Overview

Note: These tips are specific to my experience living at HKUST. Some of these places might be far if you’re just in HK for a little bit and are staying in the downtown area of Hong Kong.

Transportation

Octopus Card – Magical card that you can load money onto and use for the subway and buses, at 7/11, and even at stores like Uniqlo.

MTR (subway) – Hong Kong has an AMAZING subway system. The trains run every 2 min or so, so you’re rarely waiting at a station. It’s super clean and runs all day and night except 1am-6am (I don’t remember exactly). There’s wifi and 7/11 at stations. The signs will tell you which exit to take for certain landmarks. And you can get pretty much anywhere via the MTR.

Taxi – I got scammed on one of my first nights in HK, so be aware of how much it should cost you for a ride, and if the driver asks for more, then find a different taxi. There are three different colored taxis, and they will go to different areas. It should cost about 160 HKD from Central to HKUST (if I remember correctly).

Uber – Yes, this exists in HK.

Buses – The cheapest way to get between HKUST and the airport.

Outdoors

Note: hikehongkong.blogspot.com was my holy grail when doing research on hikes. Amazingly clear instructions and photos. Hmu if you want more info on how to get to these places.

Lion’s Rock – My FAVORITE hike because of the views. Go in the afternoon before sunset on a clear day (important!) so you can watch the sunset at the top and then hike down as the city lights turn on. Or stay up there until it gets dark and bring a flashlight for your way down. It took a couple hours roundtrip and was pretty tiring, but SO WORTH IT. There’s also a song about this place because it’s symbolic to Hong Kong people.

Dragon’s Back to Big Wave Bay – Also important to go on a clear day because I did not and literally just looked at fog the whole time. The best part was the end when you get to Big Wave Bay, which is a beach that people can surf at (I wish I did). Feels so good to swim here after you’ve been hiking.

Sai Kung – Beach/fishing town that’s only a 20-minute bus ride from HKUST. You can rent kayaks here for 50 HKD on a weekday or 100 HKD on a weekend (whole day rental) and explore the islands that are just off the coast (watch out for wild dogs though).

Sai Wan – Camping on the beach and cliff jumping! We got a massive crew of 30-40 people to camp at Ham Tin Beach, built a huge bonfire, and drank the night away. It’s a trek to get here, but one of the most memorable experiences from the semester. Cliff jumping was a separate trip to Sai Wan, which is one of the most beautiful spots in Hong Kong.

More hikes: Tai Po (waterfalls), Lantau Peak (really difficult, didn’t do it), Maclehose Trail (Lion Rock and Sai Wan are part of this really long trail that traverses across HK).

Nightlife

7/11 – The MVP of the semester. They have everything.

Lan Kwai Fong – Aka the one and only LKF located at Central. Poppin’ no matter what day of the week. Many streets of bars and clubs. People just hang out on the street and drink too—if only this were allowed in the U.S. Lots of exchange students and expats. Ladies’ night on Thursdays (free drinks).

Play & Levels – Two clubs in the same building. What’s a night out to LKF if you don’t end up at Play by the end? Top 40 music, fun dancing, sometimes free drinks for gals at Levels. But Play is better.

Ce La Vie – Rooftop bar with nice views and ambiance.

Foxglove – Speakeasy that looks like an umbrella shop from the outside but it’s a bar with live jazz.

001 – Another speakeasy. So cool but hard to find. It’s down a random alley.

Rula Bula – Lit on St. Patty’s day because it’s an Irish pub/bar.

Chocolate Bar – Got some interesting sweet drinks.

Social Room – More chill and smaller, in a random building. Underground DJs and that kinda scene.

Amphitheater – Outdoor public space that’s good for pregaming or just hanging out between bar-hopping.

Other clubs/bars: Volar, Dragon-I, Fly, The China Bar, Stormies, Iron Fairies

Explore this area because there are so many more bars and clubs that I didn’t mention! Soho is also within walking distance if you’re looking for something classier.

Red Bar – Rooftop bar/patio area located at the top of an upscale shopping mall (IFC) in Central. You can BYOB and pregame before walking over to LKF.

Wan Chai – The place to be if you want to go out on a Wednesday. Night usually starts with Wong’s then the horse races at Happy Valley and then Wan Chai. Free entrance and drinks for gals at Typhoon and Carnegie’s but guys gotta pay a cover. You can dance on the bar at Carnegie’s haha. Watch your phone when in Wan Chai b/c people have had theirs stolen.

Ned Kelly’s Last Stand – Old, classic bar in TST. Fun with a small group for a more chill night out and if you like live jazz. The guys in the band are hella old but in an adorable way and it’s dope that they still love to play even though they’ve probably been doing it for a long time.

Wooloomooloo (Wan Chai) and Sugar are both rooftop bars that I didn’t go to but have heard good things. Ozone Bar is famous for being the tallest rooftop bar in Asia or something, but I didn’t go because I heard it wasn’t worth the money. But if you do go, go on a clear day so you can get a good view.

Other

Tai O – LOVE THIS PLACE. YOU GOTTA GO. Fishing village on Lantau Island known for its picturesque stilt houses. It’s a whole other world. Really cool to see a place where people get around by boat and make a living through fishing. There’s an “infinity pool” that’s kinda illegal to swim in because it’s a reservoir but DOPE views. I recommend a café called Solo. We got this really good lemon/orange shrimp (or maybe it was chicken, I don’t remember). They have a nice back porch where you can sit and look at stilt houses and the mountains.

Sheung Wan/Central – Hip n artsy district—really cool. Lots of cafes and lil shops that are fun to explore. There’s a building called PMQ that has a lot of studios/shops inside.

Chungking Mansions – Don’t even know where to begin. It’s a massive building that houses a random assortment of hostels, restaurants, and mobile phone shops. Definitely not a “nice” landmark, but it’s interesting to explore and see a contrast from the bougie side of HK. Really good naan at this one place on the 2nd Wouldn’t recommend staying at a hostel here though because it’s kinda sketchy. Stayed with a friend here for 2 nights, and it was quite the experience.

Avenue of Stars – Harborside walkway by TST. Amazing view at night of the HK skyline. You can take a ferry (only takes a few min) across to Central for about 2HKD.

Events/Festivals – Art Basel happens in three locations in the world: Switzerland, Miami, and Hong Kong. David Beckham came to HK’s this year, so if you don’t go for the art, go for the soccer (excuse me, football). Also, Dragonland Music Festival is pretty hype I hear. Two of my friends schemed their way in for free by applying for press passes (denied those, but given free tix instead). Wasn’t in town for the Hong Kong Sevens, but apparently rugby is a big deal and it’s basically HK’s gameday/Superbowl/Quidditch World Cup. Dragon Boat Festival will probably be in May, and Tai O has a pretty traditional celebration for it that sounds cool (I was already back in the States rip). Also the Bun Festival is a thing.