Personal Picks & Travel Tips from My Own Adventure
If you’re planning a quick trip to Hong Kong, don’t worry—you can still experience a lot in less than four days. This list covers 17 major attractions, including must-see sights, relaxing escapes, and a little time for pasalubong shopping. If you're lucky enough to have more than four days, even better! But if time is tight, these highlights are well worth squeezing into your itinerary.
1️⃣ Ngong Ping 360 – Cable Car to
the Skies
📍Tung Chung, Lantau Island
🚠 Riding the Ngong Ping 360 cable car was one of the highlights of our trip. The 25-minute ride offers sweeping views of the South China Sea, mountains, and the Hong Kong International Airport. If you’re not afraid of heights, opt for the Crystal Cabin — the glass bottom adds a thrilling touch!
🔄 Update: As of 2025, Ngong Ping 360 operates daily, but may close temporarily for maintenance. Always check their official site before you go.
🎟️ Pro Tip: Buy tickets online in advance to skip long queues, especially during holidays. Arrive early to snap crowd-free photos!
👉 Read more here >>
Check this post on how to get there: 🚡 How to Get to Ngong Ping Piazza & Giant Buddha (2025 Transport Guide)
Make sure to take the Cable Car for amazing experience: 🚠 Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car: My Thrilling Ride Above Lantau Island
Related Posts you might want to check:
🛡️ Meet the Twelve DivineGenerals at Ngong Ping: Guardians of the Medicine Buddha
🏛️ Ngong Ping Piazza: Gateway to the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery
🌳 Bodhi Wishing Shrine at NgongPing 360 – Make a Wish Beneath the Tree of Awakening
2️⃣ Tian Tan Buddha (Big Buddha) –
A Majestic Climb
📍Ngong Ping Village, Lantau
Island
🪷 After getting off the cable car, we were greeted by the towering Big Buddha—one of the largest seated bronze Buddhas in the world. Climbing the 268 steps felt like a pilgrimage, but the view at the top? Worth every breath.
🔄 Update: Free to visit, but entrance to the exhibition hall beneath the Buddha requires a meal ticket from Po Lin Monastery.
💡 Tip: Visit in the morning to avoid the heat and crowds.
🌟 Personal Moment: Despite the crowds, standing in front of this giant Buddha was one of the most peaceful moments of my trip.
👉 Read more here >>
3️⃣ Po Lin Monastery – A Peaceful
Retreat in the Mountains
📍Next to Tian Tan Buddha,
Ngong Ping
🌸 We took a peaceful pause at Po Lin Monastery, just steps from the Big Buddha. The incense-filled air, golden halls, and vegetarian meals gave us a calm break from our hectic Hong Kong schedule.
🔄 Update: Po Lin is open daily, but the dining hall hours vary. The vegetarian set meals (included with donation) are still a favorite among visitors.
🧘♀️ Tip: Dress modestly when entering temple halls. Don’t miss the Ten Thousand Buddhas Hall behind the main shrine! Don’t rush through—take time to sit and reflect in the main prayer hall.
👉 Read more here >>
4️⃣ Ocean Park Hong Kong –
Nostalgic Family Fun
📍Aberdeen, Southern District
🎢 Ocean Park isn’t just a theme park — it’s where we felt like kids again! From panda viewing and cable car rides to roller coasters and aquariums, this park blends nature, animals, and thrills in one huge space.
🔄 Update: Ocean Park now offers new themed zones and revamped animal habitats. Check online for seasonal events like Halloween Fest or Christmas Wonderland.
🎟️ Travel Tip: Weekdays are best to avoid school tour groups.
🎡 Advice: Plan ahead. If you want to ride the roller coasters, give yourself a full day.
👉 Read more here >>
5️⃣ Kowloon Walled City Park – A
Quiet Escape with a Wild Past
📍Tung Tsing Road, Kowloon
City
🌿 I had always been curious about the infamous Walled City, so when we finally made it to Kowloon Walled City Park, it felt surreal. Once a lawless and overcrowded settlement, it’s now a serene Chinese-style garden filled with history and symbolism.
🔄 Update: Open daily and free to enter. Informational signs around the park share stories of the city's chaotic past and transformation.
📸 Tip: Look for the old South Gate remnants and take a peaceful walk through the lotus ponds and pavilions — it’s hard to believe this used to be the most densely populated place on Earth!
🏯 History Buff? You'll appreciate learning about its transformation from chaos to calm.
👉 Read more here >>
6️⃣ Trick Eye Museum – Strike a
Pose, Get Tricked!
