The Quaintly Guide to Hong Kong
August 12th, 2008
every now and then, i get emails from friends and strangers asking for recommendations of places to go and things to do in Hong Kong. what i usually do is forward them all a copy of an email i hastily wrote a while ago, but for a while now i’ve been thinking of doing up a proper list of the to-do’s in Hong Kong. and i finally did!
it’s not going to be the best and most comprehensive list ever, because after all this is just one person’s opinion, but hopefully it will be somewhat helpful for all you folks who are planning a trip to HK anytime soon :) and if you haven’t been there yet, please do go!!! it’s an amazing city and i absolutely love it. given the choice, i would live and work there.
The List, in no particular order:
To Do
1. Mongkok
Mongkok is, to me, the essence of HK more than any other place. it is loud neon signs, street food stalls on the sidewalks, markets, throngs of people rushing some place, char chan tengs (cafes), traditional medicine shops, DVD stores and clothing stores all crammed into one very haphazard and bustling zone, yet still retaining the gritty and rustic charm of old Hong Kong. so amazing. you cannot go to HK and skip out on Mongkok! located on the Kowloon side, Mongkok houses many of HK’s best tourist attractions, such as the Ladies Market which sells all sorts of clothes, shoes, bags, jewelery and household items; the Bird Market and the Flower Market; Fa Yuen Street which is sport shoe haven; Portland Street, the infamous red light district in Mongkok; and of course, the wonderful Temple Street (aka Miu Kai) which is in my humble opinion the best street market in all of HK.
a quieter Mongkok in the middle of the night
Bird Market, Flower Market, Goldfish Market and Fa Yuen Street are great places to shop at if you’re looking for something specific, but even if you’re not looking for what they specialize in, they are all very interesting places that are worth a visit if you have the time. if you don’t, however, i’d suggest going straight to Ladies Market or Temple Street – the former is more fashion-centric and the latter has just about everything under the sun. dont forget to bargain! Portland Street nearby is also worth a look-see; it’s seedy yet vibrant, and definitely intriguing at night. walking amongst all the brothels and vice dens located here is like transporting yourself into one of those HK triad movies!
2. Victoria’s Peak
it’s a mountain on HK Island that boasts a magnificent view of Hong Kong, barring smog and mist. the sunset and the nighttime view here are gorgeous. take a tram or bus up from Central to The Peak, then follow the jogging trail around the mountain top till you get to That Spot where you’ll find all the photographers camping out. fair bit of walking, but the view is completely worth it.
3. Islands
HK has MANY islands surrounding it, but the more well-known and accessible ones are Lamma, Lantau and Cheung Chau. visiting the islands is something that most tourists dont do because they either dont have time or are not interested in the rural side of HK, but visiting Lamma Island was one of the best things i ever did in HK.
Sok Ku Wan on Lamma Island, where all the seafood restaurants are
Lamma Island is a 20-30 minute ferry or sampan ride from Aberdeen and Central (i would recommend going from Aberdeen because then you’ll boat past the Aberdeen Fishermen Village, a little village where the people live on boats) and is very quaint and tranquil. i spent some time hiking around the villages in Lamma, peeking into people’s houses (discreetly and from afar!) and playing with the random pet dogs that were running around. it was great just being able to observe and be amongst their culture. later in the evening, i had a fabulous seafood dinner while watching the sunset. Lamma is famous for its seafood, but meals here can get expensive!
village in Lamma Island
oh and to TVB fans, Lamma Island is where that show ‘Taste of Love’ was filmed :P
i would really have loved to visit Lantau Island, but sadly in all my time there i never got to go there :( from what i know of it, Lantau is more developed and more touristy than Lamma is. it’s the island on which that massive Buddha with many steps leading up to it is! Lantau is also home to Tai O, a really old fishing village on stilts that is supposed to be a very interesting visit.
4. Disneyland
i didnt like Disneyland very much when i went there. it was expensive, the queues were very long, the rides were unimpressive and the whole of the place just very small. i would give this a miss, but if it’s your cup of tea, why not?
5. Partying at Lan Kwai Fong
Lan Kwai Fong is the hip and glitzy party district in Hong Kong, where the yuppies, models and trendy folk are in abundance. it’s the place to go if you’re looking for somewhere to party – lots of bars and clubs in the vicinity. Martian’s favorite HK club, Volar, is here too. clubbing in HK is really different from clubbing in KL; over there, queuing in at the entrance doesnt mean you get in. they are really selective with who they allow to enter, and if you’re not on the guestlist, chances are you wont be getting in. so i mostly prefer just hanging out at the bars on ground-level to people-watch. oh and there are lots of yummy people to watch here :D lots of good restaurants here also!
LKF in the daytime. the pubs and bars are up the road
Lan Kwai Fong is located in Central, just up the road from Queen’s Rd Central and a short walk from the Mid Levels Escalator.
6. Taking the Ferry
view of HK Island from the ferry
another one of the things i loved doing in HK was taking the ferry across the harbour from the Kowloon side to the HK Island side. it’s just one of those quintessentially Hong Kong things to do! it’s a beautiful view at night as well if you’re coming from Kowloon and heading towards the brightly-lit and glam HK Island. in the evening just as the sun is setting, it’s even more gorgeous. and if you’re lucky, you may be able to catch one of those red-sailed junk boats sailing across the harbour! i NEVER saw one in my entire time in HK, until Martian took me on one for our first anniversary :) so yes, you can go on the junk boats too! though i regret to inform that i dont know how that is arranged :\
7. Temples, Museums & Beaches
i must say that i’ve only ever visited one temple (Tin Hau) and two beaches (Repulse Bay & Stanley Beach) in Hong Kong and no museums at all, but dont let my lack of enthusiasm stop you from checking out these places :P apparently the Hong Kong Museum of History is quite cool, and temples are really quite an important part of HK culture. as for the beaches… well, i guess as a tourist, there’s really much more to do in HK than tanning at the beach. but Martian recommends Shek O!
