10 Best Non-Tourist Activities in Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong is a busy and exciting island, crowded with loads of skyscrapers and people. There is a lot to do there, but here is a list of the top sites that are a bit different, or non-tourist in nature.

(photo: view of HK from Kowloon)


Learn Tai Chi, the ancient form of breathing and exercise. Free classes are offered daily at Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront and Hong Kong Park. Take a taxi from your hotel to either.

Queen's Road and Des Voeux Rd. in the Sheung Wan district have some interesting local shops and very local restaurants. Take a taxi from any hotel to this area. Almost no English here, but you can get by. Be careful of the traffic, and sit down to a local meal.

Man Kwong Street Pier, and Shun Tok Centre next door, are two great spots for art and antiques. The first spot has a small museum, and many shops to buy local artwork.

Causeway Bay. Take the subway to the Causeway Bay stop in Hong Kong and just walk around with no destination in mind. It's loaded with small markets and shopping centers, including several streets lined with discount clothing.

Cross Tsing Ma Bridge. There is no real reason to do this, except that it's the world's longest suspension bridge with cars and trains both crossing. You'll get some breathtaking photos along the way.

Climb the Peak all the way to the Top. There a series of escalators that take you up the mountain in the heart of Hong Kong, known as The Peak, or Victoria Peak. Many tourists take it up a few levels. Don't stop there. On my trip, my friends and I were the only ones who actually went all the way to the top (about 20 levels, 1,800 feet above sea level). When you reach the summit, you won't find any shops or tourists. There are only residential condos at the top level. But: you get the best view in town! Do it for the exercise and for the best photos of your trip. (right photo: escalators help you get to the top of the Peak)

Hike. After you've reached the peak, walk down the winding road a few levels toward the Zoological Botanical Gardens. You can't get in from this end, but your goal is to hike around it. You get a refreshing walk, interesting sites, and a different perspective.

The Star Ferry. Cross over to Kowloon on the Star Ferry. It costs less than $1 and takes just 10 minutes to get you from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon. From there at 8pm every evening you can watch an animated light show performed on the skyscrapers on Hong Kong Island. It occurs every day from 8 until 8:20 pm. Shop in Kowloon. Now that you're on the Kowloon side, do some shopping at the outdoor markets about 10 streets north from the bay. Try the Mong Kok and the Goldfish Market first.

Visit Aberdeen. Take a taxi from your hotel, or ask about boat tours to Aberdeen. It used to be a fishing village, and you can still see boat dwellers there. You'll also find large floating restaurants. A free ferry will take you to them. Hung Shing Temple is in that area, where the God of the Sea protects the fishermen.

Chaung Chau Island. Take a ferry from Central Pier, and enjoy a day on this quiet island. There are almost no vehicles here, so you will walk or bike your way around. You'll find some smaller temples, herbalist shops, and quiet boat life.

Note: It seems Kowloon is where the new nightlife exists. HongKong Island sleeps by midnight.

There is a lot to enjoy in Hong Kong, and you'll need more than a week to see it. There is less nightlife these days (compared with 12 years ago), so stay close to your hotel after 11pm. Otherwise, getting a taxi may be difficult. We had a hard time getting around at midnight, and the streets were eerily empty. The club we wanted to see closed at 11:30 pm, and many clubs are only open on weekends. Get up early and enjoy the bustle of the daytime in Hong Kong, instead.