Family Trip Guide to Hong Kong and Macau, September 5-10, 2016
Points to note in public places in Hong Kong: 1. Always stand on the right on escalators. Hong Kong people have a fast-paced lifestyle, so even on escalators, most people walk. It's striking how many office workers walk briskly on the left side. 2. Hong Kong was once ruled by the British, so driving is on the left. 3. Eating in public places is strictly prohibited, including on all forms of transport. 4. Littering or spitting in public is illegal, with a fixed penalty of HK$1,500. Activating overseas data roaming on Alipay: 1. Upon arrival, turn off 4G. 2. Go to Settings → More Networks → Mobile Network → Network Mode select 3G/2G → Choose Operator → Enable Data Roaming. Operators: China Mobile Hong Kong: CMHK/China Mobile HK, SmarTone: SMT/SmarTone, Macau Telecom: CTM.
September 5 (Monday): 1. Flight to Hong Kong; Outbound: CZ3075 (8:15-10:25). 2. From Hong Kong Airport to Macau: Hong Kong Airport to Macau Taipa Ferry Terminal (air-to-sea transfer): → Arrive at Hong Kong International Airport → Go to the Cotai Water Jet counter at Level 5, E2 of Terminal 1 (no immigration clearance needed) → Exchange for ferry tickets and submit airline luggage tags → Take the automated people mover to SkyPier and board the Cotai Water Jet ferry to Macau → Upon arrival at Macau pier, complete Macau immigration and collect luggage at the designated area → Arrive at Taipa Ferry Terminal; after customs, there are free shuttle buses directly to the entrance of The Venetian Macau. 3. Macau: Walk out of The Venetian main entrance → Head to City of Dreams (right next door) → Take the free shuttle bus to Macau Tower (runs every 30 minutes). Accommodation: The Venetian. Activities: Macau Tower, Gondola rides at The Venetian. Exchange location: Gondola Gift and Ticket Shop at The Grand Canal Shoppes, The Venetian Macau (Shop No. 832 or 891). Operating hours: 11:00-22:00 (latest exchange before 20:45).
September 6 (Tuesday): 1. First, buy food for Disneyland breakfast on the 7th. 2. From The Venetian Macau to Hong Kong Disneyland: Free shuttle from The Venetian → Macau-Hong Kong Ferry Terminal → Sheung Wan Macau Ferry Terminal → Walk (5-8 minutes) → MTR Hong Kong Station → Sunny Bay Station → Disneyland Resort Line → Disneyland. 3. Stay at Disney's Hollywood Hotel. Activities: Disneyland. Tickets scanned at entrance. Food: For cheaper options, Rocket Restaurant; mid-range, Riverside Restaurant. Disneyland: FastPass (FASTPASS) items: 1) How FP works: Insert your ticket into the FP machine near the ride entrance, FP pops out along with your ticket. You must ride during the specified time. During that period, your ticket cannot get other FPs. Take the FP, go elsewhere, then return at the scheduled time to use the fast lane. Keep your ticket safe. 2) Four rides offer FASTPASS: Space Mountain (Tomorrowland), Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (Tomorrowland), Winnie the Pooh (Fantasyland), The Lion King Festival (Adventureland) (subject to change; check the park schedule). Ride descriptions:
1. Main Street, U.S.A.: Must-do: Disney飞天巡游 (Disney Paint the Night Parade). Starts from Fantasyland's story theater, floats rise high at certain spots, ends on Main Street. Exclusive to Hong Kong Disneyland. Prepare sunscreen if sunny. Starts around 15:30, lasts about 30 minutes. Must-do: 'Disney in the Stars' fireworks. Starts at 20:00 or 21:00 above Sleeping Beauty Castle, with scenes from famous movies. Fireworks last 10 minutes. Announcements every few minutes before. Best to ask the time and stand early to see projections on the castle; children behind may not see. Leave before the end (around 6-7 minutes) to avoid crowds.
2. Tomorrowland: Must-do: Space Mountain. Indoor roller coaster with sharp turns and drops in the dark. (Tip: Intense; caution for young children and elderly.) Similar to a combination of a small coaster and a crazy mouse. Then try Autopia: drive small electric convertibles on a track, similar to slow go-karts. Must-do: Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (FP). Ride a star cruiser with Buzz, rotate 360°, use laser cannon to shoot enemies. Fun. Also, 'It's a Small World' with Stitch: interactive show, Stitch is very cute and talkative. Performances in Cantonese, Mandarin, English. Check times at the entrance; not listed on park maps.
