Traveling to Hong Kong on your own: useful information and route. How to organize a trip to Hong Kong on your own Food in Hong Kong: what to try

Everything you need to know about Hong Kong if you're traveling on your own. During the trip, we collected practical information and share it with you. Prices for tickets, food, hotels, transport, visas and attractions in 2019. Plus our tips and reviews from tourists. Bonus - addresses of inexpensive cafes. Everything you need in one place!

Exchange rate: 1 Hong Kong dollar (HKD) ≈ 8 RUB.

Flights to Hong Kong

The cheapest way to fly to Hong Kong is from Vladivostok - round-trip tickets cost from 16.5 thousand rubles (direct flight S7). In second place are Irkutsk and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, tickets cost from 23.5 thousand rubles. A flight from Moscow will cost 26 thousand or more, from St. Petersburg - from 30.5 thousand rubles, from Novosibirsk - from 30 thousand.

Visa to Hong Kong

Do Russians need a visa to Hong Kong? No, if the travel period does not exceed 14 days. The purpose of the visit must be tourism, meeting with friends/relatives, transit or a business visit (however, making a profit during the trip is prohibited).

For a longer trip to Hong Kong, you must apply for a visa. This can be done in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk and Vladivostok. Also, citizens of Ukraine and Kazakhstan do not need a visa for 2 weeks, but Belarusians will have to apply for one.

Required documents for visa: application form in English (you can download it at); 1 photo 3x4 for the questionnaire; passport valid for another 6 months after the end of the trip. If you are arriving in Hong Kong via another country that requires a visa, you will also need to present one.

The cost of a Hong Kong visa is $30. Do not forget to fill out a migration card in English before entering - it is usually issued on the plane.

There are more than 8 thousand high-rise buildings in Hong Kong, 1.3 thousand skyscrapers. Of these, 250 are more than 150 meters high. (Photo © unsplash.com / @bady)

Hong Kong is surrounded by a network of public transport: there are many bus routes, there is a subway, rare double-decker trams, ferries and, of course, taxis. The latter are expensive: red cars - 22 HKD for the first two kilometers, and then 6 HKD for each subsequent 200 meters.

In general, in the city you don’t even have to use a taxi, since there is a convenient and not very expensive metro. In the metro, a one-time ticket costs from 3.5 to 55 HKD - the price depends on the distance. Trams are very cheap - travel costs only 2.5 HKD. The same is true for ferries (for example, Star Ferry) - ticket from 2 to 3.4 HKD.

Red taxis in Hong Kong (Photo © unsplash.com / @imchenyf)

Attention: For trips you should always have change, as change is often not given, and it’s worth remembering. This is not very convenient if you plan to stay in the city for more than 2-3 days, so tourists in their reviews recommend purchasing an electronic card for such travelers Octopus. Its cost is 150 HKD, of which 100 is on the balance (it can be replenished), and 50 is a refundable deposit (the balance on the card can also be returned), plus 9 HKD is retained for use. You can pay for all types of transport, even some taxis, and you can also pay in certain stores and receive discounts. Thus, it allows you to save money. Read more about the card.

We recommend that before traveling to Hong Kong on your own, you thoroughly study the metro map and download a city map to your phone or tablet (although some tourists complained that GPS does not work well there - we saw this ourselves). The metro is open from 6 am to 1 am.

Buses in Hong Kong are mostly double-decker, and there are often huge queues at bus stops (and trams) during peak hours. All stops are equipped with stands with route schedules and fares.

Hong Kong has not only double-decker buses, but also trams. There are only 3 cities in the world where they are preserved - also Alexandria and Blackpool (Photo © unsplash.com / @popnzebra)

Hotels in Hong Kong

Don't expect to find cheap hotels in Hong Kong - for less than $28 for a tiny double room you're unlikely to find anything. You need to come to terms with this. What do you need to remember when choosing a hotel? Firstly, real estate here is expensive, and its area is modest (but all the conditions are usually included in the room). Secondly, we recommend looking for hotels on Roomguru in advance, a month or two in advance - there is a high chance that you will “catch” a good discount on a star hotel.

Hotels are cheaper on the Kowloon Peninsula, while on Hong Kong Island everything is much more expensive. If you are traveling with a family or a group, you can save on housing by booking an apartment on the popular private housing service Airbnb.ru - there are many beautiful and interesting options, unlike boring hotels.

View of Hong Kong at night from Victoria Peak, the highest point in the city (Photo © Daxis / flickr.com)

Food in Hong Kong: what to try?

“Culinary Capital of the World”, “World Food Fair”, “Gourmet Paradise” and other flattering names are all about Hong Kong. Despite the rather high price tag, tourists recommend not skimping and trying the masterpieces of the local cuisine.

What food and drinks are worth trying in Hong Kong? There are so many of them that you can’t list them all. Here's some of what tourists recommend in their reviews and trip reports:

• A variety of dumplings (dim sum): with shrimp (haa gau), with pork and broth inside (xiao long bao). They look modest, but are very tasty! Price from 13, on average - 20-25 HKD.
• Yutiao - long strips of dough, deep fried. These can be found, for example, in Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries.
• Egg tarts are sweet and salty, specific. From 2 HKD per piece.
• Fish balls.
• Egg waffles (gai daan jai), there are also berry, chocolate, etc. From 15 HKD.
• Kongs, congee (congee) - rice porridge. There are many options for the dish, there may be various additives (garlic, herbs, meat, etc.).
• "Pineapple" buns (baolaobao, Pineapple cake) - in fact, there are no pineapples, but they are very tasty. They say it looks like a pineapple.
• Sago Mix dessert is sago, milk and pieces of fruit. Reminds me of Filipino halo halo and Malaysian ABC and ice kachang.
• Roast goose and Peking duck.
• Rice wrapped in lotus leaves.
• Wonton Noodles.
• Deep Fried Sesame Balls.
• Milk tea.
• Tea coffee (yingyong).
• Almond Milk - about 10 HKD.

Food prices are high, especially in light of the fall of the ruble. For example, rice with meat at the food court will cost approximately 30-40 HKD. But even in Hong Kong you can save money by eating at local noodle shops - read how not to go broke on food in the article about.

Read also how to go and what they are like.

Temple Street Night Market (Photo © unsplash.com / @sam_beasley)

Addresses and names of inexpensive cafes, restaurants and eateries in Hong Kong

Experienced independent travelers know how to eat deliciously and inexpensively in Hong Kong. We have collected addresses of places on the Internet where you can eat on a budget and are sharing them with you. Among them there are even cafes marked with one Michelin star!

1. One Dim Sum- 1 Michelin star. Menu prices: from 13 to 20 HKD. Address: Shop 1 & 2, G/F, Kenwood Mansion, 15 Playing Field Road, Prince Edward.
2. Tim Ho Wan- also 1 Michelin star. Menu prices: from 12 to 22 HKD. Address: Shop 72, G/F, Olympian City 2, 18 Hoi Ting Road, Tai Kok Tsui. There is a long queue at the establishment; at the entrance you need to sign up and wait. There are two more cafes at the following addresses: G/F, 9-11 Fuk Wing Street, Shum Shui Po And Shop 12A, Hong Kong Station, Central.
3. Food court at Sogo Mall.
4. Tourists recommend visiting Yoshinoya- there are inexpensive sets there (20-22 HKD).
5. Popular network Cafe de Coral.

