Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Draft of Our Itinerary in Hong Kong

"The Best of Chinese Cuisine"? Is that the name of a restaurant? Or you mean some good Chinese local food? Also, no idea what you mean by "Market Magic".

Anyways, so I understand you have 3 nights in HK, but just 2 full days, and you want to visit Ocean Park, which will take up at least half a day.

Here's what you should allocate your time:

Day 1: Wander around your hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui; Symphony of Lights if time allows, but no big deal really; take the Star Ferry to cross the harbour; various night markets in Kowloon

Day 4: Forget about Golden Bauhinia Square. Only people who goes there are Chinese tourist groups. Vast majority of locals have never been there, nor have any intention to go near it. You can go to the bird and flower markets in Kowloon, which open early. And then finish off your shopping, or go to other "early sites" in Kowloon like Wong Tai Sin Temple and Chi Lin Nunnery.

Now, for the two full days, you should spend one on Hong Kong Island. The other one either in New Territories or Lantau.

For the day on HK Island, seems like you want to go to Ocean Park. That's fine, and it's hours is 9:30a to 8p (at least in the summer). Go there first, and then use the rest of the day at one (or more of these areas - Stanley; Aberdeen (where the Jumbo Kingdom is - it's just several restaurants on a barge, really); and The Peak. The Peak is actually worth visiting for any first-time visitors to Hong Kong. Nice view especially at night. Wander away from the Chinese tourists at the upper Peak Tram terminal to get a real feel of the place.

For that other full day, pick between New Territories and Lantau. For Lantau, take the ferry from Cnetral to Mui Wo, then bus to the fishing village of Tai O (take the cheap boat ride there), bus to Po Lin Monastery (Big Buddha), and then NP360 cable car down to Tung Chung (Citygate outlet mall), before taking subway back to the city. The above loop will take you about 2/3 of a day, and you will still have an evening to do other stuff.

Or go to the New Territories to see the "other side" of Hong Kong. You can wander Yuen Long, but I suggest skipping the westland park where most visitors don't find too many birds most of the year. Outside Yuen Long, there are many villagers that date back hundreds of years (before the English arrived in the mid 1800s). Two, in particular, has good signs and well restored.

One is Ping Shan. http://www.amo.gov.hk/en/trails_pingshan.php

The other one is in Kam Tin. Strangely, it doesn't have a good website, but has an excellent iOS app. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jin-t...451102730?mt=8 Also nearby is the walled village Kat Hing Wai.

If you decide to do the New Territories/Yuen Long thing, let me know as I live in the area and can give you more info and specific way to get to places.

Again, this may take you 2/3 of a day, leaving you an evening to do other stuff in the city.

One way to spend a nice late afternoon/evening, especially if you've taken the ferry to Mui Wo, is to take a ferry from Central to Cheung Chau (a large fishing village on an island), Suk Kwu Wan or Yung Shue Wan (the latter two on Lamma Island). Lots of seafood restaurants on stilts at Yung Shue Wan, though not cheap.