Taking that first flight out of Singapore into Hong Kong, now that the travel bubble is all set up? Whilst your blood may be pumping with the excitement of finally scratching that travel itch, you don’t want to pay too high a price for this experience: give popular crowded areas like Lan Kwai Fong and street markets a miss this year, and try these less crowded (but equally rewarding) alternative attractions of Hong Kong instead.
Dragon’s Back hike
Get away from the densely-packed human masses in the city, and lose yourself in the green misty mystery of Dragon’s Back. A mountain ridge popular in Hong Kong for providing one of the most scenic hike routes in the city, Dragon’s Back also made it to CNN’s list of 23 best hiking trails around the world. Expect panoramic views of the peninsula’s unique coastline - a deep blue ocean dotted with little green islands - as you stride up the back of the dragon to Shek O Peak, then descend and finish off at the beautiful Big Wave Bay beach.
This hike is easy even for beginners, and usually takes about 3 hours to finish at a leisurely pace.
Visit Tai Mo Shan
Once you’ve scaled and conquered the little ridge, it’s time to take on the real mountains. Pack your camera, tripod and get yourself ready for a real visual treat: a trip up to Tai Mo Shan, the highest peak in Hong Kong (and Southern China) for a dalliance with the clouds. Tai Mo Shan’s summit is so high (3,140 feet) that you’d pass cloud-level on your way up, which means seeing some truly spectacular beauty at the top. Grab this rare chance to look at and take photos of the metropolitan city of Hong Kong from a bird’s eye view, with a little magical cloud cover and nothing but nature, misty clouds and fresh air all around you.
Because you’d likely be walking through clouds on your way there, be sure that you’re warmly wrapped up against the cold and that your clothes have a waterproof layer over them.
Bird-watch in Hong Kong Park
People-watching may be temporarily off the agenda due to the danger of being in crowded areas, but you could use this time to enjoy the glorious sight of colourful winged and feathered beings instead. Hong Kong Park is an oasis of natural tranquility located right in Central Hong Kong, and is over 80,000 square metres in size. Filled with beautiful manicured trees, grass lawns, flowers, koi fish-filled ponds and historic structures, it’s an amazing location for a walk, picnic, or a casual game of catch with your little ones. Besides that, the Park is also home to many species of songbirds and herons, and guided bird-walking walks can be found there once a week.
Once you’re done with that head over to the Edward Youde Aviary, which is over 3,000 square metres in size and houses 600 birds of 80 different species. There, you get to walk on a raised boardwalk with some of the prettiest birds of Southeast Asia fluttering close to your head.
Visit the Po Lin Monastery
Leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and head up the mountain to the place where spiritual tranquility lives: the ancient Po Lin Monastery, home of the giant Big Buddha. Constructed in 1906, this historic monastery has stood on the mountaintop for over 100 years and houses numerous precious Buddhist relics. The cable car ride up is also famously scenic, and the views afforded at the top are simultaneously calming and breathtaking.
