Skip That, Do THIS. 🇭🇰

yknow for the longest time whenever ppl ask me to describe hk i’d always say that it's like a 1960s Singapore blessed with a today Singapore’s economy - and i dont even mean that as a slight on hk; it’s just that it’s so similar to SG that sometimes you wonder after getting down the plane if the plane even took off at all. tbh, the first time i went i didn’t even know how to appreciate hk that i just ended up doing the one most basic thing a tourist wld do whenever they’re visiting a place for the first time, and that was to fill my list with all the basic things to do and see and eat (even my list of IG spots to hunt down was basic). the end result of course, was that i ended up feeling like i was basically just exploring an AI extension of sg, and it left me v UNINSPIRED.

by day 3 i KNEW that this couldn’t be it bcos, sure hk is small like sg but it is small in a way that is still BIGGER than sg, and in that case then surely there has got to be more to it than Central & Victoria Harbour and all that usual stuff mirite??? not to mention that i also took the express train from the airport to the city and during the journey i distinctly recalled passing an ENTIRE landscape of mountains and villages and lakes and seas that are, btw, not typically synonymous with what one might picture when they think of HK- and personally i havent seen anyone recommending any of that to me.

and that was when it suddenly hit: could it be possible that there was a WHOLE other calmer side to HK which exists, that everybody had somehow forgotten to pay attention to?

after much digging, i found out that the answer to that was, yes.

if you’re a jaded traveller like me and want to see a city without getting sucked into city things (i.e. crowds, typical tourist hangouts, cosmopolitan bs), then consider any one of these 9 alternative suggestions to all the basic stuff ppl always tell you to do when you’re in hk.

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*𝑭𝑶𝑹 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑪𝑳𝑨𝑺𝑺𝑰𝑪 𝑻𝑶𝑼𝑹𝑰𝑺𝑻*

𖤓 𝗦𝗞𝗜𝗣 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦: Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay

𖤓 𝗗𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗗: Sheung Wan

𝗪𝗛𝗬

bcos doing the former would be like hopping on a 4-hour flight from Singapore straight to Orchard Road.

Sheung Wan, on the other hand, is practically a living relic. it’s calm in a city that’s perpetually frenetic; and like, really, i think when people want to get to the real core of HK, they should be seeing THIS, and not all the glimmer and swank that’s so basic of any other first-world metropolis. 🥱

in case you’re wondering what’s here, well, i suppose a glorious mismatch of EVERYTHING? it’s like a major cross-cultural melange with plenty of old & new, East & West… so in that vein expect artisan cafes against temples, galleries and hidden bars against TCM halls, plus lots of winding pathways and shabby chic colonial fronts. def don’t miss the red-bricked Western Market, the oldest surviving marketing in Hong Kong today; as well as Cat Street (lots of curio and antique shops), Dried Seafood Street, Medicine Street, and Graham Street (for an atmospheric glance into Hong Kong’s age-old eating and self-medicating habits).

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*𝑭𝑶𝑹 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑭𝑶𝑶𝑫𝑰𝑬*

𖤓 𝗦𝗞𝗜𝗣 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦: Tim Ho Wan, Mak’s Noodle, Tsui Wah… you get the drift

𖤓 𝗗𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗗: Dai Pai Dongs

𝗪𝗛𝗬

as with any destination, if u really want an authentic food experience, avoid chain establishments (that r frankly alr available in sg loll) and get down to the country’s REAL gourmet roots instead.

dai pai dongs are basically open-air food stalls by the streets that r super casual and super SUPER affordable, so expect queues, crowds, pollution, service with an attitude – and, an experience that is nothing short of exceptional.

think sg hawker stalls but 100x more atmospheric: it’s zero frills, it’s unpretentious, and somehow also a lot more delicious; imho, i think it’s bcos it’s such a quintessential part of HK’s food community and so genuine to its original local culture that makes the entire affair just that much more flavourful.

𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘

if u dunno where to start, bookmark:

✨️ 𝘖𝘪 𝘔𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘨 | Sham Shui Po Building (1A-1C Shek Kip Mei St) | 1630-2300

✨️ 𝘒𝘦𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘒𝘦𝘦 | Sham Shui Po (219 Ki Lung St) | 0730-2230

✨️ 𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘒𝘦𝘦 | 63 Stanley Street | 1100-1500 / 1700-2300

✨️ 𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘏𝘦𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘠𝘶𝘦𝘯 | Central (2 Mei Lun St) | 0800-1700

✨️ 𝘚𝘰 𝘒𝘦𝘦 | Sham Shui Po (15-16 Yiu Tung St) | 0600 - 1700

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*𝑭𝑶𝑹 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑺𝑶𝑼𝑽𝑬𝑵𝑰𝑹 𝑺𝑯𝑶𝑷𝑷𝑬𝑹*

𖤓 𝗦𝗞𝗜𝗣 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦: Mong Kok Market

𖤓 𝗗𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗗: PMQ Market

𝗪𝗛𝗬

r u looking to bring back some luckyplaza-esque souvenirs for your friends and family so that you can develop a reputation for handing out ugly keychains and magnets that make it straight to their reject pile?

