Hong Kong and Macau Family Trip Guide: September 5–10, 2016
Important etiquette in Hong Kong public spaces: 1) Stand on the right side of escalators—Hong Kongers live at a fast pace, so even on escalators most people walk. Many office workers will quickly pass on the left. 2) Hong Kong was once under British rule, so driving is on the left. 3) Eating is absolutely forbidden in public areas, including all forms of transport. 4) Littering or spitting is illegal with a fixed fine of HK$1,500. Activating Alipay overseas data: 1) Upon arrival, turn off 4G. 2) Settings → More Networks → Mobile Network → Network Mode: 3G/2G → Select Operator → Enable Data Roaming. Operators: CMHK/China Mobile HK, SMT/SmarTone, CTM.
September 5 (Monday):
1. Fly to Hong Kong: Flight CZ3075 (8:15–10:25).
2. From Hong Kong Airport to Macau: Hong Kong Airport → Taipa Ferry Terminal (air-to-sea transfer): Arrive at Hong Kong International Airport → Go to the Cotai Water Jet counter at Level 5, E2, Terminal 1 (no immigration needed) → Exchange ferry ticket and submit airline luggage tag → Take the automated people mover to SkyPier → Board Cotai Water Jet to Macau → Clear Macau immigration and collect luggage at the arrival hall → Arrive at Taipa Ferry Terminal; free shuttle bus directly to the Venetian Macao entrance.
3. Macau: Walk out of the Venetian main entrance → Toward City of Dreams (next door) → Take free shuttle to Macau Tower (30-minute intervals).
Stay: The Venetian Macao.
Attractions: Macau Tower, Venetian Gondola ride (ticket exchange: Grand Canal Shoppes, Gondola Gift & Ticket Counter, shops 832/891; hours 11:00–22:00, last ticket exchange before 20:45).
September 6 (Tuesday):
1. Buy breakfast food for Disneyland on the 7th.
2. From Macau Venetian to Hong Kong Disneyland: Venetian free shuttle → Macau Ferry Terminal → Hong Kong Sheung Wan Ferry Terminal → Walk (5–8 min) → MTR Hong Kong Station → Sunny Bay Station → Disneyland Resort Line → Disneyland.
3. Disneyland.
Stay: Hollywood Hotel.
Attractions: Disneyland; entry by QR code scan at gate.
Food: Not recommended to buy meal vouchers. For cheap food: Rocket Restaurant; mid-range: Riverside Tavern.
Disneyland FP (Fastpass) attractions: Space Mountain (Tomorrowland), Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (Tomorrowland), Pooh’s Adventure (Fantasyland), Lion King Festival (Adventureland). (FP projects may change; check the park schedule.)
Must-see: “Disney’s Paint the Night” parade (about 15:30, 30 minutes) and “Starry Dreams” fireworks (20:00 or 21:00, about 10 minutes; leave early to avoid crowd).
Attractions breakdown:
- Tomorrowland: Space Mountain (indoor roller coaster, intense, be cautious for young kids/elderly), Autopia (slow go-kart), Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (FP; 360° spin, laser gun), Stitch Encounter! (interactive show in Cantonese/Mandarin/English; check times at entrance).
- Fantasyland: Mickey’s PhilharMagic (4D movie, shows at 12:45, 13:45, 16:00, 17:00, 18:15), It’s a Small World (boat ride through 30 countries), Mad Hatter Tea Cups (spin cups, speed controllable), Fantasy Gardens (meet Disney characters, queue).
- Toy Story Land: RC Racer (27m U-shaped track, intense), Toy Soldier Parachute Drop (vertical drop, not for faint-hearted; high views, even Victoria Harbour on clear days). Caution: intense rides; young kids/elderly should avoid.
- Adventureland: Mystic Manor (electromagnetic carriage, 6-person, 360° rotation, 5-min journey with 36 projectors; theater-level effects), Gardens of Wonder (3D optical illusion statues, good photo spot), Festival of the Lion King (at Adventureland Theater; shows 12:00, 14:00, 16:30, 18:00; Chinese subtitles in last 6 rows), Jungle River Cruise (funny captain, animals), Raft and Tarzan’s Treehouse.
- Grizzly Gulch: Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars (1.1 km track, 3 minutes, intense, reverses at top; very thrilling), Geyser Gulch (random water sprays, possible rainbow).
- Dining: Tomorrowland: Rocket Restaurant (burgers, chicken, salad), Comet Café (Hong Kong-style BBQ, noodles). Fantasyland: The笑匠欢宴坊 (Chinese BBQ, noodles), Royal Banquet Hall (international buffet). Adventureland: Tahitian Terrace (Southeast Asian, halal), Riverside Tavern (set meals, Southeast Asian/Chinese). Mystic Manor: Explorer’s Club Restaurant (Korean, Japanese, Indonesian).
