DK Travel : Hong Kong : Places of interest

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Floating Casino

An old converted ferry lit up like a Christmas tree. Crowded, ill-ventilated, smoky – everything a casino should be.
Floating Restaurants

Also in Aberdeen Harbour are two giant floating restaurants, which are popular but garish, production-line eateries. The most famous, The Jumbo, is said to have served more than 30 million people. Prices are not especially attractive, nor are the culinary achievements. Free ferries shuttle between these restaurants, and pushy sampan handlers also lie in wait for meandering tourists. Take one of these boats if you want to get a good view of the harbour, boats and boatyards. However, when you want to eat, take a ferry from Aberdeen to Lamma Island’s many seafood restaurants instead (see Places to Eat and Drink).
Flower Market

Near the Bird Garden is a vibrant flower market, at its best and brightest in the morning. The stalls and shops lining the entire length of Flower Market Road sell a wide variety of exotic flowers – a wonderfully colourful sight and a good place to take photographs. The busy market is especially exciting to visit during the Chinese New Year.
Former Government House

This grand old building served as the British governor’s residence from 1855 until 1997, when the last governor, Chris Patten, handed Hong Kong back to China. Patten’s successor, Tung Chee Hwa, cited bad feng shui created by the needle-like Bank of China building as one reason not to move in, opting to remain in his house on the Peak. Back in the 1940s, the occupying Japanese added the Shinto-style towers to the Georgian structure, which at one time enjoyed harbour views. The building is used for official functions, only opening occasionally to the public – contact HKTB (see HKTB Services) for details.
Forteleza do Monte

These walls bounded the original Portuguese settlement in Macau, a well-stocked fort, which its inhabitants boasted could withstand years of siege. The sternest test came in 1622 when the Dutch, who had been coveting Macau for years, made their move, only to be decisively beaten. The Portuguese military were based here up until 1966, at which point Portugal decided it was more politic to be administrators of Macau rather than gun-toting colonialists.
Guangdong Museum of Art

Probably still China’s largest art museum, displaying ancient and contemporary Chinese art.
Guia Lighthouse

This most visible of Macau’s landmarks has kept its lonely vigil on Guia Hill since 1638, its flashing beacon beckoning to everyone from Portuguese traders to ferocious pirates and marauding Dutch navy boats. Catch the cable car up the hill, take in the 360-degree panorama from Macau’s highest point and enjoy a leisurely stroll back down.
Happy Valley

This theme park gives Hong Kong’s Ocean Park a run for its money, with the bonus of a tidal pool, adrenalin-inducing rides such as the Space Shot, an assault course and martial arts demonstrations. Use the Happy Line monorail to travel between this and other nearby theme parks
Happy Valley Racecourse

From September to June the thud of hooves on turf rings out most Wednesday nights from this famous racetrack – once a malaria-ridden swamp – where Hong Kong’s gambling-mad public wager more money per meeting than at any other track in the world. (see Happy Valley Races)
Hau Wong Temple

Quaint and tiny, Hau Wong is hardly worth a special trip, but take a look if you’re in the area. It was built in 1737 as a monument to the exiled boy-emperor Ping’s most loyal advisor. Usually fairly quiet unless a festival is in full swing.