i lived there for four years. the kowloon part and the hong kong island are the most cultural and international places of Hong Kong. Norman Foster's HSBC Bank and IM Pei's Bank of China are great. Good food. you could also visit Shenzen, China, which is north of Hong Kong but I would spend some time first in Hong Kong.
and if you happen to be there on sunday go see the picnic-ing nannies under Sir Foster's HSBC bank. People animate architecture and spaces more than any stylistic doodads ever will.
and go to Stanley and the nearby fising village of Tai O.
Don't get ripped off if your buying electronic equipment in Tsim Sha Tsui- head down to Sham Shui Po on the MTR (underground rail) if you want a good deal.
I live in Shenzhen and am often in HK. When will you be there? We could have an archinect lunch meeting.
Go to Mong Kok in kowloon for cheap shopping and a lot of authentic grungy atmosphere. (its right on the MTR line)
Go to the Peak, its touristy, but damn the view is nice.
Go to Chungking Mansions in Kowloon for great indian food.
Go to Wan Chai computer center for decent deals without worrying about getting ripped off.
IM Pie's Bank of china is wonderful, but better from a distance as the ground floors are not impressive.
Take the trolly car untill it ends and then ride it back. 2 HK dollars (pay when you get off not when you get on) no matter how far you go and it is a great way to see the city.
A suture said, on sundays, go shopping/wandering around central in the covered walkway system, any of the open spaces are full of the nannies/house workers (almost all from the phillipines), they just gather in small groups, eat play cards, etc. It is a very intersting sight.
In general central is kind of tame compared to western perception of HK. Great skyline but not a ton of energy/people.
Go to Wan Chai on a weekend night for girls (anything from bars, strip clubs, to ah... use your imagination)
Go to Lan Kwai Fun, in central, (spelling?) for drinking with foreigners.
Go to Shenzhen for 1 day only to get really really cheap shit. Lohu and Wachang bay (I forgot the spelling). Nothing else is worth seeing.
i'm continuing this thread because i'm heading to HK for a week...any additions suggestions or...mediumblue...how was your trip, how were the suggestions that were posted here?
Just get to Central or Soho and walkaround, you'll find a lot of interesting modern buildings (LV Store building, HSBC, etc) along with colonial buildings and chinese temples.
And when it gets dark head to Lan Kwai Fong for a much needed drink.
Oh and if you are interested in cheap shopping (who isnt??) head to Granville Rd and Cameron Rd area, where there are lots2 little, cool, and cheap stores (clothing or otherwise).
Anti, r u working in a foreign firm in Shenzen? Im in Guangzhou, how is it down there?
at night go to "the felix" for a drink, it's a restaurant at the top of the peninsula hotel... designed by stark... be sure to check out the bathrooms...
lan kwai fong late night for some nightlife if you're up for it
if you're in hong kong on a weekend, visit the underside of norman foster's hong kong shanghai bank tower on a sunday morning / afternoon? you'll see a pretty unique local cultural phenomenon there... only on sundays...
ride the subway obviously, it's one of the nicest transit systems of any city... ride it when you need to get someplace fast, but if you're not in a great rush, ride the trolley bus on the island (the more scenic route through the city)...
also... take the trolley on hong kong island that goes up to "the peak", definitely worth it, get to the top and then have a bite at marche and go enjoy the view...
*check out the outdoor escalators*... it's always running, takes you up the hill kindof neat... kindof an unusual idea about pedestrian public transportation for a city that's on a slope, you can hop off at destinations or to buy something you see along the way...