Being in Hong Kong for only two days, we did not waste time searching for the above-mentioned establishments and waiting in the queues that form at the entrance to Michelin-starred restaurants. Food that is inexpensive by Hong Kong standards is easy to find; you just have to turn into the alleys and look into small Chinese eateries. They often have menus in English, and you can also rely on pictures. Sellers often give their own advice on what to try.

Noodle soup with wontons (Photo © Prayitno / flickr.com)

Attractions in Hong Kong: what to see on your own?

Look for interesting excursions on the Sputnik and . Individual and group, without crowds of tourists and in Russian.

Top attraction - famous Victoria Peak, a visit to which will cost you a pretty penny: tram to the mountain and back, entrance, binoculars - all this costs about 93 HKD. Tourists suggest a trick: climb to the peak on foot, since the views of the city are wonderful, and not enter the Sky Terrace observation deck, but admire exactly the same views for free from the nearest park. You can go down (or up) by bus for 9.8 HKD (from/to Central metro station). We got there in the following way: first on the Mid-Levels escalators, then on foot to the peak, and back by bus. We were unlucky, as there was dense fog, which more or less cleared only by nightfall, and we saw the city in lights only from the White Jade observation deck, where tourist buses stop. It costs about 10 HKD to get there, the same as to the peak.

Another point of attraction for tourists is Big Buddha on Lantau Island, in the village of Ngong Ping. Entrance to the Buddha is free, but to get to him you need to spend money. There are several trekking paths outside the village.

What else can you see in Hong Kong on your own? Avenue of Stars (as of the end of March 2016 - under partial restoration), Ocean Park, Po Lin Monastery, Disneyland, various museums and many, many skyscrapers.

Big Buddha on Lantau Island (Photo © Alex [ www.bytefish.com ] / flickr.com)

Safety

Despite the fact that the city is considered one of the safest in the world, travelers are advised to exercise some caution. In general, the advice that tourists give in their reviews and reports on trips to Hong Kong is standard:

• do not wander at night into dark neighborhoods far from the center and docks;
• stay alert in crowds and watch your bags and pockets;
• exchange currency carefully, and also check checks, bills and receipts;
• Beware of salesmen and helpers who promise services or goods at very low prices - you need to know the average price of the product so as not to fall for the bait. This technique of deceiving tourists is common on Nathan Road, so it is better to go to Mong Kok market for shopping.

Wong Tai Sin and Sham Shui Po are considered unsafe areas.

Night signs of the Won Kok district (Photo © unsplash.com / @_stfeyes)

What do you need to know and remember when preparing to travel to Hong Kong and going there on your own? According to reviews from tourists, it is worth paying attention to the following points:

• Driving is on the left side, so be careful on the roads;
• cross the road at pedestrian crossings and traffic lights - a fine may be issued for failure to comply with the rules;
• You should not litter, smoke in unauthorized places, or eat in the subway and parks - this will result in exorbitantly high fines (for example, for garbage thrown past a container, you may face a fine of up to 25 thousand HKD and imprisonment of up to 6 months - this is what is written on trash cans);
• We have often come across information on the Internet that there are poisonous snakes in Hong Kong parks, to which we can say that we have not noticed any (and there are no signs warning about this either). But there are warnings about poisonous rodent baits on the way to the peak;
• During the typhoon period (from May to November) it often rains and hurricane winds blow, there may be a threat of a typhoon - this is indicated by a board with alphanumeric designations T1-T10. The higher the number, the closer the typhoon;
• It is better to have a passport with you, as the police sometimes check your documents.

Pedestrian crossing on Nathan Road (Photo © unsplash.com / @ouiindy)

Introductory image source: © Colin Tsoi / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.

I spent a long time comparing all the points in my head based on this review. There are many thoughts, even more impressions. Here I want to describe the main reasons why you should come to Hong Kong at least once in your life and I will describe the entire trip step by step - from the idea to implementation and return home.

1.IDEA

The idea didn't come from me. But I was the instigator of the trip. It’s just that with the onset of the crisis, with my moving and settling into a new place, trips were relegated to the second, or even third, plan, so I decided to resume them. But I dreamed of a completely different country - Japan, I have long dreamed of getting there someday (and I will get there!), but my fellow travelers convinced me in favor of Hong Kong.

I didn’t consider Hong Kong for the reason that I had already been to China, and I thought that nothing there would surprise me - if only I knew how wrong I was! And so in September we decided - we’re going! The dates were chosen in mid-February, since no one would give me a vacation, and because of the February holidays and long weekends, I can take several days off.

2. PURCHASING TICKETS AND HOTEL RESERVATIONS

The most convenient way to get to Hong Kong from Moscow is a direct flight offered by Aeroflot. For the period from February 15-27, we purchased a ticket for 27,500 rubles (round trip per person from Moscow). For two people 55,000 rubles with all taxes and fees. The tickets were purchased in October 2016 (almost 4 months before the trip).

We booked the hotel in November and chose it on the Skyscanner website. We chose a Best Western hotel with views of Victoria Bay and a rooftop pool. Hotel on Hong Kong Island near Sai Yang Pun MRT Station. I recommend choosing a hotel not far from metro stations, this will greatly save you time and money in the future. In addition to the metro station, we also had the Macao Ferry Terminal nearby.

By the way, another reason why we didn’t go in January, for example, is Chinese New Year. During this period it is difficult to find a hotel and everything in the city is very expensive, so our dates played into our hands.

3. ARRIVAL AND WAYS TO GET TO THE CITY

The airport is not as difficult to navigate as it might seem at first glance. In general, it seemed to me that he was not that big. The largest one in my memory, it seemed to me, was in Bangkok. The first thing you need to decide before departure from Russia is how you are going to get to the city - this is important!

You can get there in three ways:

• Taxi - the most expensive type of transport
• Aeroexpress - the fastest way to get to the city
• Bus - the most economical option.

We, as budget tourists, chose the bus. But we looked at the route we needed to get to the hotel in Russia in advance. We needed the A10 bus. However, if you haven't checked the route, you can do it at the airport using free wi-fi. As a last resort, you can contact the driver of a bus with the hotel address and ask if he goes along that route. Just in case, we checked with the driver, who even told us at which stop we should get off.

If you choose express or bus and plan to use public transport during your stay, then you need to purchase an Octopus Card. You can buy it at the ticket sales terminal right at the airport, or at the ticket office for express trains called TicketTrain. It's easy to find the ticket office, but you can also ask at the information terminal.

The card costs 150 HKD. There are already 100 HKD on the card account, 50 HKD is a deposit for the card. Looking ahead, I will say that when departing from Hong Kong, you can return the card and receive the remaining funds and this deposit, minus a small percentage for use. This card is valid not only for all transport in the city (except for taxis, probably), but you can also pay for purchases in the supermarket. You can top up Octopus at special metro ticket offices, in metro terminals, and at the checkout counter in various supermarkets.

