We ended up at Tung Chung after taking the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car from the top of the mountain back down to the sea.
Ashley took us to the popular Bakehouse to get their famous sourdough pastry. It was SOOOO good!
We then took the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) to the financial center of Hong Kong. The MTR is a major public transport network that serves Hong Kong. There is 152 miles of rail with 179 stations. The MTR boasts a 99.9% on-time rate and it is wildly cheap to ride!
[Luke is amazed!]
We walked through the Financial District along the pedestrian footbridges. These raised footbridges are some of the most extensive walkway systems in the world. They connect high-rise buildings, so that you don't have to walk on the street.
[Some of the super cute street cable cars! They are so skinny!]
Ashley then took us to Yum Cha for some authentic Cantonese Dim Sum. Everything was delicious!
After lunch we continued our walk through Hong Kong. We walked by the Good Spring Company Limited which is an old shop that provides genuine Chinese medicine and herbal tea. They have been in business in this neighborhood for four generations. Ashley told us that if you are feeling ill you go to one of these shops and they will provide a regimen for you.
We then visited a 72 year old tea shop, Mee Heung Chuen Tea Co. Ashley told us about the history of tea and the differences between all the various types. The store carries over 100 types of loose leaf teas and some are over 50 years old!
Have you ever seen bamboo scaffolding?! According to Ashely, Hong Kong is one of the last places in the world that uses bamboo for scaffolding in construction. It was wild to see some of the skyscrapers covered in bamboo!
Ashley then took us to see and ride the Central-Mid-Levels Escalator. This is the longest outdoor escalator system in the world and it's a nice way to get around the city.
[Hollywood Rd]
We walked around the mid-levels and its hilly terrain for a while longer before hailing a cab to take us up to Victoria Peak. Instead of going to the very crowded "Peak Tower" we walked along the mountainside to the Lugard Road Lookout.
Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the world AND has the most skyscrapers* in the world.
*A skyscraper is a high-rise building that has over 40 floors and is taller than 492 feet.
Hong Kong has 563 skyscrapers while New York City (third place) has 319!
Hong Kong is one of the world's most significant financial centers (behind New York City and London) and has the largest number of "ultra high-net-worth individuals." So, yeah, there's a lot of money here!
The tall building toward the right side of the picture is the International Finance Center (IFC) and it was featured in The Dark Knight movie!
And the super tall building on the other side of the bay is the International Commerce Center. It is the tallest building in Hong Kong (108 floors).
After taking in the view we walked over to the Peak Tram. This tram opened in 1888 and was used exclusively by the British Governor and The Peak's residents. But now anyone can ride! It is the steepest funicular railway in the world and has a maximum steepness of 48%!
Each row has a foot rest in front of it, so you can brace yourself as the tram makes the steep descent!
From the Peak Tram station, we walked pass the nearby Hong Kong park, through parts of the Central walkway, and stepped into St. John's Cathedral. This is the oldest Anglican church in Hong Kong. It's presence is very unique as it sits on Government Hill overlooking the financial district.
We then had a leisure walk around “bank street”, where we were surrounded by some of the most influential businesses. Here we could experience how the city’s profound believing in “Feng Shui” would be practiced in everyday life. Walking around the HSBC Headquarters Building, we met the two biggest celebrities in town - Stephen and Stitt, the two lion statues that have been watching out in front of the Hong Kong bank since 1935. And we learned a brief history behind them, while soaking up some of the Feng Shui vibes in this financial hub.
[Bullet holes and shrapnel damage from the Battle of Hong Kong]
[Gotta have an Apple Store]
As our tour with Ashley was coming to a close, we hopped aboard the Star Ferry and headed over to the Kowloon District. The Star Ferry is the OG transportation system in Hong Kong that's been cruising across Victoria Harbour for over a century.
[Former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower]
Once we landed in Kowloon, we took a quick double decker bus along Nathan Rd. In the late 19th century, Nathan Road had humble beginnings as a quiet residential street. Named after Sir Matthew Nathan, the 13th Governor of Hong Kong, it went from zero to commercial hero, attracting shops, businesses, and hordes of locals and tourists. Today, it's the vibrant beating heart of the Kowloon Peninsula, brimming with energy, diverse offerings, and more shops, restaurants, and tons of hotels.
Ashley showed us were we are going to meet our next tour guide, Benny, for our nighttime food tour and then she dropped us off at a cafe where we could relax for an hour. So, if you are keeping track, Ashley was with us from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM for our ALL DAY Hong Kong and Lantau Island tours! She is a trooper and I can't praise her more! She is extremely knowledgable, very patient, and is a fast walker! We saw and experienced everything we wanted to and Ashley worked with me for months leading up to our trip to make sure this tour was perfect. I really can't say enough nice things about her! So if you are heading to Hong Kong and want an awesome, local tour guide please reach out to her and tell her I sent you!
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