Revisiting Hong Kong
It has been about seven or eight years since I last visited Hong Kong. I really wanted to go see it. Due to the different social systems, I always feel a sense of novelty every time I go. In recent years, because of the pandemic and a period of unrest, I never managed to go. This spring, when the weather turned warm, I decided to revisit Hong Kong alone.
On the morning of March 25, I crossed the border from Shenzhen. The immigration procedures for entering Hong Kong are now simpler—just swipe your Mainland-Taiwan-Hong Kong-Macau Permit and scan your fingerprint to pass through, without even interacting with customs officers. The first thing I did after crossing was buy an Octopus card. The card cost 50 HKD, and I loaded 150 HKD. This year, Hong Kong introduced a senior Octopus card for those aged 65 and above, allowing each trip on public transport to cost only 2 HKD. This is a great benefit for the elderly in Hong Kong, where transportation is expensive.
After crossing, I tapped my Octopus card to enter Lok Ma Chau Station and took the East Rail line toward the city. In about an hour, I arrived at Mong Kok East. After a ten-minute walk, I found the hotel I had booked on Nathan Road. I dropped off my luggage and headed straight to Tsim Sha Tsui, where I visited the Hong Kong Museum of History and the Hong Kong Science Museum. Then I took bus 115 to Central Financial Centre Phase 2, transferred to bus 15, and rode directly to the top of Victoria Peak to enjoy the most beautiful panoramic view of Hong Kong.
In the evening, I took the bus down the mountain, passed through Admiralty, and took the Tsuen Wan Line back to Mong Kok. Although hotel rooms in Hong Kong are quite small, they are very clean and have all the necessities. My impression: most Hong Kong people are warm and friendly, and the city is prosperous and stable. Prices are indeed much higher than on the mainland.
The next day, I woke up early and strolled alone along Nathan Road in the Mong Kok area under dim streetlights. Hong Kong people are used to nightlife and wake up late, so there were few pedestrians on the road. Around 8 a.m., I returned to the hotel, checked out, and took the Tsuen Wan Line from Mong Kok Station to Central. Then I walked along the footbridge for 20 minutes to Central Pier 5.
A high-speed ferry to Cheung Chau Island cost 26.8 HKD; with the senior Octopus card, I got a half-price ticket. The boat was nearly full. After 30 minutes, the ferry docked at Cheung Chau Island. Just as in previous visits, I booked a room at a stall by the pier, bargaining orally for a sea-view room at 550 HKD for two consecutive nights. No deposit was required, and there was no additional service. I picked up the key, got a map, and followed the navigation to find the room. Indeed, the room faced the sea, and below the balcony was the beach.
After dropping off my luggage, I started wandering around the island. Cheung Chau Island is located southwest of Hong Kong Island and is the largest of more than 200 outlying islands. The permanent population is about 30,000, most of whom are descendants of fishermen. Having lived side by side for generations, they get along well, with simple customs and mutual support. The environment is beautiful, facilities are complete, and the air is fresh. Except for mini motor vehicles used for transport and small vehicles that carry the elderly to and from hospitals and care homes during designated times and on designated roads, the island has only fire trucks and ambulances that operate in emergencies. No other vehicles emit exhaust, making it a smoke-free island. The air here carries the fresh scent of the sea. Apart from the bustling pier, everywhere is unusually quiet.
I particularly love this island. This is my third visit, and I still haven't tired of it.
By the pier, I met a fellow townsman from Shanghai who had settled in Hong Kong. He was about my age and still working. He told me about his bumpy journey from Shanghai to Hong Kong many years ago and his current life situation, revealing his nostalgia for his hometown. We chatted for a long time about topics like life, retirement, social security, and healthcare. In Hong Kong, men retire at 65. Due to a severe labor shortage, they often continue working in their original positions after retirement or find other jobs. As long as their health allows, Hong Kong people, whether men or women, rarely stay idle.
At noon, I had a good nap. In the afternoon, I put on my swim trunks and went straight into the sea. Most of the swimmers were older Europeans. The seawater was a bit cool but still tolerable. After swimming for an hour, I returned to my room to shower, then went out to rent a bicycle to ride around the island.
In the evening, I enjoyed a seafood set meal: three dishes and one soup for 188 HKD. After dinner, with nothing else to do, I sat by the pier watching the sunset, waiting for the sun to slowly go down.
Life on the island is leisurely and comfortable. Open the window and you see the sea. During the day, watch the tides rise and fall; at night, fall asleep to the sound of waves. I always got up early in the morning and joined the islanders for morning tea. Listening to them speak Cantonese, I couldn't understand, but I loved the atmosphere.
Every morning, after sunrise, the pier grew noisy as large numbers of young people hurriedly boarded ferries to go to work in the city. The island has a market, mainly selling seafood, with many types of fish—some familiar, some not. Vegetables were extremely expensive, at 18-20 HKD per catty. The stall owners could tell I was a tourist and mostly ignored my questions. That's understandable; having seen many tourists, they know visitors won't buy ingredients to cook. I had plenty of time to wander into every corner, but I didn't interact much; most elderly people couldn't understand Mandarin.
Cheung Chau Island was originally two islands, but the sand and stones carried by the sea currents connected them, forming its current dumbbell shape. The middle part is the bustling area, while the two ends are hilly. The front of the island, where the pier is, has many commuter boats and fishing vessels, clearly a working area. On the residential side, the back is a golden beach and dark gray seawater, forming a leisure and vacation area. Many foreigners love to come here for holidays.
I covered the entire island by cycling and walking. Every day, after a midday rest, I would go out to the sea. Under the sunlight, the sea felt especially calm, with waves rhythmically hitting the shore. Though still a bit cool, people still went into the water, enjoying life in their own ways. In the evening, I would sit alone on a rock facing the sea, watching the sun slowly set. There were other tourists like me, sitting alone by the ocean, daydreaming.
The sea surged with waves; the world was torn by war and conflict. But at that moment, my heart was calm. Life is short—how many such peaceful moments can one have?
On the last day, after returning from the island to the city, I stayed near the Avenue of Stars in Kowloon. During the day, I visited the Hong Kong Space Museum and watched a movie at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. I took a small ferry across Victoria Harbour to the Golden Bauhinia Square and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre at Wan Chai Pier.
In the evening, I joined Hong Kong citizens in celebrating on the Avenue of Stars facing Victoria Harbour.
Hong Kong is one of the most beautiful cities in our great motherland. It is a highly prosperous and free international metropolis. No matter how many storms it has weathered, it remains a cherished place in my heart.
