Amidst the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong, there are several easy-to-get-to walks that allow you to unwind and reflect on the beauty of the city. While you can certainly enjoy these on your own, they are extra special when shared!
The following three walks can be accessed either day or night and offer dazzling views, plus the chance to walk uninterrupted, without the stop-and-go rhythm you get in most areas of the city. Best of all, you won’t even need to stray far from the city’s main neighborhoods in order to begin.
Star Ferry, Tsim Sha Tsui to Avenue of Stars (TST East)
Convenient to get to from Central, Wanchai, and Tsim Sha Tsui, the Star Ferry to Avenue of Stars walk is a must for both tourists and locals.
Getting there:
The best way to arrive is by ferry from Central’s Star Ferry pier 7, (near IFC2 and the IFC shopping mall;) or by the Wanchai Star Ferry, which is close to the China Resources Building and the Convention Center.
Once arriving you can walk towards Tsim Sha Tsui East, for a slow, flat walk with outstanding views of Hong Kong Island’s skyline. When you reach Tsim Sha Tsui East, cross over one of the pedestrian bridges and work your way towards Chatham Road where you can intersect with Granville Road for some shopping, or continue on towards Nathan Road to catch the MTR. The only time it gets crowded is just before the Symphony of Lights that takes place at 8pm daily.
Have a look at our previous post about Avenue of Stars for more info.
West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade
A less crowded alternative to the Star Ferry / Avenue of Stars walk, the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade has a boardwalk, benches, and plenty of quiet spots with views. The place is more intimate because it’s much less popular with tourists. The site offers a stunning look at Hong Kong Island’s waterfront, plus up-close views of West Kowloon’s gleaming skyscrapers.
West Kowloon has also been the site of interesting events such as the Clockenflap music festival, and Redbull’s crazy Flugtag event. (Flying home-made planes into the harbor! Check out the crashes here!)
Getting there:
Take the Tung Chung MTR line to Kowloon Station, or simply hop in a taxi to Austin Road West. (In Chinese: 西ä¹é¾æµ·æ¿±é•·å»Š, or just show them the West Kowloon waterfront on a map and they’ll know where to go.)
The start of the walk is a few blocks away from Kowloon station / Elements Shopping Mall. If you like, you can walk there from the MTR, just head out the exit nearest the Airport Express entrance (Exit D1), and walk towards the harbor-front. On your right will soon be bus stops for buses that pass through the Western Tunnel. You will see a stoplight that lets you cross towards the Western Tunnel bus stops. Instead of walking up towards the bus stops however, simply cross the street, and then take a left and continue going straight in the direction of Hong Kong Island. Soon you will come to a road and sidewalk that goes towards the water, directly to the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade. The rest is easy!
There are actually two entrances. Those who attended Clockenflap, or Redbull’s Flugtag will know at least one of the routes. The less well known entrance is just across the pedestrian bridge next to the Western Tunnel. If you like, you can finish at that end, and then walk back across the pedestrian bridge to Elements to catch the train.
Check out our post about West Kowloon from 2006 here!
The Peak, done right!
You know those incredible photos of Hong Kong that you see on postcards and in photo books? Well often they were shot from this location!
Most people who claim they’ve been to the Peak have never actually seen the city from this angle. It’s breathtaking and never gets old. The standard Peak Tower view that most tourists catch is o.k., but pales in comparison to the view from this walk.
The starting point is just behind the Peak Tower, on a concrete path that winds its way around the mountain, providing you with unparalleled views of the city below.
Here’s a photo to help you find the right entrance to the path.
You can read in more detail about the path from an earlier post we did in 2007.
The Peak walk is actually a big loop that will take you back to where you started from and you will end up next to The Peak Lookout Cafe.
Getting there:
Though the Peak Tram is famous, it’s simply not worth the wait on a nice day. With swarms of tourists in Hong Kong recently, it’s easier just to hop in a taxi and head up to The Peak. (Often taxi drivers will drop you off at the Peak Galleria, which is a shopping mall, just opposite from the Peak Tower.) From there, you should walk to *the back* of the Peak Tower, until you see the following sign below.
Afterwords, you can stop for dessert, or grab a bus, or taxi below the Peak Galleria shopping mall.
All three walks are highly recommended! Enjoy! 🙂
