(香港)!

Yes, this is a city of modern skyscrapers and futuristic architecture, but if you scratch

beneath the surface and spend a little time here, you’ll discover pockets of tranquility

in the form of incense-filled temples and bonsai gardens, a delicious foodie scene that

features budget friendly Michelin-stared restaurants, mountainous islands that are an easy day trip

away, antique markets full of treasure, and a dazzling skyline you won’t soon forget.

Without further ado, let us show you 25 things to do in Hong Kong:

Let’s kick things off at the Peak Tram, where the steep 7 minute ride to Victoria

Peak (山頂纜車) gives you some of the best views of the city.

So we just finished riding the tram to Victoria Peak (太平山 - 扯旗山) and now we're

enjoying the free views.

We could be paying more and going up to the sky terrace but we refused because the free

views are good enough.

Yeah, and if you're willing to walk out a little bit from the complex you'll find that

you know the crowds slowly dissipate.

And hey we're just by ourselves right now.

At 552 meters, the Peak (太平山 - 扯旗山) is the highest mountain on Hong Kong Island

(香港島) and its location offers vast views of towering skyscrapers, Victoria Harbour

and Kowloon (九龍) off in the distance.

For more postcard worthy views of Hong Kong (香港), we also visited Victoria Harbour

(維多利亞港) at sunset and then watched as the skies turned from amber to fiery orange.

Another event you should definitely make time for is the Symphony of Lights (幻彩詠香江),

which is a daily music and light show that encompasses both sides of the harbour.

Skyscrapers dazzle with blinking lights and lazer beams, while everyone oooh’s and aaah’s

from the waterfront.

You can watch the show from either Kowloon (九龍) or Hong Kong Island (香港島),

but I personally prefer being on Kowloon since Hong Kong island has the iconic skyline.

We are currently in the Nan Lian Garden (南蓮園池) which is right across from the Chi Lin Nunnery

(志蓮淨苑).

And again like most parks here in Hong Kong it is super peaceful.

They have soft music playing.

You can hear the birds chirping.

There is beautiful flowers.

There is like a little golden pagoda in the middle of a lake.

So we're going to show you all of that now.

After visiting the gardens, we crossed over to the Chi Lin Nunnery (志蓮淨苑), which

is a Buddhist temple complex that dates back to the 1930s.

What is perhaps most impressive is that the structures were built out of wood but without

the use of a single nail!

Alright guys we have three words for you!

Tim Ho Wan (添好運)!

Tell us all about it.

What is this place?

This is basically one of the best places to try dim sum in all of Hong Kong.

Yes.

It is a Michelin starred restaurant yet it is affordable.

So we're going to go in, we're going to order a lot of food and we're just going to scarf

down some dim sum (x點心 - 点心xx).

Okay.

Oh the joy.

Ready.

Yeah.

Alright guys so we just finished placing our order.

And this is what the menu looks like.

You basically grab a pencil and you tick off the different dishes you're interested in.

The first one has already arrived.

Oh wow.

So we got a little bit greedy because it is like three in the afternoon.

We haven't had lunch yet so we ordered seven different dishes and we're going to be showing

you those once they arrive.

First one is here and this one is the sticky rice wrapped in a lotus leaf.

This is one of our favorite ones.

I love this one.

So let's not waste any time.

Let's just start unfolding this masterpiece.

Wow.

Lots of steam rising.

Ooh!

Look at that.

It is a huge leaf.

It is a huge one.

And there you've got the sticky rice with chicken I believe and a nice mushroom.

So we're going to be sharing this.

Mmmm.

Wow.

So good.

Well what do you think?

I love it.

He loves it.

And there is more food.

Oh my gosh.

So I'm just going to use my hand because it is a little bit easier for me.

But man these are nice and plump.

Yeah.

Everything here is plump and stuffed.

They do not skimp out here.

Mmm.

Mmmm.

What do you think?

There you have it.

There is the barbecued bun.

This is so fluffy.

Oh my gosh.

I know.

It is a lot fluffier than I remember.

Wow.

What about the taste?

Do you like it?

Mmmm.

It is really nice because it is like savory inside but then really sweet on the exterior

so you get both flavors.

It is that contrast that makes it so good.

Mmmm.

So the next on the menu is one of our absolute favorites.

I believe it is called Har Gao and that is basically the almost like shrimp dumplings.

Yeah, they are.

Shrimp in a little wrapper and they are just so good.

Oh my gosh this is a slippery one.

Haha.

Don't burn yourself.

I have a feeling it is going to be really hot.

Those are like freshly steamed.

Oh man.

His eyes are bulging out.

That was a big bite.

Hahaha.

So yeah it is just filled with like so much shrimp and you just bite into it and it is

juicy and it is just so flavorful and tasty.

It is so plump.

It is.

Seriously.

That is the best way to describe them.

Just such plump pieces of shrimp.

I think it goes without saying that Tim Ho Wan (添好運) is one of our favourite places

for dim sum (點心 - 点心), and it’s worth seeking out if you’re ever in Hong

Kong (香港)!

So next up we're going to watch the Noon Day Gun (午炮).

And I have to admit the first time I heard about this attraction I had no idea what it

was.