*check out also: the star ferry if you've got time, go for a ride if you have someplace you're headed...*
also, check out the boat houses at the bottom of the island... interesting thing about hong kong: the higher you live up the mountain the richer you are, the forest of urban residential skyscrapers... except at the peak where the governor used to live in a big house during british days... there, it's a big park... at the very base of the mountain, the poor end of the spectrum, people live in boat houses... i think you might be able to commission a local boatman to take you out in a boat to tour the boat house district... i can't remember where that is though...
oh and go shopping... central, tai koo shing, mongkok, etc... basically the city is a giant mall... there's also the big floating restaurant.. whatever its called... check a tourbook...
lonely planet: they will show u all the mainstream tourist spot.
lux: is a little booklet publish every six months, they have hk, sydney, new york...etc... showing all the update fancy restaurants and clubs.
more local: go to page one bookstore in hk and find some books in this topic... the best is to have a local friend.
also... try an asian pear on a hot day. don't cut it up, just wash it and crunch into it... there is no comparison to the sweet and water-bursting crisp sensation of a chinese pear... when you are thirsty in the tropical urban weather there... it's like organic candy...
I'm going to Macau tomorrow.. A-Lorcha near the Ah Ma Temple has been my favorite Macanese restaurant for years. Get the spicy Spanish clams, seafood salad, and a bottle of portuguese wine. You really can't go wrong!
for night market style shopping, definitely check out: mong kok on the kowloon side...
there is a street that is all just sport shoes... wall after wall of storefronts of continuous shoes of every style... even classic shoes... like retro air jordans, every single make of air max ever or even like old stuff like reebok pumps or retro converse... they have the new stuff too but those are usually more expensive... if you like running shoes, its like heaven...
there are places you should go for electronics too, i can't remember the names but maybe a local can tell you... there was a mall called something like "golden mall" or something that was like an old office building converted into a maze of little shops and electronics and software vendors... or other buildings that are like that for leather goods, or fashionable t-shirts and stuff...
Apr 29, 07 12:55 pm ·
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Things to see and do in Hong Kong
So I'm headed to Hong Kong for a couple of days. Any insights on architectural and non-architectural things to see and do.
You could start by sending me a post card, you lucky bastard...
our school has an abroad program there. check it out @
http://www.dcp.ufl.edu/arch/curriculum/hkc/index.htm
might give you some ideas.
i lived there for four years. the kowloon part and the hong kong island are the most cultural and international places of Hong Kong. Norman Foster's HSBC Bank and IM Pei's Bank of China are great. Good food. you could also visit Shenzen, China, which is north of Hong Kong but I would spend some time first in Hong Kong.
Do say hello to Suzy for me while you are there.
and if you happen to be there on sunday go see the picnic-ing nannies under Sir Foster's HSBC bank. People animate architecture and spaces more than any stylistic doodads ever will.
and go to Stanley and the nearby fising village of Tai O.
Don't get ripped off if your buying electronic equipment in Tsim Sha Tsui- head down to Sham Shui Po on the MTR (underground rail) if you want a good deal.
Lantau Island rocks.
buy 3d studio max for 20 bucks
gp to the PEAK, at night preferably. GRREAT VIEW!
I live in Shenzhen and am often in HK. When will you be there? We could have an archinect lunch meeting.
Go to Mong Kok in kowloon for cheap shopping and a lot of authentic grungy atmosphere. (its right on the MTR line)
Go to the Peak, its touristy, but damn the view is nice.
Go to Chungking Mansions in Kowloon for great indian food.
Go to Wan Chai computer center for decent deals without worrying about getting ripped off.
IM Pie's Bank of china is wonderful, but better from a distance as the ground floors are not impressive.
Take the trolly car untill it ends and then ride it back. 2 HK dollars (pay when you get off not when you get on) no matter how far you go and it is a great way to see the city.
A suture said, on sundays, go shopping/wandering around central in the covered walkway system, any of the open spaces are full of the nannies/house workers (almost all from the phillipines), they just gather in small groups, eat play cards, etc. It is a very intersting sight.
In general central is kind of tame compared to western perception of HK. Great skyline but not a ton of energy/people.
Go to Wan Chai on a weekend night for girls (anything from bars, strip clubs, to ah... use your imagination)
Go to Lan Kwai Fun, in central, (spelling?) for drinking with foreigners.
