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Hong Kong's 18 districts
are full of exciting events and attractions, colour and fun, which are
sure to excite visitors. Whether it is one of our fantastic museums,
great restaurants or spectacular festivals, Hong Kong is sure to offer
great times. Click on any of the links below and discover the myriad
of things to do and see in Hong Kong.
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Peak Tower
Hong Kong is rightly famed all over the world for the stunning views
from Victoria Peak - a sight that never fails to amaze visitors as
they behold the almost unbelievable panorama virtually stretching as
far as he eye can see. Neatly bisecting the near and far land masses
is Victoria Harbour, its waters constantly being traversed by all
manner of craft ranging from stately passenger liners and plodding
freighters to sprightly Star Ferries and darting jetfoils. And now
this fabulous sight has been even further enhanced by one of Hong
Kong's most imaginative and futuristic buildings, the seven-storey
Peak Tower, an all-in-one viewing, dining and entertainment centre.
Designed by British architect Terry Farrell to take the fullest
advantage of the sights, it devotes 20 per cent of its total space
to viewing terraces that seem to be suspended in space above the
stupendous visual feast dramatically occupying almost the whole
skyline.When finally sated by the view, visitors can now enjoy the
many superb attractions offered by the Peak Tower, which was opened
in 1997. Among the entertainments is the 'Peak Explorer' with
moveable seats in a spaceship setting that creates hair-raising
virtual adventures, plus Ripley's amazing 'Believe It Or Not
Odditorium', displaying more than 500 weird and wonderful exhibits.
Still another attraction is Madame Tussaud's Hong Kong, displaying
more than 100 highly life-like figures of the famous and infamous,
including muscleman Arnold Schwarzenegger, pop icon Michael Jackson,
and movie superstars Jackie Chan and Michelle Yeoh.
The Peak Tower also has a wide range of restaurants and food outlets
plus novelty shops where visitors can get a souvenir to remind them
of their exciting experience. As befits such a world-class tourist
attraction, The Peak is served by a modern funicular railway
(called, incidentally, the Peak Tram) whose sturdy carriages seem to
assume near-perpendicular angles as they giddily whisk passengers up
to the top. The less adventurous might prefer to take a taxi up the
twisting road through the Mid-Levels or a No 15 bus from Central.
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Hollywood Road
The best way to explore this historic area in Hong Kong's Central
District is undoubtedly on foot. At the western end of the road is
Hollywood Road Park, where a photo display shows the original old
settlement close to this area, which was constantly swept by
outbreaks of bubonic plague. Road and Upper Lascar Row, also known
as "Cat Street", are must-see stops on every visitor's itinerary.
Crammed with antique shops and an open-air curio market, these
quaint locales are ideal places for picking up eclectic souvenirs
and gifts. Everything from Ming Dynasty furniture and lotus lamps to
Mao badges and ancient snuff bottles is on sale here. Bargain
hunters will also enjoy the stalls on Ladder Street, just a few
metres downhill - and haggling is all part of the game.
For a change from shopping, several blocks uphill is the old
red-brick Pathological Institute (now the Museum of Medical Science)
where a Japanese scientist isolated the cause of bubonic plague.
More history is evident back downhill at the original red-brick YMCA
building, which contains a surprise in the basement - the
territory's first indoor swimming pool. Hollywood Road is perhaps as
famous for the much-photographed Man Mo Temple, dedicated to the God
of Literature (Man) and the God of War (Mo), as it is for its
antique shops. The temple is located about halfway along the road
and a stop in its quiet, incense-shrouded interior makes a pleasant
break. Take the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) to its Sheung Wan
terminus and begin walking away from the harbour. This walk in
itself offers a wide variety of interesting old shops to on Queen's
Road and up to Hollywood Road. Alternatively, take the Mid-Levels
escalator uphill.
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Lan Kwai Fong & SoHo
A cheerful warren of Western-style restaurants, nightclubs,
delicatessens and bars, Lan Kwai Fong is an L-shaped, cobble-stoned
lane just a stone's throw above Central's cluster of skyscrapers.
Nearby lanes are also buzzing with bistros and pubs in what is Hong
Kong's trendiest nightlife area. Stroll along Hollywood Road and
you'll soon discover Hong Kong's "SoHo", the area "South of
Hollywood Road". The neighborhood offers a wide range of upmarket
eateries and watering holes congregated mainly on Staunton, Shelley
and Elgin streets. Here, you'll enjoy international fare from New
Orleans to Nepal, Mexico to Malaysia, Provence to Portugal. Above
SoHo is the Mid-Levels, an exclusive residential area built on the
lower slopes of Victoria Peak. The Central-Mid-Levels Escalator, the
longest covered outdoor escalator system in the world, provides easy
access to and from downtown, as well as fascinating insights into
the diverse street life.
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Central and Western 
Information provided by
Hong Kong Tourism Board.