3. Fantasyland: Must-do: Mickey's PhilharMagic. 4D movie with Donald Duck leading through Disney animation. Visual, audio, smell, touch experiences. Showtimes (12:45, 13:45, 16:00, 17:00, 18:15). Must-do: It's a Small World: boat ride through 30 countries in 7 continents with hundreds of dolls in traditional costumes, including Disney characters. Must-do: Mad Hatter Tea Cups: spin in giant teacups, speed controllable. Must-do: Fantasy Gardens: best place to take photos with Disney characters, but queues.
4. Toy Story Land: Must-do: RC Racer. Most thrilling ride: ride Andy's remote control car on a 27m U-shaped track. Must-do: Toy Soldier Parachute Drop: parachutes up and down, great views including Victoria Harbour on clear days. Straight up and down. (Tip: Intense rides; caution for young children and elderly.)
5. Adventureland: Must-do: Mystic Manor. Ride in a Mystic Manor electromagnetic car, similar to bumper cars, seats 6, rotates 360°, uses 36 projectors for cinema-level effects, 5 minutes. Must-do: Fantasy Gardens. 3D optical illusion sculptures, great for photos. Adventureland - Jungle Theater - Show: 'The Lion King Festival'. For simplified Chinese subtitles, sit in last 6 rows. Showtimes: 12:00, 14:00, 16:30, 18:00. Professional actors and singers. Stage with lifts, dreamy lighting.
6. Grizzly Gulch: Must-do: Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars. 1.1km track, longest and wildest ride in Hong Kong Disneyland, 3 minutes. Speeds through mining town and Grizzly Gulch. Reverses at the highest point. Unique experience – ride multiple times. Must-do: Geyser Gulch: unpredictable water sprays; water fight fun; possible rainbows. Jungle River Cruise: humorous captain's commentary; attractions and 'animals' along the way appealing to kids. Rafts and Tarzan's Treehouse: take a raft to visit Tarzan's home. Treehouse is less than 50 meters from shore, but need to queue for raft.
Food: (Tomorrowland) Rocket Restaurant: burgers, fried chicken, salads, sundaes. Comet Café: Hong Kong-style BBQ, stir-fries, noodles. (Fantasyland) Clopin's Festival of Foods: Chinese-style BBQ, soups, noodles. Royal Banquet Hall: international cuisine including American BBQ, Japanese, Chinese dim sum, steamed rice, special rice dishes. (Adventureland) Explorer's Club Restaurant: South Asian cuisine including vegetarian and halal options. Riverside Restaurant: set meals or à la carte Southeast Asian or Chinese food. (Mystic Manor) Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars (restaurant not listed; probably a typo: Adventureland's restaurant is 'The Explorer's Club'? Actually listed as '大冒险家餐厅' in original – The Adventures Club, but in English known as 'The Explorer's Club'? For accuracy: The Adventurers' Club: Korean, Japanese, South Asian, Indonesian cuisine.
September 7 (Wednesday): 1. Disneyland. 2. Afternoon, take hotel free shuttle from Hong Kong Kowloon Hotel to MTR Disneyland Resort Station → Take Disney line to Sunny Bay (1 stop) → cross platform to take Tung Chung line → to Lai King, change to Tsuen Wan line → to Tsim Sha Tsui, Exit E. 3. Victoria Harbour, Avenue of Stars.
1) Symphony of Lights. Even if you've seen many shows, don't miss this. The stage is Victoria Harbour, actors are skyscrapers. Every 20:00, over 40 buildings with lighting and lasers on music, 'World's Largest Permanent Light and Music Show' (Guinness). Five themes: 'Awakening', 'Energy', 'Heritage', 'Co-Creation', 'Celebration'. Free. Best viewing: Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and Wan Chai Golden Bauhinia Square. Broadcast in Putonghua on Tues, Thurs, Sat; Cantonese on Sun.
2) Avenue of Stars. Wear sunglasses – there are shining stars and bright harbour. Film-themed with over 100 plaques of handprints and signatures. 'Sign' and 'shake hands' with stars. Bronze statues of Bruce Lee and McDull. Monthly performances: about 30 shows. Great for harbour view, especially during Symphony of Lights at 20:00.
3) Victoria Harbour Cruise. Join a harbour tour on a sightseeing boat or Chinese junk to experience the harbour's energy from a new angle.
4) Star Ferry. A must: National Geographic Traveler lists it as '50 places of a lifetime'. Take the Star Ferry across the harbour. Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier: from Tsim Sha Tsui East MTR Exit L6, walk along Salisbury Road towards Clock Tower (5 min). Central Star Ferry Pier: from Hong Kong Station Exit A2 or Central Exit A, walk along Man Yiu Street (10-15 min). Wan Chai Star Ferry Pier: from Wan Chai Exit A1, walk via footbridge towards Hong Kong Convention Centre, then along Harbour Road to Convention Avenue (15 min).
