19 Best Sights in Hong Kong, China

Spanning across 150 square km of the New Territories, the Geopark consists of two geological regions: the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region and the Northeast New Territories Sedimentary Rock Region. The sites comprise islets, sea caves, and villages, but the star may be on the honeycomb-shape columns formed by volcanic eruptions 140 million years ago, the most dramatic of which can be witnessed on the coast of High Island. The Volcanic Discovery Centre located in downtown Sai Kung provides helpful information about the area and serves as the gateway to the Geopark. Tours by Recommended Geopark Guides (R2G)---a number of which are available through the Volcanic Discovery Centre---is the best way to experience the park.

Located in the West Kowloon Cultural District, M+ is Hong Kong's first global art museum. With 17,000 square meters of exhibition space across 33 galleries, three cinema houses, a roof garden, and other state-of-the-art facilities, M+ has undoubtedly been the most highly anticipated art addition of this decade. There are four permanent collections, as well as an ongoing roster of special exhibits spanning Chinese, Asian, and international art across different media and genres. There are multiple onsite dining options, including Mosu Hong Kong, a sophisticated Korean restaurant. The M+ Shop is an excellent place to pick up an artsy souvenir.

This nunnery was founded in 1934 as a retreat for Buddhist nuns. In the 1990s, the complex was rebuilt with traditional Tang Dynasty architectural techniques involving wooden dowels and brackets, which work to hold everything together without a single nail. Most of the 15 cedar halls house altars to bodhisattvas (those who have reached enlightenment)—bronze plaques explain each one. The Main Hall is the most imposing—and inspiring—part of the monastery. Overlooking the smaller second courtyard, it honors the first Buddha, known as Sakyamuni. The soaring ceilings are held up by cedar columns that support the roof. The principles of feng shui governed all construction: buildings face south toward the sea, to bring abundance; they're backed by the mountain, a provider of strength and good energy. The temple's clean lines are a vast departure from most of Hong Kong's colorful religious buildings. If there's time, take a stroll around nearby Nan Lian Garden.

The biggest attraction east of Causeway Bay for locals and visitors alike is this local legend, where millions of Hong Kong dollars make their way each year. The exhilarating blur of galloping hooves under jockeys dressed in bright silk jerseys is a must-see. The races make great Wednesday nights out on the town. Aside from the excitement of the races, there are restaurants, bars, and even a racing museum to keep you amused. The public entrance to the track is a 20-minute walk from Causeway Bay MTR Exit A (Times Square), or simply hop on the Happy Valley tram, which terminates right in front.

Every Wednesday night during race season (September to mid-July), the first of about eight races kicks off at 7:15.

This history-meets-culture museum is Hong Kong's largest, yet it still seems a well-kept secret: chances are you won't have much company throughout its 11 massive galleries. The galleries ring an inner courtyard, which are benefitted by exquisite natural light flowing into the entry hall. Although many of the galleries focus on ancient Chinese art and heritage, the museum recently energized its offerings with an exhibition that displays changing exhibits of Hong Kong's pop culture. The T.T. Tsui Gallery of Chinese Art, exquisite antique Chinese glass, ceramics, and bronzes, fill hushed second-floor rooms. In spite of the museum's imposing size, the curators have gone for quality over quantity. Look for the 3½-foot-tall terra-cotta Horse and Rider, a beautiful example of the figures enclosed in tombs in the Han Dynasty (206 BC–AD 220). The Cantonese Opera Heritage Hall is all singing and dancing, and it's utterly hands-on. The symbolic costumes, tradition-bound stories, and stylized acting of Cantonese opera can be impenetrable; fortunately, there are well-done descriptions for even the most esoteric works.

An extensive collection of Chinese art is packed inside this landmark art museum, which emerged from a years-long face-lift with new exhibitions and experiences. The collections include a heady mix of Qing ceramics, ancient calligraphic scrolls, bronze, jade, lacquerware, textiles, and contemporary canvases. It's all well organized into thematic galleries. The museum sits on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront in Kowloon, a few minutes from the Star Ferry and Tsim Sha Tsui MTR stop.

One of the prettiest parks in the city proper is a sloping arrangement of rock gardens, water features, and leafy pathways. It's common to stumble on locals practicing tai chi or reading in a secluded spot. This welcome respite from the surrounding skyscrapers occupies the site of a former garrison called the Victoria Barracks, and some buildings from 1842 and 1910 are still standing.

The park is home to the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware. With its simple white facade, wooden monsoon shutters, and colonnaded verandas, the house is the earliest surviving example of colonial Greek revival architecture in Hong Kong. Built in 1846 as the office and residence of the Commander of the British forces, it now serves as a museum dedicated to the art of tea, exhibiting hundreds of delicate tea sets from the Tang (618–907) through the Qing (1644–1911) dynasties. Look out for the understated beauty of Yixing teapots, crafted from unadorned brownish-purple zisha clay, where perfection lies in their flawless form and the subtle, tactile texture of the clay. You will also be able to find the Edward Youde Aviary, containing hundreds of tropical birds. A raised boardwalk gets you close to the ornithological action.

