Audrey Zong, HKUST Exchange, Fall 2013
Besides the breathtaking skyline and the endless shopping Hong Kong is often known for, there are many overlooked aspects that I think Hong Kong is not credited enough for. In this post, I will take you through some things Hong Kong has to offer.
Food with a free view:
Tim Ho Wan is known as the cheapest one-star dim sum Michelin rated restaurant. Generally if you go to the small restaurant, there is going to be a wait, even if you’re eating at an odd hour, so it’s not surprising to imagine that trying to get a table at lunch or dinner time ends in a one – to two- hour wait.
The solution? Get food to go! And the bonus: get food to go and bring it up to the 4th floor terrace to have a lunch/dinner with a view of the Victoria Harbour Skyline. And make SURE to try the HK famous Barbeque Pork buns!!
![Screen shot 2015-02-06 at 1.14.20 PM](https://sites.northwestern.edu/studyabroadblogs/files//2013/11/Screen-shot-2015-02-06-at-1.14.20-PM-xlm62q.png)
BBQ Pork buns
View at the terrace (The terrace is on the 4th floor of the IFC Building)
Hiking:
The hiking trails are, in my opinion, the most understated aspect of Hong Kong. There are amazing trails all along the coast that lead to sandy white beaches, which is exactly what we stumbled upon during the section 1 hike of the Maclehose trail. After an easy to moderate walk/hike for about two hours, we came to the Tai Long Wan beach. Its soft, white, sand and beautifully clear waters is hidden by the mountains on either sides, making it feel like a true hidden treasure. To get there, follow the section 1 of the Maclehose trail and you can’t miss it!
![Screen shot 2015-02-06 at 1.14.35 PM](http://sites.northwestern.edu/ipd-exchanges/files/2013/11/Screen-shot-2015-02-06-at-1.14.35-PM-1lwolju-300x225.png)
Clear waters and white sand
![Screen shot 2015-02-06 at 1.14.41 PM](http://sites.northwestern.edu/ipd-exchanges/files/2013/11/Screen-shot-2015-02-06-at-1.14.41-PM-1ut5nad-300x221.png)
A very international hiking crew
Views without the price:
Victoria Peak is everyone’s to-do list for anyone visiting Hong Kong, but the whole ordeal can feel very touristy- starting with the long wait for the overly-priced trams. Instead, go with friends and split a cab- it’s way faster and cheaper. After you get to the top, you can pay for the observatory for the view. I found an alternative that feels much more authentic while enjoying the view: at the peak, instead of going up to the observatory, follow Lugard road for about a 10 minute walk, and you’ll find an unparalleled view of the Hong Kong skyline.
As with any city, it’s fun and rewarding to explore it for its hidden gems. So all those study abroad-ers, make sure you don’t miss out!