Central Mid-Levels Escalator

A visit just to see an escalator may seem boring. But during your stay in Hong Kong, a quick sneak-peek of the Central Mid-Levels Escalator may worth an experince of a lifetime.

The Central Mid-Levels Escalator is the longest outdoor covered escalator in the world. It stretches from downtown Central business district up to the Mid-Levels residential area. It is an incredible 800 metres long and moves about 36,000 people a day.

An Art Gallery Director John Batten once said, "It kickstarted the gallery and dining area known as Soho." Beginning at Queen's Road in Central, there are numerous entry points along the way. Art galleries and antique shops cluster around the Hollywood and Staunton Street exits. Not only that! Trendy bars, cafes, restaurants and Chinese medicine also stalls along its route.

I just want to warn you though that the escalator only goes in one direction at a time. It goes down towards Central in the morning, then goes back up the hill in the afternoon. There are steps alongside but it would be a shame, not to mention hard work, to do the journey against the flow.

Horse Racing

Eyewitness Travel's Top 10 Hong Kong says: "This local passion takes place from September to June in the suburban town of Shatin on Saturdays and at the 55,000-capacity Happy Valley track on Hong Kong Island on Wednesday nights, the more exciting choice. The enthusiasm among the big-betting, chain-smoking punters is infectious."


Hong Kong has a rich tradition of organized horse racing, dating back to the founding of the Hong Kong Jockey Club in 1884, and the sport remains wildly popular today with fans both young and old.

Hong Kong's two premiere racing venues, the Happy Valley and Sha Tin racecourses, host high-stakes races from September through July, drawing fervent hordes of spectators who come to cheer on their favorite jockeys and steeds for the big win and bigger payoff.

Happy Valley, situated in a residential area in the northern part of Hong Kong Island, is considered the "city track," and it hosts races on Wednesday nights with a striking backdrop of glimmering skyscrapers. Weekend races are held at the "country track" of Sha Tin, widely considered one of the world's finest racing facilities.

Sha Tin hosts the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races, the world's richest day of turf racing, every December, and the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby is held every March. And if the thoroughbreds at Sha Tin aren't interesting enough for you, check out the longest TV display in the world, a high-resolution Diamond Vision screen 26 feet tall and 231 feet wide, giving everyone a great view of the action.

Both Happy Valley and Sha Tin are easily accessible by taxi or public transportation from the Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers and Le Méridien Cyberport.

Victor Ozols, The Lobby.com

Star Ferry

With a history of over 100 years, the Star Ferry is a witness to the many changes that have taken place in Hong Kong over the years. As both a vehicle and a tourist attraction it is a symbol of Hong Kong. The Star Ferry Company came into existence around 1898 and since then its ferries have been shuttling busily between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. The Star Ferry now owns 12 double-deck ferries and each ferry has a cabin on the upper deck that is equipped with air conditioning. All of its ferries have the word 'star' in their names, such as Night Star, Morning Star, Gold Star, and Heaven Star.

The Star Ferry operates on four routes: between Wanchai and Tsim Sha Tsui, Tsim Sha Tsui and Central, Central and Hung Hom, and Hung Hom and Wanchai. Service times and ticket prices vary with the different routes. On weekdays ferries operate from about 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. between Hung Hom and Wanchai, and Hung Hom and Central and from about 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. between Wanchai and Tsim Sha Tsui and Tsim Sha Tsui and Central. On weekends these schedules change.

The Star Ferry is a favorite among the local people because it is affordable, convenient and quick. Its ticket prices are the cheapest in Hong Kong; ferries run very frequently; and it takes only about 10 minutes to travel across the harbor. In the evening, passengers can enjoy the gentle breeze from the sea and the world-famous sights of Victoria Harbor. Far from the hustle and bustle, a ride on the Star Ferry provides a rare chance to relax.

In 2003, the Star Ferry Company designed a custom-built ferry to use for tours of Victoria Harbor. This ferry is a reproduction of a ferry of the 1920s and features a coffee house and a deck for sunbathing. It has proved to be very popular with tourists who can enjoy a cup of coffee or just relax while feasting their eyes on the sights of Victoria Harbor.

TravelChinaGuide.com

The Victoria Peak

The 1,800-foot-high (548 meters) Victoria Peak offers great views of Hong Kong's well-developed skyline. Climb beyond the point where the tram drops passengers off via Mount Austin Road to glimpse outlying islands, or stroll on other paths to enjoy views.

Offering a stunning 360-degree panoramic view across the Hong Kong, the brand new Sky Terrace is a scenic spot that visitors could not miss. An added attraction on the terrace is The Sky Gallery, which showcases the works of the city's talented artists.

The Sky Terrace is now open for booking as a party venue, which is an unparalleled choice for all kinds of private party and business gathering.

Moreover, the venerable Peak Tram is, as most passengers agree, the only way to truly experience the beauty of Hong Kong's natural wonders. Ten of millions of people from every corner of the globe have taken the ride, which affords a uniquely spectacular perspective of the city.


For more infos, please visit http://www.thepeak.com