Lan Kwai Fong & SoHo - The World on Your Plate

About 20 years ago, Lan Kwai Fong was known as "fringe Central" as business was mainly focused on the waterfront. Today, it's the most popular loose-tie, hair-down dining and entertainment area on Hong Kong Island. The young and stylish flock to Lan Kwai Fong to sample specialties from around the globe - Middle Eastern, Italian, Mexican, French and American to name but a few. Many restaurants open onto the cobblestone streets, providing the luxury of alfresco dining.
Further west, around Staunton, Shelley Street and Elgin streets, SoHo (named after its location "South of Hollywood Road") joins in offering a compact, fashionable area of bars and restaurants specialising in different cuisines including French, Nepalese, Italian, Mexican and Indian.

Avenue of Stars

Discover Hong Kong movie magic as you stroll along the Avenue of Stars on the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade.

This tourism attraction pays tribute to the stars of the silver screen including handprints of individual stars, sculptures, movie history milestones of the past hundred years and movie memorabilia kiosks.

The Avenue of Stars also offers incredible panoramic views of the famed Victoria Harbour and the stunning Hong Kong skyline. It is also the perfect place to watch the spectacular A Symphony of Lights, a nightly multimedia show with added pyrotechnics on special occasions.

How to Get There
Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Exit G, follow signs for KCR and take East Tsim Sha Tsui Exit J. Follow signs for “Avenue of Stars”.

Wong Tai Sin Temple

If you have a long-standing wish that's yet to come true, perhaps the place to visit is the Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple where, provided you make an earnest plea to the gods, "every wish can come true" - or so it is said.

But even if you don't get your wish and win a million in the lottery, this temple complex in the heart of urban Kowloon is still well worth a visit.

Covering 18,000 square metres and located in a tranquil natural setting remote from the nearby housing estates and the bustle of their streets, the temple is, apart from being an important religious centre, a scenic attraction full of beautifully ornamented traditional buildings.

Open time: 7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. everyday

How to Get There
Take the MTR to Wong Tai Sin Station and leave via Exit B2 or B3. The Temple is in Wong Tai Sin Road adjoining the Upper Wong Tai Sin Estate.

Lantau & Big Buddha

Few statues anywhere in the world have such a powerful pull on the imagination as the Big Buddha gazing serenely on the Po Lin (Precious Lotus) Monastery from its hillside site at Ngong Ping on Lantau Island.

The eyes, lips, incline of the head and even the right hand raised to deliver a blessing to all, combine to lend great depth of character and dignity to this extraordinary statue, whose very glance brings calm and introspection to those who look into those seemingly all-seeing eyes.

Lantau (aka Big Fish Mountain) is almost twice the size of Hong Kong Island and as far back as the Northern Sung Dynasty (AD 960-1127) was famous for producing salt, then a highly valuable commodity.

How to Get There
Take a ferry to Silvermine Bay (Mui Wo) from the Central Pier, and Bus No 2 to Po Lin. Or take the MTR to Tung Chung station, and Bus No 23. Allow a full day for the trip and, depending on your schedule, consider a meal at Silvermine Bay or Tung Chung before undertaking the long bus ride.

Cheung Sha Wan Road Fashion Street and Apliu Street

Latest women's fashions at cut-rate prices

Here's a hot tip for fashion-conscious ladies... little known to many overseas visitors there's a sort of unofficial "fashion street" in Cheung Sha Wan Road, Sham Shui Po, that's a great place to pick up trendy fashions at wholesale prices.

Most of the shops can be found between Yen Chow Street and Wong Chuk Street. The clothes are over-runs from garment factories in and around Sham Shui Po - with a few rejects thrown in for good measure. Many of the shops are run by fashion-conscious operators who take only the best, and sell on to Hong Kong boutiques or even overseas buyers. Just the same, they still have lots of bargains available.

The 'market' began many years ago when a handful of enterprising dealers seized a few bundles of rejects from the factories, and held a sort of street market between 6am and 8am.

More recently the area has become far more businesslike, with shops being set up and operating during proper business hours. It's a great way to spend an afternoon - and if on return to her homeland a purchaser is asked where she got that swank little number she's wearing, she can truthfully reply, "Oh, Hong Kong, of course", and leave it at that.

The latest fashions aren't the only items on sale in Sham Shui Po - at the other end of the scale there's a flea market in Apliu Street where, with luck, you might pick up a rare antique for a song. While the items sold here are mainly electrical devices, electronic products and the like, you can sometimes find antique clocks, old coins and other aged relics.

But remember this is a flea market. "Ap Liu" means Duck Shed in Cantonese, and if you're obviously a tourist don't let the sharp-witted street vendors make a goose of you when it comes to prices. If you manage to unearth some treasure from among the bric-a-brac, haggle unashamedly - and beware of pickpockets.

How to Get There
Take the MTR to Sham Shui Po Station and use the Apliu Street Exit. The flea market is between Kweilin and Nam Cheong Streets.
MTR (Kowloon side) to Sham Shui Po, look for the exit to Cheung Sha Wan Road.

Stanley Main Street and Murray House

Stanley is one of Hong Kong's most popular destinations, an exciting and low-cost shopping centre and a place of considerable historical interest.

Seven days a week the open market around Stanley New Street and Stanley Market Road throbs with the passing parade of life as bargain-hunters from all over the world join in the fun of haggling with shopkeepers and stallholders after swooping on items of brand-name clothing and accessories, or simply irresistible souvenirs, ornaments and other Oriental knick-knacks.

It takes time and energy to push your way through thousands of fellow shoppers jamming the narrow footpaths, specially at weekends, but not to worry if you work up a thirst or an appetite - at the other end of this shopping paradise is a variety of bars and restaurants ranging from greasy spoon to up-market Continental. Let your choice match your pocket.

After remaining near forgotten in storage for those many years, the carefully numbered blocks of stone that made up the graceful old building were painstakingly reassembled at Stanley to create this charming reminder of old Hong Kong. Besides shops and restaurants, the interior holds valuable relics of the building's rich past.

How to Get There
Board bus No 6, 6A, 6X or 260 from Exchange Square in Central, or get off the MTR at Chai Wan Station and catch green minibus No 16M

Temple Street Night Market

This is the famous night market, open 4pm – midnight daily, where you can find all kinds of bargains, including casual clothes and curios. You’ll also often see fortune tellers, and professional Chinese chess players. Market becomes busy after 7pm.

Did You Know?
Many Chinese people believe that jade can protect you from evil spirits and calm your emotions. That’s why they buy tiny bracelets for their babies.

How to Get There
Take the MTR to Yau Ma Tei Station and leave via Exit E

Fa Yuen Street, Shanghai Street and Ladies’ Street

Fa Yuen Street

Fa Yuen Street is the place to be if you want to find bargain-priced trendy fashion and casual wear for men, women and children. Open 10:30am – 10:30pm daily

Ladies’ Market

Don’t be deceived by the name. Ladies’ Market has something for everyone with bargain-priced items, including men’s and women’s clothing, knick-knacks, watches and beauty products. Beside the street stalls are Hong Kong-style cafes that offer local favourites. Open noon – 11:30pm daily.

Shanghai Street

You’ll get a sense of time long past on Shanghai Street, one of the oldest streets in Hong Kong. Many of the buildings were built long ago and some of the shops have existed for decades. Look for the shops selling Chinese-style wedding clothes with fine embroidery. Once there were many, now just a few remain.

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