125 Best Sights in Hong Kong, China

Take in the view of the Kowloon skyline on this pier, from which sturdy green-and-white Star Ferry vessels cross the harbor. Naturally, the views are even better from the open water.

This 2½-km-long (1½-mile-long) island southwest of Hong Kong is best known as the home of windsurfing Olympic gold medalist Lee Lai-shan. Residents live mostly on the sandbar connecting the two hilly tips of this dumbbell-shaped island. The town harbor is lined with seafood restaurants and shops. A 35-minute fast ferry departs from Central's Pier 5 outside Two IFC.

On sunny weekends, Cheung Chau's Tung Wan beach is so crowded that its sweep of golden sand is barely visible. At one end of the beach is the Warwick Hotel, and plenty of nearby restaurants offer food, refreshments, and shade. Apart from emergency vehicles, no private cars are allowed on this island. Among the tourist attractions, find the striking Pak Tai Temple, one of the oldest in Hong Kong, as well as a cave that allegedly housed the hidden treasures of pirate Cheung Po Tsai.

Thousands make the yearly trip to Cheung Chau Island for the exuberant Cheung Chau Bun Festival, a four-day-long Taoist thanksgiving feast. A procession of children dressed as gods winds its way toward Pak Tai Temple, where 60-foot towers covered in sweet buns quiver outside—the idea is that people climb the towers to collect the buns; the higher the bun the better the fortune bestowed on the person. It's held on the eighth day of fourth moon, usually in May.

Three kilometers (2 miles) of golden sand make Cheung Sha Beach one of Hong Kong's longest stretches of sand. It gets breezy at this spot 8 km (5 miles) southwest of Mui Wo, so it's popular with windsurfers. Upper Cheung Sha Beach is equipped for barbecues, and there is also a refreshment stand. Sunset here is a perfect end to a sun-drenched day.

There are only 50 taxis on the entire island, which you should keep in mind when things get busy.

To get here, take the ferry from Central's Pier 6 to Mui Wo, and then hop on Bus 1 or 2 for about 25 minutes.

food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports.

sunset; swimming; walking.

The loudest and proudest traditional festival, Chinese New Year brings Hong Kong to a standstill each year. Shops shut down, and everywhere you look there are red and gold signs, kumquat trees, and pots of yellow chrysanthemums, all considered auspicious. On the lunar new year's eve the crowds climax at the flower markets and fairs; on the first night there's a colorfully noisy parade; on the second night the crowds ooh and ahh at the no-costs-spared fireworks display over the harbor. It's usually in late January or early February.

This temple has room after room of altars filled with the heady scent of incense. On one side of the main entrance is a cast-iron bell with a circumference of about 5 feet—all large monasteries in ancient China rang such bells at daybreak to wake the monks and nuns for a day of work in the rice fields. On the other side of the entrance is a huge drum that was used to call the workers back in the evening. Inside, some rooms are papered with small pictures; the faithful pay to have these photos displayed so they can see their dearly departed as they pray. Hundreds of dwarf shrubs, ornamental fishponds, and pagodas bedeck the grounds. The temple sits adjacent to the Ching Chung MTR Light Rail station near the town of Tuen Mun. The entrance isn't obvious, so ask for directions.

Ancestor worship is important in Hong Kong culture, and on Ching Ming families meet to sweep the graves of departed relatives and burn paper offerings in respect for them. It's usually held in early April.

Hong Kong's answer to Coachella, Clockenflap has brought major musical acts to the city, including Primal Scream, Santigold, and the Cribs. Concertgoers can sit on grassy patches surrounding the stages or can check out the multimedia art exhibitions and film tent. Expect it in November or December.

Devoted to the creative and quirky world of comics and animation, this center celebrates local artists by offering up ample space to create, exhibit, and sell their work. The complex is also a great example of Hong Kong’s historic East-meets-West architecture, as it’s housed in a cluster of revitalized prewar tenement-style buildings with cantilevered balconies, high ceilings, and staircases made of China fir wood.