Go to Shenzhen for 1 day only to get really really cheap shit. Lohu and Wachang bay (I forgot the spelling). Nothing else is worth seeing.
i'm continuing this thread because i'm heading to HK for a week...any additions suggestions or...mediumblue...how was your trip, how were the suggestions that were posted here?
anti's advice is right on. I would add the Tai-O fishing village (as mentioned by Suture). Definitely worth the trip...
Lan Kwai Fong is great to pick up people...some good bars and restaurants there....
go see the big buddha....
Just get to Central or Soho and walkaround, you'll find a lot of interesting modern buildings (LV Store building, HSBC, etc) along with colonial buildings and chinese temples.
And when it gets dark head to Lan Kwai Fong for a much needed drink.
Oh and if you are interested in cheap shopping (who isnt??) head to Granville Rd and Cameron Rd area, where there are lots2 little, cool, and cheap stores (clothing or otherwise).
Anti, r u working in a foreign firm in Shenzen? Im in Guangzhou, how is it down there?
at night go to "the felix" for a drink, it's a restaurant at the top of the peninsula hotel... designed by stark... be sure to check out the bathrooms...
lan kwai fong late night for some nightlife if you're up for it
if you're in hong kong on a weekend, visit the underside of norman foster's hong kong shanghai bank tower on a sunday morning / afternoon? you'll see a pretty unique local cultural phenomenon there... only on sundays...
ride the subway obviously, it's one of the nicest transit systems of any city... ride it when you need to get someplace fast, but if you're not in a great rush, ride the trolley bus on the island (the more scenic route through the city)...
also... take the trolley on hong kong island that goes up to "the peak", definitely worth it, get to the top and then have a bite at marche and go enjoy the view...
*check out the outdoor escalators*... it's always running, takes you up the hill kindof neat... kindof an unusual idea about pedestrian public transportation for a city that's on a slope, you can hop off at destinations or to buy something you see along the way...
*check out also: the star ferry if you've got time, go for a ride if you have someplace you're headed...*
also, check out the boat houses at the bottom of the island... interesting thing about hong kong: the higher you live up the mountain the richer you are, the forest of urban residential skyscrapers... except at the peak where the governor used to live in a big house during british days... there, it's a big park... at the very base of the mountain, the poor end of the spectrum, people live in boat houses... i think you might be able to commission a local boatman to take you out in a boat to tour the boat house district... i can't remember where that is though...
oh and go shopping... central, tai koo shing, mongkok, etc... basically the city is a giant mall... there's also the big floating restaurant.. whatever its called... check a tourbook...
omg you ppl are making me miss hong kong so much right now..
essentially, you cant go wrong no matter what you do or see. it's amazing from all perspectives
lonely planet: they will show u all the mainstream tourist spot.
lux: is a little booklet publish every six months, they have hk, sydney, new york...etc... showing all the update fancy restaurants and clubs.
more local: go to page one bookstore in hk and find some books in this topic... the best is to have a local friend.
i would take a day or two go to macau!! lots of fun with casino and historic site there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and goooooooooood food.....
also... try an asian pear on a hot day. don't cut it up, just wash it and crunch into it... there is no comparison to the sweet and water-bursting crisp sensation of a chinese pear... when you are thirsty in the tropical urban weather there... it's like organic candy...
I'm going to Macau tomorrow.. A-Lorcha near the Ah Ma Temple has been my favorite Macanese restaurant for years. Get the spicy Spanish clams, seafood salad, and a bottle of portuguese wine. You really can't go wrong!
for night market style shopping, definitely check out: mong kok on the kowloon side...
there is a street that is all just sport shoes... wall after wall of storefronts of continuous shoes of every style... even classic shoes... like retro air jordans, every single make of air max ever or even like old stuff like reebok pumps or retro converse... they have the new stuff too but those are usually more expensive... if you like running shoes, its like heaven...
there are places you should go for electronics too, i can't remember the names but maybe a local can tell you... there was a mall called something like "golden mall" or something that was like an old office building converted into a maze of little shops and electronics and software vendors... or other buildings that are like that for leather goods, or fashionable t-shirts and stuff...
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