Stanley Beach
8. Shopping
a lot of people i know equate a HK trip to SHOPPING SPREE!!!, and even though i didnt shop very much in HK, i can definitely see why they say that. the fashion is diverse and up-to-date, you can put together the quirkiest styles here, everyone on the street is well-dressed and is good fashion inspiration, and things can get really cheap during the sales. some places that i like to shop at:
a) Causeway Bay
there is a lot more to CWB than just shopping, and when i’m there, it’s usually to hunt down good places to eat or just to poke around the streets of CWB.. but there are lots and LOTS of boutiques and clothing stores here. mostly trendy stuff that’s geared towards students and young adults. jeans galore. mid-range prices throughout! CWB is located on HK Island, and i would definitely recommend some time spent here even if you’re not looking to do any shopping. lots of good char chan tengs and noodle shops here!
b) Nathan Road
something like CWB, but more concentrated and is one long road instead of a labyrinth. Nathan Road is located in Tsim Sha Tsui on the Kowloon side, and is heavily trawled by teenagers. mostly street wear, also mid-range prices. the surrounding area of TST also has a lot of shopping
c) Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui
THE BEST SHOPPING MALL IN ALL OF HONG KONG. it’s humongous and has EVERYTHING from low and mid range merchandise to the high end stuff like Gucci and LV. it’s a bit like 1 Utama + Pavilion and i absolutely love it to bits. i could spend all day shopping here! there’s also a City Super (excellent supermarket) as well as cinemas here. Harbour City is on Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui.
d) Temple Street
as mentioned above in the Mongkok section
e) Soho in Central
i spent a lot of time in Central because Martian lived really nearby when he was staying in Hong Kong. and believe you me, there’s a lot of shopping to be done here too. the shopping here is very much different from that of Causeway Bay and TST; it’s mostly quirky, quaint and themed. there are lots of these small but classy boutiques in the Soho area of Central, where the merchandise are things like pretty dresses, hats, shoes and bags by budding local designers and jewelery. there are also some really cool shops selling earrings, candles, new age books, antiques, girly things and boy’s toys. lots of places to poke around, especially if you’re looking for things and styles that are unique, personalized and quirky.
there’s also this street in Central called Pottinger Street, where a short and steep street is dedicated to stalls and stalls selling fancy dress costumes. it’s the COOLEST. i’ve bought loads and loads of stuff here, such as animal ears, angel wings, pirate costumes, police and nurse costumes, wigs, hats, face paint and the like. i love this place! prices can be bargained down.
a costume shop in Pottinger Street
besides shopping, you can also head down to Queen’s Road Central, which is practically the artery of Central, and treat yourself to an all-HongKong crowd jostle survival :D dont leave HK without doing this! there are also lots of good restaurants and hole-in-the-wall eateries around Central, which brings me to…
TO EAT
1. Dim Sum
once you have HK dim sum, no other dim sum is ever going to be good enough for you. sigh the siew mai and cheong fun is just …!!! i grasp for words to describe the sublimity. anyways the place where i had the best dim sum in HK is called Fu Sing Shark Fin & Seafood Restaurant. yes they serve shark fin, *scowl*, but the dim sum here is really out of this world – fresh, succulent, delicious, authentic. an absolute MUST-TRY here is the special char siew pau, which is made in polo pau style; it’s slightly crispy on the outside but oh-so-soft on the inside, with juicy marinated barbecued pork filling encased in a fragrant and milky golden bun… MMMM. BEST CHAR SIEW PAU IN THE WORLD. go early though, because this pau runs out quite soon and sometimes you have to place reservations for it. the Fu Sing Shark Fin & Seafood Restaurant is located on the 1st floor of Sunshine Plaza on 353 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai.
another place that is recommended for its dim sum is this place called Luk Yu Tea House which is tucked away in a little lane at 24 Stanley Street in Central. i went there on my first trip to HK and i quite liked the dimsum there, but it can be quite expensive. Fu Sing’s dimsum is better and more worth it!
Luk Yu Tea House in Central
also, you cant go wrong with Maxim’s Palace, which is a tourist favorite. it’s located in City Hall across the Mandarin. it’s not the best food and is always very packed, but it’s convenient to get to and slightly cheaper than other yam cha places.
2. Porridge / Congee
HK porridge is smooth and usually very simple in preparation. and also awesome :D you can get porridge in practically all yam cha spots, and they’re usually very good, but the one i like most of all is from this little congee & noodles place called Happy Garden, located on Canton Road just opposite the Harbour City mall in TST. one trip to HK, my parents and i stayed on Canton Road, and EVERY SINGLE NIGHT we went to Happy Garden for late-night wan tan noodles and century egg porridge. that’s how good it is :D
3. Char Chan Tengs
HK char chan tengs are what places like Kim Gary and Wongkok CCT got their inspiration from. they are noisy, crowded, brightly-lit little eateries that are open till late, and serve fare like instant noodles, fried rice, sandwiches, that notorious honey-coated french toast and drinks. it’s a very specific kind of cuisine that is unhealthy (haha), cheap (by HK standards… still quite expensive upon conversion from RM) but comforting and sticks to your bones.
char chan tengs are everywhere in HK, like EVERYWHERE, and they all really taste the same to me. there’s a chain called Tsui Wah which is supposed to be like an institution of HK because it’s the most familiar to locals and tourists alike, and the food there’s not bad. Martian and i usually pop in there for hot drinks during the winter or for instant noodles when we’re feeling peckish.
even though we get places like Kim Gary and all those other HKish places in SS2, i’d definitely recommend you try the real thing in HK :) tung lai cha and kong chai meen ftw!
