Tiny Tour : Hong Kong

Today we have another International Tiny Tour! Heidi says this time of year is ideal for traveling to China, the weather is great and this weekend is Chinese New Year! Welcome Heidi, who will be sharing her favorite family-friendly stops year-round:

“Hello! I am Heidi and I live in Hong Kong, China with my husband and three children (Brenden, 9, Macs, 6 and Vivian, 4 months). When we first moved here it seemed like a city of concrete, endless high-rise buildings, too many people to count, and nothing family-friendly to offer. However, we soon came to find the city to be a place to explore. We are embracing the lifestyle here and loving every minute. So here is our list of kid friendly things to do and places to visit in Hong Kong.

Tiny Tour : Hong Kong

1. The Beaches:

I know what you are thinking…beaches in Hong Kong? Yes, there are so many wonderful beaches here and is our absolute favorite place to spend the weekends. The two we like are a little off the beaten path and therefore less crowded and when I say less crowded I mean sometimes we are the only people on the beach! The first is Ha Mun Bay Beach on Sharp Island that is located on the Kowloon side. To get there hire a Sampan (a traditional Chinese Fishing boat) at the Sai Kung Peir to take you out to the island. It’s a fun experience because you can barter for the price of your journey.

Tiny Tour : Hong Kong

The boat ride is about 20 minutes to the island where the boat drops you off at the pier. The beach has bathrooms, and places to change, but more importantly the beach is clean. There are rocks and shoreline for the kids to explore and a great place to play in the sand and splash in the water. We typically pack a lunch and spend the day. After returning from the beach there are lots of restaurants along the water to people watch and eat fresh seafood. We find it more interesting to just look at the sea creatures and watch the fisherman sell there daily catch.

Tiny Tour : Hong Kong

On the Hong Kong Island is Chung Hom Kok beach near Stanley. Again there are bathrooms, a playground, a place to get cold treats, and a beautiful beach with amazing views of the surrounding islands of HK. To get there hire a taxi or drive towards Stanley via the Aberdeen tunnel.

2. Sai Kung:

We live near Sai Kung and we love it! It’s more of a village, and is near the Sai Kung country park which is known for its great hiking. We spend much of our time down here. It is where we grocery shop, and run all of our day-to-day errands. It has a great community feel to it, there are parks, restaurants offering everything from Indian food to dim sum. One of our favorite restaurants is Classified, there is outdoor seating in the square and a great place for the kids to run around and ride scooter or bike.Tiny Tour : Hong Kong They also have an amazing eggs benedict (which is hard to find in HK) We also enjoy Chips Fish n chips street restaurant. You order at the window and they serve them in these great paper boats, we just find a spot in the park and eat. The boys love it! Sai Kung has a laid back, Fisherman’s village feel so it’s a great place to spend the day with kids. Near the water there is a promenade to walk along (also where you catch the Sampan boats) and restaurants to eat and enjoy the view of the water.

3. Disney Land/Ocean Park:

I don’t think I have met a kid (or adult!) who doesn’t like DisneyLand, so this is a great place to bring the kids while in Hong Kong. It is smaller than the Disney Park in the states, which makes it easier to manage especially with little ones. Disney HK has Space Mountain and the teacups of course, but our favorite part was the Toy Story rides. Hong Kong makes Disney very accessible and easy to get to by taking the MTR train right to the park.

Tiny Tour : Hong Kong

Hong Kong has another theme park called Ocean Park, It is a mixture of aquariums, animal exhibits and rides. To get from one side of the park to the other, I recommend taking the gondola ride over the mountain and enjoy the crazy view of the Island and South China Sea. This park offers rides for every age group and level of thrill seeking.

4. The Peak:

The Peak is THE place to see all of Hong Kong, literally To get to the Peak, you can drive, taxi, take a bus, or the best way is by the Peak Tram. To get the best view you take the many escalators to the very top of the Peak Look out. The cost is a few dollars but worth it to see a 360 degree view of Hong Kong. Just be sure it’s a clear day, or you won’t see much of anything. ☺Tiny Tour : Hong Kong

I can’t talk about Hong Kong and not mention a few things for the mom’s. The shopping is AH-MAZING! They have all the high end shops like Chanel, Lanvin, Hermes, and upscale malls offering every name brand you can imagine, but the markets and street venders are also a must to see here in Hong Kong. I especially love the Jade Market for handmade jewelry and the Stanley Market where you can pick up scarves, art, and postcards.”

Catch more of Heidi’s gorgeous photography on her website here.

For more International stops check out London or Perth, Australia! Also, the whole series here.

Family Photo of the Selch’s by Mandi Carroll Photography

7 Comments

  • Bev Hemish
    January 28, 2014 at 4:48 pm

    How awesome Heidi — thanks for sharing all those marvelous details!

    Reply
  • M Wiseman
    January 28, 2014 at 8:41 pm

    Thanks for your tips. We are headed there in March. So excited. Added the beach to our list!

    Reply
  • lil
    January 29, 2014 at 10:39 am

    Absolutely love this family and know if anyone can find fun, it’s them!

    Reply
  • Mandi Carroll
    January 31, 2014 at 10:56 am

    Love this family! Beautiful post and photos, Heidi!

    Reply
  • Jen
    February 21, 2014 at 8:13 pm

    Love this series. Hong Kong is one of my favorite places in the world. You guys should highlight Detroit!

    Reply
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    May 21, 2014 at 5:01 am

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