Our bus fare to the hotel was 48 HKD. On buses, the fare is fixed, but depends on the route.

If you decide to take the express train, the trip will cost 100 HKD, you will get to the Hong Kong terminus of the dark green line, and then you will have to take the metro for a fee. We took the express train on our way back to the airport.

3. CURRENCY AND MONEY

The exchange rate of the Hong Kong dollar to the ruble for our visit was 1 HKD = 7.8 rubles (we multiplied by In Hong Kong, all prices are indicated only in HKD, sometimes they write $, but it still means the local dollar. USD dollars will only be needed to exchange them at the exchanger for HKD.

We took with us part of the money in cash in US dollars and part of the money on a Visa bank card. In general, it turned out to be very convenient to use the card. Always, when we paid by card, it turned out to be profitable, since the exchange takes place at the international rate without bank markups. You can withdraw money from the card, but for the 100 HKD (about 800 rubles) withdrawn, I was charged a commission of 100 rubles. Therefore, we decided to pay directly, since we had cash.

The USD to HKD exchange rate for the period of our stay was different in different exchangers; we often exchanged 1 USA for 7.5 - 7.6 HKD. It was possible to buy Hong Kong dollars in Moscow at a multicurrency bank, but he offered us 9.5 rubles for one buck, to which we decided that this was a rip-off when the official rate was 7.6-7.8. Therefore, we bought US dollars with part of the money and left part of the money on the card.

There are exchangers and ATMs at the airport, so you can easily withdraw money from your card and exchange it. The exchange rate at the airport is not the most favorable, so we only exchanged 100 USD to buy Octopuses and get to the city. But now I understand that it was possible to buy travel passes using a bank card.

4. LOCATION, NAVIGATION

The most important thing that people often think about is: Is Hong Kong China or not? There are debates and some argue that it is not, while others say the opposite. It belongs to China, after all, like Macau, although they have their own laws and regulations.

Special territorial and administrative units of the People's Republic of China, enjoying a high degree of autonomy. In fact, these territories are independent in resolving all issues except those related to defense or foreign policy. This status is enshrined in the Basic Laws adopted by the National People's Congress after the establishment of the sovereignty of the PRC over Macau and Hong Kong.

By the way, they have 2 official languages, English and Chinese, unlike mainland China, where, in my opinion, they have not even heard of English.

The city of Hong Kong consists of islands and a peninsula. The largest island is called Hong Kong, the second largest island is called Lantau and the peninsula is called Kowloon. There are several smaller islands, but they are not very developed or inhabited.

Lantau Island has an international airport, so this is the first place you will see here.

There are several other attractions on Lantau, which I will write about below. By the way, to navigate around the city I installed the MAPS application, the developers of which stated that it should work without the Internet. It worked, but for a very long time; we had already figured out all the signs ourselves and the application did not bring much benefit.

5. TRANSPORT IN HONG KONG

The most convenient way to get around the city is the metro. It was not for nothing that I wrote in the paragraph about hotel reservations that it is more convenient to live near a metro station.

On maps and around the city, the metro is indicated by this red symbol, I simply called it the letter “Zh”. There are about 10-11 lines in Hong Kong, and all of them pass through both the islands and the peninsula, and you can easily get from one island to another or to the peninsula by metro.

I really liked their metro. Well, firstly, on the platforms they have a glass fence from the railway tracks. Secondly, the train runs as silently as possible. You don’t even hear that the train has arrived, so you need to look carefully.

The trains themselves are much wider than ours, there is a lot of space in them, and for standing passengers the handrails were made in the center so that they do not rest on those who are sitting - convenient and reasonable. The doors, it seemed to me, are wider than the doors of Moscow metro trains. And the most important difference is that the entire train is one continuous carriage.

The metro fare is not fixed; the cost depends on the distance traveled, although it does not always increase proportionally. For example, it was always more expensive to get to the center, even if you traveled only 3 stations, but from the outskirts to the outskirts it was cheaper. Approximately we had amounts from 5 HKD to 26 HKD (Disneyland had the most expensive metro fare).

In addition to the metro, Hong Kong Island has trams that run across the entire island. Therefore, if you need to get to the center or to the other end of the island, you can take the tram. Trams, like buses, are double-decker.

Their cost is fixed at 2.3 HKD and this is the cheapest mode of transport. But here it is customary to enter the tram from the back door, and exit from the front. By the way, the tram is an excellent option for taking a sightseeing tour of the island; you just get to the end and back.

Although buses have a fixed fare, their cost varies depending on the bus route. In the city we only went by bus twice - from the airport and just from the center. When we were just driving around Hong Kong Island, we paid 5 HKD.

There is another excellent transport option in the city - ferries. They ply the Victoria Gulf and connect the islands and the peninsula. There are also intercity ferries, which are the most comfortable. On one of these we went to Macau.

Another option for a sightseeing tour is a ferry ride from Hong Kong to Kowloon and back. It is better to do this in the evening, an unforgettable sight is guaranteed. Travel from Hong Kong Island to the Kowloon Peninsula and back is about 2.5 HKD if you travel on the first floor and about 3.6 HKD if you travel on the second.

6. TEN REASONS TO VISIT HONG KONG

1. The main and first reason to fly to Hong Kong was the visa-free regime for up to 14 days for Russians

Unlike the rest of China, Hong Kong is somewhat more loyal to guests and allows visa-free stays of up to 14 days. It turns out that all you need to do is buy a plane ticket and wait for the departure date. Therefore, for those who do not like this delay with documents and for independent travel, Hong Kong is a very good option.

By the way, in Hong Kong they don’t put a visa in your passport, but issue it as a separate document in the form of a piece of paper like this.

2. Combination of Asian and European culture

If you are accustomed to Western comfort, but you are interested in Asian culture and exoticism, then welcome. Hong Kong combines the sophistication of England, in its double-decker trams and classical architecture, takes a little from America - its stunning skyscrapers and tops it all off like a cherry on the cake - Chinese and Buddhist monasteries, temples, parks and more.

3. There is a sea in Hong Kong, so you can even combine it with a beach holiday, the main thing is to get there in season

In February it is still cold to swim in the sea, although when we arrived it was 22-25 degrees Celsius, we even managed to sunbathe and burn a little. In Macau the weather was even better when we arrived there, about 30-33 degrees Celsius. But at the end of our vacation the weather deteriorated sharply, it was about 10-12 degrees, we walked around in the coat in which we arrived from Moscow.

I think the beach season in Hong Kong starts in April, so if you plan to combine it with a beach holiday, choose the right time.

4. People and atmosphere

Many people compare Hong Kong with New York, and those who have been to both cities prefer Hong Kong. Before, I couldn’t understand why this was so? After all, America is no less beautiful and civilized country, and, I think, even much more developed. Until I came to Hong Kong in person and didn’t understand what was going on.