4. Yung Kee roast goose
best and most famous roast goose in HK. it’s located on Wellington Street in Central. fat, succulent, amazing, crispy, tender, oily, delicious goose. enough said. *drools
5. Egg tarts
egg tarts at Tai Cheong Bakery
oh but you must. you must. YOU MUST. like dimsum, the egg tarts in HK are also a must-have when you visit. there are several famous (as in SUPER FAMOUS with long queues etc) egg tart bakeries in HK, but the one that i love most and always always always go back to is called Tai Cheong Bakery in Lyndhurst Terrace, Central. sigh so good. i have to have it every trip i go to HK. i bought some back for waimin last time and i think she fainted from how yummy it was. let me try to describe it: the egg filling is custardy, soft and sweet; the pastry is smooth, slightly dense but light, and melts in your mouth. it’s pure magic when you take that first bite and let it spread over your tongue. SIGH. please, if you trust me, you have to go to Tai Cheong bakery and buy their egg tarts.
6. DESSERT – Hui Lau Shan (that mango place) and Honeymoon Desserts
Hui Lau Shan in Causeway Bay
another HK institution. you see it all over the place as well, and even if you dont read Chinese (the signboard is in Chinese) it’s easily recognizable because all these mango-type places usually just jump out at you like that. Hui Lau Shan is a place that sells everything mango, be it pudding, drinks, mango with shaved ice, mango with glutinous rice, mango with sago, and many others. it’s good stuff but the novelty eventually wears off.
however, the place that i REALLY like but dont get to go to often cos it doesnt have as much presence as HLS is Honeymoon Dessert. the dessert array here is much wider and much more innovative, yet maintaining many authentic desserts. my favorites here are the Mango Pomelo Sago, Durian & Black Glutinous Rice in Coconut Milk, and Mango & Black Glutinous Rice in Vanilla Cream. mmmmm :)) Honeymoon Dessert has outlets in Sai Kung, Central, Causeway Bay and some other places that i dont know of.
Durian & Black Glutinous Rice in Coconut Milk, and Mango & Black Glutinous Rice in Vanilla Cream
7. Krispy Kreme
only if you’ve never had them or you have friends clawing at you to buy some back for them! there are several KK outlets across HK, but the only one i’ve ever been to besides the airport outlet is the one at Elgin Street in Soho, Central. the donuts at the airport outlet are slightly more expensive than at the other stores, though!
8. Rice bowls at 7 Eleven
cheap and good; absolutely amazing during the winter when it’s like 10 degrees out. i loooooove because they are cheap and so convenient – just pop the bowl in the microwave oven in 7 Eleven and you’re all set. perfect supper solution if you’re lazy to walk very far and want something hot. Rice with Minced Pork and Salted Fish, i do miss you so!
9. Noodles
shrimp dumpling noodles
again, nothing like the real thing. i dont have a specific place to recommend because these noodles shops are all over the place.. and they’re ALL good :)
MISC TIPS
1. English is only widely-spoken in certain areas in Hong Kong, so it’s always helpful to find out the Cantonese name of the place/street/building you want to go to, as most cabbies dont really know the English name of those places, especially streets and buildings.
2. the Octopus Card is very very helpful. it’s a stored value card that you can use for public transport (buses, trams, MTR), at most supermarkets and 7 Elevens and also McDonalds :D you can get them at all MTR stations, which you will most probably be seeing very often because taxi fares in HK are just killer expensive.
3. from the airport, taking the Airport Express is the cheapest and quickest way out. there are 3 stops: Tsing Yi, Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. a return ticket on the Airport Express should cost about HKD 160 (RM 80), whereas a cab from the airport will cost HKD 350 (RM 175) and up. if you are traveling with 1 other person or alone, then the Airport Express is definitely cheaper and drops you at very strategic locations.
———–
okay that’s all i can think of for now :) hope it’s helpful, and do feel free to add on to this list if you’ve got any good recommendations for things to do, places to eat at and places to see in Hong Kong!! also do feel free to ask questions, and i will try my best to answer you.
Entry Filed under: Travel
99 Comments Add your own
1. mich- | August 12th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Pinkpau u’re the best.
Heart u
2. iamthewitch | August 12th, 2008 at 8:31 am
What a comprehensive list! Now you just made me want to go to HK… :( *save money*
3. sheon | August 12th, 2008 at 8:38 am
are you psychic or what?!?!!?!?! i AM going to hongkong on the 31st december and will be staying there for a week!!!! hahaha….
4. Mabel | August 12th, 2008 at 8:53 am
OMG! I miss Hong Kong..especially The Victoria’s Peak, the roast goose…yummy and yumcha there. Oh…and also some yumcha places have 50% discount on freshly made dimsum after 2pm.
5. lishun | August 12th, 2008 at 9:01 am
this is the most amazing guide to hk ever! you should really become a travel writer. live the life! =)
the last time i went to hk was 12 years ago. i was there for 4 days, spent most of it catching up with friends and eating dim sum at the shops near the place i lived for a year when i was 7. i didn’t get to go to the congee shop in north point where my family and i spent our sunday mornings. man. i miss that so so badly!
some of my friends are doing their electives there next summer. i wish i could change groups and go with them! sigh.
6. Johanny | August 12th, 2008 at 9:14 am
You didn’t use the photo of us on the Star Ferry :(
And it’s Victoria Peak (no ’s) :P x 2 and I would replace Disneyland with Ocean Park… oh and the airport “express” bus is actually the cheapest way (but by far the longest time-wise) to get to/from the airport, about $20-ish each way.
7. sarah | August 12th, 2008 at 10:16 am
sigh pinkpau if only you had posted this one week earlier! i was trawling your blog for all the hong kong posts to find out the best places to go. hehe. great list though :D i went to pottinger too! although it was so hard to find..
