Hong Kong Island, originally named Victoria in honor of the queen, covers 30 square miles. With 150 years of British colonial influence woven into 5,000 years of Chinese culture, Hong Kong is a city of contrasts.  From the ancient Chinese culture found in its Chinese temples, to a more modern taste found within its karaoke bars, Hong Kong truly enchants its visitors with everything from food, art, architecture, to the traditional festivals. Hong Kong Island is a mosaic of thrilling experiences, memorable adventures, and pure serenity.

Bird Market Hong Lok St, Mongkok, Kowloon This street market specializing in birds, singing crickets and intricate cages gives a glimpse into the traditional Chinese way of life.

Cheung Chau Island Cheung Chau This little island offers walks, temples and traditional fishing villages, as well as markets and seafront, seafood restaurants.

Museum of Art - Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Salisbury Rd, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon Art Museum featuring Calligraphy, scrolls and colonial-era art, as well as an excellent, well-presented collection of Chinese antiquities.

The Peak The Peak, Hong Kong Island Take the little funicular railway up this 550-metre hill for superb views over Hong Kong harbour. The ultimate Hong Kong experience: A ride on one of the world’s steepest cable cars up to Victoria Peak, atop which you will have a 360-degree view of Hong Kong Island. Magical at dusk.

Wong Tai Sin Temple - Taoist temple Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon Huge, colorful Taoist temple dedicated to a god of healing.  A constant throng of petitioners and fortunetellers.

Ocean Park On the south side of Hong Kong Island, near Aberdeen. Ocean Park Road 2873-8888 An amusement park where a cable car takes you to the best rides: the Dragon roller coaster, the Octopus and the Crazy Galleon. Or you may enjoy the Raging River, a lovely cruise on a sturdy boat. Ocean Park also contains the Shark Aquarium, the Japanese Garden for relaxing and the Ocean Theatre, where killer whales, seals and dolphins act out high-quality drama.

Government House Central, on Upper Albert Road The Government House is the official residence of the governor of Hong Kong under British rule. The tower was added during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong in World War II. The Chief Executive of the SAR (Special Administrative Region) has elected not to live in the building.

Hong Kong Museum of History Kowloon Park, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2367-1124 A historical overview of the city, focusing on pirates, wars, economic growth and hardships.  Also an excellent collection of local photographs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Botanical Gardens Albany Road Hong Kong 2530-0154. The Botanic Gardens are also above Central, but to the west. Lively monkeys and orangutans enjoy watching their visitors.

Space Museum Salisbury Road Hong Kong 2734-2722 The Space Museum is the massive white dome in Tsim Sha Tsui, a short walk from the Star Ferry.  It’s in three parts: planetarium, Exhibition Hall and Hall of Solar Sciences. Short films run in the theater.

Middle Kingdom 2555-3554 Middle Kingdom offers replicas of temples, pagodas and street scenes, as well as exhibits and demonstration stalls. Get your name written in Chinese characters and see the Lion Dance in front of you!

St. John’s Cathedral On Garden Road Central, Hong Kong St. John’s Cathedral is a handsome building, the oldest Anglican church in East Asia.  It was constructed in1849.   Tsui Museum of Art 2A Des Voeux Rd. Central, Hong Kong 2868-2688. Rotating exhibitions drawn from its collection of more than 3,000 Chinese antiquities, predominantly Chinese ceramics.

Tiger Balm Gardens Located off Tai Hang Roadnear Causeway Bay There’s a surreal ambience to this place. It’s a collection of statues and models and a pagoda, showing mostly scenes from Chinese mythology.

Water World Ocean Park Road Aberdeen, Hong Kong 2555-6055 Contains water slides (you plunge down at 28 mph/45 kph), a wave pool, the Lazy River and a children’s area for those under age 6.   Hong Kong Science Museum 2 Science Museum Rd Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon 2732-3232. Hands-on exhibits that will interest adults as well as children.

The Ngong Ping Tea Gardens Located above Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island This is Hong Kong’s only tea plantation. It’s on top of a mountain with only one road up and down. It offers horseback riding, barbecue pits and a roller-skating rink. The ferry for Lantau Island leaves from the Outlying Islands Ferry Pier, west of the Star Ferry terminal in Central. On the island, directions to the Tea Gardens are available at the ferry pier.

Temple of 10,000 Buddha’s Above Shatin railway station (go by Kowloon Canton Railway). The Temples of 10,000 Buddha’s requires that you be able to climb 431 steps, but                  the reward is not merely 10,000, but 12,800 statues of Buddha.  A mummified                  holy man embalmed in gold leaf is also on display inside.

University Museum and Art Gallery University of Hong Kong, Bonham Road, phone 2859-2114. Large collection of bronze ware from the Yuan Dynasty as well as artifacts from the Warring States Period and Indian Buddhist sculpture.

The Star Ferry Tsim Sha Tsui (Kowloon) and Central (Hong Kong side) 2366-2576 This is a must! The ferry is a rare mix of the romantic and the practical. It takes you between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, and you may end up taking it every day of your visit. En route, you’ll see the activity of the harbor close up, and the journey always seems to pass too quickly.

Kat Hing Wai Kam Tin Kat Hing Wai also known as Kam Tin Walled Village is the original 10th-century homestead of the Tang clan, the first of the Cantonese “Five Great Clans” to migrate to the New Territories from China.  The village may be modern inside, but it’s still surrounded by a moat and walls with four corner guardhouse towers. Contributions to the donations box are expected, as are handouts to the costumed Hake women before camera shutters can be pressed.

Hong Kong Arts Centre Pao Galleries 2 Harbour Rd. Wanchai 2582-0200 Hong Kong Arts Centre Pao Galleries showcase for contemporary art, with major international and local exhibitions of paintings, photography, crafts and design staged regularly.

Flagstaff House, Museum of Tea Ware Hong Kong Park Central 2869-0690 Dr. K. S. Lo donated the permanent collection of Chinese tea-drinking ware housed in this magnificent old mansion. Even if the tea ware is not of particular interest to you, Flagstaff House is well worth a visit to see some of Hong Kong’s remaining 19th-century architecture.

Lei Cheng Uk Branch Museum 41 Tonkin St., Sham Shui Po, Kowloon 2386-2863 Lei Cheng UK Branch Museum is the Han Dynasty tomb dating back some 2,000 years, the oldest historical monument in Hong Kong.  Also a Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) exhibition of dress.