It’s easy to visit Hong Kong and never run out of things to do. The city beckons you every which way with tempting activities. But if you’re looking for something a little off the beaten path of nightlife, top-rated restaurants, and tourist attractions, you’re not alone. No one wants to do only what everyone else is doing, so, we’ve put together some of the items that should be on your to-do list on your next visit.
Visit Ocean Park
Even though Hong Kong has their own version of Disneyland, Ocean Park performs much better commercially and is a superior equivalent. The theme park is not only fun but an educational, highly-interactive mix of rides and sea creature attractions.
You’ll learn about jellyfish, courtesy of a futuristic voyage. There are plenty of roller coasters, gondolas, and all sorts of excitement. If you’re going with kids, you absolutely must visit Ocean Park.
Check out the Symphony of Lights show on the Star Ferry
Hong Kong’s Symphony of Lights show is a sight that must be seen to be believed, and there’s no better way to experience it than on the Star Ferry. Watch Hong Kong’s sky light up with flashes and pulses, beams of light and music, in what looks like a spectacular futuristic display of fireworks on another planet. Interacting with about 50 of Hong Kong’s largest and most already-impressive skyscrapers, the show lasts about 14 minutes, but the experience will leave you amazed much, much longer than that.
While it can be enjoyed from just about anywhere, the Star Ferry is ideal because the guides not only know the best spots to stop but do so deliberately to allow you to take in the wonder.
Have a blast at Happy Valley Racecourse
While this destination is technically a racecourse for horses, it’s really more of a giant festival every Wednesday. Thousands of local Hong Kongers come to Happy Valley Racecourse to enjoy beer, hot dogs, and generally, enjoy themselves. The surrounding skyline provides a beautiful elliptical around the track, and the experience of enjoying a mutual activity with Hong Kong residents is a magical feeling.
Enjoy a little unusual fun with a zombie shoot-out in Tsim Sha Tsui
If you’re looking for something truly different, it doesn’t get any stranger than shooting zombies in a hyperreal environment in Tsim Sha Tsui at Sandbox VR. While it sounds downright bizarre, it’s actually a ton of fun. The concept is this: you enter into an escape room which is augmented by virtual reality, using hardware guns to fight your way with a team through hordes of zombies and escape. (There are other themes available, too.)
Combining Hong Kong’s love for technology, gaming, and the recent craze of escape rooms, it’s a truly different experience, and the world’s first such virtual escape room. For extra fun, try teaming up with Hong Kong residents. There’s nothing better than joining in with locals in an activity that shares the world’s common language—fun!