Choose from 356 Fun Things to Do in China
Wangfujing Street
The neighboring Wangfujing Snack Food Street appeals to intrepid tourists and adventurous local eaters. The hundred some food stalls lining this outdoor food market (only open at night) cook and serve a bizarre range of street foods. You’ll find centipedes, star fish, scorpions and honey bees being served alongside sheep innards, candied fruits and other delicacies from around the country. While the offerings may not all sound appetizing, rest assured they are safe, as each stall must meet strict hygienic requirements.
Wan Chai District
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Victoria Peak (Tai Ping Shan)
- Victoria Peak is a must-see for first-time visitors to Hong Kong.
- Wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking on uneven surfaces, especially if you plan to use the nature trails.
- Ride the Peak Tram to the top, or visit as part of a guided tour of Hong Kong.
- Admission lines can take well over an hour on weekend afternoons and public holidays, so it’s best to book ahead.
Suzhou Silk Museum
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Samye Monastery
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Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)
- The Summer Palace is a must-see for history buffs and first-time visitors.
- Wear comfortable shoes; a palace visit involves a lot of walking, some of it over uneven surfaces.
- Book a guided tour to avoid waiting in long entry lines, particularly during high season or Chinese national holidays.
- The main entrances and most palace attractions are wheelchair accessible.
Sai Kung
Besides the food, Sai Kung is also known for having some of the most beautiful beaches in Hong Kong. By day, visitors come to soak up the sun on the beaches lining Clear Water Bay. At night, the waters just off the coast light up with the lanterns of small chartered boats fishing for squid, an activity tourists can participate in as well. If you can pull yourself away from the waters, Sai Kung offers some of the best hiking trails in the greater Hong Kong area.
Symphony of Lights
- The Hong Kong Symphony of Lights is a free, must-see show for all first-time visitors.
- Get the best views by booking a Hong Kong harbor cruise.
- Combine an evening cruise with an afternoon sightseeing tour or hop-on hop-off bus tour.
Star Ferry Pier
While modern transportation allows commuters and travelers to traverse the harbor via tunnels or the subway, riding the Star Ferry is inexpensive and much more scenic, with views of Hong Kong’s famous skyline on either side of the harbor.
Even if you choose not to ride the Star Ferry, it’s still worthwhile to pay a visit to the pier. Head toward the waterfront restaurant on the second floor of the building and turn right to access a public viewing platform for views of Victoria Harbour and the Kowloon side of Hong Kong.
Suzhou Museum
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Sanxingdui Museum
Though mass excavations began in earnest in the early 1930s, it was the unearthing of two sacrificial chambers in 1986 which sent shockwaves through the archeological community. Included amongst the buried relics were ornate and peculiar bronze facial masks dating back nearly three thousand years as well as gold and jade objects which help prove that the Sanxingdui area was the capital of the Ancient Shu kingdom.
All of the relics which are now on display in the museum hold particular cultural, historical and scientific value, and are regarded as some of the finest and most insightful pieces of Sichuan culture ever to be unearthed. In addition to the myriad smaller artifacts discovered at Sanxingdui, larger pieces such as a 12 foot (3.7 meter) tall bronze tree and 8 foot (2.4 meter) tall bronze statue comprise some of the more mystifying and exceptional relics currently on display.
In addition to the treasures themselves an entire section of the Sanxingdui Museum is devoted to the archeological process of locating, removing and caring for objects which are miraculously intact after sitting forgotten for thousands of years. Open to the public since 1997, Sanxingdui Museum is a true cultural treasure set just on the outskirts of modern Chengdu.
Victoria Harbour
- The harbor is a must-see for every first-time visitor.
- Wear comfortable shoes if you’re planning to explore the harbor front on foot.
- Get out on the water with a sightseeing harbour cruise, dinner cruise, or nighttime Symphony of Lights cruise.
- Plan to visit the harbor both during the day and at night.
Tai Mo Shan
- While the hike is generally moderate, some sections can be challenging.
- Remember to bring water and any necessary energy snacks, as the shops are located at the base.
- Comfortable walking shoes are a must.
- The rugged slopes aren’t accessible for wheelchair users; however, a parking lot at 2,723 feet (830 meters) elevation offers sweeping views of the north-west.
Stanley Market
- The market is a must-see for shoppers.
- Stanley Market is an excellent introduction to Hong Kong markets before tackling the Ladies Market or Temple Street night market.
- Haggling is accepted but not expected, and prices are generally fair.
- Many of the vendors speak English.
Stilwell Museum
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Tai O
The fishing village of Tai O, located on the western coast of Lantau Island, is known for its traditional culture and seafaring way of life. Once a bustling trade port, the village features stilt houses, seafood markets, and graded buildings that provide insight into a Hong Kong of the past, while its street food, cafes, and wildlife-watching boat tours keep it a popular destination today.