8. sarah | August 12th, 2008 at 10:17 am
thankyouthankyou this is AWESOME i’m actually going to hong kong soon and this is perfect!!! however, do you know of any good/inexpensive places to stay? i’m rather broke =)
9. thegeekinpink | August 12th, 2008 at 10:46 am
nowww you make me wanna go hongkong! and you bring the hongkong mood into your writings too! all that canton sigh… XOXO like this…
/me lists down hongkong as place to go end of this year
10. KY | August 12th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Was that a multicolored beached dolphin?
11. wenc | August 12th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Sorry I have to disagree with you on the roast goose. Yung Kee could be the most expensive but not the best. The “Tai Heng” char chan teng roast duck is even better. They have one branch at cwb near Lee Garden and one at Jaffe Road near Sino Plaza.
There’s one place selling Siu Ngor at Wanchai near HSBC branch is also very good. Just visit the very local rest that look very ugly from outside, majority of that kind of restaurant serve good siu mei.
12. reallybites | August 12th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
wait theres a krispy kreme in hk airport?!?!?! how come i’ve never seen it before!! i always go to burger king niaa cis
13. michy | August 12th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
WOW! You should have posted that like 2 years ago! =P
I went to HK and there weren’t much places that I know about. Sobs. Reading this post makes me wanna go to HK again!
I love HK too. So so so so much. The shopping, the food.
Ahhh, bliss!
There’s Krispy Kreme is Aussie too. But they’re darn expensive. A$2.50 for a doughnut. Multiply that by 3.2 and you’ll definitely feel my pain. Crazily expensive.
I still love HK. Haha.
14. suanie | August 12th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
hahaha su ann is awesome! when i asked her to recommend some eateries, she wrote me an e-mail as long as this post! minus the photos lah
thanks again su ann i love you long timeeeeeeee!
15. Afar | August 12th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Su Ann,
You should put about accomodation in HK.
And how about the neighbor Shenzhen?
16. michellesy | August 12th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Hahaha, I can practically hear you swooning when you’re discussing the eats in HK!
Don’t get me wrong, you were definitely enthusiasitc when discussing things to do, but when it came to things to eat – twas another level of excitement, definitely =)
So yummmmy, I’m drooling now. And yes, the shopping sounds excellent too!
17. aimee | August 12th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
fantastic entry!
18. ront | August 12th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
now you tell me where the char siew pao is…….after my trip…
will note it down…..there will be next time…next time….MUAHAHAHAHA….
19. catherine | August 12th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
*gasp* I’m going to hk this sunday!!!! this post comes at the right time!! gonna print this out!! thanks! :)
20. ront | August 12th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
hey…i forgot to mention…….do try the High-tea in The Peninsula. Please note that there’s a dress code for it…no sandals, no sport attire from 2 to 5. from 5 to 7 there’s a even stricter code..I think….the scones and the butter cream are to die for. If possible try to avoid Sat and Sun, the queue is long. Go on a weekday. I dont think there’s even a possibility to make a reservation unless you’re staying in The Peninsula itself. Anyway, the experience itself was a nice one. oh yeah, i had to go buy a pair of shoes and changed it before i went in…hehe
21. kreazi | August 12th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Awwww, reading this makes me wanna go back to HK! Was there last year n stayed in Stanford Hotel in Mongkok. And the husband simply loves Miu Kai! We saw the junk boat too while visiting Avenue of Stars… and yeah, pls skip Disneyland coz it’s really nothing to shout about. I was really disappointed and hubby kept on asking me “What am I doing HERE???” Hahahahaha… I so wanna try the egg tarts, looks so yummy~
22. evelyn | August 12th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Hello! That’s a fantastic list! Great guide to HK!
Btw, do you mind sharing some tips on US universities application? Like, how to write a great essay about yourself without sounding too arrogant, or how to stand out from all the thousands of applicants.
Will really appreciate your effort! Have fun in NYC! :)
23. sabb | August 12th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
su ann, what a comprehensive list. thanks to your email, i managed to go to most of the places listed above! only thing is that i didnt get to really makan cos most of the places are non-halal. *sigh* was really tempted to try the desserts tho. but, for me, I find shopping in Shenzen much much cheaper. same stuff and same quality as the ones in HK but at a fraction of the price.
24. Voooon | August 12th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
ah pinkpau.. u secretly knew i was going to HK next month right? always knew u were this sweet =)
btw, i think lunch again klcc on fri. not gonna miss it this time yeah? =)
25. zack | August 12th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Good and excellent post, it’s help me to plan my tour to hongkong this year end, also I share this post in one of the HongKong travel forum, hope u don’t mind.
Thanks
26. Michelle | August 12th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Haha. You’ve forgotten Polo buns aka Pineapple buns. If you get a chance to go HK again, you MUST MUST MUST MUST get those Polo buns. If I’m not mistaken, it was somewhere near Edward Street. They start selling it like 5am in the morning.
Anyway, this guide is really helpful. I wish my mom will say “Yes” to the end of the year Hong Kong trip!
27. Lily | August 12th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Wow,pinkpau, you make me wanna go Hong Kong and I am so not a Hong Kong person! Thanks so much for sharing…..I’m so gonna save up for this! XD
28. k0k | August 12th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
i had like the biggest crush on miriam yeung back when i first saw a taste of love years and years ago… ah good times
29. Megan | August 12th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
thank you!!! i will definitely be referring to this post later in the year when i go to HK!
:)
Megan
30. GraceOng | August 12th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Dear Su Ann,
Thank you so much for your guide, Even though I hav been to HKG 3 years ago, but this will certainly help me to understand HKG better….
This is because I am going there end of next month. And yes, your guide is absolutely helpful.
Thanks again Su Ann.
P.S. did you try their charsiew or pork burger in HKG’s McDonalds??
31. Dr. Tan | August 12th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Yerrr I didn’t like Yung Kee… damn ex, not that nice also.