It turned out to be simple - the people here are very responsive, friendly and well-mannered. They create a pleasant atmosphere with their mood, there is no feeling that you are not welcome here, but even the opposite. I felt this especially vividly in contrast after returning, when I rode on the Moscow metro to work - there was an invisibly present irritation in the air, some kind of hostility towards each other, including you, contempt. They calmly push you, step on your feet, and many don’t even think about apologizing...

In Hong Kong, people think about other people, they always give up their seats, local men often gave up their seats to us. If they accidentally hit or push me, they immediately apologize. Moreover, there was a situation when I was to blame, but before I could open my mouth to apologize, the girl still began to apologize to me first. Even if you take a photo of something, they wait patiently so as not to ruin the frame, although we tried to let them through))

Absolutely any local can offer help in navigating the city, even if you don’t ask for help, but just stand and look at the map)) There was a case with us when we misunderstood the direction and went in the wrong direction, so the girl ran after us and , without sparing her time, she carried us to the desired stop. I was pleasantly shocked. Usually this is alien to residents of big cities; the principle is every man for himself. This, I think, is a truly high level of culture and social development.

It’s also amazing how they treat with trepidation the cultural heritage of their colonialists (here we are talking not only about Hong Kong, but also about Macau). As we noticed, all buildings and Catholic churches that are not related to the Chinese religion are revered on an equal basis with Buddhist shrines; some locals are even Catholics.

I don’t want to touch on politics here, but I immediately remember some countries where historical heritage that is not related to the religion of that country is being destroyed with hatred.

5. Here you can get into the real

Since there are 5 of these parks around the world, two of them are in the USA, one in Paris and one in Japan.

I think that in Hong Kong it is more accessible than in the USA and Japan, and, it seems to me, cheaper than in Paris, although I am terribly interested in comparison.

Therefore, if your lifelong dream is to visit Disneyland, then you can consider Hong Kong as an option for your vacation.

6. Here you can see a real live panda and, if you have never seen it, then a red panda

I didn’t expect anything, but I was pleasantly surprised. In Ocean Park we finally saw a real live panda. Such a sweet creature, but the whole time we were watching him he was sleeping. I woke up only once, moved to another corner, and went back to sleep)

But besides the traditional panda, here I saw for the first time, and generally learned about the existence of the red panda. More precisely, scientists are arguing about what species this cute little animal should be classified as, in the end they called it a red panda or a fire fox (firefox)

There are even 2 of them in Hong Kong. Many will say that you can ride the cable car without leaving Russia. Yes, but here are completely different landscapes that will not leave anyone indifferent.

One cable car is located on Lantau Island, and it takes you to the mountain with the Big Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery. But unfortunately, during our visit, the road was under reconstruction and will not open until July (whoever is planning a trip in the near future, keep this in mind).

But the second road is located in Ocean Park, and it runs along the edge of the mountain overlooking the sea. I was even a little scared to go. Since the day was cloudy and the park was located on the top of a mountain, everything was shrouded in fog and the sight was breathtakingly terrifying.

If Hong Kong is said to be Chinese New York, then Macau is Chinese Las Vegas. You can get there from Hong Kong in just an hour, but you need to take your passport with you. Also, by visiting Macau, you can extend your visa-free stay in Hong Kong for another 14 days.

Since going to Macau is considered going abroad, upon returning back to Hong Kong you fill out the migration card again and again have 2 weeks left.

9. View of Hong Kong Island and laser show

In Hong Kong, the laser show "Symphony of Lights" takes place every day at 8 pm. This is the largest permanent show in the world, which, for a moment, is included in the Guinness Book of Records.

However, in reality you won't see anything special. The show is not just laser beams, but also animation on some skyscrapers. We were not surprised or impressed, most likely because the very view of these skyscrapers is mesmerizing, and adding a few better green colors no longer changes the overall and already stunning picture.

Those who saw the show in the city of Dubai will be even more disappointed, there will not be the same spectacular performance. But it's still worth seeing this show at least once. If only for the beautiful view of Victoria Bay and impressive skyscrapers.

10.

Madame Tussauds museums are not as scarce as Disneyland parks. But a pleasant bonus from your trip, after all the above points, will be a visit to this museum and photographs with celebrities.

In addition to the listed places, there are some other attractions of the city that you should definitely visit.

The Peak Lookout

It goes without saying that if you take the cable car up to Madame Tussauds, you will already be at the observation deck and get a bird's eye view of Hong Kong.

Well, and the opportunity to ride a funicular or mountain tram, if you’ve never ridden one before.

However, here you need to adjust to the weather. Our day turned out to be foggy, although even in the fog the sight is unreal.

Disneyland is a fairy tale and magic, pleasant emotions, but for adrenaline it is better to visit Ocean Park, where pandas and a cable car will be waiting for you.

In addition to the pandas and the cable car, there is simply a huge oceanarium, where we were stuck for exactly an hour.

An amusement park where you can choose carousels according to your taste and age.

It is built on top of a mountain on one of the islands. You can get here either by cable car or by train, which goes under the mountain. It consists of two levels, the lower one, where the pandas live and the aquarium is located, and the upper one, where all the attractions are.

In addition to pandas, in the park you can see fur seals, walruses, sharks, even kangaroos and Australian bears - koalas.

Here you will see the scenery of old Hong Kong. What the city used to be like.

Avenue of Stars on the embankment

Well, you won’t be delighted here unless you’re a fan of Hong Kong cinema. The only famous celebrities here were the hands of Jackie Chan and the statue of Bruce Lee)

But what a beautiful view of the embankment and the bay.

Big Buddha Hill is located on Lantau Island, and there is also a second cable car. From this road the view is much more interesting, and the cabins also have a transparent floor, but we were not able to ride on them, I wrote above why. But there is a second way to get to Buddha, by bus for 35 HKD per person.

This was the second big Buddha I saw. The first one was in Bangkok, he was recumbent. And this one seems to be considered the largest of the seated ones (they apparently have their own hierarchy of Buddhas there based on the position of his body), its height is about 34 meters.

To climb to the Buddha you need to overcome 269 steps, but it turned out quickly, while taking photographs, I didn’t notice how I was already in front of him. It is so impressive in size that we noticed it even when we approached it on the bus.

Climbing up to the Buddha, a wonderful view of the monastery, its territory and picturesque surroundings opens up.

After the Buddha, we went to Po Lin Monastery. This is where you can truly see Chinese culture.

Nan Lian Garden

This is a picturesque garden in Kowloon, which is made according to Feng Shui in the Chinese style. There is also another functioning temple here.

In addition to the traditional oriental architecture, there is a very beautiful garden here; I have never seen such plants anywhere before. And here I saw Bonsai for the first time.

Kowloon Park

The largest park on the Kowloon Peninsula.

This is a corner of wildlife where you can not only take a walk and spend time alone with nature, but also admire beautiful birds.

It is very clean and tidy, the park is well maintained, it’s even strange, because it is free, like all other city parks.

Park on Hong Kong Island Zoologocal & Botanical Gardens

This park contains various types of plants, special greenhouses have been built and enclosures with animals are kept.

It is also a free city park with monkeys, lemurs, turtles and so on.