📍Peak Galleria, The Peak
(Check current location as it may relocate)
🎨 One of the most unexpectedly fun stops we made! The Trick Eye Museum is full of 3D illusions where you become part of the art. We spent more time than expected here just posing, laughing, and snapping the craziest photos.
🔄 Update: As of 2025, Trick Eye Museum's Hong Kong branch has closed, but pop-up exhibits occasionally appear in malls.
📸 Tip: If you find a similar spot, go with a friend — this is one place where being silly is part of the fun.
👉 Read more here >>
7️⃣ Sky Terrace 428 (The Peak) –
Hong Kong at Your Feet
📍Victoria Peak, Central
🌆 Standing at Sky Terrace 428, the highest viewing platform in Hong Kong, was unforgettable. We made it just in time for sunset and watched the city glow as the lights turned on. The panoramic view of skyscrapers, harbor, and mountains is simply breathtaking.
🔄 Update: Still one of the most popular attractions. Opens daily, with the Peak Tram newly upgraded and operating smoothly.
💡 Tip: Come before 5 PM to catch golden hour. Combo tickets (tram + terrace) are cheaper online. Bring a jacket—it's often breezy up there!
👉 Read more here >>
8️⃣ St. John’s Cathedral – A
Peaceful Pause in the City
📍4–8 Garden Road, Central
⛪ After a day of sightseeing, we stumbled upon St. John’s Cathedral, the oldest Anglican church in the Far East. The contrast between this calm Gothic structure and the modern buildings surrounding it is striking.
🔄 Update: Open for visitors, with regular services and occasional concerts. Entry is free, but respectful behavior is encouraged.
🧘♂️ Tip: Step inside for a quiet moment — the cool interior and stained-glass windows offer peace in the middle of the city buzz.
⛪ Surprise: You’ll spot it on your walk to the Peak Tram—it’s worth a quick stop.
👉 Read more here >>
9️⃣ Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower –
Timeless Icon by the Harbor
📍Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha
Tsui
🕰️ When we visited Hong Kong, I made sure the Clock Tower was on our list — especially since it's a declared monument since 1990. Even though it was open for viewing, we missed the chance to go up because we arrived at night. Still, with the lights and harbor breeze, it was magical.
🔄 Update: Clock chimes resumed in 2021, ringing hourly from 8 AM to midnight via a digital bell synced with the HK Observatory. Viewing deck access may remain closed.
📸 Tip: Visit in the evening for stunning skyline views, then head straight to the Symphony of Lights nearby.
👉 Read more here >>
🔟 1881 Heritage – From
Marine Police to Luxury Landmark
📍2A Canton Road, Tsim Sha
Tsui
🏛️ While walking toward the harbor for the light show, we passed by 1881 Heritage. I originally thought it was a mall, but it turns out it’s a heritage hotel and high-end shopping spot with roots as the former Marine Police HQ! Since it was Christmas, the lights were stunning — I wished we had gone in.
🔄 Update: Now home to the Hullett House Hotel, luxury boutiques, and restaurants. The site often hosts seasonal light displays and cultural events.
🍽️ Tip: Even if you don’t plan to shop, come for the photo ops, especially during holidays!
👉 Read more here >>
1️⃣1️⃣
Symphony of Lights – Hong Kong’s Nightly Spectacle
📍Victoria Harbourfront (Tsim
Sha Tsui Promenade)
🌃 After a full day of sightseeing, we capped our night with the Symphony of Lights show. It was nice to just sit, relax, and watch Hong Kong’s skyline come alive. You’ll see lights dancing across the buildings — a free, daily spectacle.
🔄 Update: Still runs nightly at 8 PM. The best viewing spot is at the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, where music is also played.
📸 Tip: Come early to secure a good spot. There are no seats, so bring water, and expect light crowds.
🚢 Optional Bonus: Ride the Aqua Luna boat during the show for a unique view.
👉 Read more here >>
1️⃣2️⃣
Jade Market (Yau Ma Tei) – A Treasure Hunt Experience
📍Kansu & Battery
Streets, Yau Ma Tei
💎 We passed by the Jade Market in Yau Ma Tei — it’s a great place if you’re looking for lucky charms, trinkets, or something uniquely Hong Kong. I didn’t buy anything, but it was fun to walk around and talk to vendors.
🔄 Update: Many stalls have shifted to nearby buildings or smaller arcades, as the original market downsized. Check if the Yau Ma Tei Jade Hawker Bazaar is still active.
💰 Tip: Always haggle politely. If you're not sure what to buy, jade bracelets or zodiac pendants are popular souvenirs.
💚 My Pick: A small jade pendant for protection—locals say it brings health and fortune.
