Hong Kong

[WesternCanadaKing]

I'm going to be flying through Hong Kong this Saturday and will have around 7 hours to kill before I have to catch my flight to Australia. Is this enough time to take a train into the city and see some sights and head back, or should I not even bother with that amount of time?
Also, what are some cool things that could be seen quickly and easily?

Thanks guys

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by WesternCanadaKing

Also, what are some cool things that could be seen quickly and easily?

Bullets. And lots of them.

That place is just crawling with Asian restaurants.

[Canada 02]

the train in takes about an hour each way

cost is about $30 Cdn

The Airport Express takes you straight to Central, which will have tons of shops and restaurants. Victoria Peak is also near by, but not worth it if it is cloudy or rainy

Things to see
Victoria Peak
Victoria Harbour
Star Ferry - which you can take for a quarter over to Tsim Sha Tsui which is the touristy area


I can give you more when I get home from work, but thats a few off the top of my head

[FiftyBelow]

Good luck to you sir. In light of the recent Asian restaurant shootings... Asia would be the last place I would want to go.

[Bertuzzied]

If it was the old airport you would have plenty of time but the new airport is so far away it might not be worth it. On the way back you should definitely spend a couple of days there.

[jus_sum_guy]

Do you have to collect your luggage?
If so then I would adivse against it.
Train takes an hour each way leaving you with 5 hours.
You should check-in 2 hours prior to departure which then leaves you with 3 hours left. This is not enough time. You will be rushing around too much once you get off the train.

Just my 2 cents

[STeeLy]

This Airport is far away but seven hours is enough time to see some of Hong Kong.

Take the Airport Express from the Airport to Hong Kong Station. Trains comes once every 12 minutes and arrives at Hong Kong Station within 30 minutes (They claim 24).

When you arrive at Hong Kong station, you are directly underneath the current tallest building in Hong Kong. The IFC (This was the building under construction where Angelina Jolie flew off in the second Tomb Raider). From there, you are within walking distance of Central Pier and Hong Kong Legistature/Parliament.

Across the Harbour is the history clock tower in Tsim Sha Tsui, that can be a Ferry ride away on the Star Ferry.

I am not going to suggest you go up to Victoria Peak, I imagine it would take a bit of time to get up there on the Peak Tram and on the bus.

That's all I can think of for now.

[Phanuthier]

For 7 hours, probably not worth it. Hong Kong is something you'd appreciate more during a long stay and submerging yourself into a culture rather then "seeing the sights"

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Hong Kong is something you'd appreciate more during a long stay and submerging yourself into a culture

This is a statement I definitely agree with, but I can understand why because sometimes, I am like that... I go places for a short time to take some pictures and just to say you've been there.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

This is a statement I definitely agree with, but I can understand why because sometimes, I am like that... I go places for a short time to take some pictures and just to say you've been there.

There are a couple places that you can just stop, have a cup of coffee, take a picture then head off somewhere else. Bratislava, Gdansk, Macau are 3. I don't find any particular attraction in Hong Kong overly "must see" but its absolutely one of my favourite places in the world to just visit for 2-3 weeks, eat and observe life in HK. One of my favorite things to do was wake up in the morning (jet lagged), take the tram and watch the slow masses of the people wake up and do their thing - first the old people, then the working crowd, then the kids going off to school in their uniforms, then the stay at home mom's.

[Table 5]

Even if you only have 3 hours, I say you do it. Youll see a couple things and maybe get in a decent meal and see a few quick sites. What the hell are you going to do for 7 hours at an airport anyway? Read 12 magazines?

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Even if you only have 3 hours, I say you do it. Youll see a couple things and maybe get in a decent meal and see a few quick sites. What the hell are you going to do for 7 hours at an airport anyway? Read 12 magazines?

I've been stuck in a airport for 7 or so hours many times in my life. Eat, wonder around, watch a movie on my laptop. One time I was stuck in a airport or Warsaw for 9 hours and taught myself 2 "guess the card" magic tricks lol. Rushing thinking you are going to miss you flight is not fun, and you might end up forgetting something stupid like paying for a train or bus ticket (happened to me in Budapest), underestimate travel plans because you think the train from airport is to the same as to the airport are the same (happened to me in Venice), underestimate lineups at the to get a ticket and missing a train even though you budgeted for it (happened in Bratislava to me) or forget and lose something because of all the things on you mind to squeeze in 1 more location (happened once in Hong Kong to me).

[Table 5]

Sounds like you just need to stay home!

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Sounds like you just need to stay home!

