Bostonblondie226

I'm off to HK soon for a week of business and wanted to pick some brains. I expect to be working during the day, but am pretty good at visiting sites / good food in the evening once the work day is done. I am staying in Central and would love anyone's suggestions about:

- Whether it is worth it to go see the "Big Buddha"? (And how long it would take)

- Whether it is worth it to go to Macau? (And how long it would take)

- Good suggestions for Dim Sum and Wine Bars (or fun neighborhoods for the evening). And any suggestions on other local eats I should be trying are appreciated as well!

Thanks!

rkkwan

Big Buddha has to be visited during the day.

Ferry to Macau is frequent, runs 24 hours, and takes an hour each way. But you have to add some time for clearing immigration. Unless you can actually get off work say 5-6, which seems impossible in HK, it'll be kind of late by the time you arrive in Macau. Of course the casinos are open 24 hours, but the historical sites aren't.

worldtraveler17

If you will be in HK for a whole week including a weekend and you don't have to work on the weekend then going to Macau would be feasible, but it will be very busy and crowded.

The Big Buddha is a nice attraction if you are interested in seeing it. You would have to go see it before 5:30 pm though.

rhkkmk

tons of things to see in HK itself.. just walk around Kowloon, pop into local restaurants, take the star ferry after dark...

dim sum on the 4th floor of the united building in central is a real experience....

ride the famous escalator... get off and eat in the neighborhoods 1/2 way..

walk Hollywood road

get a guidebook with walks in it.. visit to the visitors center at star ferry for walk suggestions..

let your business associates take you around, they know the best places..

Pebbles3

Regarding your questions:

1.)Whether it is worth it to go see the "Big Buddha"? (And how long it would take)

The Big Buddha is somehow unique and worthwhile to visit. Usually, you would do that in combination with the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car ride, Po Lin Monastery as well as visiting the Tai O village with their Chinese stilt houses (since they are all close together). For this you need at least half a day.

However, since you just have roughly a week and can do some sightseeing after work there are plenty of other things you can do and shouldn't miss (def. make sure to visit The Peak which you easily can do after work).

2.) Whether it is worth it to go to Macau? (And how long it would take)

Macau is always a nice visit and worthwhile to have a closer look. Traveling by ferry to Macau will take roughly 1 hour (one-way) and by helicopter 15mins. Plan at least a full day for Macau. You can do it on a weekend. However, be prepared that it will be crowded.

3.) Good suggestions for Dim Sum and Wine Bars (or fun neighborhoods for the evening).
There a plenty of excellent restaurants, bars and pubs you can choose from. e.g. The Sevva Bar is located in Central and a popular place for lawyers, bankers etc to hang out after work and have a drink paired with some amazing views of Central and Victoria Harbour. The Ozone bar in the Ritz Carlton in very nice since it is located on the 118th floor (for additional suggestions about cool bars with a view you can check out this website http://www.nextstophongkong.com/top-bars/ There are also plenty of info about HK in general as well as Macau). Also you can ask your co-workers and business partners for some insider tips.

Cicerone

For purely evening activities, consider the following:

1. View from the Peak at dusk, to get day and then night views. Taking the Peak Tram up or down is part of the fun too, although the #15 bus is pretty good as well, no lines, and 1/3 of the price. If time allows beforehand, do a circuit walk down to Barker Road and up to Severn Road (about an hour).

2. Star Ferry ride from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui, a billion dollar view for about US$.25 cents (and that’s First Class!!) The walk along the Esplanade to see the view (and if you have to, the evening light show every night at 8 PM)

OR take the evening cocktail junk trip on the Aqua Luna, see to www.aqua.com.hk.

3. A visit to a local street market. The Graham Street/Peel Street area in Central is a good one. Note that most markets close around 7 PM. Going around 6 PM would be good to see them at their busiest, as people will be shopping for dinner. These are also good during lunch hour for a stroll.

4. A ride on the street tram for as long as you can, upstairs window seat. Bird’s-eye view of street life. Slow at rush hours but interesting.

5. A visit a museum or an evening at a concert, Chinese Opera or other cultural offering. The Hong Kong Art Museum, the Museum of Tea Ware, or the excellent Asia Society Museum all can be “done” in about an hour. Check closing hours.

6. Visit a temple. Most temples close by 7 PM (some earlier) so going on a lunch hour or at 5 PM would be best.

7. From July through September: attending the horse races at Happy Valley on Hong Kong Island on Wednesday evenings. One of the quintessential Hong Kong activities. (There is also a track at Sha Tin in the New Territories, but I prefer Happy Valley for the ambience.)

I personally would not go to Macau on an evening trip, as you won’t be able to see and appreciate the best parts, which are outside the casino strip. If you have a weekend in Hong Kong, there are many other things I would do other than going to Macau, but that is a personal thing.

For some other ideas, go the Fodors.com website and click on "Destinations", and then scroll down to Hong Kong. A helpful description and basic itinerary suggestions will come up. The Fodors guide book to Hong Kong is excellent. Frommers.com also has a website with similar info and their guidebook is pretty good. You can get the 6-page fold-out paper Luxe Guide, see http://www.luxecityguides.com/; however there is very little sightseeing advice in it, it is mostly shopping and restaurants. Also check the Hong Kong Tourism Board website at http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/ for other ideas, as well as the Leisure and Cultural Services Department website at http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/home.php to see all events and museums offered by the government.