It’s the start of the months-long holiday celebration in the Philippines. On top of seat sales and holiday discounts, add these Hong Kong locations to your holiday cheer.
In the spirit of the fast-approaching holidays, seat sales and holiday deals are already on the rise. With people traveling back to their favorite destinations in the coming months, Hong Kong most especially, one might think, ‘What else is there to see?’ But if you know where to look, you’d find that tucked away in the quiet corners of the city are quaint shops and restaurants waiting for their next visitors. And even further out from the highways and train tracks, Hong Kong has no shortage of natural beauty and sceneries.
Hong Kong Hidden Gems Discovered
Take a peek below and see what spots you can visit on your next holiday trip to Hong Kong. And if by the end you still can’t pick out the perfect locations, let HKTB’s AI tool decide for you!
For those looking for the perfect day trip getaways…
Cheung Chau Island and Peng Chau Island
For those who seek a tranquil island life, Cheung Chau is the perfect getaway. Characterized by its boat-filled waterfront and scenic hiking trails, the dumbbell-shaped island is where traditional culture thrives. The Cheung Chau Bun Festival is celebrated every eighth lunar month, where the star is the iconic Cheung Chau Bun. The ‘bun scramble’, a rigorous competition where players try to out-climb each other on a tower of buns is held at the pinnacle of this festival. But if you fancy a more relaxing afternoon on the island, Instagrammable cafes along San Hing and Pak She streets are where you can unwind.
Peng Chau is a contemporary artist’s haven. Far away enough from the hustle and bustle of city life, but less than an hour away from the central business district, Peng Chau is where one goes to get a taste of that quiet village life. It’s a small island, barely covering over 1 square kilometer, and its tight-knit feel is what gives it its charm. The Fook Yuen Leather Factory situated on the island has been transformed into an artistic wonderland with a ‘secret garden’ of quirky art installations and murals. From its industrial beginnings in the 1930’s the factory is now the perfect place for your creative photography needs.
To explore more of the old-world charm of Cheung Chau and the eclectic beauty of Peng Chau, you may read through here and here.
For the ones who want to explore the history and culture…
Tsz Shan Monastery, Sha Tau Kok, and Lai Chi Wo
Tsz Shan Monastery is a place where one can be in the midst of nature while soaking up Buddhist teachings and imagery as it consists of different spiritual sights and activities visitors can partake in. Each area in the monastery represents and showcases the different faces and teachings of Buddhism. The highlight of the monastery is the 76-meter or nearly 250 ft. statue of Guan Yin, the image of compassion in Buddhist teachings. The statue looms, albeit peacefully, over visitors and the Thousand Wishes Pond, where visitors can make water offerings to her.
But if sailing to faraway places while relaxing on a boat is more your style, then Sha Tau Kok will not disappoint. Located in Hong Kong’s North District, Sha Tau Kok was originally part of the Frontier Closed Area, a group of towns on the boundary of Hong Kong and mainland China. Since its historical beginnings, Sha Tau Kok has flourished into Hong Kong’s more intriguing attractions.
You need to apply for a permit before entering the town and once you’re past the outpost, a quiet and colorful settlement greets you. With street murals and pavilions, Sha Tau Kok blends traditional Chinese culture with the classic Hong Kong identity.
But that’s not all. With the Sha Tau Kok permit on hand, an extended trip to the New Territories is a must.
Lai Chi Wo is known as a walled village, a Hakka settlement that dates back to hundreds of years ago. The place is quiet as of late, save for a few members of one of the three founding families of the village and farmers who are working diligently in the fields, but the traces of the rich culture that once flourished are still there for everyone to see. In fact, the Lai Chi Wo Rural Cultural Landscape has garnered the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award of Distinction for Cultural Heritage Conservation, a testament to the village’s commitment to preserving what its forebearers have built.
As one of Hong Kong’s oldest and largest and best-preserved rural settlements, Lai Chi Wo holds a significant piece of Hong Kong’s history. The feng shui forest that surrounds the 200-odd houses only adds to the venerable yet peaceful feeling that the village brings.
If you wish to visit Tsz Shan Monastery, a pre-booking is advisable at this site. Find out more about Sha Tau Kok and Lai Chi Wo here and here.
And for the artistic adventurers…
Mahjong Tiles Coloring Workshop and Minibus Sign Workshop
Art is a pillar of culture and the spread of art and its techniques is what keeps the culture alive. Hong Kong has its own share of art that plays a part in its cultural identity. Mahjong, a popular tabletop game played across the world, uses colorful and intricately designed tiles as its pieces. The design of these tiles is what makes mahjong both a favorite pastime and a display of good art.
Minibuses, on the other hand, are a more modern staple of Hong Kong culture. Starting a short while before the 1960s, the use of minibuses as a means of transportation in the new territories of Hong Kong quickly grew in popularity. Before long, minibuses spread throughout the whole of Hong Kong, characterized by their iconic signs, painted by hand, and indicating the locations to which the buses would pass through.
The Mahjong Tiles Coloring Workshop and Minibus Sign Workshops are a peek into just how meticulous the craft of these art forms is. The Karen Aruba Studio offers Mahjong Coloring Workshops while Master Mak from Eldage offers Minibus Sign Painting sessions.
Hong Kong has built its reputation as a haven for city dwellers and those who appreciate the high-octane way of lif, but there is much more to see on the islands of this city, treasures to be found, and hidden gems that may surprise those who seek them.
But with all of these attractions and activities to choose from, itinerary planning becomes a bit more difficult.The Hong Kong Tourism Board is one step ahead and has laid out a foolproof plan to help curious holiday adventurers figure out what it is they really want out of Hong Kong.
The Discover Hong Kong with AI tool is a fun and interactive way to see what spots to check out in Hong Kong. It takes into account a person’s preferences and personality and whips up the perfect travel recommendations. The site also generates an AI photo of you amidst the backdrop of the recommended Hong Kong locations, instantly transporting you to Hong Kong before you’re even there.
Are you an Epicurean Trendsetter? Or perhaps an Artistic Explorer? You can find out for yourself on this link.
Now, holiday travel planning in Hong Kong won’t be as daunting. Let your own interests speak for themselves and get ready to discover more from Hong Kong.
To know more about Hong Kong’s Hidden Gems and unseen attractions, visit this link.
Hong Kong Travel and Tour Packages
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