We have put together a selection of restaurants and things to do in Hong Kong in order to get the most out of your stay in this fascinating city.
On the unique Heliservices Tour, you can take in bird’s eye view over Hong Kong’s most prominent landmarks from the stunning Victoria Harbour down to the bays and beaches of South Hong Kong Island. Fly with us and experience the best way to explore Hong Kong!
Item: 10 mins Shared Flight Tour
Date: 27/8 – 2/9
Timeslot: 10:00 – 11:00
Departure Location: The Peninsula Hotel Hong Kong / Wanchai Heliport next to the HKCEC
Booking of the below tours is possible via the online registration system.
Cost below only available until 1 month before the tour date, confirmation after the deadline is subjected to availability and updated cost
Our walk starts at Western Market, on Connaught Road West. From there we will make our way towards Possession Point. Here we will briefly discuss the circumstances surrounding the founding of Hong Kong and the conditions that prevailed in the early colony. From Possession Street we will make our way along Hollywood Road, locally known for its traditional Chinese coffin shops and other long-established businesses.
We will visit the Man Mo Temple and hear about its powerful nineteenth century temple committee, which played a pivotal role within the development of Chinese representative associations in early Hong Kong.
Tai Ping Shan is one of the oldest areas in urban Hong Kong. It was the site of a major outbreak of bubonic plague in 1894. Here we will discuss its significance in the development of public health and sanitation in Hong Kong.
We will also take in a number of To Tei, or Earth God shrines in this area.
As we walk onwards towards Sai Ying Pun, we will discuss the development of education in Hong Kong, with particular reference to King’s College and Hong Kong University. While at the University we will learn something of the role the University buildings played during the Japanese invasion in 1941.
Start Time: 08:45 for 09:00
Finish Time: 12 / 12:30 pm
Meeting Point: In front of Western Market, on the Connaught Road West side (almost directly opposite the Macao Ferry Terminal at Shun Tak Centre
Finish Point: Hong Kong University Main Campus, Bonham Road
Please note: All walks require appropriate footwear for walking. Please remember to carry water. We also suggest insect repellent, sunscreen, hat and an umbrella. Please be aware that it will be very hot and also have a possibility of rain at this time of year. The tour might be cancelled in case of heavy rain
Cost: USD 55 / pax
Min: 10 pax - Max: 18 pax
Fragrant Harbour is the meaning of the name Hong Kong and from which the island–and city–take their name. It derives from the area which is now called Aberdeen where, traditionally, the intensely aromatic agar-wood was processed into incense. It was actually through a misunderstanding that 19th century colonisers gave the name to the whole island and its magnificent harbour.
Victoria Peak is the iconic place to go in Hong Kong; we go up to the 554-metre mountain top by car for a marvellous panoramic view over Victoria Harbour and the Kowloon peninsula. In the early days, the Peak was home only to the wealthy who were escaping from the heat and humidity at sea level. On the way, we can see the incredible feats of construction that permit tower blocks to cling to the mountainside.
The southern part of HK Island is all ocean views and high class housing and is considered the best feng shui location in HK. We pass by several attractive beaches to arrive at Stanley and a temple dedicated to Tin Hau, Empress of Heaven and the patron of fishermen. We also will visit Murray House, an old colonial building, that has been moved, stone by stone, from Central District. The outdoor market is famous for selling all kinds of beautiful Chinese souvenirs and paintings and garment-factory outlets.
The atmosphere of old Hong Kong is little changed, except for the aroma of agar-wood. Aberdeen typhoon shelter on the south side of HK Island is home to 19,000 fishermen and their fishing junks. We take a sampan ride to get a feel of what life was like in the old days. Jumbo Floating Restaurant is also a part of must-see Hong Kong and a good place to sample a dim sum lunch.
* Please note: If the weather is unsuitable for Victoria Peak (usually poor visibility or low cloud) the following option is available:
The historic core of Hong Kong is Central District and Statue Square is the hub of the principal buildings that go to make up the Island's distinctive skyline and which individually tell the story of Hong Kong's history. On Sundays there is a carnival atmosphere created by the many Filipina domestic helpers who gather there on their day off.
Alternatively, on weekdays only, on the 55th floor of International Finance Centre 2, the island's tallest building, the HK Monetary Authority has an exhibition space of the history of the city and its currency, and a magnificent panorama over the city.
Tour Duration: 5 hours
Cost: USD 125 / pax
Min: 5 pax - Max: 60 pax
Until 1898, the extent of the British colony was Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula as far north as Boundary Street. The name Kowloon translates into English as “Nine Dragons” and is derived from the surrounding ring of eight major hills. So, why Nine Dragons? The story is that the ninth dragon represents the last emperor of the Song Dynasty who took refuge here in his flight from the advancing Mongols. Today it is main urban area and since the closure of the old Kai Tak airport has seen a significant increase in the number of high-rise buildings.
