Aberdeen,
with a population of more than 60,000 is the largest town on Hong Kong
Island. The harbor here was once famous for being home to more than
6,000 people who lived on moored junks.
Many of these people today however, have
moved on and up into high rises, and there are less boats in the
harbor than previously. Nevertheless, it is still a picturesque and
photographic place.
On arrival at the harbor, one of the
numerous Sampan boat women will try and accost
you and whisk you away for a sail. It is a fun thing to do and there
are some great photo opportunities. These tours cost approximately RMB
50-70 per person for about 30 minutes, but this can be negotiated if
there are more of you.
There is also a lovely Country
Park here on the Aberdeen Reservoir Road.
Tracks from the Park lead up to Victoria
Peak.
How to get there: Take
bus No.7 or No.70 from Exchange Square in Central.
There are also boats from Lamma
Island to Aberdeen harbor.
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Happy Valley Racecourse is hugely popular during gambling season (September-June) with rich businessmen, holiday makers, locals and hard gambling addicts all throwing their money at the horses galloping around this famous track.
It is quite an experience to visit here, even if you don't take part in the betting. A racecourse was first built here in 1846 and before the one at Shatin was constructed, this was the only place to watch the horses in Hong Kong.
It is still a popular past time and the area around the course has recently been gentrified. The name of the district "Happy Valley" seems a little ironic considering that this was once a malaria infested district. There are many old cemeteries here commemorating those who died from the disease and also in the great fire at the racecourse in the 1920s.
How to get there: Getting to Happy Valley is easy. Take a tram marked Happy Valley from Central or walk to Huangniyongdao from Time Square of Causeway Bay subway station.
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It
is located in the heart of Wanchai and next to the Wanchai ferry Pier, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center is one of the newest and more impressive buildings to go up in recent years.
In fact, this is a fairly symbolic and important building as it was constructed to be the site of the 1997 hand-over ceremony.
Hong Kong residents associate the building's huge, wing-like roof with the island's capacity to take flight and advance into the 21st Century.
Besides functioning as a conference center and banquet hall, there are numerous offices, restaurants and theaters in the building.
How to get there:
1.Take Bus No.10A, 20, 21 from Zhongqu and get off at HuaRun Mansion.
2.You could get there in accordance with guidepost from A1 entrance of Wanchai subway station.
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The Hong Kong History Museum is situated on Chatham Road in Tsim Sha Tsui.
This is a great place, especially for those interested in discovering something about Hong Kong's past. The colorful and well presented exhibits here present the history of the area covering the past 6,000 years.
There are some nice old colonial photographs and the exhibits are well labeled.
Opening hours: 10:00- 18:00; holiday: 13:00- 18:00; while free of charge when Wednesday and museum closed when Tuesday.
Costs: Adults and children HKD10
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Hong
Kong Park, tucked discreetly behind Central and the imposing Bank of
China building, is one of the most charming and surprising areas in
the city. This is a gorgeous and lush urban park, beautifully designed
with modern fountains, bamboo and palm trees but also incorporating
some fantastic colonial style buildings.
The Park sits in a dip and is sheltered
by the huge tower blocks and mountains shooting up into the horizon
that surround the area. The Park contains a lovely aviary,
and the Museum
of tea ware in Flagstaff House. Hong Kong Park
also has over 2000 types of plant and there is a pottery and
plate-painting center here too.
It is free to enter the Park and it's a
gorgeous place to take a break from the high rises and hectic streets
of Hong Kong. If you are lucky you may catch a glimpse of a bride as
Hong Kong newly-weds love to have their photographs taken here.
Opening hours: The Park
is open between 7am and 11pm everyday.
How to get there: From F
Exit of Golden Bell subway station to Taigu Square, walking along the
indication plate of the marketplace, then go up to 2F by elevator.
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