32. weiqi | August 12th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
i study in HK for almost 1 year but yet i hvn been to some of the places you mention above..sigh..i wanted to go Lamma Island so badly…
but i must agree with u that Mongkok is a very nice place to shop..do check out some shopping centers like Argyle Center when u go next time, there are a lot of small shops that sell unique clothings.surely u’ll like them…
a very nice post about HK, i bet some HK people cant even write such a good travel guide XD
33. lu | August 12th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
sigh. i shouldnt have read your blog today T___T.
i went to hk last june for the first time, and fell in love with that place. don’t know what about, but i really think its an amazing city :)
good post, can’t wait to plan my next trip
34. Sam | August 12th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Going there in Nov for a dance festival. Now you make me wish I have time to be touristy and do touristy things like eat lotslots and shop even more =(
35. sheon | August 12th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
eh…what about budget apartments/hotels to stay at?
36. Jay | August 12th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Awesome guide! Now I need to plan a trip to HK one day. So, what’s next in the series, Pinkpau’s guide to New York? =P
37. Sheila | August 12th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Hi Su Ann, been reading your blog for quite a while and it’s my first time posting a comment. Just want to say I read your blog everyday even though I’m like 10 years older than you :P I find it very cute, especially your stories with Martian. Wishing you all the best in the States!
Sheila
38. takemoto | August 12th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Hmm, never thought HK is that interesting…I’ve been there once and the only thing I commended about there was the food, like dim sum being waayyy more delicious than the crap we have here, eve since I had a HK char siew pau, I sigh every time I had one here… T.T
I like it there, but I love Taiwan more XD
PS: It’s weiqi’s b’day 2ml!! ^^ Can u wish her a happy birthday?? She’s a good friend of mine who did a post (wtf, like that also can) as my b’day “gift” XD
39. Music Magi | August 12th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
ha ha…ur post came at the right time girl! Will be in HK for a week in Oct & guess what my challenge would be…completing pinkpau’s to do list & to eat places in 1 week!!! …passport – check, map – check, camera – check, pinkpau’s to do list – check …all rite …I’m ready for HK…thks for the tip…I’m sure I’m gonna have a blast in HK…and hope I’ll like it like u do!
40. Huai Bin | August 12th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Mongkok and Lan Kwai Fong are two places I definitely have to check out. I’m going end of this year. Cheers for the guide. Victoria’s Peak for photosand then Mongkok and Lan Kwai Fong for clubbing.
Great post Su Ann. :)
41. george | August 12th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
i have yet to leave this damn peninsula
hahaha
42. ap | August 13th, 2008 at 12:02 am
i have a few adds, some discoveries as a touristy local(born in hk but grew up elsewheres)
for the hardcore shoppers/bargain-hunters: HK Industrial Centre at Lai Chi Kok Mtr station which is a wholesale centre where most boutiques get their goods from, can find designer knockoffs, the super low ends, great and not so great shoes and uppity sales(some not all) that chase u off their premises because they only do wholesale(usually 3 pcs and above) i love wholesale centres whenever my shopping mode is on
ze biggest H&M is in central, but can find H&M plus best Uniqlo ever plus LOG-ON(sama sama city super) but no zzzara in Festival Walk, Kowloon Tong stn ok i got these tips from wottoncool.wordpress whos SGrean this honger is ashamed
Calling all FILM buffs lurking ard: HKIFF.org summer film fest is going on now! now now now showing ingmar bergman and ichikawa kon pinkpau do u love the cinematheque or what, even tho its next to some rubbish dump = = thx for your great food suggestions hopefully it will restore my faith in hk ripoffs now btw i have sworn off shark’s fin
err i feel obliged to include foood hahahha if u like soup-filled pau aka xiao long pao/ sieu long bau i like the king’s lodge one soup is gd but the filling texture not great heard great things abt dingtaifung which i plan to try but i didnt like dingtaifung in SG at all legend has it the best xiaolongbao is in taipei dingtaifung ok i think this is too much for the regular comment-reader but the justification is that pinkpau i was this faithless jaded reluctantly-honger(still am smtimes) until u reintro-ed me to it with your infectious enthusiasm, plus elyse sewell :) thanks
43. nini | August 13th, 2008 at 12:03 am
thanks,it helps lots~
44. HK | August 13th, 2008 at 12:03 am
I’ll take your word for it since both of us love hui lau shan. I WANNA GO HONGKONG!
45. Keong | August 13th, 2008 at 12:14 am
Disneyland huh, forget about it. It’s full with the mainland cinapek.. opps!!! sorry ah!!!
46. i am a lucky guy because my gf is from hk | August 13th, 2008 at 1:22 am
thanks alot for this guide. At least i know what i would like to see for my 2nd trip to HK!
47. Angpau | August 13th, 2008 at 3:40 am
Your guide is as good if not better than the one I bought!
I asked you for some tips in one of the old posts but you never email me also. :-(
Yung Kee roast goose is like soooooo damn expensive lah. If I remember it correctly, whole goose is selling at about RM150, right? So, I only had a plate of goose rice which is pretty much affordable.
By the way, I took a picture of the same Krispy Kreme at Elgin Street too. Same angle! LoL…
48. The Faux Fashionista | August 13th, 2008 at 3:43 am
This is great! Thanks for doing this..I haven’t been to HK since I was 2, so I think its time to save up for a trip there ;)
49. Jeff from LA | August 13th, 2008 at 5:22 am
You are to be applauded for a very comprehensive guide to HK. I love how you begin by describing it as almost a brief and incomplete description of Hong Kong, when it turns out to be almost encyclopedic.
Your description was also very accurate. It brought back to mind many of my memories of visiting HK (I’m an ABC, but my parents are from HK).
Whenever you decide to retire from being the Prime Minister/President of Malaysia, you could always make a living creating a line of books for tourists called “the Definitive Pinkpau’s Guide to [Place X].”