Hong Kong Science Museum

Hong Kong has a lot of attractions without museums, but the weather is not always pleasant. Therefore, during rain, in order not to sit in a hotel, you can visit a museum.

We went to the science museum and the space museum.

Ferry ride from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon (and back)

I already wrote above that the ferry can be used for a sightseeing tour, it is better to do it in the evening and look at the panorama of glowing skyscrapers.

Ferris wheel

Another good way to take a sightseeing tour is to ride a Ferris wheel.

But even just walking around the center, you can see wonderful views of the city.

The local skyscrapers are impressive, many of them are very narrow and tall, that sometimes you wonder how they can stand like that and not fall. By the way, some skyscrapers have free observation decks; I heard that you can go there with your passport, but we never got there.

We were lucky, since we lived just a couple of metro stations from the center and we could easily get here on foot, but you can also arrange a sightseeing tour by tram along the entire island.

7. CALCULATING FINANCES

The time has come to discuss all the main nuances and costs. As I already said, tickets cost 55 thousand rubles for two. The hotel cost about the same, but it was possible to rent much cheaper, just the higher the room, the more expensive the room price, and we lived on the 33rd floor.

Plus we also bought a cap with Mikimouse for about 100 HKD and food for 150-200 HKD. I think you can save money by not buying souvenirs and taking food and water with you, because everything else is already included in the price.

Two tickets to Ocean Park cost 6,850 rubles.

The principle is the same, all attractions in the park are free except for souvenirs and food.

A ticket for the funicular and observation deck cost 88 HKD for one.

This is an ascent and descent and a visit to the observation deck. You can save money and buy tickets without an observation deck, since there is also a free observation deck at the top.

ticket on wheels

In total, all entertainment for two people cost 29 thousand rubles, excluding food, shopping and travel.

8. FOOD AND SHOPPING

Breakfast was already included in the hotel price, which was convenient. And breakfast was the only thing I could eat calmly. Although they had a touch of Chinese cuisine, there were still food choices for Europeans.

Then we had to look for food for ourselves. In popular chain restaurants and cafes, prices were simply exorbitant. We decided to get acquainted with Chinese food and ate for some time in local eateries and cafes, but I didn’t last long. Even though there is a description in English, they still don’t bring what you expect; I often came across spicy dishes that I couldn’t eat, or other seasonings that I didn’t understand.

The Chinese have all sweet meats and sausages, we tried a couple of them and were a little surprised. By the way, the sushi and seafood here are very tasty.

They are sold immediately in sets, and are all sold out on the same day. Hong Kongers themselves often buy them, but we trust the taste of the locals and try to buy the same as they do)

I really liked the desserts and pastries, they have a lot of desserts with blueberries and blueberries, they really love decorating cakes with these berries.

Shopping centers are like dirt here, at almost every turn. There are also markets, clothing markets, a flower market, and a goldfish market, which are worth visiting at least just as an attraction.

As I already wrote, prices in Hong Kong are lower, but this rule no longer applies to clothes and shoes very much, due to the low exchange rate of the ruble. As a result, the prices in some chain stores are the same as in Moscow, so at first we didn’t see much point in shopping. Although we still bought some things.

China is a country of tea, so it is worth bringing good tea from here. We also took real Colombian coffee, which is not sold here, or if it can be found, I’m afraid to imagine the prices. For food, we also bought fruits (mangoes) with us. a bottle of maple syrup, oyster sauce.

We also bought 3 branded 1 terabyte hard drives, one as a gift for our boss, and two for ourselves. for each it cost about 3600-3800 rubles. By the way, they have a worldwide guarantee. It’s generally beneficial to take equipment here.

cosmetics

We also bought clothes and shoes for ourselves, since at first we didn’t count on hot weather and didn’t take particularly light clothes. We bought a lot of souvenirs and gifts for friends and family, so all the rest of the money besides entertainment was spent on food and shopping.

We took about 120 thousand rubles with us for pocket expenses for two of us, and still about 20 of them remained, which we brought back.

CONCLUSION

Where can you save money?

How can you save money if your budget is limited? Depends on your priorities. I would calmly give up shopping, it’s not necessary to go to Macau, we just decided to kill two birds with one stone and see both cities. On the Peak, you could easily save money on the observation deck, since there is also a free place there. At Disneyland, take everything you need with you (food and water).

If you choose between Disneyland and Ocean Park, I would choose Disneyland, because it is not only carousels, it is a fairy tale, magic and mood. You can save on travel by replacing the metro with ferry and tram, although this is not possible in all cases. But since we were unlucky with the cable car to Lantau, we went to Ocean Park and at the same time saw pandas)

To save on food, choose places where the locals eat. There prices are always lower, and traditional Chinese cuisine is available. The cheapest option is food from the supermarket, here the Welcome or 7eleven chains, there are also local ones. It’s better to shop locally, prices are a little lower there. Well, if you have a place to cook, then go to the market and then cook the food yourself.

All parks in Hong Kong are free except Disneyland and Ocean Park, so you can easily walk there. By the way, all public toilets are also free and they are even in the metro. In general, in the metro they even have supermarkets, bakeries, shops and boutiques, as if they were also a shopping center.

General impression

It was a journey filled with impressions, it seems to me that I returned from this trip a little different person. I began to relate to the world and people around me differently, and rethought some values. In general, every country and city reveals something new to you, and something changes inside you.

This was also my first independent trip, planned and implemented from start to finish by ourselves, without the help of agencies and tour operators. It was both a stressful and a positive experience, but in general, adventures like these are the ones that are remembered best. Well, we didn’t save much money, like in Israel, and we spent much less on entertainment and excursions, because we went ourselves, and with the rest we already allowed ourselves to buy something.

A futuristic city of light and an eternal transit city. People come to Hong Kong for a couple of hours, but it remains in their memory for the rest of their lives as one of the most extraordinary cities on the planet, where skyscrapers prop up the sky, where they are reverent about the past and so eager to look into the future that sometimes they cannot keep up with themselves .

Despite the ubiquitous hi-tech, the city has retained the atmosphere of an elegant colonial era. Antique shops alternate with newfangled boutiques, archaic trams overtake sports cars. Fashionable bars and restaurants compete with street vendors, and the first ones are not always the winner in the fight for the way to the customer's stomach. There is always something to be surprised and see here, the main thing is to remember in time that you are not here forever.

Compare prices for tickets to Hong Kong and hotels on different sites - save up to 50%

Price calendar for flights to Hong Kong

When to go? Best time to visit Hong Kong

If we consider Hong Kong as a city for a transit stop, then the question: “When is the best time to go to Hong Kong” should be the last thing of interest. Well, don't you walk around Alley of Movie Stars (Promenade, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon) because of the rain, and you won’t take a photo with the Bruce Lee statue... So what? But you can spend this time communicating with penguins in Ocean Park Hong Kong (Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong. Ticket price for adults is HK$280, about 1150 rubles, for children under 11 years old - HK$140, children under 11 years old - free).
It’s a different matter if you are going to stay in Hong Kong for a week or two (14 days - that’s exactly how long you can stay in Hong Kong within the framework of “visa-free” entry). Then plan a trip to Hong Kong best from September to late November - early December. From mid-December to early March, winter in Hong Kong: cool, but the air temperature rarely drops below +15, sometimes there is a little drizzling rain, but in general, the weather is clear and good for walking. The most unpredictable weather in Hong Kong is in the spring. Heavy rain gives way to bright sun and vice versa. In the summer, Hong Kong turns into a mad chef's kitchen: it cooks, it steams, and it starts to rain in the middle of a clear sky. And, in general, completely normal weather for the urban jungle of Southeast Asia.

