Hong Kong for a day

jgogia

Unfortunately, or fortunately, I'm going to have a 15 hour stay in Hong Kong, from 7AM to 10PM. Wondering if any of you who may have done this in the past have recommendations for what to do. Shopping is okay, but I'd love to do something not as touristy and more cultural.
Thanks for any recs...I'm leaving in six days!!!

-m2-

Will your airline be providing a hotel room? If so, crash out for a while -- you just stepped off a 12 hour flight and will be somewhat out-of-it. If this is the case, after you have showered and rested a while, just walk around the downtown area for a while and soak up the atmosphere. Relax, your on vacation!

vinayverma

I agree with -M2- and there practically nothing around HK airport.

Its on Lantau Island of HK so you can get a tour from the airport for the island and visit Big Buddha statue which is world's largest, seated, outdoor, bronze Buddha.
Hktourism has a counter at the airport and they will be able to help you out.
Good place to start the research is HK tourism website: www.discoverhongkong.com
You can also DIY and for this it would be easier if you get back into the HK island. Train(airport express) takes 23 mins to reach HK central station. and from there its easy to move around where ever you wish to.
Other places in HK are:
1. Lamma Island (for beach local village life in HK and walking)
2. Visit some Temples (like Tin Hau) in Kowloon.
3. Take the tram from Hong Kong Central to the peak and have a spectacular view of HK.
4. Ocean park (huge amusement park with land and aquatic animals)
5. Lan Kai Fong (LKF) the bar/pub/club capital of HK, near central station.
6. Night markets in MongKok and temple street in Kowloon. Mongkok is very local places and mostly locals shop come for street food and window shopping..you'll see lots of young crowd especially on a weekend.

__________________
If Life is a journey....travel on...and on..on..on.....

iqbal

We flew from SFO to HKG in February and had a 15 hour layover in Hong Kong followed by a flight into Delhi.

Upon arriving at HKG, we decided to take the Airport Express into Kowloon. Unfortunately, we were so tired from the flight and the time zone shift that we were absolutely miserable.

The weather was lousy and it was also Sunday so very few places were open. As Hong Kong newbies, we had a difficult time finding food and a place to relax. It was a real bad scene.

If I were doing it again, I would book a room at a hotel to rest.

jgogia

Thanks so much everyone. I'm going to try to see the city, even though I'm sure I'll be exhausted. If anyone else has suggestions, please feel free as I leave in just a couple days.
Thanks again

Bryan

I lived in HK for over a year before the handover and before the new airport so I'm not sure how its linked
If as I presume the MTR now runs to it take the MTR (leaving baggage in airport) and get off at Natahn rd (Kowloon)
This is mental crazy hectic but then again all of Hong Kong is
But its your archetypal big neon signs place

Walk down to the harbour (5 minute walk) and with a take away tea and sandwich or whatever sit and look at the skyline of Hong Kong island.

Ponder ponder ...then take the ferry ...
You can either go over to central (the main business district) and the shortest route or take the ferry to Wan chi the main everything else for lack of a better phrase

So in my fantasy day trip ,....take the wanchai ferry ...and enjoy the view

This will drop you at the central plaza the big huge building witht he light bars on the top (an ingenious clock) and go in to the bulding ...there is a viewing platform on i think the 56th floor

pretty spectactular ....on the ground floor there are cafes ...

Now take a walk through wanchai street markets ...just ask for the wanchai tower and the trip to there will take you through the markets ...
Check out the way the fish are cut ...your jaw will drop
Now you ahve the choice ...go to wanchai tower ...not remarkabale in its self but the outside glass lift to the revolving restaurant is amazing ....dont go to the restaurant to eat its full of mainland tour groups and is crap

Lets say you didnt do that ...Jump a tram along to Sheung wan ...the next district after centrral ....
the trams are brilliant ...slow and relaxing
jump off at the dried fish market ...you'll smell it
the route willt ake you through the sky scrapers into a slice of old worldly hong kong where there are no tourists ...there are many temples here also and is a real authentic look at a dying era ...amazing if youc an stand the smell hahahaha

Now walk along Hollywood rd back on yourself until you rech the botanic gardens ...and breath and relax and breath and relax

right part two ....

Now jump the bus to Repulse Bay ...cant remember the number but all stanl;ey buses pass that way ...and spend a liesurely few hours on the beach ....After go down to stanley and eat something ....
Must be late afternoon now ....early evening
Jump the bus to Aberdeen ....take a wander around the harbour
Eat some fish and jump the bus to central again
Now walk up to the citibank buliding (opp american embassy) nd take tram to the peak ...it should be dark now and you will be flabergasted amazed enthralled ...
You can now walk down (through some near jungkle foot paths interspersed with high rise flats or jump the tram down faster and easier on the legs hahaha
Grab something to eat and get on the MTR to the airport

I reckon that should cover 15 hours
Oh if you're in the botanics pop into the small zoo and say hello to pongo the oranagatan for me ...very sad to see but hes a big mate hahahaha

If this all sounds to strenuous stay on Lantau and visit the big buddha and chill out or go to Lanta and relax in the artisan/artist village and lie on the bach for a few hours or see a film or if you have loads of money shop till you drop

Hope this helps ...I must admit writing this makes me wanna go round the place again
BTW the weather will be perfect at this time of year not too hot and not too humid ...Enjoy

And remember these simple words (i'll right them how they sound
oomgoi panyal ...thankyou friend

All the best
Bryan

__________________
Then let us pray that come it may
(As come it will for a' that),
That Sense and Worth o'er a' the earth,
Shall bear the gree an a' that.
For a' that, an a' that,
It's coming yet for a' that,
That man to man, the world, o'er
Shall brithers be for a' that.
- Burns