50. wish i am a geek! | August 13th, 2008 at 6:57 am
it’s totally ridiculous that over here in usa, we only get to see delayed telecasts of the olympic games! i’m sure back home in u get to see ‘live’ right? here live telecasts/results are totally blocked except for 12 hour delayed telecasts by one channel, NBC!! u know me lerr..so “beh tahan” but too bad i’m not high tech enuff to find a way. pls tell me where/how to get immediate results from the internet, ok? at least just the results will help ease my frustrations! cant imagine having to wait 12 hours for all the results such as the track events later! ..now I am dying to know who won the women team gymnast gold? waiting in anticipation from geeky u or ur even geekier readers to help. long live geeks!
51. li wei | August 13th, 2008 at 9:40 am
hello there, been an avid reader of you blog. this piece of guide to HK is a good one, i have just added them to my list of things to do n eat as I will be goin there next april. interesting piece and thanks alot.
52. Kath | August 13th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Thanks Su Ann for such a detailed post. Me and two other friends are going to HK in Jan 09 and none of us have the time yet to plan for the 7-day trip. But what you’ve got here is certainly useful and informative.
Always check on your blog and think you write well and is a very true girl. Know that you are leaving for US soon. All the best in your study, and also in your relationship with Martian (I suddenly feel like I sound like a grandma =P)
53. Ping | August 13th, 2008 at 11:12 am
my saliva is drooling while reading your food guide :-O~ and can hear my tummy making ‘music’ too.
54. laziicat | August 13th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
i miss ‘that mango place’…..
55. Cutie Knows | August 13th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
So did u get to Sing to catch Death Cab….it was amazing…
56. nyrac | August 13th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
hello pink, it’s been a while since i’ve left a comment. ever since i read your pangkor laut post it has always been on my mind as “the perfect place for a couple’s getaway.” and now reading you write about hong kong makes it “the place i want to go for a shop-and-eat vacation”!
sigh. and reading your description for char siew paus made me kempunan for one now :(
57. Jared T. | August 13th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
pinkpau! I read from ur Plurk earlier than u went Shah Alam, go kart-ing?
Do u mind to tell me where is the place located and other detail information? Eg: price, working hour, address etc.
Thanks a lot.
58. rupert | August 13th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
egg tarts!
nom nom nom.
good on you for skipping disneyland in the list. Barf to long queues
59. Michael | August 13th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Great guide!
but as someone(from peaceful Melaka lagi) living there for quite some time, i would say that living and working in hk is very very stressful…maybe u should revise that decision lol
60. jayson | August 13th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
nice review on HK.. btw, where’s martian from actually? msia or hk?
61. pinkpau | August 13th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
mich : really *___* what did i do right! :D
iamthewitch : you wont regret it :))
sheon : so lucky… T___T i also want to go … eh go watch fireworks at avenue of stars!
mabel : i never risk going for the late dimsum, because that usually means all my favorite dishes are sold out :((
lishun : if someone would hire me, i would be more than happy to write!! eh i never knew you lived in HK for a while… so lucky! where are you going to do your electives?
johanny : i thought about it, but there was nothing else in our picture besides our faces :P hahaha you’re such a know it all.. okay okay i’ll edit my post when i come back from dinner
sarah : are you quesarah? haha i sent you that email mah! but then again that one didnt have the food category in there :(
sarah 2 : im sorry but i cant help you there :( i mostly stayed with martian when i was there, and when i went with my parents we stayed in Langham Place and Marco Polo in TST.
thegeekinpink : hongkong is loooovely you must goooo! either that or bangkok
ky : no that’s a cat!
wenc : ooh i’ve not tried that roast goose you speak of! next time next time :) thanks for the recommendation!
reallybites : it’s at the departure hall wan! must walk all the way to the end (right side) of the entrance, then go down one floor
michy : 2 years ago i didnt know HK this well :P krispy is coming to msia!! it will be cheap here i hope!!
suanie : /eyes
afar : i dont have much to say on accomodation because i didnt stay in many hotels in HK! never been to shenzhen..
michellesy : sigh i really miss the food in HK okayy T___T i have dreams about the egg tarts…
aimee : thanku thanku! :)
ront : hahaha sorry i only remembered to ask martian for the restaurant name right before i wrote this post! he was supposed to leave a comment at that previous post..
catherine : oh :D coolness. i’m sure you’ll have lots of fun there :)
ront : hahaha the high tea… i dont know why that is like a HK ‘thing’ to do, just like taking the ferry is. did you see any celebs while you were there? one of my friends saw carina lau when he went
kreazi : martian and i were saying the same thing when we went to disneyland :P oh the egg tarts are the bestetststestest!
evelyn : i was originally going to write a guide to the US apps, but changed my mind. nevertheless, you can email me and i will try my best to answer your questions! :)
sabb : did you check out the halal places? i think i sent you a website that has a list of halal restaurants right? there are some pretty good middle eastern rests in soho/central ! eh why the desserts you cant eat?
voon : hahaha why you going to HK *wiggles eyebrows* eh ya ….. i actually cant go for lunch on friday…. :(
zack : most welcome!
michelle : i dont really like polo pau wan! buttttt that char siew pau that im talking about is made polo pau style, and OMG it is to die for. hope you get to go to HK soon!
lily : how come you are not a HK person? haha what does that mean!
k0k : hahaha i still remember the theme song !!
megan : you’re welcome!
grace : OF COURSE I DID hahahaha!!! i also tried the fan-tastic burger where the ‘buns’ are made of glutinous rice omg yum yum so nice
dr tan : ya its memang damn ex … but .. so … oily and goooood
weiqi : ooh where did you go to school? hmm ive never been to argyle center, but will keep that in mind if i ever get to go to HK again :)) haih no lah you over-praise me. there’s a lot more in HK that i havent seen
lu : why T___T okok go bangkok next!! i write a pinkpau’s guide to bangkok :D
sam : cant you take just one night off? :( all the best for your dance festival!! (i’m assuming you’re a particpant/ contestant!)
sheon : i darno, sorry :( i always stayed with martian
jay : yeah gimme a couple of years in the big apple first :P
sheila : hehehe thank u sheila :))
takemoto : i want to go to taiwan too!!! ooh today as in the 13th?
music magi : you are soooo lucky :(( please eat an egg tart for me!!
huai bin : sounds like a good itinerary!
george : bangkok, georgie porgie!!
ap : ooh! i’ve never been to those wholesale places! sounds interesting. oh yes i do love the cinematheque :)) went there a few times for arthouse films. eh the dintaifung in singapore.. the siew long pau is damn nice ok!! ah elyse sewell :)) she has an awesome blog
nini : you’re welcome!
hk : go lah!! :D
keong : hahahaha wtf !
i am a lucky guy : haih you’d probably be spending all your time in mid levels, RIGHT! but nvm lah mid lvls damn near central. a lot of nice things to do there
okok continue later, dinner time!!
