I discovered a stunningly beautiful and super off-the-beaten-path mountain and sea trail in Hong Kong for a one-day trip
Having been to Hong Kong so many times, I’m sharing a day trip route that’s both photogenic and less crowded❗️
✅Highlights
🌸Ride the glass cabin cable car overlooking the mountains and sea (P10)
🌸Authentic Ngong Ping Village Market (P7)
🌸34-meter tall Tian Tan Buddha (P6)
🌸Breathtaking mountain and sea trail (P1)
🌸“Venice of the East” Tai O fishing village, also Hong Kong’s “cat island,” with many cats in the streets and alleys (P8)
✅Route
❶ Morning
Ngong Ping Cable Car Station (next to Tung Chung Station 🚇) → Take Ngong Ping Cable Car (25 minutes) → Ngong Ping Village Market → Tian Tan Buddha → Po Lin Monastery
❷ Afternoon
Take Bus No. 21 to Tai O fishing village → Walk around Tai O fishing village → Visit Tiger Hill Lookout → Take Bus No. 21 back to Ngong Ping and take the cable car back
🌟Refer to our itinerary schedule:
10:00: Ngong Ping Cable Car Station
10:25: Cable car arrives at Ngong Ping Village Market, visit the market, Tian Tan Buddha, Po Lin Monastery
12:00: Lunch at the market
13:20: Take Bus No. 21 from Ngong Ping Village Market to Tai O fishing village (departs at 20 minutes past every hour)
13:30: Explore Tai O fishing village
15:30: Visit Tiger Hill Lookout
16:45: Take Bus No. 21 from Tai O fishing village back to Ngong Ping, then take the cable car back
✅Trip tips
✔️Time arrangement: Cable car operating hours 10:00~18:00, recommended to arrive at the cable car station between 10:00~11:30 to start the trip
✔️Time arrangement: Last bus from Tai O fishing village to Ngong Ping is at 16:45, remember to return before then
✅How to get to the starting point Ngong Ping Cable Car Station
✔️If coming from Shenzhen or Zhuhai, the Cross-Border Island Express bus goes directly there
✔️If coming from within Hong Kong city, take the MTR directly to Tung Chung Station
✔️Exit from Tung Chung Station Exit B and walk 200 meters
✅Photo spots
P1, 3, 4, 11: Tiger Hill Lookout
P2: Tai O heritage hotel 🏨, perfect for afternoon tea by the sea
P5, 10, 18: Ngong Ping Cable Car
P6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16: Ngong Ping Village Market
P13: Tai O fishing village
P9: Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok South Road
Below is a Hong Kong travel guide compiled based on the latest 2025 information, covering pre-trip preparation, transportation, accommodation, attractions, food, and practical tips to help you plan efficiently:
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### **1. Pre-trip Preparation**
1. **Documents and Visas**
- Mainland visitors need to apply for the “Home Return Permit” and valid endorsements (G endorsement for individual travel, L endorsement for group travel). Cross-location application is supported, taking about 7-15 working days, costing 80 HKD.
- At immigration, use the self-service channel, prepare fingerprint and facial recognition, and fill in the “Customs Passenger Fingerprint Service” QR code in advance.
2. **Currency and Payment**
- Most malls and chain stores support Alipay/WeChat Pay, but it’s recommended to exchange a small amount of HKD (about 500-1000 HKD per person) for street snacks, Star Ferry, etc. Exchange rates at border crossings are poor; prioritize booking exchange at mainland banks.
3. **Communication and Electronics**
- SIM card: Recommended to buy “MySIM” card after arrival (33 HKD/month for 50GB), cheaper than international roaming.
- Power adapter: Hong Kong uses British three-pin plugs; bring an adapter or USB charging cables.
4. **Luggage Suggestions**
- Light backpack, sunscreen, sun umbrella (Hong Kong summers are hot and humid), sports shoes (expect a lot of walking). Hotels do not provide toothpaste or toothbrushes, bring your own.