The Peak Tram has its lower terminus just beyond the park's northwest exit.

There's a practical approach to prayer at one of Hong Kong's most exuberant places of worship. Here the territory's three major religions—Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism—are all celebrated under the same roof. You'd think that ornamental religious buildings would look strange with highly visible vending machines and LCD displays in front of them, but Wong Tai Sin pulls it off in cacophonous style. The temple was established in the early 20th century, on a different site on Hong Kong Island, when two Taoist masters arrived from Guangzhou with the portrait of Wong Tai Sin—a famous monk who was born around AD 328—that still graces the main altar. In the '20s the shrine was moved here and expanded over the years.

Start at the incense-wreathed main courtyard, where the noise of many people shaking out chim (sticks with fortunes written on them) forms a constant rhythm. After wandering the halls, take time out in the Good Wish Garden—a peaceful riot of rockery—at the back of the complex. At the base of the complex is a small arcade where soothsayers and palm readers are happy to interpret Wong Tai Sin's predictions for a small fee. At the base of the ramp to the Confucian Hall, look up behind the temple for a view of Lion Rock, a mountain in the shape of a sleeping lion.

If you feel like acquiring a household altar of your own, head for Shanghai Street in Yau Ma Tei, the Kowloon district north of Tsim Sha Tsui, where religious shops abound.

The Tian Tan Buddha, also known as the Big Buddha, is the world's largest seated, outdoors bronze Buddha. It's fair to say that the vast silhouette is impressive. Its 268 steep steps lead to the lower podium, allowing you to stare up at all 202 tons of Buddha as you ascend. At the summit, cool breezes and fantastic views over Lantau Island await. Nearby, the Wisdom Path runs beside 38 halved tree trunks arranged in a hillside infinity loop. Each trunk is carved with Chinese characters that make up the Heart Sutra, a 5th-century Buddhist prayer that expresses the doctrine of emptiness. The idea is to walk around the path—which takes five minutes—and reflect. Follow the signposted trail to the left of the Big Buddha.

Whatever the time, whatever the weather, be it your first visit or your 50th, Victoria Peak is Hong Kong's one unmissable sight. Soaring just over 1,805 feet above sea level, Hong Kong Island’s highest hill looks out over a forest of skyscrapers, the glittering harbor beyond and—on a clear day—Kowloon's eight mountains. On rainy days wisps of clouds catch on the buildings' pointy tops, and at night both sides of the harbor burst into color. The best views are to be had from Sky Terrace 428, a ticketed attraction on top of the Peak Tower (the anvil-shape building, which also serves as the upper terminus of the Peak Tram). But you get almost as good a view for free from Lion Pavilion outside, a short walk along Findlay Path.

Well-signed nature walks around Victoria Peak offer wonderful respites. You'll be treated to spectacular views in all directions on the Peak Circle Walk, an easygoing 40- to 60-minute paved path that begins and ends at the Peak Tram Upper Terminus. Before buying a return ticket on the tram or on a bus, consider walking back downhill to Central, either along the tree-shared Morning Trail or via the short and steep Old Peak Road.

The Peak Tram, Asia’s first funicular railway, has been rumbling up the steep inclines of Victoria Peak since it opened in 1888; before that, the only way up was to walk or take a bumpy ride in a sedan chair. The Lower Terminus starts just up past St. John's Cathedral on the opposite side of Garden Road. Sit on the right hand side of the tram carriage for the best views. Several buses go direct from the Central Bus Terminal near the Star Ferry Pier to the Peak Tram Lower Terminus. Bus 15 goes all the way to the top of the Peak, and is a good option on busy weekends when wait times for the Peak Tram can be over an hour.

A truly unique way to experience Hong Kong, the Dialogue in the Dark Ehibition is a simulated tour of the city from the perspective of the visually impaired. The walk covers five iconic scenes of the city, including a ride on the Star Ferry and a trip to the market. The whole tour is conducted in pitch-black darkness, allowing visitors to experience their surroundings through their other senses.

The eighth, final, and most famous stage of the 50-km (31-mile) Hong Kong Trail is known as the Dragon's Back, and is easily done as a day hike, taking around three hours to cover the 7.5-km (4.7-mile) route, which climbs over a mountain ridge with glorious sea views on both sides. The trail starts at the Tei Wan bus stop on SheK O Road (take Bus 9 from Shau Kei Wan MTR station) and finishes at Big Wave Bay, where you can grab refreshments then hire a bodyboard and hit the waves.

