Restless. That was what my Hong Kong-raised friend Simon Ostheimer said when asked to stamp his home city with one word.
Indeed, located on the southern coast of China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is one of the world’s financial centres and one of the busiest places in the world. HK has one of the highest per capita earnings, income inequality and density of population. But don’t let this reputation mislead you. Hong Kong is more than just a city of skyscrapers.
Exhausting and energising, bustling and tranquil, oriental and western. Hong Kong is a place where Victorian classics meet cyberpunk to create a unique blend that cannot help touch one’s feelings. You either love it, or hate it, or both.
“And once you’ve been, it never leaves you.” Simon also said.
Often referred to as a vertical city, Hong Kong boasts one of the world’s most expansive skylines. Therefore, I decided that having a glance from above would be a perfect start to my trip and headed to the ICC, Hong Kong’s tallest building with a 360-degree indoor observation deck at 393 metres above sea level.
Located on the 100th floor (and thus called Sky 100) it offers an overwhelming view of both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Taking a high-speed elevator, which reaches the 100th floor in 60 seconds, was an adventure on its own.
The Sun & Stars double entry ticket is a highly recommended option, letting one enjoy the beauty of the view by day and night for HKD 198 (some B850) if pre-booked online in advance.
Sky 100 also offers lunch, dinner and afternoon tea (all at a height of 393 metres) but being short on time, I had to postpone this experience till my second visit.
While at the ICC, I spied an observation wheel on the other bank of Victoria Harbour, right next to the Central Piers. It is easily accessible from Kowloon by MTR and Star Ferry, Hong Kong’s iconic boat service which has operated since 1888. Priced at HKD 100 per adult (B430), the Hong Kong Observation Wheel offers a chance to enjoy the views of the harbour from another angle, and I must admit, I liked this one a lot.
The cabins run smoothly and silently so you nearly float over the city reaching the height of 60 metres. Private and VIP cabins are available for those wishing to enjoy the scenery alone or with closest friends only.
The Hong Kong Observation Wheel is quite a new attraction, while the Peak Tram is something Hong Kong’s nobility and rich men have been enjoying for over a century. Some even claim it to be the only way to experience the city’s skyline.
I boarded the carriage at the Peak Tram Lower Terminus on Garden Road, some 15 minutes walk from the observation wheel visiting the Hong Kong Park and climbing the 105-steps park tower on my way.
But there is always an option to have an extended tour on one of the Big Bus Tours, the open-top red buses operating on hop-on, hop-off principle. One of the stops is exactly by the Tram’s Lower Terminus.
Having tried various funicular trains, I did not expect anything special from the one in HK. My deepest apologies to the city and the 120-year-old tram route – I’ve never been so wrong in my life. The track is around 1,300 metres long and it takes approximately seven minutes for the tram to climb uphill. The slope is really steep and while going up you even experience a peculiar visual illusion of the city’s skyscrapers falling towards The Peak. If you find the Leaning Tower of Pisa to be impressive, just try experiencing the Leaning City of Hong Kong.
When at the top, you can get the most impressive view of the whole Victoria Harbour from Sky Terrace 428, the highest 360° viewing platform in Hong Kong (where 428 stands for the elevation of the place above sea level).
Stay tuned for the next part of Anton’s exciting trip, to be published next week. For more information on direct flights from Phuket to Hong Kong, please visit hkexperess.com