The airport as previously mentioned is on the back side of the island. Disney Hong Kong is also on the island and is a destination of its own. Lantau Island also has one of the largest sitting Buddha’s in the world. This part of the island is accessed by a ferry ride and then a bus to the peak of the island where the Buddha and monastery reside.
The Peninsula Hotel in Kowloon faces Hong Kong Island. Although the view from the original lower part of the hotel is obscured, the view from the top is fabulous. Go up to Felix’s at night for the best view – the restaurant itself is very pricey though. You also need to check out the restrooms at the top!
The Star Ferry traverses Victoria Harbor between Kowloon and Central. The views from the Ferry are incredible. Take the first class fare (less than $1.00 US) for great views and efficient, cost effective travel between the 2 parts of Hong Kong.
Victoria Peak http://www.thepeak.com.hk
Hong Kong has many spectacular sights to see. Victoria Peak provides some fabulous sights of the Harbor and Kowloon. The peak is a great place to view the sights both in the day and night as well. The Peak Tram takes you to the top – many restaurants, viewing areas, tourist vendors are at the top. Avoid Sundays, if possible, as it is very busy with locals. Side note: The entrance to the tram is across the street from the US Consulate – a great place to get additional pages added to your passport for free.
The airport for Hong Kong is actually on land reclaimed from the ocean just off Lantau Island. The airport Express train service is the most efficient & cost effective way to get to Kowloon or Hong Island (Central). The ticket center and station are part of the airport making it very convenient. http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/index.html
Required Travel Documents for Hong Kong
US citizens traveling to Hong Kong do not need a visa, but traveling to the interior of China does require a visa. The easiest way to obtain one is in Hong Kong. Most of the hotel travel desks can make this arrangement for you and get it to you within 24 hours. If your sole purpose for travel to Hong Kong is to obtain a Chinese visa, then staying at the Regal Hotel next to the airport is a good choice. TIP: Use the Regal Hotel Business Centre which provides efficient visa service and a free shuttle to and from the airport. http://www.regalhotel.com
As promised, I will focus on a destination over the next several posts. To start with, I will add several posts for my “Destination: Hong Kong” series. Hong Kong is a great destination to start any trip to China or a destination of its own. These posts are not written to be your end all destination guide, but to provide you with some tips from experience and also some web references for trip planning. One of the great things about Hong Kong is that English is fairly prevalent, making it a great introduction to Chinese culture.
Destination planning is important to any successful trip. It can help immensely to have some inside tips for a location you will be visiting for the first time. Or, maybe it will be your tenth time to a favorite place but you are looking for something new. With this in mind, I am going to start writing groups of tips all related to specific destinations as a new feature on my blog. I look forward to sharing with everyone my tips on locations I have frequented over the years. Paris and Hong Kong will be featured in March. See you there!