Hong Kong on a Budget
- Tim & Pam
- Jul 14, 2017
- 4 min read
So you found a great flight deal to Hong Kong. Now what? What is there to do on a budget in this skyscraper abundant land?
First let's start with some fun facts.
1. Hong Kong has one of the world’s most efficient subway systems with a 99.9% on-time rate.
2. Kowloon Walled City once existed in Hong Kong where no laws or rules governed the city.
3. There is a 2,600-foot covered escalator in Hong Kong that helps people commute up and down the large hills in the city.
I bet you didn’t know all that, huh? Now that you have some newfound knowledge, time to learn about all the free things there are to do in Hong Kong.
Two top free museums to visit are the Hong Kong Museum of History and the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. The former offers free guided tours in English at 2:30pm on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.
Want to learn more about the Kowloon Walled City mentioned above? Visit the Kowloon Walled City Park that is situated of top of the former lawless city. Exhibition rooms open daily from 10am-6pm except Wednesdays. Learning how people lived in this extremely dense and dangerous city is astounding.
Take a break from the busy city and visit the tranquil Tsz Shan Monastery
Try visiting some monasteries while you are in the area - you’ll be pleasantly surprised on how intriguing they are. It won’t surprise you to find life size buddhas lining the path at Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery. Bring comfortable shoes and water for this walk. Tsz Shan Monastery requires prior reservations and requires knees and shoulders be covered. This monastery is not intended for tourism but rather for promoting Buddhism. Practice your calligraphy and visit the giant Buddha statue here.
If you’re looking for something to do at night then make sure to catch the Symphony of Lights, the world’s largest permanent light and sound show. This colorful show involved more than 40 buildings on either side of the harbor. Arrive at 8pm to enjoy the full 13 minute light and music show. The Hong Kong Pulse 3D Light Show starts immediately after at 8:20pm and includes dancers.
You’ll be rewarded with great views for hiking around Victoria Peak
No trip is complete without visiting at least one hiking location. Sunset Peak is a 3 hour hike that is not for the weak but the sunset views make it worth the effort. If you want something less intense then visit Victoria Peak, or The Peak, as many call it. This is the highest point on Hong Kong island and has a free hiking trail that loops around giving you a 360° view of the island. If you want a great view without the hike then visit the Peak Galleria’s observation deck.
If you need to get away from the hustle and bustle then make your way to the Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden. The 3.5 hectare garden cuts through the high-rise buildings to create a tranquil scenery. Both places are connected via a pedestrian bridge and are free to the public. Enjoy the lotus ponds and the Pavilion of Absolute Perfection.
Last but not least, take a trip to the Avenue of Stars to find the famous statue of Bruce Lee. This outdoor exhibit is a tribute to the most celebrated people in the movie industry that helped make Hong Kong the ‘Hollywood of the East’. Many couples and families come here to relax at the end of the day. *This exhibit has been temporarily moved to Garden of Stars until late 2018.
With so much to do for free in Hong Kong you can focus on spending your money on the delicious food instead! I recommend the egg tarts, egg waffles, and fish balls from any street vendor. Also, try the steamed milk from Yee Shun Milk Company or Australian Dairy Company. The easiest way to travel around Hong Kong is by using the great subway system. Get the Octopus Card for extra convenient transportation. Want to find the world’s longest outdoor covered escalator in the world? Check out the Mid-Levels escalator and walkway system - another great form of transportation if you want to go up the mountain side. Remember, the escalator goes downhill between 6am and 10am and uphill the rest of the day so plan accordingly.
Happy Travels!
Tim and Pam from ThriftyTrails
Tim and Pam met in college and two of the things they had is common was their love of travel and saving money. Although they were on a tight budget, they managed to explore the world for 6 months last year and achieve their honeymoon goal. One of the many ways they saved money on the road was to cook their own meals wherever they went. They learned to make simple recipes with whatever they could get their hands on. These tips plus many more can now be found on their ever-growing blog. They love all things free and want to share their knowledge with other like-minded people. thriftytrailsinfo@gmail.com
