Top Rated Attractions in Hong Kong

One of the top museums in town and also free of charge for its permanent exhibits, Hong Kong Museum of History chronicles 400 million years of this island's history. That is indeed a massive amount of time to explore and understand. Spread across eight galleries, this bi-level repository is like stepping on a time-travel machine. Dioramas, multimedia exhibits and graphic panels give insight into the topography, nature, culture, history and growth of Hong Kong. With thousands of objects creating a storyline that is exciting and engaging, there is probably no other museum in the city that is as comprehensive as the Hong Kong Museum of History. They also have special exhibitions at times. However they have an entrance fee to it.

One of Hong Kong's star attractions and one of the deepest container ports in the world, Victoria Harbour is shielded on both sides by stunning skylines – an army of towering skyscrapers and Victoria Peak on one side, and the Tsim Sha Tsui shoreline on the other. Everyday, hundreds of ferries, tugs, junks, speed boats, and barges chug up and down the shore, carrying people and cargo, only pausing for typhoons. The history of this iconic harbor dates back to the times of the First and Second Opium Wars, when China faced defeat at the hands of the British, promptly rendering Hong Kong a British colony. Christened Victoria Harbour after the Queen of England, the harbor's critical position on the South China Sea, wedged between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, facilitated a thriving trade economy which largely impacted Hong Kong's imminent development. The harbor, a natural landmark that straddles both the past and future of Hong Kong's progress, is a spectacle at night. It comes alive with a permanent light and sound show that features an enchanting dazzle of lasers, synchronized music, and twinkling buildings.

One of Hong Kong's oldest theme parks and among the globe's most visited amusement parks, Ocean Park Hong Kong also holds the distinction of being the top contenders of Asia's biggest theme parks. Boasting to take up the size of about 174 football fields, this massive parkland has something for everyone! A hodgepodge of an oceanarium, amusement park, marine park and animal park, it is spread across two zones; The Summit and The Waterfront. These are segregated further into thematic areas. For the wildest rides such as The Flash, The Mine Train and Raging River, The Summit is the place to go. It is also where you will find the Polar Adventure. Get to know animals from both the poles of the earth. Meet the adorable giant pandas at The Waterfront. This where all the aqua fun lies. Also get up-close with marine mammals at this spectrum of the park. Fun, educational and exciting, Ocean Park will keep you wanting for more. The timings differ seasonally, so please check the website.

Managed by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Mai Po Marsh sits on the edge of Deep Bay and is a lush landscape of mudflats, wetlands, mangroves and ponds. A wonderful habitat for migratory birds and waterfowl, insect life and aquatic life that inhabits the marshes, this offers a peek at Hong Kong's natural biodiversity. Among the 270-plus species of birds found here, the endangered black-faced spoonbills are especially noteworthy. The park's splendid ecology makes it an ideal conservation land for birds and other wetland mammals. Organized walks and tours are led by trained nature interpreters and offer insight into this protected ecosystem.

Influenced by the Tang-style landscaping layout, the Nan Lian Garden is probably the only one of its kind in the city. This beautiful oasis, characterized by verdure and glistening ponds, is indeed a wonderful place to stroll. The tea house and snack houses offer refreshments for park visitors. The rockery and the Buddhist temple of "Pavilion of Absolute Perfection" are some of the major highlights of the garden. It also has venues on hire for special occasions. The vegetarian restaurant on-site is quite popular as well.

Perched atop a hill in the Sha Tin district of Hong Kong, Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery is the labor of love of Yuet Kai, a Buddhist who dedicated his life to this iconic temple. First founded in 1933, the temple was constructed over the course of 24 years, with the last Buddha placed in 1957. The temple complex is remarkable, but it's the walk up that is the true visual treat. Thousands of Buddha statues, each one unique, line the path to the monastery, each begging a closer inspection. The monastery is the final resting place of Yuet Kai. If you've worked up an appetite, the monastery's vegetarian restaurant offers reasonably priced healthful cuisine with all profits going towards temple's maintenance.