This is a Taoist temple and one of the best known in Hong Kong. It is always full if life, colour – and people! It is considered to be the place to have one's fortune told; Just shake the yarrow sticks and then consult one of the many fortune tellers for the interpretation. Answers almost guaranteed!
For a city that is based on trading, it is not surprising that markets abound. Many, of course, cater to local communities primarily for foodstuffs, but others offer a wider variety. Fa Yuen Street is one of these where one can buy an amazing range of goods at very reasonable prices. It even has a section close by specialising in selling goldfish—an essential element for good feng shui—and other exotic animals. Unlike the better known Ladies Street and Temple Street markets, this market is not intended mainly for tourists.
Hong Kong has a very proud history of film-making and the Garden of Stars pays tribute to the people who made it all happen. Have a photograph of yourself performing martial arts mimicking the statue of Bruce Lee or comparing your handprint to that of Jackie Chan.
A harbour cruise on the refurbished Chinese junk, Aqualuna, is a relaxing break an an opportunity to appreciate the unique the beauty of Victoria Harbour in old-style elegance. Drinks and snacks are available on board.
At the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui the former Marine Police Headquarters has been reinvigorated into a luxury shopping and fine-dining area while still preserving the characteristics of the Victorian architecture and the iconic Time Ball Tower.
Tour Duration: 5 hours
Cost: USD 130 / pax
Min: 5 pax - Max: 60 pax
A bird's-eye-view from Hong Kong's second tallest building of the panorama of Victoria Harbour and the Kowloon Peninsula puts into context the historical development of the city. A ride on the world's longest escalator shows how businesses and people deal with existing in an intensely crowded environment and across the Harbour, two outstanding gardens are testament to the transformation from unpromising beginnings to places of peace and calm.
The high-rise view from the 55th floor of IFC2 offers an introduction to the history of Hong Kong from an unusual perspective of the major buildings of Central. This is the library of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and, as well as a stunning view, it has an excellent standing exhibition of the city’s history and its currency.
Central Market was the first wet market in Hong Kong and the present building, a 1938 Bauhaus structure, is the fifth one on this site. Now no longer a market, its upper floor marks the start of the Mid-Levels escalator. A ride up to Hollywood Road shows the way that people and small businesses utilise valuable space to good effect.
Across Victoria Harbour, in the Kowloon Peninsula, the first stop is Nan Lian Garden. In the post-war years the area became a squatter area housing many thousands of refugees. After the area was cleared, the land was leased to Chi Lin Nunnery, at a rent of HK$1 a year, for the development of a Tang Dynasty-style garden which is now an oasis of calm in the busy city.
A different kind of squatter development was the Kowloon Walled City. Formerly a Qing customs post, it was a no-man’s-land nominally under Chinese rule. In practice, it was a lawless place housing not only outlaws in a haven of crime and debauchery, but also host to many small entrepreneurs making a living and existing under the most appalling conditions. With the agreement of the Chinese government, the buildings were demolished in 1994 and a beautiful park was created preserving the historical yamen buildings and other relics.
Tour Duration: 5 hours
Cost: USD 125 / pax
Min: 5 pax - Max: 60 pax
Buddhist architecture; fireworks over Sleeping Beauty's castle; a long sandy beach; a mall of shopping outlets – Lantau Island has it all. Whatever your persuasion, Hong Kong’s largest outlying island brings solace to the soul, senses and shopping bags.
Ngong Ping 360 is the ideal springboard to exploring Lantau Island. Your journey begins with a 25-minute cable car ride from Tung Chung. Give the amazing Crystal Cabin a try. Its glass bottom offers an astonishing bird’s eye view of the magical deep blue sea and lush green mountainside underneath your feet. As you step out of the cable car, you will be greeted by the culturally themed 1.5-hectare Ngong Ping Village, where a wide array of shops and eateries in Ngong Ping Village offer a delightful shopping and dining experience. Also, don’t miss the Walking with Buddha multimedia presentation.
Once merely a remote monastery hidden by lush, mountain scenery, the Po Lin Monastery made it to the world map when the extraordinary Tian Tan Buddha statue (informally known as the Big Buddha) was erected in 1993. Sitting 34 metres high and facing north to look over the Chinese people, this majestic bronze Buddha draws pilgrims from all over Asia.
The eyes, lips, incline of the head and right hand, which is raised to deliver a blessing to all, combine to bring a humbling depth of character and dignity to the massive Buddha, which took 12 years to complete. Climb the 268 steps for a closer look at this remarkable statue, and to enjoy the sweeping mountain and sea views that can be seen from its base.
