Fun day trips in Hongkong

FUN DAY TRIPS IN HONG KONG

Khushee Soni

We all know Hong Kong as a small city where people go for glamorous adventures, luxury shopping and dining experiences coupled with the breathtaking views of the blinding city lights. There is this side to Hong Kong that we constantly see but there is more to Hong Kong than meets the eye. Part of discovering this wonderful city is exploring the beautiful surrounding islands, going to the crowded beaches, hikes and even local markets, which by the way, if you have never negotiated for an already-affordable item of purchase… what are you waiting for?... Christmas?

Here we suggest some locations where you can plan day trips and guess what?... It doesn’t necessarily mean spending a fortune. Instead, looking back on the memories and little souvenirs from trips with your family and friends are what matters the most which can be especially difficult in COVID times. We hope to help you make those memories in some of the greatest places around Hong Kong. I know it’s a bit cringe but it’s true!

There are many islands around Hong Kong that you must visit. Some of the more popular ones are Cheung Chau and Peng Chau and you can reach them by taking a ferry. With each island, it’s best to go in the morning and come back after sunset so that you can have more time to do activities and of course...eat.

Cheung Chau is a small yet adventurous island. The travelling time ranges from 30-55 minutes When you first reach, you will be blinded by the colourful stalls where small businesses are based with some selling mouthwatering local delicacies while others selling souvenirs to keep as memories. Every day is a busy day in Cheung Chau. You will constantly be surrounded by tourists cycling through the island, especially by families cycling in those quadricycles. There’s a very cute beach on the other side of the island which you must go to! Right next to the beach is a school, hotels and food stalls that sell frozen watermelons, ice lollies and fishballs (yu dan) that are hella spicy. My personal favourite, the tempting and drool-worthy handmade mango mochi made fresh by the locals every single day! There are also great seafood restaurants worth trying. If you are staying until after the evening, a night food market will open.

LOCAL ISLANDS

Cheung Chau - melons, mochi and more!

If you want to go shopping, sharpen up your negotiation skills and eat street food, the Ladies’ market is the place to go! It is located in the busy streets of Mong Kok and is known for the place to get great street food and cheap clothes and toys. Ladies’ market is home to tiny boutiques and open stalls that mainly sell “knock-off” bags, shoes and clothes for brands like Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and toys...many toys. The best part of going to this market is the bargaining and negotiating, which can be infuriating at times but extremely entertaining. It is essential that you have Mong Kok’s famous street food because it is to die for! Don’t restrict yourself just to that because there are multiple other amazing options available! We highly recommend that you stay hydrated whether that be by carrying a bottle of water or drinking Bubble Tea, which in my opinion elevates the whole Ladies’ market adventure. While you are in Mong Kok, make sure to hit up Argyle Centre for some trendy and affordable clothes and makeup.

Sham Shui Po is another great place to explore the local culture of Hong Kong. Not only do you get the experience of bargaining for clothes and accessories, but also for electronic gadgets and nostalgic games and toys. Ap Liu Street sells electronic gadgets and Fuk Wing Street is known as the Toy Street. Remember... You can never be too young to go to Toy Street! While you’re in Sham Shui Po, make sure to visit dragon centre, a normal shopping mall with an abandoned indoor roller coaster ride at the top. It’s always a fun time in Sham “Shady” Po 💀

LOCAL MARKET ADVENTURES

Apliu Street

Argyle Centre

At one point while living in Hong Kong, you would have exhausted all your ideas for a day trip. Don’t worry we got you covered! The next destination is Sai Kung town, a great escape from the busy streets of Hong Kong. It is the perfect combination of adventure, nature and countryside and city life. The town is surrounded by secluded beaches, hiking trails and water sports. Not to mention the great number of big fluffy dogs you will find strolling through the streets of Sai Kung! There are numerous seafood restaurants that overlook the scenic view. If you aren’t craving seafood, there are some cute cafes all around town. Another fun activity to do in Sai Kung is bowling at Tiki Tiki Bowling Bar where you can bowl with friends and enjoy some snacks alongside. At the end of the day, navigating through Sai Kung town would inevitably be part of the whole “fun trip”.

Sightseeing in sai kung

The ever trippy- Tiki Tiki Bowling Bar

If you enjoy cycling, you must go to Tai Mei Tuk in Tai Po, New Territories. The travelling time to Tai Po is relatively long but totally worth it. Its main attraction is the cycling paths. After you get off the mini-bus, you will see many cycling rental shops with cycles of all sizes and shapes. Cycling on the long stretch of Plover Cove Dam is a recommended path because it overlooks the scenic views of the reservoir and people sailing dinghies which are very entertaining to watch!

In Tai Mei Tuk, you can also do water sports like kayaking, boating and sailing dinghies and they are all great fun. If sports are still not your area of interest, there’s always food that you can count on. If you and your friends/family love eating hot, charred and fresh food, there’s a BBQ pitch too. Just make sure to come prepared with all the equipment you need! There are also many restaurants along Ting Kwok road, just as you enter Tai Mei Tuk. The day ends with body pain but it’s totally worth it because you have not only exercised but have also enjoyed it thoroughly. We can give you that guarantee! 🤗

CYCLING WITH A VIEW

Cycle on the Plover Cove Dam

A fun day at the beach... What more can you ask for? There exist many beaches in and on the outskirts of Hong Kong. Some beaches that you must go to are Tai Long Wan, Trio, Big Wave, Shek O, Turtle Cove and Lower Cheung Sha Beach. These beaches are relatively clean and have many facilities present and water activities to do. To reach some beaches, you need to hike but we promise it’s not that bad.

Here are some useful tips when on the beach:

Bring games! - frisbees, volleyballs, playing cards (if it’s not windy), Spike ball and bubbles (because why not!)
Bring a beach mat to put all your bags, food and drinks in one place
Bring lots of drinks and snacks! It’s best to stay hydrated throughout the day because you would be under the sun for the whole day.
Bring a speaker for some good vibez
The essentials: sunscreen, towels, change of clothes, sunglasses, swimwear, water, flip flops, medication if needed

Let’s go to the beach, beeches!

Lower Cheung Sha Beach

Tai Long Wan

Getting bored of the beach or need something more adventurous to do? Go for a waterfall hike! The most popular one is called the Sheung Luk Stream in Sai Wan, Sai Kung. It’s quite a long hike (approx 1 hour) but when you reach the scenic site, you can directly jump into the cold and refreshing pool of water or jump off the cliff into the pool of water for a little more thrill. Similar to a beach day, bringing some snacks, drinks, games and essentials would be important. Make sure to go on a bright but not powerfully blinding day for an ideal day.

We hope you have an amazing time wherever you plan on going! Be sure to maintain social distancing measures because remember people...we’re still in a pandemic whether you like it or not. Stay safe and have fun!

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