How to get to Hong Kong

Airlines operating direct flights to Hong Kong Aeroflot And Cathay Pacific. As a transit point, Hong Kong is convenient to the island of Taiwan and China. .
You can get to the city from the airport by taxi; travel time is approximately 40-45 minutes. By train Airport Express, travel time depending on the desired station is 20-25 minutes. If you are coming for several days, it is best to purchase a transport card in advance - Airport Express Travel Pass. The company's double-decker buses also run from Hong Kong airport to the city. Citybus, the cost of a bus trip is the lowest (if buy a ticket in advance, then a round trip will cost HK$55 = about 230 rubles).

Where to live. Best hotels in Hong Kong

The main parameters for choosing a hotel in Hong Kong are at least 4* with a view of the bay. We managed to book such a hotel - we saved ourselves a lot of time, which we could spend on other attractions. The best view opens from the hotel windows on Salisbury Road in the tourist area Tsim Sha Tsui district Kowloon. Almost all of the hotel's 495 rooms offer magnificent views of the bay. In addition, this hotel is also one of... Located on the same Salisbury Road hotel Peninsula famous for its fleet of Rolls Royces in the signature green color, marked with the hotel's monogram.
No less majestic views and prices await you at the hotel Ritz-Carlton, which occupies all floors above one hundred and two in the World Trade Center skyscraper, making it the tallest hotel in the world. On Hong Kong Island there is a pleasant exception to the rule and the best in terms of price and quality JJ Hotel on Wan Chai Road.

All Hong Kong hotels: price comparison on different sites - save up to 50%

Meal'n'Real. Sights of Hong Kong

Although most of Hong Kong's seven million residents live in skyscrapers in the central part of the island, the total area of ​​the Special Administrative Region is 1,130 square kilometers. Most of the area is occupied by the so-called New territories- a peninsula in the northern part, connected to the southern coast of China and surrounded by 265 islands, many of which are still uninhabited.
The center of this former British colony is Hong Kong Island, whose northern shore is lined with rows of skyscrapers. Central region. Opposite it, on the other side of Victoria Bay, is the area Kowloon, the southernmost point of the New Territories.
Start your first day in Hong Kong with breakfast (if you fly on a direct flight, you will arrive in the city around 10 am and we are sure that a cup of strong coffee after the flight will not hurt) in a popular cafe chain Fuel Espresso in Hong Kong. Then the rise, literally and figuratively. Take a look at the city from above by climbing on. Then go downstairs and go to Hollywood Road.
Start your exploration of Hong Kong from the gates of the Taoist Temple Man Mo (156 Hollywood Road). The temple was built in 1848, but, as in the old days, in the temple courtyard visitors are invited to tell fortunes for the future using the ancient traditional chim system. You just need to shake a box of sticks with numbers written on them until one of them falls out, and then find your number in the fortune book. Stroll along tree-lined Hollywood Road, whimsically lined with antique shops and galleries of ancient and modern art. Check out the gallery Wattis Fine Art (2/F 20, Hollywood Road, Central), which features an exhibition of black-and-white photographs of the city during its colonial heyday a century ago. A little further along is Pass Shelley, in the center of which the world's longest escalator was built in 1993.
The most accessible and cheapest entertainment in the city is ferry rides Star Ferry, from the deck of which there is a picturesque view of Victoria Bay. For only HK$ 2 (8 rubles) at any machine in terminals No. 7 and No. 8 (Man Kwong Street) you can buy a token (the machine does not give change), which gives you the right to cross Victoria Bay. This is one of the oldest tourist routes between the Central District and Tsim Sha Tsui, opened back in 1888. Although the two shores have since been connected by underground road and rail links, the ferry remains the most exciting travel option, especially at night.

Another option for city tours, Hong Kong's bright green, double-decker, absurdly narrow trams with open windows look like an anachronism. They look incredibly old-fashioned as they make their way between Hong Kong's tallest skyscrapers. Six tram routes are also the cheapest mode of transport: the fixed fare is HK$ 2.30 (about 10 rubles). Payment is deposited into a special machine at the exit of the car, and not at the entrance. Take the tram at the intersection Wan Chai Road And Johnston Road and go to the stop "Admiralty". Here take the metro to the station "Chi Lin Nunnery", near which there is a reconstructed temple of the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), built entirely of wood (without a single iron nail); You'd never guess by looking at it that it was built in 1998. Surrounded by the tall buildings of Diamond Hill, this complex of tombs and Chinese gardens is worth a half-hour metro ride (HK$12=50 rubles).

For city park Kowloon Park(2 Austin Road, Tsim Sha Tsui) more than generously endowed with everything you need: turtles in the pond, parakeets in the aviary, a lake with flamingos, a sculpture park and a huge swimming pool. The pool is open from 6:30 am to 6 pm from November to May (cost of visit is HK$19, about 80 rubles).
Three important cultural landmarks line Salisbury Road in Tsim Sha Tsui: start with Museum of Cosmonautics surmounted by a dome (10, Salisbury Road, open from 10.00 to 21.00 on weekends and Mondays and from 13.00 to 21.00 on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; closed Tuesday, entrance - HK$10=40 rubles); then visit Museum of Art, which houses luxurious works of pottery from the Ming and Tang dynasties (10, Salisbury Road, open from 10.00 to 18.00 from Sunday to Friday and until 20.00 on Saturdays; closed on Thursday; entrance - HK$10=40 rubles); and end the tour at the beautiful Cultural Center built on the water, which hosts concerts and exhibitions.

The best places for shopping in Hong Kong are in Central. Shops with souvenirs and handicrafts, luxury shopping centers, like IFC (8, Finance Street, Central), as well as the myriad of tiny streets and market stalls throughout the city, are all here. Hollywood Road, Queen's Road Central And Causeway Bay— reserved areas for shopaholics.
Bespoke clothing is ridiculously cheap here, even if you decide to order a suit from the same tailor who made Bill Clinton. Founded in 1957, the company Sam's Tailor, on the ground floor of a shopping center Burlington Arcade (90-94C Nathan Road), the very place where you can find yourself in a fitting room next to some star or politician.
For vivid impressions and inexpensive souvenirs, you can go to the night market next to the temple Tin Hau on Temple Street. And on Lady's Market (Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon) It’s worth a look for scientific and educational purposes: after carefully examining a couple of counters with high-quality Chinese Louis Vuitton, in the future you will easily distinguish a fake from the original.

