Layover in Hong Kong

[anshjain97]

I recently had a layover in HK on the way to San Francisco. My incoming flight landed 1 hr late- so we had 12 hrs arrival-departure. Luckily immigration was quick, and by 13.15, we hopped into a cab.

The first view of the landscape is 2 minutes after exiting your plane.


Unfortunately, smog is very much part of the HK experience...

Next, you proceed to the People Mover and cross immigration- which is pretty efficient. You are now in the arrival hall.


Now, cross customs and you're ready to explore. Take one of these red cabs if you're going to Kowloon or Hong Kong Island- the main areas.


Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is located on Lantau, one of the biggest yet sparsely populated island of HK. N, however, lots of new developments are coming up, be it the Disneyland or big apartment projects like these.


I seem to remember this bridge clearly from previous trips...


As you move on, the skyline appears. Isn't this just wonderful (OK, if you take away the smog).


More later.

[bixaorellana]

Whooo ~~ those apartment buildings!! They're so big, so tall, so close together. I guess I could try to count, but any idea how many stories? Since you say Lantau is the most sparsely populated area of Hong Kong, I suppose the massive buildings are meant to ease population crunch on the other islands. ~?~

And moving right along with big, tall, & close together, that's quite a skyline.

Looking forward to seeing what you all did and saw on your layover.

[anshjain97]

I count about 50 stories.

More than easing the population crunch, I'd say these are being built for good investment prospects. Lots of open land, and of course there's demand for housing, mean that these are now the only areas to build in. Because I think most of these projects are private.

[bixaorellana]

I look at them and can only see blocked-off views and horrible ecological strains in the making.

[anshjain97]

Like much of China- or rather urban East Asia- HK is densely populated. So you will see tall residential towers everywhere.


We had now reached our first stop- the International Financial Centre- the main building is among the city's tallest. There is no observatory deck- but there are some restaurants there- which we didn't go to. Rather, we went to the mall there. It's one of HK's most famous and posh ones.


View from IFC Mall:


Another reason for getting off here was its location. Smack in the heart of HK Island's Central district, this was in close proximity to many areas nearby as you'll see further in this post- Mid-Levels, Statue Sq- and also nearby are piers for ferries to Kowloon- another of HK's popular areas across the bay, and Macau, another Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China.

The elevated walkway to cross the busy street in front offers great views.


We were now walking towards the residential district of Mid-Levels. Located on the hilly part of HK, slightly south of Central, this area is home to types of construction that will be illegal back home.

Just see how thin that building is!

It is home to the Mid-Levels escalator- connecting Central and Mid Levels. Built to try to reduce traffic congestion, it offers good views of the density of the area- and how the area changes to something distinctly local behind the main streets with its skyscrapers, McDonalds and Starbucks.


View from there:




And at street level:

[anshjain97]

Mid Levels is home to a very famous temple, known as Man Mo Temple- known for its amazing array of coils. It's so much that you will need a hanky- unless you'd like to come out coughing continuously.




After visiting the temple, we decided to take a tram and get to the area around Statue Sq- near the IFC.
Below, left is the tram.


It's a cheap ride- one ride- even as far as across the island- will set you back only HK$2.5- about USD0.30 or so. And if you get the upstairs window seat- you'll enjoy great views. We were lucky to snag them just before anyone else.


It was a short ride till Statue Sq. This square is in a busy location- almost next door are important institutions such as the Bank of China Tower, HSBC- as well as the terminus for the tram to Victoria Peak and a tourist attraction: St John's Cathedral.
Statue Sq:


Bank of China Tower:


And just meters behind this busy road...


...is the St John's Cathedral


Any ideas on the roof- how is it so distinctive?

[Deleted]

you've captured the city so well, ansh. I have more than an interest in this city, as my dad was born in Hong Kong. Would really like to see it one day. Interesting looking buses!

[anshjain97]

Thanks, Deyana. Interesting fact about your dad.

[bixaorellana]

WOW, Ansh ~~ this latest addition to your report has finally made me understand why people want to visit Hong Kong. You really do a super job of taking us from the dazzling modernity and stunning high-rises to a whole other world of humanity and tradition.

So much to take in -- the mid-level escalator is fascinating. Are there similar ones in other parts of the city?

You got some wonderful photos -- so many angles, heights, details.

Is the roof of the cathedral metal?

[anshjain97]

Hi, Bixa- thanks.

The Mid-Levels Escalator is the only of its kind in HK I know of- and hence is very unique. It was built to transport residents from Mid Levels to workplaces in Central, and back later. In the morning it runs towards Central, and afterwards back.

Sorry- no idea what the catherdal's roof is made of.

[nycgirl]

That bus ride is a bargain, and how nice to be able to enjoy the views from the second story.

From the photos, Hong Kong seems to be a pretty clean city, except for the smog. Do you find that to be the case?

[anshjain97]

Hi- yes, HK is by large clean. I didn't see any littering or sewage- as seems the case with so much of Asia.

[lugg]

What a fascinating report Ansh and great photos.

Statue Sq - Is that because of one particular statue or is there a collection do you know?

[anshjain97]

Hi, thanks. There were many statues of British royalty once, which were subsequently removed during the Japanese occupation of HK- now there's only one statue left. (of a HSBC banker)

[Deleted]

That's interesting to know why and when the statues of British Royalty were removed in Hong Kong.

ansh, have you seen the one of Queen Victoria in in Cubbon park in Bangalore?

[Deleted]

Hong Kong always overwhelms me and demands that I return there (I have been to Hong Kong about 8 times and I long to return as soon as possible).

