Alone in Hong Kong
Mar 2nd, 2005 | 05:34 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12
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Alone in Hong Kong
Hi
My husband needs to go to Hong Kong for 2 weeks for business. I have the opportunity to go but since he will be working I will be alone all day until about 9 at night. Is Hong Kong safe for me to sightsee alone? Should I take tours? Is there any suggestions any one might have for a young woman alone in Hong Kong?
My husband needs to go to Hong Kong for 2 weeks for business. I have the opportunity to go but since he will be working I will be alone all day until about 9 at night. Is Hong Kong safe for me to sightsee alone? Should I take tours? Is there any suggestions any one might have for a young woman alone in Hong Kong?
Mar 2nd, 2005 | 06:02 AM
#2
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,689
Likes: 0
Totally safe, safer than your hometown most likely. Lots to see and do. Very easy to get around, public transport is cheap and plentiful and Engish is widely spoken. Very easy to do a 2-3 day trip to other places like Bangkok which is also very easy to do on your own, or head off to a destination like Bali.
What time of year are you going, where are you staying, what do you like to do, have you been to Asia before, do you like activities like hiking, biking etc. With this info I can give some particular reccos. Also click on Destinations above and scroll down to Hong Kong for basic info and activities. The Frommers.com site is also helpful. Go to a library and get some old guidebooks, major sights don't change, you can buy the latest versions for restaurant reccos and updates on activities.
What time of year are you going, where are you staying, what do you like to do, have you been to Asia before, do you like activities like hiking, biking etc. With this info I can give some particular reccos. Also click on Destinations above and scroll down to Hong Kong for basic info and activities. The Frommers.com site is also helpful. Go to a library and get some old guidebooks, major sights don't change, you can buy the latest versions for restaurant reccos and updates on activities.
Mar 2nd, 2005 | 08:32 AM
#4
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 759
Likes: 0
The only problem I've heard tourists face crime wise is the occaisional pick pocket, otherwise it has a reputation as a very safe city for all tourists - I believe the local crime lords consider it very bad for business to target tourists and therefore they strongly discourage their minions from doing so.
Loads of tours are easily available (try the Hong Kong Tourist Authority or your hotel concierge). Public transport is cheap, varied, interesting and plentiful.
Loads of tours are easily available (try the Hong Kong Tourist Authority or your hotel concierge). Public transport is cheap, varied, interesting and plentiful.
Mar 2nd, 2005 | 08:44 AM
#5
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Hong Kong is not a bike-friendly place. When I lived in Discovery Bay, I did have my own bike to ride around that area, but there's no rental place.
In the late 80's to 90's, a popular place to rent bike is Tai Wai (on KCR-East train line), and one can ride along the Shing Mun River and Tolo Harbor all the way past the Racecourse and Chinese University to Tai Po, on well-marked trails. I've done it many many times in the late 80's. But I didn't any rental place there during my last visit, and I hardly see anybody riding the bike path. Quite a shame.
A quick google search give me this website.
http://www.hkoutdoors.com/Activities..._Hong_Kong/41/
Good suggestion, but keep in mind that the bikes they rent out aren't really that good, in my opinion. Tai Mei Duk may be the best place to ride, as the ride around the Plover Cove Reservoir is easy and fun.
The article mentioned riding from Mui Wo on Lantau west. I've done that on my own bike. It's a nice road with some elevation changes, but the roadway is a curvy two-lane road, with pretty frequent bus/taxi/truck traffic. I find it too dangerous for my taste.
Another place I've rented a bike to ride years ago is Pak Tam Chung, near the High Island reservoir. The roads from there to the reservoir and to Wong Shek Pier are restricted, so very little traffic. But those are also very remote places unless you go on a weekend. I wouldn't trust a rental bike unless you have tools and a pump with you.
Those are the places I can think of. Again, HK is not bike-friendly.
In the late 80's to 90's, a popular place to rent bike is Tai Wai (on KCR-East train line), and one can ride along the Shing Mun River and Tolo Harbor all the way past the Racecourse and Chinese University to Tai Po, on well-marked trails. I've done it many many times in the late 80's. But I didn't any rental place there during my last visit, and I hardly see anybody riding the bike path. Quite a shame.
A quick google search give me this website.
http://www.hkoutdoors.com/Activities..._Hong_Kong/41/
Good suggestion, but keep in mind that the bikes they rent out aren't really that good, in my opinion. Tai Mei Duk may be the best place to ride, as the ride around the Plover Cove Reservoir is easy and fun.
