Hong Kong for a Family of First Timers: Top Places to Visit and our 6-Days Itinerary

Hong Kong was our first trip outside the country with a three year old in tow. There were travel advisories about SARS.  We just took precautions then went ahead with it.  You may say, it was an act of faith. It was also a good thing that we have our in-laws with us.  We took turns taking care of our daughter while having a grand time sight seeing.  Here are the places we visited in no particular order.  


1. Disneyland

Of course, who would go wrong with Disneyland when you have a child in tow? Not to miss are the child-friendly rides, the shows like Golden Mickeys and the Lion King, the parade, the characters around the park and the fireworks. How my heart melted seeing how my daughter felt so happy and starstruck with all the Disney characters around the park.  It was truly magical.

Fangirling at the park

Happy days are here to stay

2. City Plaza

We had our Philippine money exchanged to Hong Kong money here. Nothing really eventful but it was such a good thing to experience a little piece of the Philippines in a foreign land.  There were people selling Filipino books, call cards and food.

3. Hong Kong Park

Flowers, cacti, a pond, a waterfall... A piece of nature in an urban center. It was a sight for the green thumb like my mother-in-law and the nature-lover like us.

Flora and fauna

Garden in the city

4. Central on a Sunday

Call me emotional but I cried when I saw hundreds of Filipinas gathered in a single area, trying to make their Sunday special.   It was like a picnic.  They were talking, laughing and eating, while doing other activities on the side.  It was such a a very touching sight.  It reminded me that not all Filipinos
were tourists in Hong Kong.  

5. Stanley Market
Shopping once more. It's a market on the southern coast of Hong Kong that offers a wide array of goods from branded items to trinkets and knick knacks.  And they have a wide selection of food stops for those after-shopping hunger pangs.

6. The Peak and the Peak Tram 
Riding the tram was the fastest and most scenic way to reach The Peak.  We went around and proceeded to the lookout area to take in the wonderful cityscape of Hong Kong at night.

7. Ocean Park
It's a marine park, oceanarium, animal themepark and amusement park in one. The park is divided between the Summit (Headland) and the Waterfront (Lowland).  Both are reachable through a cable car.  To say that it was huge was an understatement.  I don't think you can cover the whole thing with 
just a day.  So we picked all the activities that was enjoyable to us - riding in the cable car, watching the dolphin, seal and animal shows.  Going around the oceanarium, visited the panda, sampled the child-friendly rides and of course, took photos with the Ocean Park characters.

Unforgettable day-out

A day with marine friends

8. Victoria Harbor

We went for the Symphony of Lights - a popular light show that has around 40 buildings lighting up to music and narration.  It was brief, no more than 15 minutes, but it was really a treat watching those lights go in synchrony. And it was something we haven't seen before. Besides, it holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the "World's Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show."

9. Ngong Ping 360
It's aerial tramway where we rode a clear gondola to Ngong Ping where the Po Lin Monastey and the Tian Tan Buddha is located. It was fascinating being up in the air while enjoying a 360-degree view of the North Lantau Country Park, the South China Sea, the Tung Chung valley and Ngong Ping Plateau.

Up in the sky

Ngong Ping Village

10. Giant Buddha

260 steps and we took every single one of them to reach the top.  With a 4 year old in tow.  It was such a good feeling being up there.  The serenity and the coolness of the whether was perfect for some quiet time.

11. Po Lin Monastery
An important Buddhist sanctuary in Hong Kong.  Opposite the Giant Buddha, this is home to devout monks.  Aside from roaming its garden and premises, we also had a good taste of their vegetarian dishes.

12. Night market at Mongkok
Shopping. Of course, what's Hong Kong without the shopping.  Just a stone's throw away from the place where we stayed is an array of stalls and stores around Mongkok and they're open till the wee hours to satisfy one's unquenchable desire to shop.

Itinerary for 6 Days:
Day 1: Arrival in Hong Kong
Day 2: Disneyland
Day 3: Day Trip to Macau
Day 4: City Plaza, Hong Kong Park, Central, Stanley Market, Victoria Peak
Day 5: Ocean Park, Victoria Harbor
Day 6: Ngong Ping 360, Big Buddha, Po Lin Monastery, Departure from Hong Kong

Where we stayed:
Ah Shan Hostel

Address: Sin Tat Plaza, Sincere House, 83 Argyle St, Mong Kok, Hong Kong

Contact No.: +852 2787 5934

Website: http://www.ahshanhostel.com/

Mode of Transportation:
From the airport: We took the Airport Shuttle Bus No. A21 , get off at Mong Kok MTR Station (the 6th bus stop, before Argyle Street). It's around 3 minutes walk to the hostel.

Going around:  We purchased the Octopus Card and loaded it.  This is allowed us to use the bus and the MTR.  Ah Shan Hostel is very convenient since the MTR is just two minutes away as well as the bus stop.