Sunsets & Skylines | The 10 Best Views in Hong Kong

View on a hike to the peak

In all my five years of living in Hong Kong I never got sick of that skyline. In fact, saying goodbye to that view was the very last thing I did before I left for the airport. And with so many incredible angles to see the city from, it’s hard to pick my favourite.

Here are just a few of the best views in Hong Kong:


1. Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront

hong kong skyline from TST
Hong Kong skyline from TST

We can’t talk about the best views in Hong Kong without talking about TST. This is where the iconic picture of HK’s epic skyline can be found, which is especially breathtaking lit up at night. Although the nightly light show is pure mature cheddar cheesy, it’s also worth a watch at least once.

Even better, get a seat on the Star Ferry (or junk boat tour) and cross the water to see the skyline from both the island and Kowloon.

2. The Cable Cars at Ocean Park

Ocean Park theme park

Aside from rollercoasters, special events such as Halloween Fright Night and a zoo with pandas, Ocean Park also has some pretty special views of the south of Hong Kong Island and Aberdeen.

Taking a trip in one of the cable cars on a clear day (or climbing up to the highest drop of a rollercoaster) offers some really stunning views.

3. The Peak

Why Now: Skyline view from The Peak, Hong Kong
Skyline view from The Peak, Hong Kong

It’s no exaggeration to say that The Peak has spectacular views of the harbour. If you head up there in the late afternoon you can see the city as it lights up below you.

View on a hike to the peak

If you don’t suffer from vertigo, you can even take the Peak Tram up and watch the skyscrapers disappear beneath you.

4. Lion Rock

Lion Rock
Lion Rock

Lion Rock is a strong symbol in Hong Kong, standing for hard work and pride (plus, you know, it looks like a lion). The hike up to the lion’s head is amazing and the views out to Kowloon are equally impressive.

5. The Ritz Carlton

Cocktail at Ozone
Cocktail at Ozone

If you really want to test how you feel about heights, head up to the Ritz-Carlton in the ICC Building. Don’t be fooled by Sky100, the ‘viewing platform’ on the hundredth floor – the charge to get in costs more than a drink at the Ritz-Carlton bar, an extra few floors up.

Ritz-Carlton’s Ozone is officially the tallest bar in the world, though I prefer a cocktail at the less trendy Lounge Bar, where the floor to ceiling windows allow you to take in the whole city.

6. The MacLehose Trail

Tai Long Wan beaches in the New Territories in Hong Kong
View of the Tai Long Wan beaches

To be honest, most of the hikes in Hong Kong offer beautiful views of the SAR. However, the MacLehose Trail is definitely up there as having some of the best views in Hong Kong, particularly in the east of the New Territories.

One of my favourite lookout spots is at section 2 of the trail. You turn a corner to be greeted by Tai Long Wan: three picturesque beaches staggered along the coast. You can also hire camping equipment at Ham Tin Beach (the first one) from the local bar and restaurant.

7. Top Deck of a Tram

Hong Kong tram

It may not be as tall as a skyscraper or as high as The Peak, but my personal favourite view of the city has to be the one I get from riding top deck in a ding ding.

skyline view from admiralty hong kong
Skyline view from Admiralty, Hong Kong

Plus, a trip from one end of the island to the other only costs a bargain $2.3. Or, you can charter a party tram and have the whole tram to yourself!

8. 10,000 Buddhas

view from the ten thousand buddhas

The (supposed) 10,000 buddha statues that line this temple complex are worth a visit in themselves. There are also some alternative views of the city looking out over Sha Tin, where Kowloon blends into the New Territories.

9. Ma Wan Beach

View of Tsing Ma bridge from Noah's Ark, Ma Wan
View of Tsing Ma bridge from Noah’s Ark, Ma Wan

Did I ever tell you about the time I moved to Hong Kong and lived inside a life-size replica of Noah’s Ark?

Well, that was how my Hong Kong adventure first started: sitting outside the Ark (how do they know it’s ‘life-size’?) on Ma Wan Island, drinking cheap 7-Eleven beers and marvelling at the Tsing Ma Bridge lit up at night.

10. Cable cars up to the Big Buddha

View of the cable cars

Of all the places in Hong Kong that are ‘must-see’, I never understood why the Big Buddha was up there. The statue itself is a recent build and the surrounding Ngong Ping village is a Disney-style mock-up with the sole purpose of luring in tourists.

Big Buddha, Hong Kong

However, I do enjoy the cable car ride from Tung Chung up to Ngong Ping and watching the buddha come into view from behind mist and greenery.

The Best Views in Hong Kong

Finally, one of the best views in Hong Kong has to be the view from the pavement. Towering skyscrapers that make your neck hurt when you try and see the top, hills of green and endless turquoise horizon.

Don’t forget to look up!

a local's guide to the best views in hong kong pin
the best views in hong kong pin

 
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