14 Experiences You’ll Love in Hong Kong

Housing several performance halls and many exhibition spaces, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre is the place to go to see some of the best local and international performing artists. Monthly rosters include shows from the Hong Kong Philharmonic and local children’s choirs, as well as special occasions to see touring dance companies and musical ensembles. Additionally, the annual opening of the Hong Kong Arts Festival in February marks the beginning of one of the city’s most popular events. This calendar draws audiences in to see the best musical and theatrical troupes from all around the world.

Hong Kong by night requires a view from the Avenue of the Stars. It affords the best views in the city of the city (albeit of the business/downtown part of the city). It can get dark up on the 2nd level where it’s chock-a-block full of tourist and locals enjoying a stroll and laser light shows (check the times).

The colorful Po Lin Monastery was built more than a century ago in the secluded mountains of Lantau Island. In 1993, the 112-foot-high bronze Tian Tan Buddha, also known as the Big Buddha, was erected to face the monastery and north toward the Chinese people of the mainland. Since then, Po Lin has been on the tourism map. Seated on a lotus flower and with a raised hand delivering a blessing to visitors, the Buddha welcomes visitors to climb the 268-step base to share some expansive mountain and sea views. Have a walk through the grounds of the monastery, which include the new Grand Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas and a popular vegetarian restaurant. Though you can take a bus, train, or taxi, the 3.5-mile Ngong Ping cable car is a thrilling way to get there.

Everyone wants to be “on top of the world”.... but how do you get there? In Hong Kong, the top of the world is Victoria Peak and the best way to get there is the Peak Tram. A very steep ride up the side of the mountain takes you past residences, the tops of towers, and the native greenery of the city. The views from the top are stunning if the peak is not enshrouded in clouds.

You’ll have spent your days taking in the sights, tastes and sounds of Hong Kong, but have you considered exploring the city without one of your senses? Each 75-minute tour at Dialogue in the Dark, led by a visually impaired guide, takes you through simulated Hong Kong settings for a journey like no other. You’ll walk through a room in complete darkness with the help of a white cane and experience scenes of Hong Kong like riding on the Star Ferry, shopping at the supermarket, attending a concert and walking through a forest. Without the ability to see, you’ll soon realize how temperatures, textures and sounds can contribute to one overall experience. Your other senses will be immensely heightened and more alert to just how beautiful surroundings can be, even without the ability to see.

This handsome complex was built in the early 1950s to serve as the city’s Police Married Quarters. It was reborn in 2014 as a shopping haven with a heritage twist. Today, two seven-story buildings are filled with independent designers’ shops, ateliers, and hip pop-up boutiques selling everything from clothes to handcrafted shoes, jewelry, funky bags, and housewares. You’ll find well-known local brands like Goods of Desire (G.O.D.), a store founded by two local architects that sells furniture, accessories, and gifts with a Hong Kong flair. Stylish coffee shops, teahouses, bakeries, and cafés are also a part of the PMQ mix and offer atmosphere as well as great food.