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### **2. Transportation**
1. **Airport to City**
- **Airport Express**: 24 minutes direct to Central, fare about 115 HKD, suitable for time-sensitive travelers.
- **Bus/Taxi**: A-line buses cover main areas at affordable prices; taxis are more expensive (red/blue/green taxis serve different areas).
2. **City Transportation**
- **MTR**: Covers the whole city, recommended to use Alipay “Travel” QR code or buy an Octopus card (150 HKD including deposit, refundable).
- **Special transport**: Star Ferry (4 HKD), tram (2.3 HKD) are great for experiencing city vibes.
- **Ticket options**:
- **One-day pass** (65 HKD): Good for frequent MTR rides within 24 hours, but not valid on Airport Express or Lo Wu station.
- **Airport Express Tourist Ticket** (250-350 HKD): Includes one-way/round-trip Airport Express and 3-day MTR pass.
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### **3. Accommodation Recommendations**
- **Luxury hotels**: Tsim Sha Tsui (The Peninsula), Central (Mandarin Oriental), near shopping and attractions.
- **Budget hotels**: Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei offer good value, recommended “Metropark Hotel Mongkok Hong Kong.”
- **Avoid**: Chongqing Mansions and unlicensed guesthouses, especially for female travelers.
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### **4. Must-visit Attractions and Suggested Itineraries**
1. **Classic route (5 days 4 nights)**
- **Day 1**: Victoria Harbour night view + Star Ferry + Peak Tram (best night view).
- **Day 2**: Disneyland (must-see fireworks) or Ocean Park (animal shows + rides).
- **Day 3**: Mong Kok street snacks + Tsim Sha Tsui shopping (Harbour City, K11).
- **Day 4**: Cheung Chau Island (seafood + beach) or Lamma Island hiking.
- **Day 5**: Central historic district (PMQ) + Lan Kwai Fong nightlife.
2. **Off-the-beaten-path experiences**
- **Sai Wan Swimming Shed**: Sunset photo spot.
- **Shek O Village**: Colorful houses and beach, filming location of “King of Comedy.”
- **Temple Street Night Market**: Affordable night market with Hong Kong movie vibes.
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### **5. Food Recommendations**
- **Must-try at cha chaan teng (tea restaurants)**: Silk stocking milk tea, pineapple bun, wonton noodles (recommended “Mak An Wonton Noodle”).
- **Street snacks**: Curry fish balls, egg waffles, shark fin soup (Mong Kok Fa Yuen Street).
- **Seafood and roasted meats**: Typhoon shelter crab (Lei Yue Mun), Yung Kee Restaurant roast goose.
- **Dessert shops**: Yee Shun Milk Company (double skin milk), Jiajia Dessert (black sesame soup).
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### **6. Shopping Guide**
1. **Cosmetics**: Sa Sa, Bonjour (check expiry dates), counters (Times Square Causeway Bay).
2. **Luxury goods**: Harbour City (most brands), Citygate Outlets (discounts).
3. **Jewelry and watches**: Nathan Road “Gold Street” (Chow Sang Sang, Chow Tai Fook), Emperor Watch & Jewellery (Rolex agent).
4. **Streetwear and sneakers**: Mong Kok Sneaker Street, Tsim Sha Tsui THE FOREST mall.
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### **7. Practical Tips**
- **Smoking ban and fines**: No smoking in public places; eating and drinking in MTR fined 2000 HKD.
- **Customs limits**: Duty-free allowance of 1 liter alcohol, 19 cigarettes, 1.8 kg milk powder.
- **Safety tips**: Keep valuables safe, avoid walking alone in remote areas at night.
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This guide combines core information on transportation, attractions, and food; you can adjust the itinerary based on your personal interests.
It's definitely worth the ride. We took the Star Ferry from Tsim Sha Tsui, then hiked up to the cable car station. The whole way was perfect for taking photos. Unfortunately, it was a bit chilly on the mountain that day, so we didn't get to see the lights come on; otherwise, the scenery would have been truly stunning.
