First Time Visiting Hong Kong Independently: A Super Complete Travel Guide!
What do you need to prepare for a trip to Hong Kong?
[Documents] You need to bring your ID card and your Exit-Entry Permit for Travel to Hong Kong and Macau (EEP). The EEP requires applying for a Hong Kong visa in advance. After clearing customs, you will receive a landing slip, which you should carry with you at all times in Hong Kong.
[Hong Kong Dollar Exchange] Before departure, exchange Hong Kong dollars at a bank based on your actual needs. Please note that some tea restaurants in Hong Kong do not accept 1,000 HKD banknotes. You can top up your Octopus card after arriving in Hong Kong to break the 1,000 HKD note.
[Transportation] Purchase an "Octopus" card before your Hong Kong trip. This electronic stored-value card can be used to pay fares for various public transport modes in Hong Kong. For independent travelers, this is a must-have. Moreover, besides being accepted on most public transport, the Octopus card can also be used at convenience stores and fast-food chains, making it very convenient.
[Mobile Data] It is recommended to buy a SIM card online first, as it is cheaper than purchasing cross-border data packages through payment apps.
[Charging Plug] Since Hong Kong uses a British standard plug, which is different from mainland China's specification, it is advisable to bring a portable power bank. If you really don't want to, you need to bring a travel adapter.
Where to go and what to buy in Hong Kong?
Take the Island Line to Quarry Bay Station, enter from a small path on the roadside. On one side are high-rise residential buildings, on the other are old-style structures, with a community activity center in the middle. Look up, and you see planes flying overhead among the dense buildings—a truly stunning sight. This is the filming location of Transformers 4: the "Monster Building." Afterwards, take the Kwun Tong Line to Choi Hung Station, Exit C4, turn left, go to the rooftop of the multi-story parking garage (3rd floor) to reach "Choi Hung Estate." As its name suggests, you can see rainbows everywhere. However, as one of the earliest public housing estates in Hong Kong, the exterior walls have faded over the years due to constant exposure to the elements, and the colors are no longer as vibrant as before.
Then take the Kwun Tong Line to "Yau Ma Tei" Station. Yau Ma Tei is closely connected to Mong Kok, and together with Tsim Sha Tsui, they form the bustling "Yau Tsim Mong" district of Kowloon. Here you'll find the Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market, which often appears in Hong Kong TV dramas, as well as Lo Mung Kee Fermented Bean Curd, one of Hong Kong's oldest soy product brands. There are also many historical buildings such as the Yau Ma Tei Theatre, the Yau Ma Tei Pumping Station Staff Quarters (commonly known as the "Red Brick House"), and the Yau Ma Tei Police Station.
Walk along Nathan Road, pass through Parkes Street, and reach Eighteen Seats Doggie Noodles at Ning Po Street in Jordan. The "doggie" here is not the same as the "paparazzi" you might be familiar with; the noodles are named "doggie noodles" because their shape resembles a dog's tail. As a Michelin-recommended street snack, many celebrities have endorsed it. The noodles are made by mixing rice flour with hot water, giving them a much better texture than lai fun—chewy and springy. I added a serving of fried pork fat with pork bone broth, and it was absolutely delicious!
After a 3-minute walk, you'll reach Hong Kong Yuen at Hung Wan Building on Jordan Road to buy souvenirs. Hong Kong Yuen has once again won the "Grand Gold Award" at the Monde Selection this year. In addition to their delicious molten custard mooncakes, their pastries such as butterfly pastries, egg rolls, cookies, and crispy sticks are also outstanding. Each series comes in up to ten flavors, including original and spicy butterfly pastries for those who prefer bold tastes, catering to different palates. The original butterfly pastry and butter crispy cookies are among Hong Kong Yuen's bestsellers, filled with buttery aroma! The pistachio crispy cookies have a rich nutty fragrance; the golden crispy cookies have a deep salted egg yolk flavor; the sesame butterfly pastries are lightly sweet, and the sea salt butterfly pastries are savory and delicious!
After buying souvenirs, walk along Jordan Road for 7 minutes to reach "Temple Street." Stretching from Jordan to Man Ming Lane in Yau Ma Tei, it is Hong Kong's most famous night market, operating from 2:00 PM to the early hours of the next morning. The atmosphere is vibrant with street-side stalls selling affordable goods and traditional dai pai dongs (open-air food stalls) still found here. Many movies have been filmed on this street, so you'll recognize many familiar alleyways and street signs...