👉 Read more here >>
1️⃣3️⃣
Nan Lian Garden – A Slice of Peace in the City
📍60 Fung Tak Road, Diamond
Hill
🌸 Stepping into Nan Lian Garden felt like entering a quiet dream — so calm and beautifully landscaped, it’s hard to believe you’re still in the middle of Hong Kong. We walked along its wooden bridges and koi ponds, soaking in the traditional Tang Dynasty-style aesthetics.
🔄 Update: Open daily from 7 AM to 9 PM with free entrance. Maintenance may limit access to certain paths occasionally.
📸 Tip: Don’t miss the Golden Pavilion and the vegetarian restaurant tucked inside. Visit on weekday mornings to avoid the crowd.
🌿 Highlight: The golden pagoda and red bridge are picture-perfect.
👉 Read more here >>
1️⃣4️⃣
Chi Lin Nunnery – Serenity & Spiritual Beauty
📍5 Chi Lin Drive, Diamond
Hill
🙏 Right next to Nan Lian Garden is Chi Lin Nunnery, an elegant wooden temple complex built without a single nail. The harmony of nature and architecture was so soothing — I found myself just standing still, appreciating the moment.
🔄 Update: Still active as a Buddhist nunnery. Open from 9 AM to 4:30 PM. Respectful dress and quiet behavior are expected.
🌼 Tip: Combine it with a visit to Nan Lian Garden — they’re literally connected, and it makes for a peaceful half-day itinerary. Be respectful—this is an active religious site, not just a photo spot.
👉 Read more here >>
1️⃣5️⃣
Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple – Where Wishes Come True
📍2 Chuk Yuen Village, Wong
Tai Sin
🧧 I remember being curious about the stories of people making wishes at Wong Tai Sin Temple — “what you request is what you get,” they say! It was busy when we visited, with both locals and tourists lighting incense and having their fortunes read.
🔄 Update: Fortune-telling stalls and prayer halls are fully operational. Avoid visiting during Chinese New Year due to large crowds.
🌠 Tip: If you plan to draw a fortune stick (kau cim), bring a small donation and ask for help translating the Chinese results.
🎋 What Stood Out: The five elements are represented in different temple structures—very cool!
👉 Read more here >>
1️⃣6️⃣
Hong Kong Disneyland – Where Magic Meets Culture
📍Lantau Island, Penny's Bay
🎢 Visiting Disneyland Hong Kong brought out the kid in me! While it’s smaller than other Disney parks, the local twists — like dim sum-themed snacks and Cantonese-speaking characters — made it feel unique and familiar at the same time.
🔄 Update: Recently expanded with World of Frozen, now open! Online reservations may be required for some attractions.
🎟️ Tip: Buy your ticket online to skip the lines. Arrive early to beat the heat and crowds, especially on weekends.
🎠 Honest Thought: It’s not just for kids. It's happiness in theme park form.
👉 Read more here >>
1️⃣7️⃣
Hong Kong Flower Market – Blooms & Local Life
📍Flower Market Road, Mong
Kok
🌷 We passed by the Flower Market during a morning walk, and I couldn’t resist stepping in. Rows of fresh-cut flowers, bonsai trees, and lucky plants filled the air with the scent of nature. It was one of the most unexpectedly beautiful stops we made.
🔄 Update: Open daily, with the busiest season around Lunar New Year. Some shops may close early on holidays.
🌼 Tip: If you’re flying home soon, skip buying fresh flowers but go for seeds or dried arrangements as souvenirs.
🌸 Travel Hack: Great spot for colorful, budget-friendly photos and relaxing vibes.
👉 Read more here >>
This itinerary is packed—perfect for solo travelers or active couples. If you’re traveling with kids or seniors, you might want to take a slower pace or choose fewer locations per day.
🧳 Pasalubong Tip: Jade items, local snacks, flower-themed accessories, and Disney merch make great souvenirs!
📣 Planning a trip to Hong Kong?
Follow my 4-day itinerary packed with top attractions, personal tips, and hidden finds to help you make the most of your city escape!
📚 Related Posts
👉Hong Kong Day 1 Itinerary: Ngong Ping
Village, Tian Tan Buddha, Po Lin Monastery & Ocean Park
👉Hong Kong Day 2 Itinerary: Kowloon Walled
City Park, Peak Tram, The Peak, Trick Eye Museum & Symphony of Lights
👉Day 3: Nan Lian Garden, Chi Lin Nunnery, Wong
Tai Sin Temple & Disneyland
👉Hong Kong Day 4: Flower Market, BestMart
360°, and Crystal Jade Restaurant
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