Sam actually mentioned it to me last time we were in Hong Kong like three years ago.

And I just thought Noon Day Gun (午炮) was a name.

To me it sounded like Chinese.

But apparently it is a gun that they fire during the day at noon so we're just waiting

for that to happen right now.

Getting here is a little tricky.

I wish I could give you instructions.

Um, basically you can probably see the Excelsior Hotel behind me.

The Excelsior.

Um, you need to go down some tiny side alley and then cross through a tunnel.

Um but yeah it is a little bit tricky to find it.

We went into like three buildings before we found the right place so you may have to ask

around to find it.

Um but yeah we're here.

We're going to watch this gun be fired.

Woah!

Well Sam after all of these years you finally got to see the Noon Day Gun again.

How was it?

Yeah, it must have been like six or seven years ago that I got to experience this.

Well my biggest tip for this is when you come here make sure you plug your ears just before

the shot.

Yes!

It is some kind of loud.

And it almost makes you like shake.

That is how loud it is.

It is really powerful.

Yeah.

It is scary.

It is a powerful blast.

And it is a very short ceremony.

Like he just rings the bell, fires the gun and off he goes.

And then you can come in and check this place out.

For thirty minutes.

You can go and take some pictures of the gun and just walk around.

It is pretty cool.

Another fun thing to do in Hong Kong is to ride the double decker trams (香港電車).

This was one of the earliest forms of transportation in the city, and riding them through the modern

financial district feels a bit nostalgic.

If you’re really looking for something memorable, you can actually hire a party tramway and

celebrate with music, drink, and stellar views as you cruise through the city.

We are currently making our way down Upper Lascar Row and this is the place to buy souvenirs.

There is also some construction happening so it is bit loud.

But basically the street is lined with shops that sell really high end antiques and then

on the street you have like these little tables where you have old trinkets and just things

that would make really cool souvenirs but also have a history behind them.

So it is worth checking out for sure.

I haven't picked up anything but I do see things that interest me.

It is just I don't have a home and I don't have room in my suitcase.

If antiques aren’t really your thing and you’re looking for something a bit more

modern, Causeway Bay (銅鑼灣) is full of malls, department stores, and fashion boutiques.

So today we are going in search of free views of Hong Kong . Always like free stuff.

So we're here at Central Plaza (中環廣場) and apparently on the forty sixth floor there

is a skydeck.

So we're going to be checking this out for the first time.

We've never done this in Hong Kong before.

Let's do it.

So look at this.

We get three hundred and sixty degree views of Hong Kong from this building and no one

is here.

And it is free.

More people should know about this place.

Seriously guys.

Free views of Hong Kong all to yourself.

So this is a bit of a quirky attraction to be listing, but not every city offers the

opportunity to ride a series of escalators instead of walking up hills.

The Central–Mid-Levels escalator (中環至半山自動扶梯) is the longest covered escalator system in

the world, so it’s worth experiencing at least once.

Just know that there is no escalator going down, so you’ll have to take the stairs.

Man Mo Temple (文武廟) dates back to 1847 and it is dedicated to the God of Literature

and the God of War.

For a little trivia, this temple was once popular with students looking to succeed in

the civil examinations of Imperial China.

We are currently inside the Man Mo Temple (文武廟) and it is thick with incense in

the air.

I don't know if you can actually see it.

But is almost burns your eyes a little bit yet it looks magical at the same time.

So it is a weekend in Hong Kong.

Tell us what are we up to?

Yeah, it is time for some nightlife in Hong Kong.

We're at Lan Kwai Fong and this is probably the most popular nightlife area in the city.

We're not exactly going to paint the town red but I think we'll get a beer or maybe

a glass of wine.

So I'm the kind of person who would rather be at home in bed reading a book on a Sunday

night but apparently that is considered lame.

So somebody insisted we check out the nightlife.

That is all kinds of nerdy.

All kinds of nerdy.

So here we are.

The funny thing is it is like seven thirty PM right now and we're super early.

Yeah.

It is going to get hopping around nine or ten.

By which time we'll be back.

We'll be sleeping by then.

Back in the hotel.

But anyways cheers.

What did you get?

Ah, I got red wine.

And I got gin and tonic.

Salut.

If you’re looking to get out of the city and a little closer to nature, you can ride

the aerial tramway (昂坪360) to Lantau Island.

Once you’re there you can visit the Po Lin Monastery (寶蓮禪寺), and also visit the

Tian Tan Buddha (天壇大佛), better known as the Big Buddha.

So one thing to keep in mind is that if you visit the Buddha in the morning it is backlit.

So if you're a photographer and you want to be able to take some good shots from the front

you may have better luck in the afternoon.

Otherwise this is what you'll get.

Time for a little update.

Yeah, so we've had a busy day exploring Hong Kong.

Now it is time to go back to our apartment and this is our favorite way of getting around

the city.

Is taking the Star Ferry (天星小輪).

Star Ferry (天星小輪).

In my opinion it is like iconic transportation in Hong Kong.

You've got to do it.

It is cheap it is fun.

You can cross Kowloon to Hong Kong Island or vice versa.

And