Nah, I just like to cram in alot to see stuff and don't like waiting, just don't see think HK is one of the ones to do it in. Essentially, you are talking about seeing HK in 2 hours (1 hr trip each way since the airport is a few islands away, 2 hrs to get through security and everything, and another 1 hr flex for lineups, waiting for trains, getting luggage, storing luggage and so on). To me, the 2 hrs isn't worth it, I would want 4+ hours lay over to do something.

[STeeLy]

Why does everyone think that train takes an hour? I've taken it enough times... It takes half an hour at most...

[Kybosh]

I say play it by ear. You very well might be tired or sick or something and won't want to leave the airport. If you're feeling alright thought I say go for it!

[WesternCanadaKing]

I don't have to collect luggage as it'll just be transferred over and I won't have to get a new boarding pass or anything as that'll have all been done in LA. So when I come back to the airport it'll just be a matter of getting through security, but that can be a fiasco in itself sometimes. Anyone ever had troubles at security in HK (as in long waits)?

Is Hong Kong easy to walk around? My brother and I had a good experience soaking up San Fran this summer just by walking around for about 5 hours or so, saw a few sites (Coit Tower, Fishermans Wharf, Chinatown) and had a leisurely lunch as well. Judging by what a few have said this sounds like it'd be a good option just to do this in HK. I arrive at 7:45AM and leave at 3:05 PM, so I'm assuming I can get about 4 horus out of that (if trains really take 30 mins instead of half an hour). Would customs be at all difficult to get through when I arrive at HK?

[WesternCanadaKing]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

I've been stuck in a airport for 7 or so hours many times in my life. Eat, wonder around, watch a movie on my laptop. One time I was stuck in a airport or Warsaw for 9 hours and taught myself 2 "guess the card" magic tricks lol. Rushing thinking you are going to miss you flight is not fun, and you might end up forgetting something stupid like paying for a train or bus ticket (happened to me in Budapest), underestimate travel plans because you think the train from airport is to the same as to the airport are the same (happened to me in Venice), underestimate lineups at the to get a ticket and missing a train even though you budgeted for it (happened in Bratislava to me) or forget and lose something because of all the things on you mind to squeeze in 1 more location (happened once in Hong Kong to me).

Yeah, I'll definitely have to factor stuff like that in when making a decision, I am the sort of person who always just wants to cram one more thing in. Missed a train in Paris once as a result. Thanks for the input.

[Phanuthier]

HK is definately a walking around city for sure. Transit is really good once you actually get into the city. I think between 8am-10am, there is a rush as a people go to school and work, something to factor in. STeeLy probably has more accurate information since I was pretty zoned out when I reached HK after a long flight. As I said, its not something I would recommend, but if I were to spend a few hours in HK, it would go like this:

- Eat (best food in the world, even though it looks crammed and dirty, the more crammed the better, as there is a reason why its so crammed - people want to eat there. Just pick one that looks like a hole in the wall but is popular, they'll be everywhere.)

- Shop (good way to submerge into the HK culture, and everything is cheap. If its electronic, its probably black market too, who knows. DVDs are guerenteed to by pirated. If you can, find a good street market that sells all sorts of interesting widgets. Last year, I picked up a couple pairs of GAP jeans for $5 each, a iPod Nano sleeve for 25 cents and a few dress shirts for cheap as well. I think Tsim Sha Tsui is a popular area for that, or Mong Kok (Ladies Market is what its called, but its not just ladies goods its just the name), both are by the MTR train)

- Eat again (any sort of bakery or another hole in the wall place)

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

Why does everyone think that train takes an hour? I've taken it enough times... It takes half an hour at most...

sure is probably ~30-40 minutes from departure to arrival, but I factored in some extra time in case he's not familiar with the surroundings. A few minutes to navigate thru the airport; find the Airport Express station; wait upto 10 minutes for the next train; the train arrives at the Hong Kong station, but if he wants to get to Central, it is connected by underground tunnels, but its a longish walk, again possibly in unfamiliar surroundings with a ridiculous number of people all around you adding to the chaos

if its 40 minutes each way but you plan for an hour, you won't be late, get caught up in security or worse, miss your plane

Anyways, if you have time for a meal, and price is not a huge concerm go to Man Wah. It's just outside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. The food is exquisite. Fabulous traditional cantonese cuisine - anything seafood will be terrific.

Alternatively, if you go up Victoria Peak, eat at the Oyster Bar at Cafe Deco. Great oysters if you are into that,otherwise there is a very good sushi menu and a variety of asian cuisine

If you only have time for something quick go to 'Dessert Specialties' for tong sui - its a sweet dessert drink/soup in all sorts of flavours. There are bigger, more inviting places for tourists, but all the locals go here because its cheaper, better and authentic.

the best place to shop for western style items - Times Square just off the Causway Bay MTR

for asian style knick knacks there is Chinese Arts & Crafts shop in Central