September 7 (Wednesday):
1. Disneyland.
2. Afternoon: Hotel free shuttle to Disneyland MTR station → Take Disney line (1 stop) to Sunny Bay → Cross platform to Tung Chung line → Lai King, change to Tsuen Wan line → Tsim Sha Tsui exit E.
3. Victoria Harbour / Avenue of Stars:
a) “A Symphony of Lights” – nightly at 20:00, free show with lights and lasers from over 40 buildings. Best view: Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Golden Bauhinia Square. Broadcast: Mandarin (Tue/Thu/Sat), Cantonese (Sun).
b) Avenue of Stars – film-themed promenade with handprints of stars, Bruce Lee and McDull statues. Great for photos and harbour views.
c) Victoria Harbour cruise – various tours by ferry or junk boat.
d) Star Ferry – classic way to cross harbour. Tsim Sha Tsui Pier: walk 5 min from MTR East Tsim Sha Tsui exit L6. Central Pier: walk 10–15 min from MTR Hong Kong Station A2 / Central A exit. Wan Chai Pier: walk 15 min from MTR Wan Chai A1.
September 8 (Thursday):
1. Cheung Chau Island.
a) Getting there: From MTR Central Station A exit, right, over footbridge to Central Pier No.5. Two ferry types: slow (45 min, HK$12.6 weekday, HK$18.4 Sun/holiday; upper deck +HK$7) and fast (about 30 min, HK$24.6 weekday, HK$35.3 holiday). Every 30 min.
b) Local transport: Rent bicycles at Praya Street (hourly/daily, tens of HKD); or trishaws – good for families.
c) Breakfast: Several bakeries/ stores near pier sell cheap dim sum (e.g., 3 HKD for 5 siu mai). Try Cheung Fun with sauces.
d) Lunch/dinner: Seafood set meals (e.g., 4-person from HK$168–248 depending on dishes like prawn, lobster, or fish). Restaurants: right from pier along Tai Hing Praya Road, or left along Sun Hing Praya Street.
e) Afternoon tea: Western bar (pasta, fries) or fruit bar. Must-try: “Sweet Onion Pancake” (HK$6) at the food stall by Mannings near pier – traditional sweet and savory snack.
f) Exploring the island: shaped like the character “人”. Suggested route: morning walk the “捺” part: 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 College – Sea-view Pavilion – Chi Ma Hang Road – Mini Great Wall – Sze Ko Road – Sports Ground – Mark Six ticket booth – Praya Street. Enjoy forest paths, rock formations, beaches, temples. At Kwun Yam Wan, watch windsurfers. Chi Ma Hang (sesame pit rock formations). Visit Kwun Yam Temple for fortune sticks, or try Mark Six lottery. Near Kwan Kung Pavilion: a rare mountain cherry tree (from Taiwan, 1975).
September 9 (Friday):
1. Hong Kong Science Museum:
Transport: a) From Tsim Sha Tsui East: take West Rail Line 1 stop to Hung Hom (exit D6). b) From Tsim Sha Tsui: take Tsuen Wan Line 1 stop to Jordan (exit D).
Admission: HK$25 standard.
Hours: Mon-Wed, Fri 10:00–19:00; Sat, Sun, public holidays 10:00–21:00; closed Thu (except public holidays), Lunar New Year’s Eve and Day 1&2; Christmas Eve and Lunar New Year’s Eve open till 17:00. Ticket counter closes 1 hour before closing.
Science demonstrations: 10:30 liquid nitrogen, 11:30 flying toys, 13:30 artificial cloud, 14:30 transport, 15:30 artificial cloud, 16:30 molecular gastronomy, 17:30 liquid nitrogen.
2. The Peak:
Options: a) MTR Central J2 exit → along Chater Garden to Garden Road Peak Tram terminus; b) Bus 15C from Central Star Ferry to Peak Tram terminus; c) Bus 15 from Central Star Ferry via Admiralty/Wan Chai to Peak Bus Terminus; d) Minibus 1 from IFC 2 to Peak.
September 10 (Saturday):
1. From Hong Kong Kowloon Hotel to Hong Kong Airport: options and cost: a) Taxi ~HK$225; b) Hotel shuttle ~HK$130; c) Airport Express ~HK$90; d) Bus A21 ~HK$39 (baggage on lower deck, you can sit upstairs, monitor shows baggage). Take taxi only if necessary (~HK$300); Airport Express is fast (HK$50–60).
2. Flight to Wuhan: CZ3076 (11:25–13:20).