62. - n | c k - | August 13th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Hey nice post on the guide to Hong Kong =D I’ve been there few years back and went almost everyplace you posted on the guide. But, you missed out on those side stalls curry fishball! mostly sold near the jetties. I ate the curry fishball and when i tried Malaysia’s pasar malam curry fishball is totally different, Malaysia’s pasar malam curry fishball sucks.
ps. beautifull view taken from victoria’s peak, i went there in the afternoon so not much to enjoy except the hot sun.
63. Michelle | August 13th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
I super love polo pau. It’s pineapple-ish, butter-ish and custard-ish.
What am I talking about? Ish.
64. still wish i am a geek! | August 13th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
all is well now. sorry for the earlier sos in ur blog. i was just told (by a genuine geek) that i’m a noob though not a geek =p. most of the telecasts are really ‘live’ in the east coast of usa! there was a 12 hr tape delayed telecast of the olympic opener which led to me being assumptious n impatient. so i didnt think check out facts or imagine that subsequent telecasts could be plausibly live.
btw an anticing post about hong kong. bring back great memories of my vacation there.
65. noob alert | August 13th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
arrggh…..enticing lerr not antic ! @#$
66. takemoto | August 13th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
YES pinkpau…and it’s a matter of hours before it ends… XD
67. lu | August 13th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
me T___T cos me misses hongkong like crazyyyyyy .
newayy, good luck with your studies in ny! anddd post more when you get there ;)
have a safe flight pink pau, and all the best!
68. entwined | August 13th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
i love hk too! would live and work there if i have the opportunity. the bf isn’t too keen on hk though :((( he prefers landed properties. *sigh*
your post is stirring up nostalgic memories of hk :((( i wanna go again! especially when i haven’t shopped and ate at some of the places you mentioned :P ahhh there’s tentative plans to head back there for CNY 2009 *fingers crossed*
another place i love to shop at is wan chai, where there are tons of factory outlets shops :P sport shoes at fa yuen street is soooo cheap! i no longer buy sport shoes in malaysia anymore. seriously not worth it :P
*happy sigh* i really really love hk.
69. wenc | August 13th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Hi!
u can also log into http://www.openrice.com to find out the best food in HK.
70. pinkpau | August 13th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
angpau : sorry T____T i didnt see your comment! did you go to HK oredi? yes yung kee damn expensive. i dont get to eat it very often :( only with my parents, cos my mom loves it
the faux fashionista : hehe we can do a double date with the cousins :D ;)
jeff : it is soooo far from encyclopedic! i keep remembering bits and pieces of things that i forgot to put in there. ohh your parents are from HK! i always thought you had taiwanese blood. hahahaha that book series sounds like a great idea :P now to brush up on my writing and find me some investors!!
wish i am a geek : hahaha i would have not been able to help you also T___T i just get the results straight from my friends or bros. glad u solved ur prob!
li wei : mucho welcome!
kath : glad this was helpful! thank you so much for your well wishes :))
ping : i had a super dim sum craving after writing this post T___T
laziicat : trust meeee honeymoon dessert is better!
cutie knows : i did i did :)) how amazing is follow you into the dark live? :)))
nyrac : bangkok and hongkong are the most fawesome eat + shopping tourist destinations :)) really! what is kempunan!?
jared t : okayy i dont have the address, but i believe you can google it because thats what my brother did from my phone while we were in the car. it’s next to the shah alam stadium, and it costs RM 30 for the 80cc karts! as for working hours.. it was still open at around 7pm when we got there
rupert : nom nom nom indeedy! haih sometimes long queues are for the things that are really worth the wait.. but not in the case of disneyland..
michael : noooo i love it :)) the buzz and the energy.
jayson : he is from mars! *wiggles
nick : OMG how could i forget the curry fishballs T___T i meant to put that in the mongkok section!!
michelle : polo pau where got pineapple wan! at least.. not the ones i’v;e had ..
takemoto : i left a comment few hours ago!
lu : tqtq :))
entwined : haha your bf likes garden wan issit? but ya i guess living in HK isnt going to be an option then :( hmm i dunno if it would be wise to go during CNY cos everything may be closed! but martian says “no lah not closed” ..!
wenc : thank u!! :D that looks helpful !
71. ap | August 14th, 2008 at 12:43 am
ah i only say i dun like sg dintaifung coz ive tried better specimens of siewlongpau and even tho its a chain i believe the standard varies quite alot so dingtaifung is worth a try everywhere but rather expensive la btw i wldnt recommend siewlongpau in NY especially not the famous Joe’s be wary of chinese food there hahahha
72. sarah | August 14th, 2008 at 1:35 am
hahaha..no i am yet another sarah. wanted to email you to ask too but was too rushed so i just went straight for your blog posts! :)
73. nyrac | August 14th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
kempunan is the word for… craving i guess. my malay friends told me it’s the feeling like when pregnant ladies have to have something.
