8 Actually Cool, Non-Touristy Things To Do In Hong Kong
There's so much waiting to be discovered.
Think you know everything there is to know about Hong Kong and what to do there? Tiger White wants to show you a completely different side to it.
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Here's some inspiration on how to make sure you have a unique holiday there:
1. Check out tourist attractions from a different vantage point
Okay so you don't have to totally cut the popular tourist destinations out of your itinerary (especially if it's your first time in HK) but you don't have to experience them the way everyone else does.
Crossing the harbour: To enjoy a unique view of the harbour, skip the popular Star Ferry and take either a 15 minute boat ride from Sai Wan Ho to Kwun Tong or from North Point to Kowloon City.
Waterfront promenade: While everyone flocks to Tsim Sha Tsui, you could head over to the West Kowloon promenade, the Kwun Tong promenade, or the Ma On Shan promenade instead, all of which are lesser known but offer equally spectacular views.
2. Stay away from hotspot restaurants and eat somewhere completely unexpected
You wouldn't think to look at housing estates for places to eat now would you? But you're totally missing out if you don't because hidden between the apartment buildings are big outdoor hawker centres, each with their own extensive history, strong community attachment, and stellar reputation for delicious food.
Look out for: Oi Man Estate in Ho Man Tin, Nam Shan Estate in Shek Kip Mei and Sun Tsui Estate in Tai Wai.
3. Indulge your sweet tooth at a dessert street
You'll find street snacks practically everywhere in Hong Kong but those with a particular affinity for sweet stuff definitely have to go to Dundas Street in Mongkok where everything from bubble tea and cupcakes to traditional baked goodies and egg waffles can be found. A must-try is the colourful and fruity Japanese soft serve from Check In Tokyo that's as yummy as it is pretty and adorable.
4. Go to creative cafés that locals love to visit
Because it's not truly a holiday until you flood your social media profiles with shots of cool sightings and #foodporn pics right? ;)
What: Asian style bao burgers. Popular varieties include Beef, Slow-Braised Pork Belly, Szechuan Fried Chicken, Fish Tempura, and Taiwanese braised shiitake tempeh.
Where: Little Bao, 66 Staunton St. Central
What: Themed dim sum. The Gudetama series was the biggest hit to date, with diners flocking to the restaurant to chow down on the little morsels featuring the popular lazy yellow egg cartoon character. New seasonal character continue to be introduced.
Where: Dim Sum Icon, The ONE, 100 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
What: The most uniquely old-school Starbucks you'll ever see. It's a far cry from the modern style everyone has come to know and expect from Starbucks. Instead, this outlet chooses to pay homage to 1950s Hong Kong arts and culture with tiled floors, calligraphy, and traditional Chinese decorative motifs to create a kopitiam vibe.
Where: Shop M2, Mezzanine Floor, Baskerville House, 13 Duddell Street, Central
5. Discover the artistic side of Hong Kong
Art is probably way down on the list of things that come to mind when thinking about Hong Kong but that's about to change once you actually sink into the art scene there. There's something for everyone.
For those who are into the more atas and polished kinds of art: go art gallery hopping in SoHo.
For those who prefer a more grungy art style: check out the city's best street art and graffiti in Sheung Wan around the Upper Station Street, Sai Street, Hollywood Street, and at the point where Oil Street runs into Victoria Harbour.
And for those whose taste is somewhere in between, you're spoiled for choice with places like C&G Art Space, Osage Kwun Tong, Cattle Depot, and the JCCAC.
BONUS: The Pavillion of Harmony at the Chinese University's New Asia campus plays host to an amazing visual illusion. Dubbed as the place where 'man and sky unite', the strategic placement of the pond creates a magnificent vision of the sky, mountains and ocean all joined as one when viewed from a particular angle.
6. Go on an upwards bar crawl...
Forget about drinking with all the other tourists at Lang Kwai Fong, you should do like the locals do and grab drinks at Circle Tower in Causeway Bay. It's a vertical bar complex that houses a bar on each floor, totaling up to over 20 bars in the whole building.
You'll literally be leveling up (or leveling down if you'd prefer to work backwards lol) your drinking game as the night progresses, getting to the next bar simply requires taking an escalator.
7. ...or go on a hunt for hidden bars
If you fancy a bit of an adventure and are willing to brave wandering around the streets of Hong Kong, you could be in for a treat when you discover some bars that are truly hidden gems.
Here are a couple to get you started:
Mrs. Pound
Location: 6 Pound Ln.
How to enter: The entrance is hidden behind a facade that reads 'Mr. Ming’s Stamp Shop'. Find and flip a secret switch amidst the display of stamps and a door will slide open.
Signature drink: Bohemian Sour (green tea-infused whisky, sweet yellow Chartreuse, egg white, lemon juice, and honey)
001
Location: 97 Wellington St.
How to enter: Head to the wet market in Central and look for an unmarked black door with a gold doorbell. Ring the doorbell to gain entrance.
Signature drink: Earl Grey Martini (tea-infused gin and egg whites) & Green Park (gin, basil, egg white, and celery bitters)
Fu Lu Shou
Location: 31 Hollywood Rd.
How to enter: Take the old, creaky elevator up to the rooftop and give the secret code that can be found on the Facebook page to be let in.
Signature drink: Typhoon No. 8 (two types of rum, ginger beer, sweet Falernum, lime juice, and homemade ginger syrup) & Scorpion Dragon Bowl (a huge bowl of tequila, homemade watermelon syrup, fresh ginger juice, fresh lemon juice, and orange bitters that serves 4-6 people)
8. Shop for local indie fashion designs
Yup, Hong Kong is definitely a shopping paradise. But there's so much more to it than just those big fancy malls filled with all the same old international brands that you can find right here at home.
Instead, look out for the local indie labels created by young designers. Consisting of various types of clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry, and so much more, the Hong Kong fashion subculture will make for worthy additions to your wardrobe.
Check out the following malls: Island Beverly (1 Great George Street, Causeway Bay), Rise (5-11 Granville Circuit, Tsim Sha Tsui), and Argyle Center (688 Nathan Road, Mongkok)
Do you know of any other non-mainstream things to do in Hong Kong? Let us know in the comments section below. :)
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