The Basics
Gain comprehensive insight into Lantau on a tour that visits Tai O alongside other island attractions, including the Big Buddha and Ngong Ping 360. To really keep things hassle free, opt for a coach or private driver; you can also explore the scenic trails of Tai O and beyond on a hiking or walking tour. Optimize your chances of seeing wildlife, including this area’s famous Chinese white dolphins, on a tour that includes a boat trip from Tai O.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Tai O’s unique architecture, culture, and wildlife make it a must for wildlife lovers, photographers, and anyone interested in the territory’s history.
- Tours that offer round-trip transfers are the best bet for wheelchair-users, as the accessibility of public transport in the area can’t be guaranteed. Most local boat tours, for instance, aren’t wheelchair-accessible.
- Remember to bring cash and small change for the markets and street food stalls.
How to Get There
Tours that offer round-trip transfer are typically the most time-efficient way to visit the village. Bus no. 11 serves Tai O from Tung Chung, but that can take well over an hour. Visitors visiting by ferry can take bus no. 1 from Mui Wo Pier on the east side of the island, though this can take up to two hours. Bus no. 21 from Ngong Ping, which takes around 20 minutes, is the preferred route of most tours.
When to Get There
Tai O’s shops and stalls tend to close on rainy days. Weekends, meanwhile, can get very crowded in the village as locals and tourists pack the streets, so aim to visit on a clear weekday. Additionally, Tai O’s sunset views are considered some of the best on the island. Take advantage of tours that offer dinner by dusk—it’s a thoroughly relaxing experience.
Overnight in Tai O
Most people visit Tai O for just a few hours, but nightfall tends to bring an even deeper sense of calm to the picturesque village. For a relatively small area, Tai O is home to a fair range of hotels, hostels, and B&Bs; far from the skyscrapers and city traffic, overnight visitors can gain an entirely different perspective of life in Hong Kong.
Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall
Sun Yat Sen is best known as the father of the Republic of China (Taiwan), but he started his life in Guangzhou prefecture and later became involved with a group of revolutionaries in Hong Kong in the 1890s. After taking part in the First Guangzhou uprising against China’s Qing Dynasty in 1895, Sun spent several years in exile before returning and successfully overthrowing the Qing Dynasty in 1911.
The Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, a large, octagonal structure built in a traditional Chinese style, is primarily used for hosting performances, but the collection of photos and letters from Dr. Sun Yat Sen on display in one of the halls makes it well worth a visit.
Tang Dynasty Dinner Show
The Tang Dynasty (roughly speaking the 7th to 9th centuries AD) was a highpoint in Xian’s long and illustrious history. If you don’t mind forgoing a little historical accuracy in the name of entertainment, the Tang Dynasty Dinner Show offers a nightly song-and-dance gala which evokes the color and spectacle of this golden age.
Traditional instruments set the musical scene, with choreography and costumes reflecting Xian’s openness to outside influence, situated as it was at the end of the Silk Road. Set pieces include the sensual Rainbow Costume Dance and the stirring Warriors’ Triumphal Dance. All of this is dished up with fine Chinese cuisine.
The Tang Dynasty Palace is south of Xian’s City Walls and is served by numerous bus routes. You can have dinner with the show at 6.30, or wait for 8.30 if you just want the show.
Ruins of the Church of St. Paul
Devastated by the blaze all that remains of the Church of St Paul are the 66 stone steps which ascend a steep hill and the intricately carved five-tier façade for which the ruin is now so famous. Carved from granite which was able to withstand the fire, the façade features a panorama of carvings which fuse traditional European Renaissance and Oriental artistic styles. The façade was carved by Japanese Christians escaping religious persecution and was constructed in a classically Baroque style. Images found on the façade include traditional Jesuit scenes from the Bible to Portuguese sailing vessels with billowing sails. The stone lions which flank the third and fourth tiers are representative of the Chinese influence in the construction and design of St. Paul’s.
Behind the façade now sits St Paul’s Museum as well as remnants of the original city walls. Dating to 1569 the naturally formed barriers are formed from a blend of clay, soil, sand, glutinous rice, crushed rocks and small bits of oyster shells.
While viewing the façade from beneath the ruin is reason enough to pay a visit to St Paul’s, many visitors opt to ascend the steel staircase which runs behind the soaring structure. Already perched on a hill overlooking the city, steel staircase allows visitors to peer out the windows of the second-tier for a framed view of the city of Macau which is unlike any other. Be sure to bring a coin to toss into the second-tier window from the staircase—a classic Macanese tradition for bringing good fortune.
Wangjiang Tower Park & Tomb of Wang Jian
- The park and tomb are must-sees for history buffs, literary-minded travelers, and those looking for an escape from the crowds.
- Give yourself 90 minutes to two hours to tour both the park and nearby tomb.
- Wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking over uneven surfaces.
- It’s free to enter the park, but the tomb and a few other structures charge an entrance fee.