Opposite the statue, the Po Lin Monastery is one of Hong Kong’s most important Buddhist sanctums and has been dubbed ‘the Buddhist World in the South’. Home to many a devout monk, this monastery is rich with colourful manifestations of Buddhist iconography and its pleasant garden is alive with birdsong and flowery scents. You can also enlighten your appetite at their popular vegetarian restaurant.
Inclusive of 2-way standard class cable car and Chinese vegetarian lunch
Cost: USD 125 / pax
Min: 40 pax - Max: 60 pax
Hong Kong has seen many transformations during its history and has not always been high-rise and high finance. Reminders of the past have been restored and give a glimpse of what life was like in former times. A farmer’s family house that also tells the story of the development of the New Towns. A housing block that was built as an emergency response to a major disaster now a museum of life in difficult times. The tour ends at one of the most peaceful and beautiful places in the city, a Buddhist nunnery and Tang Dynasty-style garden
Sam Tung Uk is a 300-year-old walled farmer’s compound. An ancestral hall at the central axis, four individual houses in the middle are walled in by rows of houses. A permanent exhibition recalls agricultural life in the New Territories and the development of the new towns to cope with Hong Kong’s expanding population. (Closed on Tuesdays)
Christmas Day 1953 is a significant day in Hong Kong history. A massive fire in the squatter area of Shek Kip Mei instantly rendered some 50,000 people homeless. Mei Ho House is the only remaining first-generation public housing block created to solve the problem of resettling so many homeless people. Now restored, it contains a fascinating museum telling the story of everyday life in those difficult times.
This is a Tang Dynasty-style temple complex including a nunnery, temple halls and Chinese gardens. The buildings are wood-frame built without the use of any iron nails. The temple halls have statues of the Sakyamuni Buddha and the goddess of mercy Guanyin amongst others.
The garden is beautifully landscaped in the Tang Dynasty style with a central golden pagoda and abundant water features, Everything is ordered according to strict rules and methods. The general air of quietness and peace in the midst of the city bustle is quite remarkable. The history of Hong Kong has always been based on trade. In the predominantly old-style Chinese parts of the city, tradition still holds sway and the goods bought and sold are little changed from the early days. A short tram trip lets us see daily life from an unusual angle before we come the up-to-date version of trade in an ultra-high rise building.
Tour Duration: 5 hours
Cost: USD 125 / pax
Min: 5 pax - Max: 60 pax
Opened in 1977, Ocean Park Hong Kong is a marine-life theme park featuring animal exhibits, thrill rides and shows. In 2012, its impressive ability to offer guests a world-class experience that blends entertainment with education and conservation was confirmed when it became the first Asian winner of the biannual Applause Award, the most prestigious award in the amusement and theme park industry.
The park is located on the southern side of Hong Kong Island, covering more than 915,000 square metres. The Waterfront and The Summit areas are connected by the Cable Car and Ocean Express funicular train.
A journey deep underwater to meet over a hundred sharks and rays that shatters the myths surrounding them, including the sawfish with a saw-like rostrum, and the zebra shark with leopard-like spots! Discover their beauty from 360 degrees at this exciting exhibit.
Polar Adventure lets you explore the North and South poles, from the exhilaration of a bobsled ride to the wonders of meeting king penguins up close. You’ll also see long-tusked Pacific walruses, spotted seals, arctic foxes, snowy owls and other extraordinary animals. And when you need a break, Tuxedos Restaurant serves refreshments with a view of more than 70 penguins frolicking on the ice.
Old Hong Kong brings the unique culture of Hong Kong in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s back to life. Savour the sights and sounds of yesteryear aboard the Heritage Tram! Be mesmerised by the colour and buzz of life in accurate recreations of old streets and scenes. Take a trip into nostalgia and take home some antique souvenirs to keep the memories alive!
In this zone, guests can dangle off a cliff on the floorless roller coaster, Hair Raiser, or hang upside down while swinging on The Flash. Soar with The Aviator to feel the sensation of flight, before knocking around on bumper cars. Don’t leave without a ride on Rev Rooster, a high speed and energetic classic.
Hop aboard a raft and become immersed in the exotic sounds of a tropical rainforest. On this journey, you’ll encounter some of the most fascinating animals in the world! Catch the antics of the world’s smallest monkey, the Pygmy Marmoset; or see weirdly wonderful critters, including the Capybara, the world’s largest rodent, and Kinkajou, as well as the Green Aracari, the world’s smallest toucan.