Cafes and restaurants in Hong Kong

Dim sum is the pinnacle of fast food evolution: tiny flatbreads, pieces of brisket or a stuffed pancake that can be eaten at any time of the day for only HK$10=40 rubles. There are plenty of good dim sum eateries around town, but if you can afford to wait in a three-hour line, go to this place. Tim Ho Wan (Shop 8, Kwong Wa Street, Kowloon. Open from 10.00 to 22.00); It's a restaurant chain, but it's the one on Kwong Wa Street that has received a Michelin star, making it the cheapest restaurant to receive such high recognition. You can eat dim sum with a view of the harbor at Maxim's City Hall(1, Edinburgh Place, City Hall Low Block. Open from Monday to Saturday from 11.00 to 15.00 and from 17.00 to 23.30. On Sundays and public holidays the restaurant opens at 9.00). But we warn you that many will not feel comfortable, even though it’s delicious and how we love it “authentically”, in a huge hall with crystal chandeliers, where the hubbub of people, the slurping and creaking of food carts does not stop for a second. You can calmly dine on Chinese delicacies in the restaurant Lei Garden (Shop No. 3007-11, 3/F., International Finance Centre, Central). This is a famous restaurant chain in Hong Kong, but the best one is the one located in IFC shopping mall. And you will be offered the most delicious fried pigeons in the restaurant Yung Kee (32-40 Wellington Street, Central).

You can grab a quick bite at one of the open-air eateries, dai pai dong, which randomly line the dead end of the street. Graham after the intersection with the street Stanley in the Central region. Here, for just HK$40=165 rubles, you can taste noodles from a giant bowl at one of the plastic tables in the company of random strangers.
In Hong Kong, you can try the national cuisine of almost any region of China and even the world, but they can truly cook northern Chinese dishes at the Hutong restaurant (28/F, One Peking Road), the taste of which here is complemented by a breathtaking view of the city from the height of the 28th floor. The Ma La shrimp are especially good here, fried with lots of whole Szechuan hot peppers. There is so much pepper that it seems as if the shrimp should be unbearably spicy. But first impressions are deceiving. Book a table by the window in advance and arrive at eight in the evening, when the city’s night illumination begins: to date, 40 buildings have already participated in the world’s largest ten-minute musical show of city lights.

But before you start dining, stop by the legendary bar Felix In a hotel Peninsula. You may no longer need dinner, and you can watch the light show here too. The idea of ​​branded bars may seem outlandish, but Hong Kong has no shame when it comes to money. It's worth dressing up well to be allowed onto the terrace of an elegant... Chater House Mall (11, Chater Road), drowning in neon light, where you must drink the fiery Fire Opal cocktail - orange and mango juice with a good dose of alcohol. And then go to one of the clubs in Hong Kong Dragon-I (60, Wyndham Street, Central), Volar (Basement, 38-44 D "Aguilar Street, Central) And Kee Club (6/F, Yung Kee Bldg, 32 Wellington Street, Central)- some of the coolest clubs in the city (just make sure in advance, or better yet, instruct the concierge at your hotel to organize your evening program so that your name is on the list for the club).

Hong Kong is the main financial center of Asia, it is a very vibrant and modern city that is not at all like typical Asian cities. Since childhood, when I watched films with Bruce Lee, I wanted to go to Hong Kong and soon my dream came true. Traveling to Hong Kong on your own is very easy, just buy air tickets and book a hotel. Let's take a closer look at planning an independent trip to.

Visa to Hong Kong

Everything is simple here - Russian citizens do not need a visa to Hong Kong! In this case, the period of stay should not exceed 14 days, but for tourism purposes this is more than enough. The passport must be valid for at least 1 month from the date of departure from Hong Kong.

Flights to Hong Kong

Several airlines fly from Russia to Hong Kong, both with and without transfers. Air tickets are not very expensive and buying them yourself is not difficult. I look for the cheapest air tickets to Hong Kong on the Aviasales website, and the price is often cheaper than directly from the airline (airlines give a discount to their agents, due to this the price when purchasing through agents is lower). For example, as of April 2013, I found Moscow-Hong Kong-Moscow air tickets on this site for only 15,700 rubles. For convenience, use the search form below to check the price for the dates you are interested in:

Planes fly into Hong Kong International Airport - Cheep Lap Kok, which has two terminals T1 and T2. Check-in at Hong Kong airport is carried out at terminal T2, and departure itself is from terminal T1; a special train runs between the terminals. You can get from the airport to the city yourself on a special Aeroexpress, which runs every 10 minutes, and the travel time is 24 minutes to the nearest station. The fare ranges from HK$60 to HK$100, depending on the station you go to. You can also use a taxi, but it will cost 4-5 times more.

Book a hotel in Hong Kong

Compared to other Asian cities, Hong Kong is quite an expensive city and hotels are also expensive, but if you compare it with hotel prices in Moscow, the comparison will not be in Moscow’s favor. There are many hotel booking systems, both international and local, and they all offer different prices for the same hotel. In order not to get confused and choose the most advantageous offer, I usually use the site - HotelLook, which can compare prices for hotels from different booking systems. I usually choose the booking system that offers the best price. Sometimes on this site you can find big discounts on good hotels and you can book a hotel at a good price.

For convenience, you can use this form to search for hotels, just select the desired dates and click "Search".

The price of hotels in Hong Kong starts from 1000 rubles for the simplest guesthouses to 25-30 thousand rubles per night for five-star hotels. You can choose the option that best suits your budget. When I went to Hong Kong, I stayed at the Harbor Plaza Metropolis Hotel in Kowloon City for 100 US dollars a night for a small room but with a great view of the bay.

Hong Kong currency

The official currency in Hong Kong is the Hong Kong dollar HKD or HK$. As of March 2013, the exchange rate is approximately 1 HKD = 3.97 rubles. You can exchange currency both in banks and in special exchange offices. When exchanging in banks, a commission may be charged, check before you change. The rate is usually better at special exchange offices. If you are wondering what currency to take to Hong Kong, then the answer is universal - Dollars or Euros; exchanging any of these currencies is not difficult.

In Hong Kong you can pay with a bank card almost everywhere.

Transport in Hong Kong

Public transport in Hong Kong is very well developed. The most convenient and fastest way to travel for tourists is the metro (MRT). On it you can independently get to almost any place of interest to tourists. In addition to the metro, trams and buses run around the city. There are several bus companies that operate double-decker city buses similar to the English ones. Schedules and routes can be found on the websites of bus companies or ask the hotel staff. MRT and bus fares vary by distance and can range from HK$4 to HK$11 per MRT fare.

If you prefer to use a taxi, then in Hong Kong you will not have any problems with this. There are three types of taxis, which differ in color: red, green and blue. City (red) taxis operate within the city and are the most expensive; boarding and the first 2 km cost 20 HK$, then 1.5 HK$ for every 200 meters. Green taxis are slightly cheaper, but usually serve the New Territories. Blue taxis are the cheapest, but only travel within Lantau Island (including the airport and Disneyland).

When in Hong Kong at least once, try to travel on a special ferry Star Ferry, which links central Hong Kong and Tsim Sha Tsui and crosses the bay. The ferry price is no more than 3 Hong Kong dollars.

