HONG KONG, CHINA

OVERVIEW

• When: 20 December – 23 December, 2025
• Where (accommodations): Hotel ICON
• Transportation: Qatar Airways Boston (BOS) -Doha (DOH), Qatar-Hong Kong (HKG)
• Sights/attractions: The Peak Tram and Sky Terrace, Victoria Peak, Monster Building (Yick Cheong Building), Hong Kong Tram, ArtLane, Man Mo Temple, Central Mid level escalators, Olympic Bridge, Causeway Bay (Victoria Park), Central District (Statue Square), Airside Mall, Avenue of Stars, The “Star” Ferry, Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car, Tian Tan Buddha (Lantau), Po Lin Monastery, Kowloon Walled City Park, Chi Lin Nunnery, Nan Lian Garden
• Food/drinks: Halfway Coffee, Tim Ho Wan, Bakehouse CWB, Marmo Bistro, 001 speakeasy, Above & Beyond at Hotel ICON

Every Christmas/New Year, we take a long trip, and what an adventure it was this time around! Our journey around the globe started with a long layover in Doha, Qatar. Followed by three days in Hong Kong, China. Then we moved on to multiple islands in the Philippines and ended back in Doha for another (even longer) layover. Very unexpectedly, Hong Kong stole our hearts! Normally, I prefer nature, but this metropolis is very clean, well-organized, and has a great vibe. We ate delicious food, and shopped till we dropped! What’s not to love?!

There is a lot more to see and do if you can stay longer, but we (as always) slept little, walked a lot, and made the most of it. We have 2.5 days, let’s explore ‘The Pearl of the Orient’!

Hotel ICON

Hong Kong is divided into three major geographical regions- Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories (including Lantau Island). To choose where to stay was pretty hard. There are many hotels in both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Ultimately, we chose Hotel ICON, located in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon- right across from Victoria Harbor. We wanted to see the skyline from our hotel and to have an outdoor pool.

We absolutely got the views. What we didn’t take into account was how chilly it can be in Hong Kong in December! We (and by we, I mean me) went to the pool on our last afternoon, and Sean only relaxed poolside. I swam, but only so I could say I went into the pool. The water was pretty warm, but getting out in the wind gave me goosebumps. Weather, of course, is unpredictable, and it’s not the hotel’s fault in any way.

Hotel ICON is located a short walk away from the Avenue of Stars, the ferry terminal, and many shopping malls. The downside of this location, though, is that you can’t take advantage of the express train from and to the airport. We took a taxi, and the ride was quite pricey (around $65 USD). If you stay on the Hong Kong Island (Central) side, you can get to and from the airport for literally a couple of dollars and in less than 30 minutes.

SIGHTSEE, EAT, SHOP, REPEAT

Victoria Peak

We landed, checked into the hotel, and hit the ground running. As if we didn’t just fly around the globe. But I read that the famous Victoria Peak is the most beautiful (and busiest) during sunset. So of course, we are up for the challenge! Just how busy can it be?

There are a few ways to get to the top of the hill, and we chose the most crowded one- The Peak Tram. Luckily, I had enough common sense to buy the tram and Sky Terrace tickets online. Specifically – the Ruby Pass. This was a 100% worthy investment. It costs double (about 30 USD per person more), but it lets you bypass an enormous line. If we had stayed in that line, we would not have seen even a glimpse of the sunset and would have waited at least an hour, if not two.

The empty line on the left in the photo was our Ruby Pass Line!

Even after getting in front, there was still a line to get on the actual tram. The ride is short, and if you can get on the right side going up, that’s where you will see the best views. But no need to stress if you don’t- the best sights are from the Sky Terrace above. I don’t know what experience people had if they didn’t purchase access to the Sky Terrace, but we thought even with the crowds it was worth it.

The downside was that whoever got there first was standing by the rail and NOT moving. There was no such thing as taking a photo, looking around, and leaving. People were glued to the railing, waiting for the city’s colors to change. I get it, it was cool to see the golden hour turning into dusk, and finally, all the lights started glimmering. But to take a nice picture without someone being right behind or pretty much on top of you was nearly impossible.

There were no crowds on the left side of the terrace, because there were no city lights, so we moved there for a bit to see the sky colors change.

As hectic as it was, our first evening in Hong Kong was a success- we dove headfirst and really felt the hum of this busy city!