Named after a former Hong Kong governor, the 97-km (60-mile) MacLehose Trail is the grueling course for the annual MacLehose Trailwalker charity event. Top teams finish the hike in an astonishing 15 hours. Mere mortals should allow three to four days or simply tackle one section on a day hike.

This isolated trail starts at Tsak Yue Wu, beyond Sai Kung, and circles High Island Reservoir before breaking north. A portion takes you through the Sai Kung Country Park and up a mountain called Ma On Shan. Turn south for a high-ridge view, then walk through Ma On Shan Country Park. From here, walk west along the ridges of the mountains known as the Eight Dragons, which gave Kowloon its name.

After crossing Tai Po Road, the path follows a ridge to the summit of Tai Mo Shan (Big Hat Mountain), which, at 3,140 feet, is Hong Kong's tallest mountain. Continuing west, the trail drops to Tai Lam Reservoir and Tuen Mun, where you can catch public transport back to the city. To reach Tsak Yue Wu, take the MTR to Diamond Hill, then Bus 92 to Sai Kung Town. From Sai Kung Town, take Bus 94 to the country park.

An easier way to access Tai Mo Shan is via an old military road. En route you'll see the old British barracks, now occupied by the People's Liberation Army. Take the MTR to Tsuen Wan and exit the station at Shiu Wo Street, then catch Minibus 82.

No one knows exactly when Hong Kong Island's most atmospheric Taoist temple was built, but the consensus is sometime between 1847 and 1862. The temple is dedicated to the gods of literature and war: Man, who wears green robes and carries a writing brush, and Mo, dressed in red with a sword. The temple bell, cast in Canton in 1847, and the drum next to it are sounded to attract the gods' attention when a prayer is being offered.

Built on 170 hilly acres overlooking the sea just east of Aberdeen, this theme park, water park, zoo, and aquarium complex has something for all ages. Older thrill-seekers can take on the gravity-defying Hair Raiser coaster, while younger kids are catered for with slower rides and a huge adventure playground. Pandas are the highlight of the zoo area, and the Grand Aquarium is home to over 5,000 marine animals.  Be aware that the Ocean Theatre has performing dolphins and seals. Water World (open seasonally; check website for exact dates) comes with slides and an all-weather indoor wave pool, and requires a separate ticket. Ocean Park has its own dedicated MTR stop, taking around 10 minutes to reach from Admiralty station.

To the east of Sha Tin, the Sai Kung Peninsula is home to one of Hong Kong's most beloved nature preserves, Sai Kung Country Park. It has several hiking trails that wind through majestic hills overlooking the water. The hikes through the hills surrounding High Island Reservoir are also spectacular. Seafood restaurants dot the waterfront in Sai Kung Town as well as the tiny fishing village of Po Toi O in Clear Water Bay. At Sai Kung Town you can rent a sampan that will take you to one of the many islands in the area for a day at the beach. 

A walled Hakka village dating from 1786 was saved from demolition to create this museum. It's just east of Tsuen Wan MTR, adjoining giant apartment complexes and a small park. Indeed, the quiet courtyards and small interlocking chambers contrast with the nearby residential towers. The structure looks more like a large home than a village—not surprisingly, the name translates as "Three Beam House." Rigid symmetry dictated the construction: the ancestral hall and two common chambers form a central axis flanked by private areas. Traditional furniture and farm tools are on display, as well as temporary exhibits.

Hong Kong's colonial-era police HQ has been reborn as a stylish cultural complex, where you can browse law-and-order museum exhibits and contemporary art exhibitions, as well as drink and dine at glam restaurants and cocktail bars. Tai Kwun, meaning "big station" in Cantonese, is a sprawling complex and one of Central’s top sights. The best place to start is the Barracks Block, the handsome colonial building on the south side of the central parade ground. Here you’ll find the visitor centre and an exhibition on Tai Kwun’s history. Then explore the Central Magistracy with its restored courtrooms, before heading to the claustrophobic concrete cells of Victoria Prison. Art fans should make a beeline for JC Contemporary at the rear of the complex, a three-story art gallery by architects Herzog de Meuron. Among the many places to eat and drink are the upscale Magistracy Dining Room, housed in a beautifully restored courtroom, and stylish speakeasy 001. Free English-language guided tours of Tai Kwun can be reserved online via the website.

Each evening, as darkness falls, the lamps strung between the stalls of this Yau Ma Tei street market slowly light up, and the air fills with aromas wafting from myriad food carts. Hawkers try to catch your eye by flinging up clothes; Cantonese opera competes with swelling pop music and the sounds of spirited haggling; fortune-tellers and street performers add another element to the sensory overload. Granted, neither the garments nor the cheap gadgets sold here are much to get excited about, but it's the atmosphere people come for—any purchases are a bonus. The market stretches for almost a mile and is one of Hong Kong's liveliest nighttime shopping experiences. Fortune-tellers, open-air cafés, and street doctors also offer their services here.