So excited to team up with Cathay Pacific for my Asia trip. First stop, flying back to my roots, Hong Kong! Although Hong Kong relatively isn’t that big, every time I go back I discover new (hidden) gems because the list of things to do, see and eat is endless! In this post, you find my favorite (Instagrammable) spots that I have visited for your inspiration.
Tourist mode
The best thing of having family and (blogger)friends in Hong Kong is their local knowledge. Here are a few beautiful places where you can go where you can take amazing photos.
Choi Hung estate
Choi Hung means rainbow in Cantonese, hence all these colors used in the estate. This place is well-known because of Instagrammers. For photos go to the basketball court on top of the parking garage.
Nan Lian garden & Chi Lin nunnery
One MTR stop away from Choi Hung estate you have this traditional Chinese landscape garden, Nan Lian and the Chi Lin Nunnery. Surrounded by skyscrapers of the urban Kowloon, you find this scenic serene place.
There is also a vegetarian restaurant in the garden managed by Chi Lin Nunnery.
Admission is free.
Note: you have to dress properly
MTR Diamond Hill Station Exit C2, follow the signs and walk for around five minutes.
Hong Kong Park
I never really visited parks in Hong Kong, but there are many parks in Hong Kong to escape the city noise. My friend (@jesso) brought me to Hong Kong Park for a walk. It’s a beautiful park with waterfalls, turtles, lily ponds, playgrounds and lots of birds.
Tip: Instead of the walk, you can take the escalator via Pacific mall.
Tamar Park
Need a viewpoint for sunset? Go to Tamar Park with a scenic view over the harbour.
The Victoria Peak; Lugard Road
Visiting the Peak is a must in Hong Kong, if the weather allows you to. Skip the lookout platform where you have to pay an admission and you have to stand between dozens of tourists. Instead, take a little hike on Lugard Road. Walk for about 15 minutes and the trees will clear and give you a spectacular view of the city!
Instagrammable Food
This is the one thing you don’t have to worry about. There is more than enough food options in every cuisine or price category. I sometimes had 5 meals on a day, because I wanted to test as much as possible. I literally ate my way through this Asian metropolitan. I do have to admit that I get easily seduced by the location or presentation, but if you see the suggestions below you understand why 😉
Hello Kitty dim sum
In Hong Kong you dim sum! I choose the Hello Kitty way, because, hellooooww.. this is too adorable! All dim sum and the interior of the restaurant in Hello Kitty theme. The dim sum was really good but the buns were okay, but they look the cutest though.
address: Lee Loy Mansion, Canton Rd, Yau Ma Tei, Hongkong
website: hellokittychinesecuisine.com.hk
I cremeria
Yummy soft serve-ice cream topped with gold! You do pay the jackpot, converted almost 10€ for one. Except for the gold ice cream they also have instagrammable ice cream in a melon and Taro ice cream.
address: hop OG-G03A, Ocean Terminal, Tsim Sha Tsui (multiple locations)
Shari Shari
A Japanese desert, a gigantic bowl of shaved ice, flavored with syrup and condensed milk. We ordered the Sakura, but the Matcha and Mango ones from our neighbors looked really yummy too!
location: Hongkong, Causeway Bay, Haven St, 14號G/F
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ShariShari.Kakigori/
Allegretto
It takes 25 minutes to create this beautiful 3D artwork and it me took 25 minutes (after photos and some staring) to finally get myself to take a sip. I didn’t see it on their menu, so you have to ask for the 3D design when you order.
address: Shop 1A, Tower 3, P/L, China Hong Kong City, Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hongkong
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Allegretto-Viva-Espresso-Hong-Kong
Yum Cha
Another adorable place for dim sum is Yum Cha. You can order classical Chinese dishes with a playful twist. Like the pineapple cookies in bird form served in a cage, cha siew boa in a pig bun, sausage bun like a dog etc.
location: Nan Fung Tower, 2/F, Nan Fung Place,, 173 Des Voeux Rd Central, Central, Hongkong (multiple locations)
website: www.yumchahk.com
Ritz Carlton
On the 102nd floor of the Ritz Carlton hotel, you can book an afternoon tea with a view over the Victoria harbor. Or go to the 118th floor to the Ozone sky bar for cocktails.
Or.. stay at the hotel. I had a little tour here and the (presidential) suite looked ridiculously amazing.
note: No shorts, beach sandals, open toe shoes, sleeveless shirts for gentlemen at OZONE after 9pm.
Shopping
Hong Kong is a shopping walhalla! I love to shop at beauty shops like Etude house or even Sasa that you can find at every corner of the streets. Fashion-wise I like boutiques the best. Here are a few suggestions where you can shop:
- Rise Shopping Arcade; Fashion brands with a diversity of brands and boutiques selling budget and mid-priced youth street labels.
- Island Beverly Center; Four floors of Korean and Japanese fashion stores
- Lyndhurst terrace; lots of boutiques in the Mid-levels escalators area
- Ladies market; for all your cheap souvenirs (phone cases, fake designer bags, spinners etc)
- Harbour city; Hong Kong biggest shopping mall located in Tsim Sha Tsui, with lots of luxury designer goods.
Vlog
Much more about this trip in my (Dutch) vlogs.
*This trip was in collaboration with Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific has daily flights with Boeing 777-300ER to Hong Kong and to almost 200 destinations worldwide from there on. Tickets to Hong Kong in July 2017 (high season) start from €649,-.