Just east of Ocean Park is this lovely beach that's often overlooked by tourists, though weekends can get a bit more crowded. It's a good place to have a barbecue or swim under the watchful eye of a lifeguard. Leafy trees provide ample shade, and there's a great view of the Ocean Park cable car. To get here, take Bus 6, 6A, or 260 from Exchange Square Bus Terminus in Central. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming; sunset; walking.

The Dragon Boat Festival pits long, dragon-head boats against one another in races to the shore; the biggest event is held at Victoria Harbour. The festival commemorates the hero Qu Yuan, a poet and scholar who drowned himself in the 3rd century BC to protest government corruption. These days it's one big beach party. It's usually held in June.

This pleasant attraction in the southern corner of Hong Kong Park boasts hundreds of birds in a tropical environment. There are dozens of types of birds, including kid favorites like the great pied hornbill.

Parallel to Tung Choi Street Ladies' Market, this street is sneaker central, lined with shoe shops selling some brands you know and lots more you don't. If you're not sporty, the stretch between Mongkok Road and Nullah Road offers cheap versions of the latest clothing fashion trends.

Stalls containing local and imported fresh flowers, potted plants, and even artificial blossoms cover Flower Market Road, as well as parts of Yuen Po Street, Yuen Ngai Street, Prince Edward Road West, and Playing Field Road.

Celebrating the vibrant flavors of Hong Kong, the Foodie Tasting Tour takes visitors to six restaurants either in Central and Shueng Wan or Sham Shui Po, with a certified foodie guide who will help you decipher menus and will talk you through the traditional eating customs at each stop. All meals are included in the ticket price. Arrive hungry because you'll be feasting on everything from wonton noodles to freshly steamed dim sum.

A tree-lined lane called Battery Path was built by the British in 1841 to move their cannons uphill—hence the name. At the top of Battery Path sits the elegant Former French Mission Building, a neoclassical redbrick building with white columns and green shutters. Finished in 1917, the historic monument is now home to the Court of Final Appeal.

A few dozen shops at the northern end of Tung Choi Street, starting at the intersection with Nullah Road, sell the ubiquitous fish, which locals believe to be lucky. There are other types of animals as well.

This handsome white Victorian was constructed in 1855 as the official residence of British governors, and is now home to Hong Kong's chief executive. During the Japanese occupation the house was significantly rebuilt, so it exhibits a strong Japanese influence, particularly in the roof eaves. The gardens are usually open to the public in March when the azaleas bloom.

Perfect for history buffs, the Gray Line Heritage Tour takes visitors to the sites of Hong Kong's five great clans in the New Territories. The route stops at several well-preserved monuments, including Tai Fu Tai—the home of a Man clan scholar in the late 1800s. There's also a chance to visit a historical walled village as well as a traditional ancestral hall. Before you leave, don't forget to make a wish under the Lam Tsuen Banyan Trees. Tours are scheduled on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.

Hong Kong's best antiques shops and classical-art galleries are on this street, named for the holly trees that once grew here. The western end of this historic street has sprouted dozens of small, independent art galleries that serve complimentary wine to browsers. On nearby Upper Lascar Row, a flea market commonly known as Cat Street, vendors sell curios, porcelain, and not-very-old trinkets masquerading as artifacts. They might not be authentic, but they do make for great souvenirs and less expensive gifts.

The 19-story Hong Kong Arts Centre houses a branch of the Hong Kong Art School, several contemporary art galleries, interactive workshops, multimedia installations, art studios, a cinema, and performing arts venues. There are also a handful of eateries. The art hub has long been a longtime champion of up-and-coming artists, and its latest project is Comix Home Base on nearby Mallory Street. There are free guided tours every Wednesday and Saturday at 3 pm, lasting about 45 minutes.

Land is so scarce in Hong Kong that developers usually only build skyward, but the HKCEC juts into the harbor instead. Curved-glass walls and a swooping roof make it look like a tortoise lumbering into the sea or a gull taking flight, depending on who you ask. Of all the international trade fairs, regional conferences, and other events held here, by far the most famous was the 1997 Handover Ceremony. An obelisk commemorates it on the waterfront promenade, which also affords great views of Kowloon.

