cococo

Hi

I'll be in Shenzhen from a Thursday till Tuesday and I am looking to see Hong Kong at the weekend as I have heard there is not much to do in Shenzhen. My questions are:

I know a day is probably not enough in HK so I was thinking of spending the weekend there, is it worth staying overnight in HK or just taking the ferry again from Shenzhen?

Alternatively, should I spend a day in HK and a day in Macau and take the ferry from Shenzhen?


How long does the ferry take from Shenzhen to Macau?


I am not interested in casinos or night life or shopping (I'll be in Beijing and other areas of China earlier and later on in my trip where I can shop!)

Advice appreciated

Thanks

MmePerdu

I visited Cheung Chau, an island that's part of HK, and wished I could stay for a few days. I think it would be good for a weekend away from cities, nice hikes, no car traffic, just the feeling that you're away from it all.

temppeternh

> is it worth staying overnight in HK or just taking the ferry again from Shenzhen?

But there's only one ferry from Shenzhen a day, and it leaves in the afternoon. Service has long been superseded by direct buses that take a faster border crossing and handily drop you at a major Kowloon mall with an MTR station. There are other services to Kowloon Tong MTR. Get Google translate working on this site:

http://www.chinalink.hk

You can, of course, walk over the border and take the MTR, although this can be time-consuming.

> How long does the ferry take from Shenzhen to Macau?

Google is your friend:

http://www.turbojet.com.hk/en/routin...ule-fares.aspx

> I am not interested in casinos

Then if you travel from Hong Kong to Cotai, take a ferry that goes to Macau itself (if they still exist--I haven't looked lately) and not to the Cotai Strip. There's plenty of quiet backstreet walking through historic districts. But there's no chance whatsoever of even scratching what Hong Kong has to offer in a single day, and a ferry to the outer islands can provide even more peace.

CanadaChinaTraveller

There are a few ferries per day from Shekou to HK but you need to pay attention as the weekend shcedule is different: http://www.xunlongferry.com/ticketPrice?code=SZSKZXGGA It takes one hour.
The subway will take about double the time but will be much cheaper.

cococo

Update: I am now thinking of spending the weekend in Hong Kong -
I guess I am better staying in a hotel in Hong Kong for the Saturday night? I am thinking of booking a flight from Shenzhen on 28th so I'd need to go back but i wonder if it is better spending a night in HK rather than commuting back and forth? Any suggestions of central hotels around £96 pn would be good - I looked at Guangdong hotel.

I'd like to visit Victoria Peak, Aberdeen sampan, take the star ferry, Po Lin Monastery on Lantau, maybe Stanley Market, and of course Nathan Road (bird market in Mongkok) and around Tsim Sha Tsui and of course some dim sum - hope that is feasible!

On the Monday I was thinking of visiting Macau.
Then flying to Taiyuan on Tuesday but now I am considering staying an extra day in the South to go to Guangzhou - is it worth it? It seems to be in every guide book (Pearl River cruise, Sun Yat Sen memorial) but there are a lot of people saying there better cities to visit?

Kathie

I once spent a week in Guangzhou, and I wouldn't go out of my way to go there. Hong Kong and Macau are both more interesting places.

In trying to decide whether to stay overnight in Hong Kong, take a look at hotel prices. Hong Kong hotels are the most expensive in Asia.

temppeternh

Hours spent each way in travel and fares + Shenzhen hotel, versus simply staying in Hong Kong?

No contest.

Hong Kong's high average hotel prices don't mean that there aren't mid-range or budget options. There are.

Guangzhou is certainly of greater interest than Taiyuan, but does not have a great deal to see, although certainly more than enough to fill a day. It is, I always feel, far and away the most raucous of Chinese cities and very wearing. If you do decide to go, stay on Shamian Island, which is largely free of cars but only a short walk from a metro station, and there are plenty of modestly priced hotels in old buildings in European styles as this was where the foreign traders settled post-Opium War.

CaliforniaLady

I second MmePerdu's suggestion for Cheung Chai. It's one of the nicest places I've ever been. No crowds, great seafood, lovely walks. Who could ask for more?

cococo

Ok great, I'll book a hotel in HK for the Saturday and leave most of my luggage in Shenzhen.
Between Macau and Guangzhou, I am guessing Macau would win in your opinion?
I could spend Monday in Macau and could take Tuesday off as well and spend it Guangzhou or pick one or the other. Wouldn't stay over night in either as too much checking in and out and they're not far away from SZ.
I'll maybe just play it by ear- who knows maybe I'll fall so in love with HK I'll spend all my time there ;P

Kathie

Between Macau and Guangzhou, I'd choose Macau. Do give yourself some flexibility - Hong Kong has so much to see, you may well want to spend all of your free time there.

deptrai

I really try to like HK. Been there three times now, but just can't. I'd do Macau again just for the swimming pool at JW Marriott (part of Galaxy complex).

cococo

Maybe I should spend 2 nights in HK (Sat and Sun). I was originally thinking of coming back on the Sunday and I thought my Chinese colleague and I could go to Guangzhou on Monday (as he can't or doesn't want to get a visa for HK) but I get the impression he just wants to stay in Shenzhen as he says there are things to see there which doesn't seem to be true.

I could still go back on Sunday evening and take ferry to Macau on Monday but it would save a ferry trip if I just took the ferry over from HK to Macau on Monday and then back to Shenzhen on Monday evening. I assume this is easy enough?

If I really like HK that gives me the flexibility to stay there and spend 3 days as well.

cococo

Just to give some feedback:

I did spend the weekend in HK - did a free city tour the afternoon I arrived in Tsim Tsa Shui (thought it was a bit of a waste of time, my friend told me all of the same information later that evening) and visited the markets in Mongkok (bird market being the best, some vendors at the ladies market were pretty rude compared to Beijing .

The next day I went to Aberdeen via the jumbo ferry, then headed to Lamma island which was beautiful. Big Buddha statue was great, really enjoted that, went to Tai O as well but didn't find that as interesting as I thought.


Finally before heading back to SZ on Mon, had a whistle stop tour up Victoria Peak. Took the Star Ferry then got a taxi to where the tram was but the queue was horrendous so ordered another one to the top and took the tram down (no queue) and MTR back across.

No time to do to Cheung Chau but think I did pretty well for the limited time! Only negative would be the hotel - I stayed in a hotel on Kimberly Road - great location off Nathan Road but for the price I paid I could have got a room triple the size in SZ. However, I know that's HK but I caught a bad cold I think from the air conditioning there the fact you couldn't open the window. So much so that I lost my voice when I went back to SZ. I enjoyed my time in HK but I did miss the mainland...

cococo

Lantau..not Lamma apologies