Trip

What are some good day trips from Hong Kong?

Is there anything good aroung Hong Kong to see a bit more of the area than just HK? Even a bit further out than a day trip is ok, as long as it's not too far off. I want to see more of China than just HK, what's good?

Public Comments

1. Most of the Ferries will take you to the outlying Islands, they are very cheap and good value. Macua is a very interesting Island, but go early morning to enjoy the sights.
2. For a day trip outside of Hong Kong, i would recommend taking the hydrofoil to Macau. Macau was once a Portuguese colony, about an hour's hydrofoil ride west of Hong Kong, and it was turned back over to China in 1999. Macau has a very European feel to many of its older streets, and is also home to an annual Formula 1 race.
   
   
   
   Also, if you want to get out of the urban feel of Hong Kong, but not actually leave Hong Kong, take a bus out to the rural park near Sai Kung in the New Territories (Northeast of Kowloon). There is some good hiking and beaches to be found out there, and very few people.
   
   
   
   Other fun day trips might be to visit some of the nearby islands, like Lantau Island - see fishing villages, giant Buddhas and temples, etc.
3. By far, the best day trip out of Hong Kong is to Lantau Island to see the giant Buda. Take a ferry to get there, there are buses from the pier in Lantau to the monastery. The view of Buda from below is impressive and up close even more. If you can go inside, it's a very moving place of remembrance. Walk around the garden and enjoy the monastic vegetarian meal included in the entry fee. You can do some shopping but there is little besides all you see in the city. Then take the metro back to Hong Kong. A beautiful day outside the hustle and bustle.
   
   Stanley Beach and market are also a nice bus ride out of the city, but shopping is all you can do there. There is a very interesting, cheap antique shop when you walk outside the market itself, to the left... the owner is an old sailor philosopher.
   
   Avoid the tours to "rural" Hong Kong, you'll never make it out of the urban sprawl.
4. you could catch the MTR to visit the giant buddha, you can catch a ferry to macau, you can even catch the MTR to shenzhen (though you will need a chinese visa). the trains running between hong kong and mainland china are quite quick, and you can make it in a very very short time.