Tours

Tour 1: Central Landmarks and Victoria Peak

Starting at the Star Ferry Terminal in Central, it is easy to spot neighboring Jardine House with its distinctive porthole windows before heading for the underpass to Chater Road, which comes up right outside the Mandarin Oriental.

A little east along Chater Road, centred in a patch of immaculately-kept grass, with the usual keep-off signs, is the Cenotaph. Crossing Chater Road here leads to the neo-classical Legislative Council (Legco) Building, first opened in 1912 as the Supreme Court.

A short walk west is Statue Square with all-encompassing views of the colonial façade of the Legco Building and its more modern neighbors. The biggest of these is the steel and glass Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation Headquarters, which dwarfs the original art-deco Bank of China Building next door.

Just across Queen's Road Central and up Battery Path is the Former French Mission Building, with St John's Cathedral just behind.

Using the raised walkway a little down the road from the cathedral to cross Garden Road leads to the Citibank Plaza and its impressive neighbor, the Bank of China Tower. Not only great to look at, it is also great to look out of from its viewing gallery on the 43rd floor. Having had a bird's-eye view of Central and Admiralty, it is back to the Citibank Plaza and over Cotton Tree Drive to Hong Kong Park.

Lunch is most probably on the cards by now and Pacific Place should provide all that is needed. Afterwards signposts guide the way through Hong Kong Park to the Peak Tram terminus for the journey up to Victoria Peak, which passes through the Mid-levels and its plethora of high-rise tower-blocks.

Once at the top, the The Peak Tower is a must for phenomenal views of the city from a variety of viewing platforms. The Peak Galleria has equally inspiring views over the green southern slopes of Victoria Peak. For even more photo opportunities there is also a leisurely one-hour walk around the Peak.

A visit to the Peak Lookout for tea or supper, followed by one last look over the sparkling spectacle of Hong Kong at night from the Peak Tower, adds a final flourish to this tour.

Tour 2: Street Life in Kowloon

To experience a little of Kowloon life, take the MTR to Jordan. Exit A brings you right up by the Yue Hwa Chinese Products Emporium, which is well worth a look.

Next head west along Jordan Road, turn north into Shanghai Street and go west again along Nanking Street until you hit the Reclamation Street market. After all that you will be rewarded with a full-on Chinese market experience in the midst of traditional Yaumatei.

At the other end of this market you will find the tarpaulin-covered Jade Market just across Kansu Street, and a handful of gemstone shops around the corner on Canton Road.

No more than a short walk away is the incense-filled Tin Hau Temple on Shanghai Street, north of Kansu Street. After some spiritual enlightenment head north on Nathan Road to Mongkok and the Ladies Market, which starts at the junction between Dundas Street and Tung Choi Street.

What about lunch? Well, there are plenty of small noodle bars along the way, and if you cannot read the menu try asking for "noodle or rice in soup with vegetable," a tried, tested and tasty stand-by!

After lunch it is time for the Goldfish Market, which is further along Tung Choi Street, running between Mongkok Road and Prince Edward Road.

The final two markets are across busy Prince Edward Road. No prizes for guessing what market you will find on Flower Market Road. At the far end of the Flower Market follow the birdsong through an ornate gateway to the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden.

If you have the time and energy, you can take the MTR from Prince Edward over to Wong Tai Sin and wander around the vast temple complex there. Alternatively, just enjoy what is left of the day however you like!

Tour 3: The New Territories Experience

This tour is for the more intrepid type! Using the KCR, make your way to Tai Po Market, where there is still a thriving market in the Fu Shin Street area (you will need a good map to get here). Take time to explore and you will be rewarded with the Man Mo Temple and shops selling all sorts of things, including live snakes on Tsing Yuen Street.

It is best to have an early lunch at a noodle bar or at one of the fast-food outlets in the Uptown Plaza next to the KCR station before jumping onto bus number 64K at the bus terminus.

In Lam Tsuen (have someone write this down in Chinese and show it to the bus driver), the Wishing Tree is quite a sight and at weekends there is a bit of a party atmosphere. There is also a temple at the end of a small road next to the Wishing Tree.

Next hop back onto bus number 64K to Kam Tin (Po Tei Road stop—again, have this written in Chinese). Highlights of the bus ride: chequerboard small-holdings, walled settlements, the Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden and lush hillsides peppered with ancestral grave sites. Low points: ugly car-breakers by the dozen. The British Army Gurkha Base used to be near Kam Tin, and the Nepalese influence is still evident, especially in the sarongs of many of the women here. Busy Kam Tin Main Road is lined with a few quaint shops. Further along is the old walled village of Kat Hing Wai.

The journey back to town starts with a twisting ride along Route Twisk through Tai Mo Shan country park on bus number 51. Get off at the Tsuen Wan MTR for your train ride back to town.