74. weiqi | August 14th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
pinkpau u so sweet..thanks very much =)
i m studying in HKUST…
u should come to HK again..there’s much more to see there =)
75. ront | August 14th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
nope…didnt notice any celebrity….was too busy picking out the raisins from the scone…hehe
76. cc | August 14th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Wow, thanks for the useful information! I’m visiting HK end of this year, this will comes in real handy!
77. Jared T. | August 14th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
do they charged by hour or?
78. ront | August 14th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
oh another place which is worth a visit in HK…….the Nan Lien Garden, one MTR station away from Wong Tai Sing station. nice landscaping and quite serene.
i also took a junk ride on the Duk Ling….that was quite nice…if it wasnt raining. Duk Ling would need pre-registration with the tourism office.
79. martian | August 14th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
baby what about that place with the best congee – wong chi kee, opposite yung kee in wellington st. the one where they also hv the pork chop bun and fried fish skin where you dip them in a bowl of soup and hear it crackle.
for wan ton noodles, how abt that place with the intuitive waiters….
80. meanoldman | August 14th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
hi pinkpau,
i have been reading your blog for a few years altho not everyday and every one. but i think it’s very cute. all the best to your studies in the states. i love you :)
81. Jun | August 14th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
hehe i thought u forgot abt ur 7-11 rice bowls till i saw it further down the post ;)
did u try weng wah bakery/char chan teng? i went to the one in kowloon, and the have the best polo buns eva!!
82. bubbles | August 14th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Honeymoon Dessert !!! Yummy !!!
I had it while I was in Jakarta last time.. wish they can have it in Malaysia too ~~~
83. Airina | August 15th, 2008 at 1:37 am
ah i must be very lucky then cos i saw one the junk boats at my 1st visit to hk! :)
84. Jason de los Reyes | August 15th, 2008 at 5:02 am
i’ve been a silent reader for a while (ew..that sounds creepy, but i’m not, i promise. haha). i came across this blog through RBJs awhile back and i must give you kudos for the content and layout..but really the content.
i’m a filipino-canadian who’s grown to be quite disconnected not only from my motherland but from what the heck is going in southeast asia as a whole. i went backpacking in thailand/laos about a year and it sort of re-connected me to the east, somewhat. i just thought i’d take the opportunity to thank you and give credit where it’s due for sharing a nice glimpse into life in malaysia and/er southeast asia as a whole. gluck in school this fall. i hope the west will culture shock you just as much as the east did for me. you have it good there or shall it seem that the grass is greener on the other side?
take care and happy journeys.
signed,
recovering backpacker/disconnected asian trying to find his roots and way to the east,
jay
p.s. nice guide to HK…that’s why i posted here. how could i forget?
85. Kevin | August 15th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
My sis brought me to this place..can’t remember oledi where that serves ‘cheesie kong chai min’, that has a cheesy sauce over instant noodles served with some pork thingy thats apparently very unhealthy haha…it’s a small shop hidden in a building complex in the back alley…and they have lots of pics of hk A-list stars dining in that place…that shit is the bomb
86. Jm | August 15th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
in reference to your post titled Knots.. haha dont buy luggage bag la! cuz it’s heavy, it easily weighs 2kg on its own.. and you can’t actually fit a lot of stuff in one. pack everything in boxes! :D cuz you can save money and bring even more stuff.. and save money! haha that’s what i did when i was flying to nz early this year. then again i’m too much of a cheapskate to get myself a luggage bag =____=”
87. Ricardo | August 15th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Hi there, i was reading all your post and it’s just amaizing, i love your style… I’ll be very pleased if you can meet me some day for msn or something, it’s really cool to meet people all over the world, i’m from Venezuela by the way. Big kiss for you. And my msn is criptman@hotmail.com bye-.
88. s0hp0h | August 16th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
omgomg i wanna go ~~~ saving this for my imaginative trip to HK.. haha
89. LifeForRent | August 17th, 2008 at 4:34 am
freakkin a…..how the hell does a plurk work?!?!?
90. hw | August 18th, 2008 at 1:37 am
sigh.. reminder to self… dont read pinkpau’s posts when extremely hungry at 130am
nice guide SA, will bookmark this for next trip to HK.. hopefully XD
91. entwined | August 20th, 2008 at 12:45 am
sorry for the late reply, but i don’t think the shops will be closed during CNY cos i was there for CNY this year as well :) as my dad likes to put it, chinese people if got business to do, sure will open for business wan! anyway, tickets have been booked! :D yay! :D will definitely visit the places you’ve mentioned :D
92. Jimmy | August 31st, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Thanks for your time your guide is really helpful. PLease keep up with the update of any new found adventure. Any guide in regards to Macau..?
93. phen | September 2nd, 2008 at 3:36 am
Its a good post on HK. But you missed out on Avenue of Stars. A place where anyone and everyone can watch fireworks everynight. Any recommendations on where to go on Sat and Sun cause i am starting work on Monday-Friday then only head back to KL.
94. k | September 3rd, 2008 at 12:53 am
HK’s so boring….. and expensive i rather go taipei..
95. Fu Sing Dim Sum, Hong Kon&hellip | March 25th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
[...] Travel, non-halal i actually heard about this place only after reading pinkpau’s “guide to HK” and was curious to see how it fared in comparison to the old school dim sum places [...]
96. my magic sing | June 2nd, 2009 at 11:04 pm
i should have read this before…
I went to HK and I was a bit disappointed… nevertheless, I truly enjoyed the Disneyland. It’s a childhood dream.
97. MKL | July 19th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Wow… I was in HK few months ago and I was staying in Mongkok and I loved it! Really the best place to be :) How awsome that you liked it, too… I wrote my own guide or review (you can check it out here
), but yours is amazing, so much better and more comprehensive. Excellent :)
98. Min Li | August 11th, 2009 at 3:42 am
i love your guide:) wicked!! thanks!!
99. Ling | September 23rd, 2009 at 4:27 am
Hi Pinkpau, the Happy Garden you mentioned is closed already. I went to HK few months ago and couldnt find it:(
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