Hong Kong

10,000 Buddhas Monastery

萬佛寺

This rather garish but enjoyable modern temple dating from the 1950s in fact contains no less than 12,800 Buddhas lining the walls of the main hall. There's also a nine-story pagoda and some smaller temples above the main complex. Half the fun is getting there, the 500-metre path that climbs up the hill is lined with life-sized golden plastic statues of Buddhas in poses ranging from serene to outrageous. A point of mortal interest is the embalmed body of the Monatery's founder the Venerable Yuet Kai, which is exhibited in the main temple hall.

Free admission, but donations welcome

65 Peel

何蘭正

A bar with a very Hong Kong aesthetic serving cocktails and a range of locally brewed beer.

4PM-1AM

8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana

Only Italian restaurant outside Italy to be awarded three Michelin stars.

Aqua

Nearby at the top of the 1 Peking Road office building is an alternative and less touristy spot with equally impressive views. As well as a bar, they have a Japanese and Italian restaurant for those without a budget.

Ashley Road

Between Nathan Road and the Ocean Terminal shopping mall, features many Western restaurants and bars.

Biergarten

This friendly German bar is one of the few places in Kowloon where you can find a good range of quality beers. Excellent German food is served — not just sausages and sauerkraut. Use Exit N2 at East Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station.

$100 - 150

Carnegie's

Rock music themed bar. Live bands playing occasionally, sports on multiple screens and a big screen, dancing the night away on the bar top.

Castle Peak Monastery

Classed as a Grade I historic building that has been standing for more than 1000 years. These historic monuments have stood through the ages in a tranquil woodland area. The striking and picturesque surroundings create an enjoyable view, as well as a solemn ambiance. Upon entering the monastery, you will notice the words "香海名山" (Fragrant Sea and Prestigious Mountain) engraved on the portico. The Tsing Shan Temple is among the three oldest temples in Hong Kong. Inside the temple, there is a main worship hall. Walking up the stairs leading to the hall, you will see "一切有情、同登覺地" (which means Everything on Earth Has Ties and Reaches Nirvana Together). The peaceful environment of this Buddhist temple offers an abiding sense of harmony.

Cat Street

Probably the best place to buy souvenirs, lots of Mao memorabilia, porcelain, Buddha statues and "antiques". Lok Ku Rd, walk down Hollywood Rd towards the west, when you see the Man Mo temple walk down the stairs on the right hand side.

Central Plaza

Can be seen from most of Wan Chai. Central Plaza was the tallest building in Asia from 1992 to 1996, and the tallest in Hong Kong until 2003. It is possible to tell the time by the changing lights on the top of this building. During business hours, you can take the lift from the ground floor to the sky lobby on the 46th floor to get a spectacular free view of the harbour and the island. Another option for a free is view is from the observation lift in the Hopewell Centre at 183 Queen's Road East. This is one of the very few round towers found in the city. This glass lift can be taken from the 17th floor and the amazing journey to the 62nd floor takes about 90 seconds. Once at the top you can eat at the revolving restaurant on top of the building, or head back down again.

Central-Mid-Levels Escalator

At 800 m long, this is the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world. The escalator runs downhill from 6AM to 10AM and uphill from 10:30AM to midnight every day. Part of it near the bottom goes along Cochrane Street, and it's hard to miss. It goes from busy areas at the bottom to upscale residential neighborhoods at the top. For tourists it's not all that useful for transportation, but it's an interesting curiosity that CNN declared one of the world's coolest commutes.

Free

Chater Garden

Adjacent to the Legislative Council Building, this is the place where disgruntled Hongkongers come to protest. Named after businessman Sir Paul Chater.

Cheung Chau

長洲

A traditional community based on an active fishing fleet and many thriving seafood restaurants. It has a number of reasonable hiking trails and some usable beaches.

