Cars run back and forth from inconspicuous places on the road; people yell at each other in Cantonese; and all of a sudden, the clink of your metal spoon at the Cha Chan Ting takes on new meaning, like a cymbal eagerly welcoming the next customer before you’ve even finished your meal.
There will come a day when Hong Kong is just a little overwhelmed. There will come a day when we just long for a little more serenity than what is offered. This one is especially for introverts or those who want a little space in the crowd; it’s our guide to Hong Kong – finding peace in a busy place.
Victoria’s Secret
The highest mountain on Hong Kong Island, the Peak is a must-see for any traveler while in Hong Kong. However, during peak hours (no pun intended) between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., the wait for a tram ticket to the summit can be over 2 hours.
Introvert’s Guide – Hong Kong-3
To avoid long waits and crowds and enjoy the sunset at the Peak, we recommend that you use the Uber instead (a 10-minute ride from the ticket counter is estimated at less than HK$100).
At the Peak, most visitors will pay to climb to the Peak Sky Tower for an unobstructed view of the Hong Kong skyline. We recommend the scenic and lesser-known alternative of taking Lugard Road along the left side of the tower. The route is a bit difficult to navigate, but the reward is calm and peaceful, with only the occasional dog walker breaking the silence.
Antique stores and old jewelry
The Hollywood Road neighborhood is a great place to find these alleys. While it does have stores that sell dusty antiques, I prefer to visit random stalls in the middle of the alley or stores with more open concept storefronts (less daunting to browse and less likely for me to actually have to talk to the store owner).
If you like to spend your time trying on jade rings and flipping through vintage posters, then this is the place to go. Luckily, we stayed at the Madeira Hollywood Hotel just a few minutes away, so running my fingers over the half-used stone coasters and admiring the paintings was a daily ritual for me.
Location: Hollywood Road
Hong Kong is made up of many islands, and believe it or not, Lantau Island is the biggest of them all (even bigger than Hong Kong Island)!
There are various ways to get to Lantau Island, but taking the Ngong Ping 360 from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping will give you a panoramic view of the mountains of Lantau Island that you might otherwise miss. The queue for tickets can be ridiculous, so it’s best to skip the queue and get your tickets in advance (it’s cheaper too)!