Monster Building (Yick Cheong Building)

Visiting the inner courtyard of this building might be a bit controversial. It is overall a place where people live their day-to-day lives. But several well-known movies were filmed here (“Transformers” being one of them), and it is a popular spot to see and feel how densely populated Hong Kong is.

A lot of photographers and influencers flood this area, so we came just before 9 am, and there were only a few people at that time. We took it all in, snapped a few photos, and left. The number of apartments in such a small space felt a bit claustrophobic and overwhelming. Regardless, it was one place where it really felt like we were in Hong Kong!

Hong Kong Tram

Opened in 1904, the Hong Kong tram system is affectionately known as Ding Ding among locals. To be honest, I did not have it on my list of ‘to- dos’ when planning the itinerary. But after we visited the Monster Building, we saw a few double-decker trams pass us by. They looked so cute and were heading in the general direction we planned to walk, so we figured, why not hop on one?

It turned out to be the best spontaneous activity of the day. We sat on the top floor, near the window, and took in the views as they passed by. We passed the Olympic Bridge, which didn’t look very impressive, so we didn’t get off the tram and only snapped a photo from the window.

It was almost like a City Bus tour, except nearly free. The cost to ride the tram is nominal. Totally beats sitting in a taxi or Uber, which most of the time have tinted windows and sit low to the ground. One thing to note, though- you pay when you exit and cannot use the same card (or Apple Pay) for more than one person.

Some interesting observations as we drove by: bamboo scaffolding on the buildings! Not something you see anywhere else in the world (certainly not in the USA). We loved the peaceful tram ride and got off at the last stop, close enough to the ArtLane where we were heading.

ArtLane

I don’t know if I’d classify this as a ‘must see’ in Hong Kong, but we love art, murals, and wandering through less crowded areas of the city. And that’s exactly how we found ArtLane– quiet, colorful, and fun to walk around!

It’s a couple of streets, close to each other- sort of like a small art village with murals done by artists from all over the world.

We had a slow moment (very rare for us) and really enjoyed this colorful district.

Man Mo Temple

Continuing our second day (really first full day in HK) sightseeing, we headed to Hollywood Road to see the Man Mo Temple. A few of the Gods are worshiped here- the God of Literature, Martial Arts, and the middle block is for all heavenly Gods.

We have seen many temples throughout our travels and are always interested in seeing more. Man Mo Temple is a good example of Qing dynasty architecture and is considered one of the most famous urban temples in Hong Kong.

We didn’t want to intrude on people praying, so it was a quick visit.

Central-Mid-Levels escalators

This was a very random activity, but we are the tourists, so why not? The Central- Mid-Levels escalator system is the longest outdoor covered escalator. Opened in 1993, this escalator system is 800 meters long and has 16 reversible escalators that switch direction during peak hours.

When we came here, the escalators were going up, so we rode almost to the top- it was a long ride, but even a longer walk back! Still a fun activity, there were a lot of people using them that seemed local, just going about their day. We were tourists, but we felt like part of the city, somehow as well.

Central District

Central is a business and retail district in Hong Kong, and during Christmas time, it was in full holiday mode! We went to Statue Square because it had Christmas decorations and were amazed by the sheer number of selfies/photos local people take!

To be quite frank, I don’t know if they were local, but they were Asian, girls were dressed to impress and photos were taken on every corner!

Another interesting observation: on a Sunday, we saw A LOT of people sitting on the ground, having food, painting nails, chilling, and many of them had cardboard box separations. If you didn’t know, you’d think they are homeless. But it’s 100% not the case. They are mostly Filipinos who work in Hong Kong (a lot of them as live-in help), and they all get a day off on Sunday. Because they don’t have much space to hangout together (presumably they only have a room at the host family’s house), they get together and hangout on the street!

Central also has many shops, and we were particularly interested in Adidas. Just before arriving in Hong Kong, I saw this ‘viral Adidas jacket’ all over social media- only being sold in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. So, of course, I wanted to find one. No such luck- apparently, it was sold out in the entire city.

But no worries, we found a way to spend money. Adidas in Hong Kong sells very cool, fashionable non-sporty clothes, so after visiting a few stores, we lightened our wallets and increased our luggage weight substantially.