Cheung Sha Wan Road

Famous for garments. There are many shops selling clothes along Cheung Sha Wan Road. It is within walking distance from Sham Shui Po MTR Station. A number of bus routes also pass along Cheung Sha Wan Road.

Chinese Goods Centre Ltd

Forget the westernised shopping malls and head for this Chinese-style department store in North Point. Here you will find almost anything you might expect in a large department store except prices are extremely competitive. If you are looking to buy gifts with an oriental flavour this is worth a try.

Chinese and Thailand Seafood Restaurant

Food here is reasonable and it offers probably the best meal in the village.

Ching Chung Koon

A traditional Taoist temple. Many people go to here to worship the gods.

Chiu Yuen

潮苑

Small and usually packed eatery serving up a wide range of simple fare, but the crowd-pullers are the beef brisket noodles (a scarcely believable $13) and the homemade giant fishball soup ($16). Other branches are in Aberdeen and Causeway Bay.

Daily 10AM to 9PM

Chun Yeung Street

A local market near the North Point Tram terminus. You can find traditional Chinese food, especially Hokkien style food there. There is a variety of household items, clothes and fresh food there. It is a bazaar typical of many on Hong Kong Island.

Chungking Mansions

Houses many budget Indian, Nepali and African restaurants. Touts at the front entrance will lead you to the restaurants via the small rickety lifts. Be warned that the competition between the touts can become very open, sometimes aggressive, so you should be prepared to make your choice as quickly as possible to avoid being dragged away to a restaurant that you did not really plan on going to. Chungking Mansions is one of the most (in)famous buildings in Kowloon. To many local people it is the very best place for cheap, honest, Indian or Nepali food, whilst others will condemn it as a rat-infested hell-hole with a good chance of diarrhoea thrown in for free. This is also a good (albeit shady) place to change money, with rates slightly better than on-the-street establishments.

City Gallery

A celebration of planning proposals and infrastructure projects. Interactive features and devices give visitors the latest information on planning and infrastructure developments in Hong Kong.

Free

City Hall

Concert hall, theatre, and exhibition space. This cultural hub is famous for its dim sum restaurant.

CitySuper

A local upscale supermarket chain with pan Asian, Western style food and has its own food court in Harbour City on Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.

Dialogue in the Dark

An exhibition in complete darkness. Experience five different Hong Kong themed environments using your non-visual senses on a 75-minute tour with the help of a visually impaired guide. Reservations are recommended, especially for a tour in English or Mandarin instead of Cantonese.

10AM–7:30PM daily·Weekdays $160, $90 for students and seniors; weekends $180, $100 for students and seniors

Discovery Bay

As a residential district, Discovery Bay is not really a tourist destination. However, it boasts a 400-m beach, a golf and marina club for members and guests, meaning that the area attracts day trippers. It also holds festivals, including most notably, dragon boat races at the beach in May/June and a multicultural festival in November.

Dragon Centre Food Court

This food court provides a variety of Chinese, Southeast Asian and Western cuisines at attractive prices. Dishes range from $10 up.

Elements

圓方

Opened in 2007, Elements is Hong Kong's latest mega-mall. Aimed at wealthy shoppers, it has five themed shopping zones: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth. Owned by the MTR Corporation, the shops are located above Kowloon MTR station. Probably not worth going out of your way for, but it does have some of the most extravagant public toilets in Hong Kong.

Essence

Located on the lobby level, Essence was designed by a world famous interior designer Yasumichi Morita.It is the main dining venue in the hotel and features international cuisine through buffet and à la carte offerings.

Daily 6:30AM-11PM·Start from $130 + 10% service charge

Fa Yuen Street Complex

A complex consisting of a wet market, cooked food centre, sports centre and a public library. It is a place where you can find cheap and genuine Hong Kong style food in Kowloon. There was only one small food stall open on a Sunday afternoon. Maybe better during the week?

Fashion Walk

An indoor street with shops and a range of western and Asian restaurants.