Hong Kong
Hong Kong Island
Ocean Park (Aberdeen) - Ocean Park/Middle Kingdom is many places in one and always a favorite thing for kids to do in Hong Kong. Ocean Park is a large oceanarium that includes Marine Land with a huge shark aquarium and atoll reef, Lowlands Gardens with pandas, a butterfly house and goldfish pagoda, Headlands amusement park with roller coaster rides, and a spectacular cable car ride.
Next to Ocean Park is Middle Kingdom (free with admission to Ocean Park), a recreation of the history of China. There are replicas of Chinese temples, shrines, palaces and street scenes. Don't miss traditional Chinese dance, juggling, and acrobats.If it's a hot day, bring your swim suits and cool off in Water World, a water park with water slides, wave pool and play area for little kids close to Ocean Park. Central Market - Central Market on Queen's Road West (at Queen Victoria Street) is chock full of fruits and vegetables, fish and poultry stalls. Passing by the fruit stalls, you may encounter the ripe pungent smell of the durian fruit and other exotic Asian fruits. The poultry stalls do have live animals that are killed on site; depending on your kids, this could be fascinating or revolting, or both.
Peak Tram - Take the Peak Tram up Victoria Peak. Once at the top, if it's a clear day, you'll have a spectacular view of Hong Kong. To stretch those legs, walk to the top of Victoria Peak (Che Kai Shan) on Mt. Austin Rd.
Close to the Peak Tram Terminus are the Zoological and Botanical Gardens (zoo gets a negative review), and Hong Kong Park, which has a children's playground and aviary and waterfalls. Pak Tai Temple (Wan Chai) - This Taoist temple is dedicated to Pak Tai, a legendary warrior who vanquished the Prince of Evil and threw him out of heaven. Don't miss the side room where you watch people making paper models of things that a dead person would need for the afterlife. These paper models are very modern, including electronics, cars, and money.
Noon Day Gun (Causeway Bay) - Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay - Hong Kong is no longer a British colony, but the Noon Day Gun is still fired at noon (set your watches by it.)
Law Uk Folk Museum (Chai Wan) - This museum is housed in a 200 year old village house, with scenes of rural Hakka Chinese village farm life.
Hiking - Hong Kong Island has two large country parks, Tai Tam Country Park and Aberdeen Country Park. Both parks have easy trails that wind through the hills with great views of the city and sea, as well as nature trails with information on the local plants, picnic tables and children's play areas.
Tram or bus ride around the island - If you don't feel like hoofing it around Hong Kong Island, take the tram from Kennedy Town, through Central and Causeway Bay to Shau Kei Wan on the eastern side of the island. You can hop on and off to see things along the way. Or, take a double decker bus ride all the way around the island, with spectacular views of the bays and mountains.
Beaches - There are good swimming beaches at Repulse Bay and Stanley, staffed with lifeguards in summer. The beach at Repulse Bay has wonderful plaster statues of Chinese deities and mythical figures.
