The Peak, the harbour and the temples: seeing Hong Kong well, the back story

About The Peak, the harbour and the temples: seeing Hong Kong well, the back story

By the ULTIMATE Hong Kong Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Hong Kong packs a great deal into a small space. In a single day you can ride the Peak Tram up to Sky Terrace 428, cross Victoria Harbour on a Star Ferry that has made the crossing since 1888, stand under the incense coils of Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road, and end the evening on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront looking back at the island.

The Peak

The Peak Tram climbs to the Peak Tower, whose crescent shape and floating roof are a nod to traditional Chinese architecture (HKTB). Sky Terrace 428, on top, stands 428 metres above sea level (thepeak.com.hk). For a quieter view, walk Lugard Road, the shaded path round the summit.

The harbour

The Star Ferry runs between Central, Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui (starferry.com.hk). On the Kowloon side, the waterfront runs from 1881 Heritage and the clock tower past the Cultural Centre and the Museum of Art to the Avenue of Stars.

Go up the Peak early or late, and cross the harbour by Star Ferry at least once.

Temples

Man Mo Temple, on Hollywood Road, was built between 1847 and 1862 with its neighbours Lit Shing Kung and Kung Sor (Tung Wah Group of Hospitals); Wong Tai Sin Temple in Kowloon brings Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism together; Chi Lin Nunnery, in the Tang style, was built without a single nail (HKTB).

Lantau

The Big Buddha, 34 metres tall at the top of a 268-step stairway, looks over Po Lin Monastery at Ngong Ping (HKTB), reached by the Ngong Ping 360 cable car from Tung Chung.

Planning

The Octopus card pays for the MTR, ferries, trams and buses. Summers are hot and humid, and typhoon season runs from May to November (HKTB): keep an eye on the Observatory’s warnings.

Our advice: save the Peak for a clear day, and keep the temples for the early morning. Temples are places of worship: speak quietly, ask before photographing people at prayer, and follow the signs for incense.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The Peak, the harbour and the temples: seeing Hong Kong well, the back story before you go.