture. The Big Buddha sits at the top of 268 steps and offers panoramic 360 degree views of Lantau Island. You’ll certainly feel winded once you reach the top (keep in mind, you’re already at altitude), but the views are worth the trek. There is a booth at the bottom of the steps that will try and sell you tickets to enter the Buddha, but walking to the top and observing the views is free of charge. There are also six other bronze statues surrounding the Tian Tan Buddha that are equally as beautiful. The scale of the Big Buddha truly is impressive; it can be seen from quite a distance from the Ngong Ping 360 (as shown above in the pictures) as well as from your plane as you fly out of Hong Kong International on a clear day.
Po Lin Monastery
Just steps from the base of the Tian Tan Buddha is the entrance to the Po Lin Monastery. This monastery has been functional since the early 1900’s and is certainly worth visiting while at Ngong Ping. Unfortunately, photos are not allowed inside the monastery buildings, but what lies within are many beautiful bronze sculptures and statues, including the Grand Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas. With birds chirping throughout the grounds and the smell of incense burning, this Buddhist monastery will open your eyes to the beauty of Buddhism.
Following a cable car ride back down to Tung Chung, we hopped back on the MTR and rode to Hong Kong Island. We had planned to take the peak tram to Victoria Peak to grab those unforgettable views of the Hong Kong cityscape. Unfortunately, our fears became reality when we arrived to find a wait of multiple hours to board the peak tram. We wish we could have gone to the peak, but with only 36 hours in Hong Kong, this had to be abandoned, as neither of us wanted to waste precious time waiting in line.
I would definitely recommend attempting to get in line for the peak tram first thing in the morning. From those I’ve talked to and the research I’ve done, lines tend to be very long at any other time of the day. If we had one more morning in Hong Kong (the following day we had to be at the airport by noon and feared we would miss our flight if we tried to squeeze Victoria Peak in) we would certainly have arrived early to see Hong Kong from its most picturesque point. Also, give yourself extra time to arrive at the tram station. You can either walk or take a bus from Central MTR station. We chose to walk and found the walk to be a little longer than we had assumed with poor signage guiding the way.
Mong Kok Markets: Flowers, Birds, and Everything Else
After we decided to pass on Victoria Peak, we decided to make our way to Mong Kok for more market browsing, people watching, and true Hong Kong magic. Once again we traveled by MTR north to Prince Edward station and walked from there. There were street signs guiding pedestrians to the each of the Flower, Bird, and Ladies Markets. We first visited the Flower Market which included street after street of roadside shops selling fresh flowers. Emily was in heaven, and I found that delightful.
After walking through the Flower Market, we made our way to the Bird Market. Since Hong Kong is such as urban development, many of its residents can only have birds for pets. The Bird Market serves several functions: it is a place for Hong Kong residents to shop for pet birds, food, and supplies as well as a place where Hongkongers can bring their birds to socialize. Like any market in Hong Kong, vendors will make offers and specials if you are inclined to purchase, but we just walked through the market and had many good laughs.
We continued walking through Mong Kok markets and stopped to eat some Hong Kong dim sum. A trip to Hong Kong would not be complete without giving dim sum cuisine a try. I didn’t love it, but maybe you will. We walked to the Ladies’ Market, which is named for the low-price women’s clothing and accessories that you can buy. It is also sometimes referred to as “Goldfish Market” because there are multiple shops selling fish. We also walked by pet stores selling adorable puppies and kittens that were pint-sized and perfectly appropriate for Hong Kong residents.
Rooftop Bar Happy Hour Drinks, Hong Kong Skyline, and More Markets
We needed a little break after a long day of traveling all over Hong Kong, so we returned to our hotel for a quick nap and refresh. Since we were not able to see Hong Kong from above at Victoria Peak, we decided we would try for the next best thing: a rooftop bar! What a good decision! Many of Hong Kong’s best rooftop bars are on Hong Kong island in Lan Kwai Fong, a bar district popular with travelers and business professionals alike. Rather than travel across the harbour, we decided to try a bar just down the road in Tsim Sha Tui recommended to us by a friend, Qi – Nine Dragons. We were a little hesitant as this is the sister location of Qi, a Michelin 1-star restaurant known for spicy Sichuan cuisine, and we did not want to have to wait or pay a fortune to enjoy the view. What we discovered was a nearly-empty bar on the twentieth floor of the Prince Tower with happy hour drinks from 6:00-9:00PM. Drinks were only about $8 USD with plenty of options on the happy hour menu. We conveniently happened to drop in right at 8:00PM and were able to enjoy the harbour light show, this time from above. It was a spectacular place to have a few drinks, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for an affordable drink with a once-in-a-lifetime view.
After enjoying several drinks, we took a stroll through Kowloon park on our way back to Mong Kok. It’s safe to say that we could not get enough of Mong Kok’s markets and street excitement. The park was well-lit at night and felt very safe. I’m sure it’s beautiful at daylight. We made a quick stop by 7-Eleven for some cheap, mini wine bottles and continued our fun by browsing through Temple Street Market. This time we came across a plethora of fortune teller tents and karaoke bar tents. Local karaoke stars wailed Chinese tunes as we had a good laugh. Finally before heading back to the hotel, we found a very busy roadside joint selling pancakey-waffle-egg things (this is what we named them) as a night time snack.
