Written by Jana Holiday
It’s possible that you travel to Hong Kong a lot. Maybe you travel for business or maybe you use it to stock up on chocolate, deodorant or other hard-to-find items.
Possibly you feel as if you have done all the touristy things there by now. You’ve been to the Avenue of Stars, the Temple Street Night markets of Tsim Sha Tsui, crossed the river on the Star Ferry and eaten in the restaurants and drunk in the bars of Soho. You’ve been to the top of the Peak and you’ve been to Disneyland and Ocean Park. You’ve seen the giant sleeping Buddha on Lantau Island. So you’ve done it all right? Wrong. Here are another six things to do in Hong Kong that you might not have got round to yet.
1. It’s easy to dismiss HK as a concrete jungle, but did you know that it actually contains 23 country parks? The best and least developed of these is probably Sai Kung Country Park. You can enjoy all kinds of outdoor pursuits there from trekking to mountain biking and it is possible to camp in many parts. Windsurfing and kayaking are also popular; the park has more coastline than any other. There are numerous little bays hidden off of the beaten track and it is often possible to find a completely deserted little beach. If you’re tired of the endless round of shops and bars then it can be good to escape it all for a few days or even just for a few hours.
2. Stanley Market. Get the bus from Exchange Depot, conveniently marked in English, (yes doesn’t that make life easier?) and you come to this collection of stalls selling clothes (often lots of bigger sizes) and all kinds of stuff. It’s not full of the bargains so much anymore, but good fun if you enjoy browsing around. Good if you can go during the week because it’s very crowded at weekends. There are some nice little beaches on the way there too; Repulse Bay is worth a stop.
3. Lamma Island. Around half an hour on the ferry will get you to Lamma Island. Once there you will find some of the best beaches in HK, some excellent hiking trails and abundant seafood restaurants. There are no cars on the island, and the bicycle is the main mode of transport. There are no skyscrapers either and the place offers a welcome relief from the sensory overload of Hong Kong Island.
4.Nam Sang Wai, Yuen Long. This really doesn’t seem like Hong Kong at all. An easy hike along Nam Sang Wai Path, next to the lake. The spot is very picturesque and popular for wedding photos. At the end of the path is the Shan Pui River, a wetland park where mangroves and birds can be seen.
5.Apliu market is a quaint little flea market. You certainly have more chance of a bargain here than you do at the touristy Temple Street Market. Particularly good for second hand electronics but there are clothes, antiques, jewellery and all types of stuff here. Take the metro to Sham Shui Po.
6.Artists commune, situated in the intriguingly named Cattle Depot Artist Village in the heart of Kowloon this is an art space where both practicing and aspiring local artists hang out, create and exhibit. The displays are mostly different and usually quite ‘edgy’ and well worth a visit. Open Tuesday to Saturday 2-8, or call to check.
Want to see more and experience more, please visit: http://www.beingfunchina.com/magazine/the-getgo-vol-15/
