3 Best Sights in Hong Kong, China

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.

Nestled in a pocket of lush hillside, this heritage site was once a store for British Army explosives, and now hosts exhibitions, film screenings, and lectures pertaining to Asian countries and cultures. The complex, designed by acclaimed NYC architects Tod Williams and Billie Tsien, adds contemporary design to the 19th-century compound, incorporating sleek glass-and-metal structures with green terraces. Views from the lush roof garden are spectacular; a walk on the grounds is a must. The Center's AMMO (Asia, Modern, Museum, Original) restaurant and bar is a lovely spot for lunch or a drink. Check the website for heritage tours in English.

People from throughout Hong Kong come to these two banyan trees to make wishes and offerings. Some burn joss sticks and incense; others used to throw an orange—tied to a wish written on a piece of paper—up into a tree (if it caught on a branch the wish would come true). Unfortunately, the weight of the oranges caused several branches to fall off and the practice has ended. Now, when people visit the trees—often during exam time or when the health of a loved one is in jeopardy—they tie the joss paper onto nearby wooden racks. Take the East Rail line to Tai Po Market train station, then take Bus 64K or 64P, or Minibus 25K.