Booking a Family Vacation to Hong Kong

Vibrant neighborhoods, exotic history, tasty cuisine and incredible shopping, mixed with British heritage and a population that speaks English, make Hong Kong a good choice for families to sample Asian culture. Good to know: While the city center is densely packed with skyscrapers and streets flowing with people, the other 70 percent of Hong Kong is mountains and sprawling parks. The Bonus: It is easy and cheap to move around on Hong Kong’s MTR subway, one of the world’s cleanest and fastest transportation systems. Here are our top tips for enjoying Hong Kong as a family.

Big Buddha on Lantau Island: Hong Kong has four outlying islands. The largest of these is Lantau, home to the iconic Big Buddha (Tian Tan), an obligatory shot for Instagram as it stands 112 feet atop 268 steps, truly something to marvel. The Buddha is reached by a scenic 25-minute cable car ride, Ngong Ping. Book a “crystal cabin,” which has a glass floor! Don’t miss: walking around on Lantau; just behind the Buddha is the Wisdom Trail, a stunning monument with 38 wooden posts inscribed with Chinese healing prayers, amid wonderful views of the South China Sea. Lantau is easily reached in an hour on the MTR to Tung Chung station, which is also home to the Citygate Outlets mall with more than 80 luxury brands at bargain prices, including Shanghai Tang, Superdry, Burberry

and more.

Peak District: Hong Kong is a city of incredible vistas, and the best place to take it all in is Victoria Peak, the highest point, amidst one the city’s most exclusive neighborhoods. The best viewing area is Sky Terrace 428, sitting 428 meters (more than a quarter of a mile) above sea level; there is a paid entry, and crowds, but the views are amazing, particularly at night. Combine this with a ride on the historic tram. Top Tip: The tram line is long for entry to the way up; we recommend taking a taxi up and tram on the way down to avoid waiting in line twice. 

Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery / Chi LiN Nunnery / Nan Lian Garden: For a “zen” day, pay a morning visit to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery and then head to Chi Lin Nunnery / Nan Lian Garden for a peaceful vegetarian lunch. The Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery is a misnomer, as first, there are no monks there anymore and second, there are nearly 13,000 Buddha statues. Carefully make your way from Sha Tin Station (Be alert: the path is not very well marked), then there is a steep climb of 400 steps, trimmed on either side with shiny gold Buddhas in a mix of poses; as you crest the top there’s a dramatic red temple, and a soothing waterfall.  

The monastery was founded by Yuet Kai in 1951, but after his death in 1965 it lost popularity and now is a well-maintained tourist sight with a vegetarian restaurant. Skip eating there and hop back on the MTR to Diamond Hill for a visit to the Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden, a peaceful oasis, despite being in a busy part of the city. Eat at the Chi Lin Vegetarian, which sits under a waterfall in the middle of the park. If you have the energy visit the nunnery, but we preferred to just wander through the well-manicured garden with Asian pavilions.

Ocean Park is set on the edge of the water and most rides offer spectacular views of Hong Kong or the sea. Seen here is a Gondola ride at the park.

Ocean Park: A hybrid zoo / aquarium / theme park, Ocean Park was a definite highlight of our trip. The rides are old-school sweet (think: small roller coasters, large swings, log flumes, Ferris wheels), but what sets Ocean Park apart is that it is set on the edge of the water and most rides offer spectacular views of Hong Kong or the sea. Not to be missed are the adorable pandas in Panda Adventure and the gondola ride for sweeping park and city views. Ocean Park can easily be done in a day; best way to get there is by the MTR. Arrive at 10 a.m. opening if you can to avoid long lines. Note: There is also a Disneyland in Hong Kong, which we opted not to do as we have been to the one in the U.S., but it is well reviewed.

Star Ferry/Light Show/Ladies Market: Cross Victoria Harbor at night to Kowloon on the Star Ferry, the boat service that has been transporting people between the Hong Kong islands since 1888. The skyline views are stunning, especially in the evening, and every night at 8 p.m. there is a spectacular (and free) Light Show, which is best seen from the Kowloon side. From there head to the Ladies Market, a jumble of more than 100 market stalls selling all kinds of souvenirs, handbags, clothes, etc., mostly knock-offs of well-known brands. Be prepared to bargain, as is the custom in Hong Kong. My daughter wanted a backpack and she genuinely could not make up her mind; while she hemmed and hawed, the seller kept lowering the price and we saved about 60 percent.

Dining: Dumplings, noodles, dim sum, Peking duck, crispy beef, these are just some of the many delights of Hong Kong cuisine that are child friendly. One of our favorite was Paradise Dynasty, on Percival Street in Causeway Bay, famous for its rainbow-colored bao, a dumpling filled with soup and meat, fish or veg. Here the fillings correspond with the color and come looking like a painter’s palette; you can watch them being made in the front entrance. It’s a gimmick, but a tasty one that we all enjoyed.  

With locations across Asia and even in the U.S., Din Tai Fung, has four restaurants in Hong Kong, one of which was the first-ever Taiwanese restaurant to be awarded a Michelin-star. All are busy with a mix of locals and tourists enjoying dumplings, noodles, stir fry and other traditional dishes, everything fresh and flavorful. Peking duck is a must in Hong Kong. After sampling a few, our favorite was Peking Garden in the Pacific Place shopping center.

A Premium Family Room at The Park Lane Hong Kong, a Pullman Hotel comes with three beds and views of the park.

Where to Stay: Centrally located, across from Victoria Park, and two blocks from the Causeway Bay subway stop, The Park Lane Hong Kong, a Pullman Hotel is a strong choice for families, as after much research, it was the only four-star hotel we found that offers accommodations that can sleep four people in one room. We stayed in a Premium Family Room which had view of the park, and three beds: a queen, a sofa bed and a twin. The hotel also offers a Family Room with two queen beds.  

The hotel has a rooftop bar, Skye, on the 27th floor, a great fitness room, plus a grab-and-go café, and many other places for shopping and dining just out the front door. There were always at least two concierges on duty to assist with dining reservations, attractions, tickets and the like. Best Perk: The Family Room comes with a “Freedy Phone,” a Samsung mobile that is loaded with a Hong Kong guide app, Google Maps and Chrome, plus local calls — all to use for free as you travel around Hong Kong.  

Best Times to Visit: Winter through spring; summer months can be rather humid and hot.

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