Causeway Bay

Another busy, shop-filled district is Causeway Bay. We had planned to visit Victoria Park, but when we got there, we realized there was a massive local products expo. I think we were the only tourists, but we figured it might be fun to check it out. I ended up buying Chinese herbs, and we enjoyed a little kids’ dance performance – it’s fun to just be spontaneous sometimes!

Another great stop in Causeway Bay– To Summer perfume store. Contemporary Chinese perfume with beautiful bottles, great service, and most importantly, an amazing smell.

You’d think we’ve done enough damage for one day! But no! We also visited the Airside mall, because we saw the girls at the coffee shop exchanging gifts, which were these cool phone/purse attachments. So we Ubered to Airside and made it just in time before the pop-up vendor stall closed for the day.

Avenue of Stars

Located on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront in Kowloon, Hong Kong, and a short walk from the ICON hotel, the Avenue of Stars features over 100 celebrity handprints and statues. But the best part is a nightly 8.30 pm laser and sound show!

It’s a free activity that we enjoyed on a pretty chilly evening.

While you are here, don’t miss out on the opportunity to take the iconic Star Ferry. It’s been operating for over 120 yrs and is a very cheap and quick way to cross Victoria Harbour. We bought the tickets at the kiosk (for better views, get the second-floor tickets) and had a nice mini cruise. There are a lot of other companies offering boat rides (for a much bigger cost), but the views are ultimately the same.

It was literally around $1 USD for the upper deck and even less for the lower level.

Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car & Tian Tan Buddha

On our second (and last) full day in Hong Kong, we decided to take a little excursion to Lantau Island. There are other ways to get there, but we are always chasing the views. And what is a better view than from above?!

A 5.7km, 25 min cable car ride provides beautiful views of the China Sea and the bridge to Macau, and takes you to Ngong Ping Village, where the Tian Tan Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery are located.

There was a long line to buy tickets when we arrived on Monday morning (I can only imagine the crowds on the weekend). We then purchased tickets online and chose the Crystal cabin for the way up. There was nobody waiting in line for that one (it’s a bit more expensive), so we were able to beat the rush and arrived at the Big Buddha before a lot more people showed up.

There are some stairs to climb before reaching the Buddha, but nothing excessive. Still, if it’s a hot day, I’d go earlier in the morning. The bronze statue, 34 m (112 feet) tall was built not that long ago, in 1993, but still is very impressive and was worth visiting.

Po Lin Monastery

Po Lin Monastery, located a short distance away, was founded in 1906, and since we were already here, we came to visit.

It’s beautiful, colorful, and has way fewer visitors than the Buddha.

On the way back, we took the Standard cable car and still had great views. I’d say Crystal is a bit more clear and pricier, but was worth it to skip the long line.

Kowloon Walled City Park

I didn’t have this park on my itinerary, but saw a story on Instagram while we were at the hotel. There was a very interesting exposition, and someone made a video about it, so we decided to check it out!

Originally, Kowloon Walled City was under military rule and essentially was a slum. In the 1990s, the city was demolished, and the residents relocated. Some of the original buildings were preserved the area was transformed into a park.

What was most interesting was the exposition of how the residents lived before. There were artifacts of old shops, furniture, and even a dentist’s office!

It was another one of those unplanned sights that turned out to be very cool. Thanks, Instagram!

Chi Lin Nunnery & Nan Lian Garden

On our last evening in Hong Kong, we came to two of the most peaceful places in the middle of the city. Chi Lin Nunnery is a large Buddhist temple complex with a beautiful garden. Temples were closed when we came, but the garden was still open, and it was just the two of us wandering around.

The temple is constructed entirely out of cypress wood, without using any nails, and it is currently one of the world’s largest hand-made wooden buildings.

Right nearby, just across the street, you will find Nan Lian Garden. This Chinese classical garden is maintained by Chi Lin Nunnery, and I think it was one of my favorite places in the entire city.

Located in Diamond Hill, surrounded by skyscrapers, this felt like a magical oasis.

Also, we came at 6.30pm, and it was completely empty, with only a couple of other people around. There was peaceful music playing through the speakers- I was enchanted! What a wonderful way to end our mini trip to Hong Kong!

Food, there is always food!

As we all know, Sean and I are foodies, and every place we go, we sample various dishes. We are not huge Chinese food fans, but were still excited to try some delicacies while in Hong Kong.