[anshjain97]

No, Deyana- actually I haven't. Haven't been to Cubbon Park in a long time.

of course, there's more to come

[anshjain97]

To continue, now.
Here is the exterior of St John's Cathedral.


And here's a closer look at HK's double-decker buses.


Now, it was 4pm- 8 and a half hours from our next flight's departure, we took a cab and headed for Times Sq Mall in the bustling area of Causeway Bay. Both times when I've actually stayed in HK, my hotel was in this area- so I've come to like it- commerce and business everywhere and always buzzing.

However, we got stuck in a traffic jam on the way.


Times Sq Mall was bloody crowded- after all it was a Saturday evening. Take a look at the escalator.


And here's the interior. It's very much a usual mall. Good place for shopping and lots of restaurants. Ideal location, too, because of many surrounding hotels and thoroughfares.



The mall is in a tall building but the crowd thins out- there seem to be only restaurants up (on levels 10 or so +) but the views are good. Good way to feel the densely packed area around. Pardon the reflection, please.

[anshjain97]

OK- so maybe that escalator wasn't that crowded- but how about the surrounding area? Apart from the behemoth of a mall, the surrounding area has shops and restaurants galore as well.




The main thoroughfare was closeby.


Good, time to catch a bus to the Wan Chai pier (Wan Chai is the name of the area adjacent to Causeway Bay).

Great view of the Kowloon skyline upon reaching the pier. Kowloon is the name of the island opposite HK Island- where we were now going.


The smog tends to lighten at evening.

The famous Star Ferry runs across the bay.

[Deleted]

I have always been a bit overwhelmed by the crowds of Hong Kong, especially during the business day. Nevertheless, since Paris is quite crowded and busy also in certain areas, I am able to deal with it.

One thing that I was not ready for was Sunday and the amah picnics totally covering the Star Ferry pier area in Victoria, every scrap of grass and also the walkways leading towards the Macau ferry. I found the situation simultaneously pleasant and horrible. All of these Filipina maid are obviously pleased to all be sitting together in groups and sharing their local dishes, but the idea that they can do this just one afternoon a week and that it seems to be their one and only leisure activity is distressing.

[fgrsk8r1970]

Ansh-the photos are amazing!!! HK has always been on my list of places to go, especially after my visit to Shanghai & Beijing (and now also because I wouldn't need a visa for HK, compared to the mainland)
This report and your photos make me want to move it up on my bucket list again. However my Cowboy would not be able to deal with the masses and the smog...... so I have to be patient

[anshjain97]

Thanks. The only time I've seen Paris similarly crowded was in mid-August- when 3/4th of the base of the Eiffel Tower was covered with people choc-a-block.
Despite the smog, it didn't seem to affect in any health-related way. It just reduced visibility.

[bjd]

I'm pleased to see your photos, Ansh, but can't say it makes me want to go there.

A university friend of mine worked in Hong Kong for 6 months after university and said the worst was dealing with the permanent crowds.

[anshjain97]

Cheers bjd- but HK being a territory rather than a city, it's just as easy to find quiet areas. On my last trips, I was in some of them- but don't have any pictures and few memories. But the actual urban areas of HK Island form only a small % of HK's total area.

[anshjain97]

The ferry docks in Kowloon's Tsim Sha Tsui (sim-sha-sui) area- on the southern tip of Kowloon Island. It's a pretty touristy place and has lots of restaurants.

Views from the ferry; this of Central's skyline.


Here is the ferry terminal at Tsim Sha Tsui.


There was a film awards ceremony at the Avenue of the Stars very closeby, which is HK's answer to Hollywood Bd in LA.


As you can see, this place wasn't spared from the crowds. But I guess it's not very representative: a Saturday evening is likely to attract people- and the weather was amazing too.


The ferry terminal is a major transport hub. And look at the views.


This well-designed, elegant shopping centre was closeby. Decided to have dinner here.


The views were nice from the restaurant's outdoor seating.

[anshjain97]

And then we decided to walk down to the bay, watch the famous laser show- where laser is emitted by many skyscrapers around- and then head back to the airport (very early, as usual).




The laser show is seen rather than photographed but I tried to take some, not very good unfortunately, shots.


I only caught it at a bad time- the laser is definitely not as faint as what you can see.

[anshjain97]

I'll just post some from my last trip:
Here is the view from my hotel:


And here's the view from the other hotel: this one in Disneyland on Lantau.


And here's the Big Buddha...in a monastery in Lantau. You can also reach here by cable car- which was closed when we went there (earlier trip), but was running now.


From there, a view of a quieter HK...


Then we went to Macau. Macau is another Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China and thus is in a separate immigration control. Also known as Las Vegas of the east, it's main claim to fame is gambling but it's also good for its Portuguese colonial architecture. Why not try some Portuguese egg tarts?
In the foreground, you can see the colonial area- the rest of the city looms behind.


Here is a view from the Macau Tower.


I don't have a picture of the tower- but you can see Wikipedia's: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macau_Tower

Here are the ruins of the St Paul's Cathedral.


Standing in the main sq, one can take a great shot of the colonial area in the foreground with these ruins behind.

And here is the entrance to a small temple.

[tod2]

Fabulous photos Ansh! I never got to see the lazer-light Show as I don't think it was invented when we were there. The buildings used to light up with millions of 'globes'? and form characters on the side of the buildings. We were there two years before the change over back to China.

That restaurant you tried looks marvellous..ly expensive!

[anshjain97]

Thanks. When were you there? I first saw the laser show in 2004.

The restaurant was somewhere back there...only the shopping centre looked elaborate. The restaurant wasn't too expensive.

[Deleted]

I finally found a relatively huge stock of Hong Kong photos from various trips -- now all I have to do is start scanning them!