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Reasonably priced clothes, shoes and accessories as well as plenty of tourist tat are to be found among Stanley’s pleasant, ramshackle market stalls. Although it’s not the cheapest or best market in Hong Kong, you may as well potter among the hundred or so stalls before heading to a café or one of the seafront eateries.

This venerable Neo-Classical relic dating from 1843, originally served as British Army quarters on the site now occupied by the Bank of China Tower in Central (see Bank of China Tower). It was dismantled and reassembled here and now houses a number of restaurants .

The handsome building was built in 1859 and is Hong Kong’s oldest surviving police station building. The Japanese used it as a headquarters during World War II. Today it houses a restaurant.

The pretty waterfront makes a pleasant promenade between the market area and Murray House. The harbour was once home to a busy fleet of junks and fishing boats, but is now empty.

This fine stretch of sand is perfect for a dip and a paddle. It’s the venue for the fiercely contested dragon boat races in June when the beach fills with competitors and revellers.

Lined with the grimacing statues of guards to the sea goddess Tin Hau, the gloomy interior of this temple is one of the most evocative in Hong Kong. It’s also one of the oldest Tin Hau temples in the region, dating back to 1767.

Most of the graves are the resting place of residents who died during World War II. Others date back to early colonial days, when many settlers, young and old, succumbed to a range of tropical illnesses.

The old British army barracks at the end of the peninsula is now occupied by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (closed to public).

Another good stretch of sand, St Stephen’s is also the place for sailing and canoeing. The small pier is the departure point for the Sunday boat bound for the remote island of Po Toi .

One of Stanley’s best attractions is its excellent range of restaurants and bars (see Places to Eat and Drink). A host of eateries, from Italian to Vietnamese, are lined along Stanley Main Road, facing the sea, many with outdoor seating. Murray House also contains good restaurants.