The city has numerous restaurants, lots of Michelin- starred and mentioned in the Michelin guide- we simply didn’t have much time. The first evening, after making it to Victoria Peak for sunset, we got back to the hotel, had a snack by the pool, and collapsed. I had dinner reservations that we cancelled because we were so sleep-deprived that we physically could not get up and go anywhere. That leaves us two days, which we ate here and there between all the sightseeing.

Breakfasts were great at the hotel- plenty of options, fresh omlelets being made on request – we didn’t want to start running around the city without fuel. However, we always needed to recharge the batteries and what is better than some matcha and pastries? Halfway Coffee enters the chat!

There are several locations, and we went to the one closest to the ArtLane, because we were in the area. It was lovely- the food, the service, and the atmosphere.

Bakehouse is another popular shop, best known for its egg tarts, but we went all out and bought a bunch of pastries here. The line was long, though it moved quick (we went to the Bakehouse CWB location) and we skipped our no gluten rule for the sake of experimenting the ‘local cuisine’.

My friend, who’s been to Hong Kong several years prior, recommended Tim Ho Wan– most affordable Michelin star restaurant, which was perfect for lunch.

Dim sum with baked pork buns (DELICIOUS) was excellent, and the wait was not long at all.

The funny thing here was that they MADE us select a green tea even though we already had drinks (like milk tea) ordered. We thought ok, this must be a package deal, you have to get this green tea to start. And then we see the table next to us WASHING their utensils and bowls with this tea they got?! We were about to drink it. The couple next to us explained that you first rinse your cups, bowls, and utensils, they take away the rinsed off tea, and then you drink the rest (the remaining tea in the teapot). Well, that was a little cultural experience we didn’t know we needed 🙂 !

Besides the first night in Hong Kong, when we chose sleep over dinner, we had two more nights to enjoy proper food. Since we just had a lot of traditional food, we wanted to switch it up and found Marmo Bistro– a delightful French restaurant on the same side of the harbor as our hotel.

Foie gras, escargots, crème brûlée — voilà ! Also, we had a lovely conversation with the staff- one of the servers was French while the intern was a VERY tall American! We have not met many Americans in Hong Kong and definitely not as part of the staff, so it was fun to chat with him and get his perspective on living there (he loves it).

Of course, we could not leave Hong Kong without trying their famous roast goose! There are many restaurants serving this delicacy, but we decided to dine at Above & Beyond, the top-floor restaurant at our ICON hotel.

Michelin guide restaurant with the nice views of the city and no need to Uber across town- a win-win for us.

We had to pre-order, so we told the concierge early in the afternoon that we’d like the roast goose for dinner, and they set it up with the restaurant. It was delicious.

I always love visiting cool bars, especially when they’re speakeasies. 001, hidden in a former prison peaked my interest. Opened in 2010, it is also Hong Kong’s first speakeasy!

We took a taxi to as close as we could get, but then spent about 10 minutes trying to actually find a place! There are no reservations; you ring the bell and wait for someone to open the door. If they are full, you’ll have to wait, but we got there early in the evening, so we got right in.

Beware of the 001 Martini- the bartender warned me that it’s very strong, but I didn’t listen. And of course they were right…I took a few sips and literally could not enjoy it; it was pure alcohol. Luckily he made me a Earl Grey martini instead and that one was wonderful.

The last Cantonese food experience I have to mention was at Hong Kong airport. We were traveling back from the Philippines and really didn’t want to eat the plane food. Dim sum is MUCH better than preheated meals, so we had one last hurrah- gluten and all.

Duddell’s was delicious, and we slept for most of the flight without having to wake up for the plane’s dinner.

CONCLUSION

We have such fond memories of Hong Kong. It’s the city that stays with you. I don’t even know what was so special that captured us, but we left with a feeling that we’d like to come back and spend more time here. It’s not as shiny and modern as some of the mainland China cities (that we are yet to visit), but it has some sort of charm that hopefully remains for years to come. It looked clean, not overcrowded, well-organized public transport, and plenty of things to see and do. I would say 2.5 days is not nearly enough, especially when you factor in neighboring islands and even Macau, which is easily reachable for a day trip. I have a feeling we’ll see more of Hong Kong at some point, but for now, we are ready for Christmas on the beach! Philippines, country # 80 (for me), we are coming for you!