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.
One of the interesting tourist attraction to go in Hong Kong. Despite the slight steep in terms of the price but it is well worth going to see the skyline of the city and chilly breeze.
A combined ticket for the Ferris wheel and cable car. The Ferris wheel isn't very interesting; it's not tall, and the windows are covered in a layer of mud and dust – it seems like they just wait for the rain to clean them. The view is also terrible. The Peak Tram is worth a ride; the observation deck offers a panoramic view of Victoria Harbour.
Victoria Peak, Hong Kong's premier tourist attraction, features the Peak Tower, a uniquely bowl-shaped structure. It's a must-visit destination in Hong Kong, combining sightseeing, entertainment, and shopping. Its appearance has been featured on millions of postcards and photographs worldwide.
Although I have never settled in Hong Kong, I have been there hundreds of times. It is the city I am most familiar with besides Shenzhen. I used to regard it as a place to relax on weekends and a shopping mecca for a change of place, and I have witnessed the changes over the past decade. Victoria Peak is a good place to get a bird's eye view of Hong Kong, where you can see the bustling world from a high place.
A super check-in spot in Hong Kong, you can still see beautiful scenery without spending money on the observation deck, and there are few people. Different time, different scenery.
The Peak is the highest peak on Hong Kong Island, 552 meters above sea level, and is also one of Hong Kong's iconic attractions. Here is some information about the Peak: • Geographical location: The Peak is located in the northwest of Hong Kong Island and is the highest point on Hong Kong Island. • Historical background: The Peak has become a landmark for cargo ships entering the port in the early 19th century. Due to the hot and humid climate in Hong Kong, the Peak has become a summer resort for many dignitaries. Around 1868, the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir John Macdonald, specially selected the location to build a summer villa on the Peak to enjoy the cool and pleasant living environment. Gradually, moving to the Peak became a trend advocated by the rich and famous and celebrities. • Transportation: Visitors can take the Peak Tram to the Peak, which is the earliest cable car system in Asia and was put into service in 1888. In addition to the cable car, you can also take bus No. 15 or X15 from the Central Exchange Square (MTR Central Station Exit A/MTR Hong Kong Station Exit B1) to the Peak Plaza Terminal. • Opening hours: The Peak is open all year round, but some facilities such as the Peak Tram and the Peak Tower have specific opening hours. • Scenic spots: The Peak offers views of the skyscrapers, the world-renowned Victoria Harbour, and the fresh and pleasant green mountains. The scenic area includes the Lion Pavilion, the observation deck of the Peak Square, the Sky Terrace of the Peak Tower, etc. • Suggested time for play: The recommended time for play is 3-5 hours. • Ticket price: The Peak itself is free to open, but some facilities such as the two-way cable car + the Sky Terrace of the Peak Tower cost HK$65 and the one-way ticket costs HK$52. With its unique geographical location and historical background, The Peak has become one of the must-see attractions in Hong Kong for tourists, providing an excellent view of the panoramic view of Hong Kong.
The Peak No one comes to Hong Kong without visiting Victoria Peak, but the few times I went there before I took the cable car up and down. This time I followed a few friends to do a night hike from Central. Hike the mountains and walk on the moon in search of immortals, swim in the sea and chase the waves and play with dragons. The approximate route is Central Garden Road and Mid-Levels Escalator - Old Peak Road - Victoria Peak - down to Central. I have to say that Hong Kong is really suitable for hiking. This route is not difficult and it takes about 40 minutes to reach the top of the mountain. The happiness of climbing up by yourself and looking at the night view is something you can never experience by taking the cable car. Then I saw a wild boar 🐗 crossing the road.
There are two ways of transportation 1. Take the 15 or X15 bus from the Star Ferry Pier, 30-40 minutes to the Peak, 14.9 Hong Kong dollars, which is quite convenient, and there is basically no queue. You can use WeChat and Alipay for 9. 2. Take the cable car near Central🚠You need to queue for 15 minutes to reach the top of the mountain. There are two viewing platforms on the top of the mountain, one is the Peak Tower, which is charged, and the other is the top of the shopping mall. If you go there for the first time, it is recommended to go to the Peak Tower. The view is better, the ticket is 75, and Ctrip is more than 60. If you go there for the second time, you can go to the free viewing platform, but it is better to go when the weather is clear. If there is heavy fog and you can't see clearly, you can go to the free viewing platform, and you won't waste your money. The consumption on the top of the mountain is still relatively high. It's up to you to save money. The location where I took the photo is free, and the opposite side is charged.