no right? then skip all your standard souvenir shops in hk.

short for Police Married Quarters, PMQ is a re-purposed heritage-listed building that is presently reliving its reincarnation as a local creative hub. you will find an endless collection of galleries, workshops, bookstores, indie collectives (plus there are also seasonal pop-ups and night markets???) and it’s all very design-forward n hipster-ish… but, all very authentic too, especially if you’re searching for a bona fide shopping adventure in Hong Kong. expect plenty of local and handmade and avant garde and def NO tacky; basically, the kind of place you’d want to shop for gifts if you’re looking to NOT tarnish your reputation.

𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘

✨️ 35 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong

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*𝑭𝑶𝑹 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑪𝑨𝑭𝑬 𝑯𝑶𝑷𝑷𝑬𝑹*

𖤓 𝗦𝗞𝗜𝗣 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦: Basic Cafés

𖤓 𝗗𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗗: Upstairs Cafés

𝗪𝗛𝗬

upstairs cafes are REALLY a thing in hk!!

like the name suggests, these cafes are basically nestled on the second level of old buildings in busy districts, and they’re typically so tiny and non-descript and run-down from the outside that you will doubt whether you’re at the right place. a lot of the time, just locating them requires a ton of patience and sheer tenacity; they often have extremely poor visibility frm street level, and it’s super easy to miss them if you’re not paying attention.

𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘

on the off chance that you wanna wing discovering one (still always best to research first tho, just saying), keep your manual search within the areas of Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Causeway Bay. otherwise, feel free to use this cheat sheet:

✨️ 𝘔𝘰𝘮'𝘴 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦 | HERE YOU'LL FIND... plenty of space, a forest of succulents, and knick-knacks from near and far, meticulously sourced by its globetrotting minimalist owners.

✨️ 𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘛𝘦𝘢 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘮 | HERE YOU'LL FIND... lots of well-groomed cats in an extremely well-kept space conducive for both visitors and their furry felines.

✨️ 𝘖𝘯𝘋𝘰𝘨𝘋𝘰𝘨 𝘊𝘢𝘧𝘦 | HERE YOU'LL FIND... a mix of huskies and shiba inus - plus a doggy swimming pool open to locals and their furpets!

✨️ 𝘑𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 | HERE YOU'LL FIND... a wide array of board games that put the likes of Monopoly and Scrabble to shame.

✨️ 𝘍𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘊𝘶𝘱 𝘊𝘢𝘧𝘦 | HERE YOU'LL FIND... yourself travelling back in time, with its wall-to-wall collection of vintage artefacts and decor.

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*𝑭𝑶𝑹 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑽𝑰𝑬𝑾 𝑭𝑰𝑵𝑫𝑬𝑹*

𖤓 𝗦𝗞𝗜𝗣 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦: The Peak

𖤓 𝗗𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗗: Dragon’s Back

𝗪𝗛𝗬

this is hands down the BEST way to capture Hong Kong’s panoramic view without having to jostle with the kinds of crowds and queues that you will most def find at The Peak – tbh it really sucks when you spend so much money and time getting to a place only to realize there is no way you can get a shot of anything without someone else’s blurry head being in it.

don’t worry, you don’t have to be a nature enthusiast to do Dragon’s Back. it's actually a pretty chill trek even for beginners and takes only about 1.5-2hours/way. don’t forget to stock up on refreshment as there aren’t any snack stops along the way- oh, and ofcos don’t forget your most comfy walking shoes either.

𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘

✨️ drop at Shau Kei Wan MTR Station, take Exit A to Shau Kei Wan Bus Terminus >> hop on Bus 9, or the minibus with the sign ‘Shek O’ next to the bus terminus >> alight at To Tei Wan, Shek O Road.

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*𝑭𝑶𝑹 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑵𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑻 𝑶𝑾𝑳𝑺*

𖤓 𝗦𝗞𝗜𝗣 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦: Lan Kwai Fong

𖤓 𝗗𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗗: Hidden Speakeasies

𝗪𝗛𝗬

like our Clarke Quay, the after-dark experience at LKF can seem impossible to replace at first glance.

but.

that doesn’t mean an alternative does not exist.

for a true #iykyk hk nightlife experience, explore the swathe of clandestine speakeasies primarily hidden across the city’s central district. they’re broody, they’re sophisticated, and they’re easy to miss if you don’t know what you’re looking for. sometimes, just the mere act of stepping past their camouflaged doors and entrances can make you feel like you’d just being let in on an exclusive secret. here, showmanship is key; so be prepared to be drenched with old-world glamour, the suave sounds of jazz, and enough bespoke cocktails to make you feel like a 1920s New York legend – if you manage to find your way into one, that is.

𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘

HK is peppered with a shit ton of speakeasies, but here's my choice few to get started:

✨️ 001 / HK’s OG hidden bar: look for an unmarked black door hidden among the stalls

✨️ 𝘗𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘰𝘯𝘨 129 / an old ping pong hall on the remote and unassuming streets of Sai Ying Pun, transformed into a stylish Spanish gin bar

✨️ 𝘋𝘳 𝘍𝘦𝘳𝘯'𝘴 𝘎𝘪𝘯 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘳 / located on the underground level right underneath the LV store on the corner; themed around a medical clinic with a door that even says ‘emergency waiting area’ for Dr Fern.

✨️ 𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘶𝘮𝘪 𝘔𝘪𝘹𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯 / discreetly nestled on the third floor of the Cubus building in Causeway Bay, serving up seasonal creations and custom concoctions.

✨️ 𝘙𝘦𝘥 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘮 / a Prohibition-era-inspired hangout, concealed behind a wall of lockers.

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*𝑭𝑶𝑹 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑰𝑵𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑮𝑹𝑨𝑴𝑴𝑬𝑹 *

𖤓 𝗦𝗞𝗜𝗣 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦: basic spots like Montaine Mansion & Choi Hung Estate

𖤓 𝗗𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗗: Sai Wan Swimming Shed

𝗪𝗛𝗬

know the frustration of photographing something amazing and then finding out that five other acquaintances on social media took the exact same photo at the exact same spot when they were also in HK? avoid THAT.

this wooden pier with its choppy waters is a popular spot for photograph enthusiasts – but, its remote location makes it a lot more inaccessible, meaning a lot less running into passers-by and entry-level Instagrammers.

don’t miss the sunset here for anything else.

𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘

✨️ drop at Kennedy Town MTR Station >> walk out through Exit A and take the Green Minibus 58 – the estimated bus travel time is about 30 minutes.

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*𝑭𝑶𝑹 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑶𝑭𝑭𝑩𝑬𝑨𝑻 𝑻𝑹𝑨𝑽𝑬𝑳𝑳𝑬𝑹*

𖤓 𝗦𝗞𝗜𝗣 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦: Lantau Island

𖤓 𝗗𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗗: Lamma Island

𝗪𝗛𝗬

technically, there isn’t anything wrong with Lantau Island; but out of Hong Kong’s four outlying islands, Lantau is probably the most marketed and therefore, the most touristed; so hop on to any of the other three for a more authentic (and less overcrowded) experience.

Lamma Island, in particular, is like hk’s answer to Europe’s peaceful Scandinavia, with just the right amount of Asian to make its point. rolling hills, sleepy fishing villages, glorious seafood by the waterfront – this remote little island is alternative HK at its most rustic; with plenty of old coffee houses, craft shops, and restaurants that stand as a huge contrast to the city’s constant bustle.

after you’ve had your fill, take on its gentle hiking trail, or even while your day away along the waters at Hung Shing Yeh Beach. don’t miss O Tsai Fishing Village in the evening: it’s an ideal spot to watch the sunset from, with a small pavilion that offers spectacular views of neighbouring islands.

𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘

✨️ drop off at Central MTR Station >> take a 10-min walk to Central Pier 4 >> hop on a ferry to Lamma Island.

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*𝑭𝑶𝑹 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑨𝑩𝑨𝑵𝑫𝑶𝑵𝑬𝑫 𝑺𝑰𝑻𝑬 𝑯𝑼𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑹 *

𖤓 𝗦𝗞𝗜𝗣 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦: the abandoned town of Ma Wan

𖤓 𝗗𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗗: the abandoned island of Yim Tin Tsai

𝗪𝗛𝗬

ok quick disclaimer: as it is, Ma Wan Ghost Town is by no means a mainstream destination. BUT, if you’re the kind of traveller who’s already reading up on Ma Wan, you may want to reconsider – only cos it is going to fall short of your expectations. for one, you will realize very quickly in that Ma Wan is simply just an abandoned town, and the only thing that will scare you here is the number of couples who peg this as a potential wedding photography location.

Yim Tin Tsai, on the other hand, is real and raw and peppered with decomposing homes that will make your skin crawl. the last villagers left in the 1990s; and in the years since, Yim Tin Tsai has pretty much crumbled to bones. more than just broken windows and dilapidated structures, what makes this experience even spookier and surreal is the belongings left behind by its once-occupants. furniture, appliances, crockeries, books, beds with their sheets still on, even mahjong tiles – it’s not difficult to find your mind wandering back to the days of what must have been when the island was filled with life and movement (and also y did all these ppl leave without their things???)

𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘

✨️ small ferries run from Sai Kung’s waterfront promenade regularly, and cost around $35 for a round trip.

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ok wow if ure still here u def deserve a medal for ur attention span. ur reward is that now u know how to explore hk a lil more meaningfully - i hope ure now also inspired to extend this list with ur own alternative sights too! ☁️

#travelrecommendations #MyLemon8Diary #travelwithlemon8 #Lemon8SG #lemon8travel #TravelGuide #hongkongtravels #traveltips #hongkongitinerary