What to see in Hong Kong?

Hong Kong is rich in attractions that may be of interest to tourists. For me, a must see in Hong Kong is to climb Victoria Peak and watch the laser light show “Symphony of Light”; without this, a trip to Hong Kong cannot be considered complete. For some, Disneyland is a must-see in Hong Kong. You can tour all the sights of Hong Kong on your own.

This is the very place from where the most gorgeous view of Hong Kong opens. To get to the top of Victoria Peak you can take the Peak Tram, which was built in 1888 and is a local attraction in itself, but be aware that you may have to wait in a long line. If you don't want to stand in line, you can take the bus that departs from the Central metro station.
My photo from Victoria Peak

There are many ways to get to the Big Buddha, but I highly recommend taking the Cable Car for an unforgettable experience.

The cable car departs from Tung Chung MRT station and costs HK$135 for a round trip.

Disneyland is one of the main attractions in Hong Kong, but to be honest, I have never been there. You can get to it by metro; to do this, you need to get to the Sunny Bay station, there you change to the pink metro line and take it to the Disneyland Resort station. A standard one-day ticket for an adult costs HK$399, and for a child under 12 years old HK$285.

Laser light show "Symphony of Light"

The Avenue of Stars and the Symphony of Light show in Hong Kong are not to be missed. According to the Guinness Book of Records, "Symphony of Light" is the world's largest regular light show. "Symphony of Light" takes place daily at 8 pm and can be seen from the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, between the Avenue of Stars and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

There are many places in Hong Kong that may be of interest to tourists, I tried to describe the main ones.

If you are planning your first independent trip, I recommend reading the article, there you will find answers to many questions that may interest you. You can find other articles and useful materials for planning an independent trip on a special page -

Don't be afraid to travel on your own - it's cheaper and much more interesting. Traveling on your own gives you freedom.

Currently, more and more tourists refuse the services of travel agencies and organize their trips themselves. It is not as scary and difficult as it seems at first glance. Such a self-organized vacation, in most cases, will help you save a lot.
The reservation here is not accidental, since sometimes a tour package turns out to be more profitable. It all depends on the place you are going to go to, as well as on the “hotness” of the trip. But as practice shows, a trip that you planned yourself brings much more pleasure.

After much digging on the Internet, it was found out that Hong Kong is just such a city where traveling on your own is much cheaper. In addition, if you are going to stay in the city for no more than 14 days, then you do not need a visa (for Russian citizens).

So, the main stages of organizing an independent trip to Hong Kong:
1. Decide on dates;
2. Buy air tickets;
3. Select and book a hotel or apartment;
4. Purchase travel insurance (not mandatory, but recommended. You never know...)
5. Make a rough trip plan (what you want to see, where to go and, in general, what is interesting there);
6. Download applications with maps of the area on your tablet or smartphone (very helpful);
7. Calculate and exchange finances (what is the minimum you need and how much you can spend beyond this);
8. Pack your bag and wait for the trip! (the most difficult point:)

1. Our trip was planned for mid-April for 9 days.
Well, what can I say, I liked Hong Kong in April. There is no intense heat and humidity like in summer, you can safely sightsee. The beach season opens on April 1, so we planned to visit several beaches and successfully tested them. The sea water is +23, not Thailand, but for me it’s warm and very refreshing after long hikes. There are very few people on the beaches (a little more on weekends), and therefore everywhere is clean. The weather forecast promised us rain for 5 days, but in reality we never saw it, although it was cloudy for several days.

2. We always buy air tickets through the website aviasales.com. Very comfortably. If you are not lazy and regularly track the desired direction, you can catch cheap tickets. I also like their price calendar, where you can see the difference in ticket prices for different dates (they are often very different).

3. There are a lot of sites for booking hotels on the Internet, but my favorites are booking.com and Agoda.com. Hotels are expensive in Hong Kong, so we booked the apartments through our favorite site AirBNB (by the way, when you register on it through this link you get 25 USD into your account;). The site has helped us out more than once, especially when traveling to Europe.
Upon arrival, we called the owner, we were met near the house and handed over the keys (don't forget to print out the apartment reservation). That's all.

Our apartment was small (which is typical for Hong Kong), but inexpensive and close to the center in the Austin metro area, Kowloon. There was even a kitchen area with a refrigerator, electric stove and kettle. The price was about 2000 rubles per room per night. The area for living turned out to be excellent. Nearby are night and fruit markets, small grocery stores, bakeries, restaurants, two metro stations, and a park with a huge swimming pool. On foot in 15-20 minutes you can reach the embankment and the Avenue of Stars.

4. We always take out insurance, fortunately we have never needed it yet. This time we took it almost before departure to ozontravel.

5. We had a very detailed trip plan, scheduled by day and how to get where. We are lovers of walking, so we have outlined several long routes for ourselves, exploring nearby attractions, beaches, parks and a little shopping. We didn’t visit everyone’s favorite Disneyland and Ocean Park, since we’re not big fans of the rides.

I will dwell on the routes in more detail in the following articles. I just want to say that to move around the city it is best to use the Octopus card, which can be purchased at the airport. It works on the subway, buses, trams, ferries and even in some shops. You throw money in there (we did this in 7-eleven stores, they are on almost every corner) and when boarding a transport, simply bring it to the sensor (in the subway at the entrance and exit).

6. The Maps.Me map on the tablet helped us a lot in walking around the city, although from time to time we had to literally “walk in circles” because of the pedestrian junctions that run above the roads in the city center. However, if you have planned popular attractions, you will always find them using signs and arrows.

7. Financial costs are different for everyone. For the entire trip (not counting air tickets and apartment reservations), we spent 400 US dollars for two people in 9 days. Although the couple standing behind us at the airport complained that they spent 10,000 rubles a day on food alone. What's the secret? When traveling, the most money is spent on food. Especially if you eat in the most touristy places.

Advice for the "thrifty": Before getting to an attraction, eat at a less popular place.

So, before you take the cable car and go to Buddha on the island. Lantau, grab a bite to eat at the food court located in the shopping center near the metro exit. Huge portions, large selection and very reasonable prices around 40 - 50 HKD. Personally, I could never cope with my portion, especially if it also came with soup.

8. Always pack your bag responsibly. Remember: you have to carry it on yourself. Often, many things turn out to be unnecessary. This time the owner of the apartment warned us that we needed to take towels with us, but there was a hairdryer in the apartment.

That's basically it. Nothing complicated.

Reminder (of various importances about Hong Kong)!

1. Hong Kong currency - Hong Kong dollar HKD
You can exchange it at the airport (the rate is not very favorable) or in the city (at any “change” office). They exchange US dollars and euros.
2. Time in Hong Kong (UTC+8) differs from Moscow by +5 hours, from Khabarovsk by -2 hours.
3. Vehicle traffic in Hong Kong is on the left.
4. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Without a Chinese visa, you will not be able to leave it for another city in China (with the exception of Macau), and you will not be able to pay in yuan in stores.
5. In Hong Kong you can easily communicate in English, it is widely spoken there.