The article mentioned riding from Mui Wo on Lantau west. I've done that on my own bike. It's a nice road with some elevation changes, but the roadway is a curvy two-lane road, with pretty frequent bus/taxi/truck traffic. I find it too dangerous for my taste.
Another place I've rented a bike to ride years ago is Pak Tam Chung, near the High Island reservoir. The roads from there to the reservoir and to Wong Shek Pier are restricted, so very little traffic. But those are also very remote places unless you go on a weekend. I wouldn't trust a rental bike unless you have tools and a pump with you.
Those are the places I can think of. Again, HK is not bike-friendly.
Mar 9th, 2005 | 06:33 AM
#7
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,689
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Not sure if you mean regular biking or mountain biking. There are several mountain biking trails in Hong Kong. Take a look at http://parks.afcd.gov.hk/newparks/en...ycle/index.htm for info. I agree that regular biking is a bit hard to do in Hong Kong, as the streets are congested. The bike trail on the river mentioned above is very nice, perhaps the Hong Kong Tourist Board (see below) has info on places to rent bikes, or your hotel may.
March is also a very good month for walking/hiking as the really hot weather has not begun and rainfall is low. You can do walks on Hong Kong Island itself, or go out to Sai Kung for more serious and strenuous hikes. You could also do a hike on Lantau as part of a trip to the Po Lin monastery to see the giant Buddha. For hiking trail information go tohttp://parks.afcd.gov.hk/newparks/eng/hiking/index.htm, or get a copy of Exploring Hong Kong’s Countryside available in bookshops and the government printing office in Queensway. There is an excellent website run by a Hong Kong hiker’s group, you can even join walks, take a look at http://www.hkcrystal.com/hiking/index.asp.
A few good places for easy flat walks on Hong Kong Island are the Lugard Road circuit around the Peak and the Bowen Road area. Another excellent walk on Hong Kong Island is the Stage 1 part of the Wilson Trail, from Park View to Stanely, where you can reward yourself with a good lunch on the water and some shopping (downhill most of the way and great views, esp city views at the beginning of the walk). You can take a taxi or bus to get to the start and from the finish.
Also take a look at the Hong Kong Tourist Board’s website at http://www.discoverhongkong.com/login.html. There is a ton of information there.
For weather info, go to weatherbase.com and worldclimate.com for historical average temps and rainfall.
I see from your latest message that you have 5 days in Hong Kong, not 2 weeks as I originally thought. I would stay in Hong Kong for the 5 days and not try to venture to Bangkok or Bali. You can do a nice mix of sightseeing and biking/hiking with 5 days. Click on Destinations above and scroll down to Hong Kong to get a suggested sightseeing itinerary, the Frommers.com site is also useful. A guidebook (Fodors is good) and a street map would be helpful as well. As your husband is there for work, have him ask colleagues for restaurant reccos, as new ones open all the time.
March is also a very good month for walking/hiking as the really hot weather has not begun and rainfall is low. You can do walks on Hong Kong Island itself, or go out to Sai Kung for more serious and strenuous hikes. You could also do a hike on Lantau as part of a trip to the Po Lin monastery to see the giant Buddha. For hiking trail information go tohttp://parks.afcd.gov.hk/newparks/eng/hiking/index.htm, or get a copy of Exploring Hong Kong’s Countryside available in bookshops and the government printing office in Queensway. There is an excellent website run by a Hong Kong hiker’s group, you can even join walks, take a look at http://www.hkcrystal.com/hiking/index.asp.
A few good places for easy flat walks on Hong Kong Island are the Lugard Road circuit around the Peak and the Bowen Road area. Another excellent walk on Hong Kong Island is the Stage 1 part of the Wilson Trail, from Park View to Stanely, where you can reward yourself with a good lunch on the water and some shopping (downhill most of the way and great views, esp city views at the beginning of the walk). You can take a taxi or bus to get to the start and from the finish.
Also take a look at the Hong Kong Tourist Board’s website at http://www.discoverhongkong.com/login.html. There is a ton of information there.
For weather info, go to weatherbase.com and worldclimate.com for historical average temps and rainfall.
I see from your latest message that you have 5 days in Hong Kong, not 2 weeks as I originally thought. I would stay in Hong Kong for the 5 days and not try to venture to Bangkok or Bali. You can do a nice mix of sightseeing and biking/hiking with 5 days. Click on Destinations above and scroll down to Hong Kong to get a suggested sightseeing itinerary, the Frommers.com site is also useful. A guidebook (Fodors is good) and a street map would be helpful as well. As your husband is there for work, have him ask colleagues for restaurant reccos, as new ones open all the time.