In this world-class marine-themed area, you can watch Symbio, a multi-sensory show featuring the world’s first 360-degree water screen, embark on a journey of exploration into the Grand Aquarium, or view marine life from the world’s largest aquarium dome or through a giant viewing panel eight by 13 metres large. Make sure you drop by Neptune’s Restaurant for Hong Kong’s first aquarium dining experience!
At the Amazing Asian Animals exhibit you can visit some of Asia's rarest animals. Take an interactive journey of discovery at the Giant Panda Adventure where you’ll get to know some of Asia's most precious native animals, including giant pandas, red pandas, Chinese giant salamanders and Chinese alligators. Admire the spectacular display of goldfish at the Goldfish Treasures exhibit, or visit the colourful birds and playful Asian small-clawed otters at Panda Village.
Other popular attractions include the Sea Jelly Spectacular, The Abyss turbo drop, the Mine Train roller coaster and the show at Ocean Theatre. During festive seasons, Ocean Park Hong Kong will organise special events such as Halloween Bash, Asia’s biggest Halloween party, and Summer Splash water play activities.
Ocean Park Hong Kong is committed to promoting and supporting animal conservation in Hong Kong and throughout Asia. Part of the proceeds from admission tickets and some retail items will go towards the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong to support wildlife conservation projects.
Inclusive of entry ticket with transportation
Cost: USD 160 / pax
Min: 40 pax - Max: 60 pax
Sheung Wan is where the British first began their occupation of Hong Kong and the flag was raised in Possession Street. Over the years, the area became established as a centre of traditional Chinese trading and so it remains today. Traditional Chinese medicines and dried seafoods are the primary products and the tour offers a view of the amazing variety on sale.
In the vicinity of Herbal Medicine Street a small garden has been established where examples of many typical herbs are growing and also with a display of the uses to which they are put. In the shops, all the herbs are dried, rather than fresh. Herbal is a slightly misleading name for traditional Chinese medicine which also uses a variety of animal and some mineral products, all of which can be seen in the shops.
From the western end we move to Happy Valley, home still of the first racecourse in the city. A ride on a tram is a moving grandstand view of Hong Kong’s busy street life. In Wanchai, on the way to visit a typical local market with housewives or their helpers doing the daily fresh-food shopping, we watch the practitioners of Villain Hitting exorcising enemies for their clients.
Having seen the older faces of Hong Kong, the final part of the tour takes in Central, the heart of the city. Statue Square is surrounded by buildings that represent the panorama of Hong Kong history. The final stop, International Finance Centre, is the modern face of Hong Kong. Its name implies the change that has taken place in the trading patterns of the city in a building that reaches to the sky.
Tour Duration: 5 hours
Cost: USD 125 / pax
Min: 5 pax - Max: 60 pax
During the 1960s and 1970s Wanchai gained a reputation as the night-life centre of Hong Kong. There is much more to the area than that and it is one of the oldest parts of the city. It has a vibrant life that a visitor can also feel part of even in a short space of time. Life in the Outlying Islands flows at a much more gentle pace. A mere 25 minutes comfortable ferry ride away from Central, Lamma Island is a complete contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city streets.
Tucked away in a side-street in Wanchai is the biggest temple on Hong Kong Island. Dedicated to the god Pak Tai (or Northern Prince), but shared with Kwan Yin and the Wealthy God, this temple is little known even to many native Hongkongers. Its splendidly ornate interior, a visual feast of gold and red, is nevertheless no distraction to quiet worship of the gods who play such a large part in Hong Kong life.
Markets, both indoor and outdoor, have a very important place in local life. Wet markets are the ones selling food, meat, fish (often still alive) and vegetables, and dry markets, durable goods, though often the two are mixed. The range of foods, where nothing goes to waste, on sale is a key to the wonderful and tasty variety of Cantonese cuisine and invariably fresher than can be found than can be found in supermarkets. But, whatever you need to buy, the probability is you will find it in the market.
Hong Kong has over 230 islands, collectively known as the Outlying Islands. Lamma Island is the third largest but with a small population and a relatively small developed area. Many of the multiracial inhabitants commute to jobs in the city and during the day the island is a haven of relative peace. Even so the ambience is always much more laid back – ideal for a relaxed seafood lunch looking out over the bay in one of the many seaside restaurants.
The first thing that strikes the visitor to Lamma is the lack of high-rise buildings and the second, the absence of motor vehicles except for fire and ambulance services and small village trucks. Everyone walks – or bicycles – and none of the 20-or-so villages is more than about 25 minutes from a ferry pier. The network of walking paths offering either a gentle stroll or more serious hiking through the countryside is one of the delights of the island together with its beaches.
Tour Duration: 5 hours
Cost: USD 125 / pax
Min: 5 pax - Max: 60 pax
Organizers
© 16th World Congress of Anaesthesiologists