September 8 (Thursday): 1. Cheung Chau Island. 1) How to get there: From Central MTR Exit A, turn right, go up footbridge, walk straight to Central Pier. Pier 5 for Cheung Chau. Two types of ferries: ordinary (slower) and fast. Ordinary takes 45 min, fare HKD 18.4 on Sun & public hols, 12.6 on weekdays. Upper deck add HKD 7. Can go to open deck at stern. Fast ferry about 30 min, fare 24.6 weekday, 35.3 holiday. Every 30 min. 2) Local transport: Bicycle rental along Praya Street, hourly or daily, tens of dollars. Best way to explore island (midland, hills, seafood restaurants). Also trishaws. Good for families. 3) Breakfast: Several shops near Pier 5 ticket office selling dim sum, cheaper than Mong Kok. E.g., siu mai 3 HKD for 5 pieces, cheap rice noodle rolls with sauces. 4) Lunch/Dinner: Seafood set meals for groups; compare prices as they vary by restaurant and menu (e.g., shrimp, mantis shrimp, lobster from 168 to 248). Ask about fish type and size. After pier, turn right along Tai Hing Praya Road for large seafood restaurants; left along Sun Hing Praya Road for several others. 5) Afternoon tea: Western-style cafes on Tai Hing Praya Road, fruit bars. Street snack: sugar onion pancake (handmade, 6 HKD) – sweet and savory. Supermarkets near pier. 6) Exploring Cheung Chau: Island shape like '人' character. Suggested: morning hike the '捺' part, afternoon cycle the '撇'. Walk from pier right along Praya Street into residential area: Hung Shing Temple - Cheung Chau Church - School Road - Kwan Kung Pavilion - Cheung Chau Sports Ground - Kwun Yam Wan Road - Kwun Yam Temple - Ming Fai Road - Youth Outing School - Seaview Pavilion - Chi Ma Hang Road - 'Little Great Wall' - Siko Road - Cheung Chau Sports Ground - Mark Six outlet - Praya Street. Scenery includes mountain paths, rocks, flowers, beach, temples, camping ground, luxury homes, residential buildings. Kwun Yam Wan has windsurfers. Chi Ma Hang beach: pitted rocks. Visit Kwun Yam Temple for fortune sticks or buy Mark Six for fun. Near Kwan Kung Pavilion, a house has a large cherry tree imported from Taiwan in 1975.
September 9 (Friday): 1. Hong Kong Science Museum. Transport: 1) Tsim Sha Tsui East Station 1 stop, take West Rail Line to Hung Hom (Exit D6). 2) Tsim Sha Tsui Station (Exit E) take Tsuen Wan Line to Jordan (Exit D). Admission: HKD 25. Opening hours: Mon-Tue-Wed-Fri 10:00-19:00, Sat-Sun & public hols 10:00-21:00. Closed Thurs (except public hols), Lunar New Year's Day & second day. Christmas Eve & Lunar New Year's Eve close at 17:00. Ticket office closes 1 hour before. Science demonstrations: 10:30 Liquid Nitrogen, 11:30 Flying Toys, 13:30 Artificial Clouds, 14:30 Transportation, 15:30 Artificial Clouds, 16:30 Molecular Gastronomy, 17:30 Liquid Nitrogen.
2. The Peak. 1) MTR + Peak Tram: Central Station Exit J2, walk via Chater Garden to Garden Road Peak Tram Terminal, take tram to The Peak. Recommended to have Octopus card. 2) Bus 15C + tram: From Central Star Ferry Pier take bus 15C to Garden Road Peak Tram Terminal. 3) Bus 15: From Central Star Ferry Pier via Admiralty, Wan Chai to Peak Bus Terminal, then walk. 4) Mini-bus 1: From International Finance Centre 2 to Peak, then walk.
September 10 (Saturday): 1. From Hong Kong Kowloon Hotel to Hong Kong Airport: Options and costs: 1) Taxi: HKD 225. 2) Hotel shuttle: HKD 130. 3) Airport Express: HKD 90. 4) Bus: HKD 40 (Bus A21, fare HKD 39; luggage on lower deck, can sit upstairs; safe; display shows luggage). Taxi around 300, not recommended. Airport Express 50-60, fast and convenient. 2. Flight to Wuhan: CZ3076 (11:25-13:20).
