It’s easy, in the urban crush, to forget that Hong Kong was, at one time, almost completely made up of small fishing communities. The sea is very much a part of Hong Kong’s present and past.

There are also islands and territories, which are close to Hong Kong, which are idyllic and are easy to get to, and are a great place to unwind and relax. Lantau is the largest island in the territory and is the most visited by tourists and locals alike. It is the home of Disneyland, Po Lin Monastery, which houses a 110-foot sitting Buddha, and the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car Ride! Visit Tai O with its houses, which are on stilts and Discovery Bay, which has secret alcoves where you are unlikely to run into many other tourists.

For a great view of the bay, use one of Hong Kong’s true icons, the Star Ferry. If you are over 60, the fare is free, and for others it costs approximately $35 US cents, to ride back and forth across the harbour. The ferry is a great way to travel and the views are terrific! By riding the ferry, one can really appreciate how much of Hong Kong’s commercial life depends on the sea. It’s also very interesting to ride the water taxis in Aberdeen harbour in order to get a real sense of how thousands of people depend on the sea for their livelihood.

Make sure to check out the horse races in Hong Kong, which make for a special evening of entertainment. Check out the Happy Valley track on a Wednesday night, which is where the first horse race took place in Hong Kong back in 1847. On the weekends, head to the new track in Sha Tin- the best time to go is on a Saturday or a holiday as there are more people, many horses and a fun ambiance.

In the summer, Dragon Boat races are a common sight in the harbour. The participants train for months at a time. They sit two across, and have a steersman at the back and a drummer at the front of each decorative boat. The paddlers race to the finish line, urged on by the pounding rhythm of the drum. The boats are not only decorative and colourful, the site of many dragon boats on the water is a great photo opportunity and it’s very powerful to watch.

Whether you are listening to the sweet sounds of the Hong Kong Philharmonic orchestra or watching a light and music show brighten the sky, Hong Kong offers its visitors an array of activities to partake in and a wonderful, exciting city to explore.