Outside the center stands the Golden Bauhinia. This gleaming sculpture of the bauhinia flower, Hong Kong's symbol, was a gift from China. The police hoist the flag daily at 7:50 am; on the first of every month, there is an enhanced flag-raising ceremony with musical accompaniment at 7:45 am.

Though Hong Kong's home to Mickey Mouse is tame compared with other Magic Kingdoms, it's fast bringing Mai Kei Lo Su—as the world's most famous mouse is known locally—to a mainland audience. Younger kids will find plenty of amusement at Sleeping Beauty Castle and Toy Story Land, while older siblings and parents will probably gravitate to the more-thrilling Space Mountain. Inside the dedicated Marvel area (to fully open in 2023), daredevils will also enjoy the multisensory, immersive Iron Man Experience and the Ant-Man themed attraction.

Keen to stay overnight? There are three thematic on-site hotels, including the travel-themed Disney Explorers Lodge.

Originally located in Stanley, this museum relocated to the old Hung Hom Star Ferry Pier in 2013. The rich collections explore Hong Kong's 2,000-year maritime history, one of the gems being a 59-foot-long scroll painting called Pacifying the South China Sea, which chronicles the nine-day Battle of Lantau against Hong Kong's most famous pirate, Cheung Po Tsai, in the early 1800s. The scroll has been digitized and transformed into a 360-degree animation experience.

For a comprehensive hit of history, this museum's popular Hong Kong Story should do the trick. The exhibit starts 400 million years ago in the Devonian period and makes its way all the way through to the 1997 Handover, with spectacular life-size dioramas that include village houses and a colonial-era shopping street. The ground-floor Folk Culture section offers an introduction to the history and customs of Hong Kong's main ethnic groups. Upstairs, gracious stone-walled galleries whirl you through the Opium Wars and the beginnings of colonial Hong Kong. Don't miss the chilling account of conditions during the Japanese occupation or the colorful look at Hong Kong life in the '60s.

Unless you're with kids who dig models of cavemen and bears, skip the prehistory and dynastic galleries.

Allow at least two hours to stroll through—more if you linger in every gallery and make use of the interactive elements. Pick your way through the gift shop's clutter to find local designer Alan Chan's T-shirts, shot glasses, and notebooks. His retro-kitsch aesthetic is based on 1940s cigarette-girl images. To get here from the Tsim Sha Tsui MTR walk along Cameron Road, then left for a block along Chatham Road South. A signposted overpass takes you to the museum.

You can find out all about medical breakthroughs at this private museum, which is housed in an Edwardian-style building at the top of Ladder Street. The 11 exhibition galleries cover 10,000 square feet, and present information on both western and Chinese medical practices.

The hands-on exhibits are kid-friendly and include an energy machine and a miniature submarine, as well as cognitive and memory tests. That said, this is more of a rainy-day time-killer than a must-see.

A structure behind the art museum that looks like an oversize golf ball sliced in half houses a planetarium, a solar telescope, and an Omnimax theater. It's all fairly unremarkable, though, and children under 3 aren't allowed to view the Omnimax shows.

This vast wetland reserve is home to numerous species of native wildlife, including Hong Kong's own star crocodile, Pui Pui. The reserve has several walks, many suitable for families with children, including a boardwalk through a mangrove habitat and a butterfly garden. The park has a visitor center, which includes an auditorium and several indoor galleries, as well as a café, play area, and souvenir shop.

This welcoming green space includes a children's playground and gorgeous gardens with more than 1,000 plant species, but the real attractions are the dozens of mammals housed in the zoo. If you're a fan of primates, look for rare sightings like the golden lion tamarin and the black-and-white ruffed lemur. Buses 3B, 12, and 13 run from various other stops in Central; the walk from the Central MTR stop is long and uphill.