The night view was absolutely stunning! The cable car ride up the mountain was fascinating, with the skyscrapers appearing to tilt. The view from the Peak Tower of Hong Kong's lights was breathtaking – a must-see for anyone visiting Hong Kong!
It’s a must visit place in Hong Kong. I purchased the ticket on Trip.con at the entrance (within a minute) after the rate comparison.
Hong Kong🇭🇰 Victoria Peak [Peak Tram] The Peak Tram has always been the most representative and oldest attraction in Hong Kong's century-old history, and can be regarded as a witness to Hong Kong life. This Hong Kong legend was unveiled to the world after Sir William Telford, a Hong Kong independence activist, presided over the opening ceremony on May 30, 1888. At that time, it used steam generated by burning coal to drive a total of 600 passengers on the first day of opening, and 150,000 passengers in the first year. From 1908 to 1949, the first two seats in the carriage were always the Governor's seats, and the Hong Kong independence logo was inlaid with brass sheets. It was not opened to other passengers until the last two minutes before driving. In 1926, the Peak Tram abandoned coal and chose to use electricity. In the 1950s, Hollywood came to the Peak Tram and Victoria Peak to shoot, and international superstar Clark Gable also came here to shoot the Soldier of Destiny. The opening and ending of the movie are scenes in the cabin of the Peak Tram. Until now, 4 million tourists take the Peak Tram every year. To climb the Peak, taking a continuous ride on one of the oldest and most famous peaks in the world is an unforgettable experience! The entire railway is towed by steel cables, and the train climbs from 28 meters above sea level to 396 meters along the hillside. Passengers can overlook the scenery of Victoria Harbour along the way. In its carriage, the body cannot be tilted backwards, and the slope of some sections ranges from 4 to 25.7 degrees! The tall buildings and dense trees seem to have fallen to one side, and the feeling is really amazing! Transportation: Take the MTR Tsuen Wan Line or Hong Kong Island Line to Central Station, exit J1, walk about 10 minutes to the cable car station on Garden Road, and take the cable car to the Peak. Four ways to go up the mountain: cable car, bus, taxi, and walk. Cable car time: 7:30-23:00 Cable car price: round trip 108 HKD; one way 76 HKD Sky Terrace 428 time: 8:00-10:00 Sky Terrace 428 price: 75 HKD
The Peak Tram experience was a must during this trip to Hong Kong! From the beginning of the queue, the staff were enthusiastic and patient, and the order was maintained in an orderly manner. The cable car slowly climbed up, and the scenery outside the window was like a beautiful painting that slowly unfolded, with the city scenery of Hong Kong and the beautiful scenery of mountains and sea complementing each other. When you reach the top of the mountain, the view is even wider, and you can see the whole of Hong Kong. I was still not satisfied when I returned, and I will take the Peak Tram again next time I come to Hong Kong!
Because it was late when we went there and the weather was bad in the afternoon, we basically chartered a car when we went there and came back (basically there were only 7-8 people in the whole car). The scenery was indeed beautiful, but because it was foggy on the mountain, if the camera angle was not very good, the photos would be a bit blurry. The ride took about 5 minutes (but it cost 7-80 Hong Kong dollars, so just take a one-way trip to experience it)
To go to the top of Taiping Mountain, we must take the cable car of Taiping Mountain. It's a giant cable car, not the kind of couple cable car we usually see. Oh, we must take the front of the cable car with the largest slope. The best overall sense of vision is good. The night scene of the mountain top is really better than that of the day. It's beautiful. At night, people quietly see the lights of Hong Kong and the whole world is quiet.
[Ctrip Strategic Play Experiencer] Come out of the subway Golden Bell and follow the directions along the way to the beautiful Bank of China Building, you can find the cable station on the top of the mountain. There was a slight rain this evening, and the feeling from the foggy Bank of China Building was very beautiful and illusory. The cable car on the top of the hill is a kind of back and forth transportation, so every time a group of people come in and wait for the car, rather than a row of corresponding seats. There is a very steep section up the hill. If you don't get a seat, you need to tighten the handrail or you will fall. Like taking off and landing, I have a little tinnitus.