Here’s a small tip for those arriving in Hong Kong through the airport.
In the big hall of Hong Kong International Airport where you collect your luggage after the immigration passport check, there are a few phone stands where you can make local calls free of charge.
The stand says “courtesy call”. So you won’t miss it. It comes in handy for those arriving in Hong Kong without a local phone card for their handset.
This is a short but very pleasant hiking route – from Pak Sha O (白沙澳）, Sai Kung to Lai Chi Chong（荔枝莊）, to the south of Tolo Channel.
Pak Sha O village
Pak Sha O, a one-time hakka village, is now populated with western families. You will pass a very beautiful private garden with vibrant colors, and some nicely restored old houses. Colorful butterflies are seen in scores in the area, and pink wild flowers in their prime.
All the way from Pak Sha O to Lai Chi Chong, you are accompanied by the sound of river flowing and bird singing, not to mention the greens that meet your eyes.
It takes only 45 minutes to walk to Lai Chi Chong, whose picturesque scenery makes the place a popular site for camping.
Private garden at Pak Sha O
wild flower field at Pak Sha O
The beach has rock formations dating back to 150 million years ago when the volcano erupted. As a result, Lai Chi Chong is among Hong Kong’s most important places for geology study and rock formation observation.
cows and meadow at Lai Chi Chong
Lai Chi Chong
rock formation at Lai Chi Chong
Lai Chi Chong pier
How to get there and get back:
Take minibus No.7 from Sai Kung town centre towards the direction of Hoi Ha (海下）； get off at Pak Sha O. (If you don’t know where to get off, ask the driver to alert you.)
Ma Liu Shui pier
There is a daily ferry departing from Lai Chi Chong at 11:40am and 6pm for Ma Liu Shui (MTR University Station). On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, an additional ferry at 2:15pm is in operation. Ferry time is about 40-50 minutes.
Please check the schedule of the ferry here. Each adult ticket is HK$28 during the weekends.
Note that after you arrive at Ma Liu Shui pier, you have to follow the road signs to walk at least 10 minutes before you can arrive at MTR University station.
There are not many countryside spots good for family activities in Hong Kong. So it was a pleasant surprise when I found this place: Kam Tin Country Club in Yuen Long.
This place is huge, occupying an expanse of open space, with grasslands, ponds, a ground for children electronic cars, a place for BBQ, farmlands, a children playground, etc.
The electronic cars are children’s favorite activity. You can also rent a bike for HK$15 one hour, or buy a kite (for HK$30) to fly on the grassland.
There are rabbits, squirrels, and goats raised on the land. The club’s website says there are over 100 rabbits. But it was disappointing to see only a few there when I made the visit last week.
There are some organic farms there. You can buy organic vegetables directly from an old couple farmers.
Beware that some local tours visit the club during the weekend. They usually arrive during the lunch time. So it is advisable that you arrive well before them to avoid the crowd.
No admission fee for entering the club.
How to get there:
Get off at MTR West Rail Line’s Kam Shueng Road station, take a taxi from the taxi stand outside the station. It costs only HK$17 and takes five minutes to get to the club.
When you leave the club, ask for a taxi call number from the staff, so that you can book a taxi to take you back to the MTR station, or wherever you want.
Website: http://yl.com.hk/ktcc/index.htm (only in Chinese, but the pictures on the website give you an overall view of the environment there)
Besides the direct bus service from Wanchai to Huanggang, Shenzhen, there is service from Jordan, Kowloon to Huanggang as well.
This is 24 hour bus service, taking about 40 minutes one journey. It runs every 10 to 15 minutes during peak hours, ever 15-20 minutes in non-peak hours, and every 30-60 minutes during the night time.
Bus fare:
0700-2259：HK$30
2300-0659：HK$35
Kowloon Terminal is located at 8 Austin Road, Hong Kong Scout Centre (Exit C of Jordan MTR station).
You can find the maps and more information here.
If you a fan of chocolate cakes and chocolate ice cream, and you happen to visit Hong Kong, try this shop called Awfully Chocolate. It has two shops in Hong Kong:
1) Shop 15 G/F 2-4 Hysan Ave (the shop’s entrance is at Sun Wui Rd), Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
2) Shop B & C, G/F, 39 – 41, Caine Road, Hong Kong
It sells only three types of chocolate cake (Chocolate Banana, All Chocolate and Rum & Cherry Chocolate), as well as chocolate ice cream.
They sell a whole cake only, not a piece. A whole cake costs about HK$200. If you are a real lover of chocolate, the chocolate banana cake may not be for you. It is a bit light in chocolate. Go for the All Chocolate Cake.
The chocolate ice cream of the shop has won the heart of many of the young in this city. When I was in the shop, at least six youths were licking on the ice cream, and a mum was bringing a kid into the shop.
Awfully Chocolate has shops also in Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, Dalian, Taipei and Jakarta.
There is direct bus service from Wanchai to Huanggang, and vice versa. The advantage of this bus service is that it operates day and night, with very frequent bus service during the day. You can get on the bus almost any time of the day.
Please note that passengers going to Huanggang have to carry all their luggage off the bus at the Hong Kong border, ie Lok Ma Chau Control Point. After the immigration, they will get on the bus again to be driven to the China border control point (Huanggang).
Or, if you come from Huanggang, you have to carry your luggage off the bus at the Hong Kong border, and then board the bus again for Wanchai, Hong Kong.
Ticketing and Terminal: Wanchai Ferry Pier, Hong Kong; or 1/F Departure Hall, Huanggang Control Point, Shenzhen
Fee: HK$45 (0615-2344); HK$50 (2345-0614)
Enquiry: (852)25960782
Timetable:
From Wanchai Ferry Pier
Mon-Fri:
0600-0900: every 20-60 mins
0900-1700: every 15-30 mins
1700-2000: every 10-12 mins
2000-0200: every 12-30 mins
0200-0600: every 30-60 mins
Sat:
0700-1300: every 12-20 mins
1300-2300: every 8 mins
2300-0200: every 10-30 mins
0200-0700: every 30-60 mins
Holiday:
0700-1300: every 20-30 mins
1300-2200: every 10-20 mins
2200-0200: every 12-30 mins
0200-0700: every 30-60 mins
From Huanggang
Mon-Fri:
0600-0900: every 12-30 mins
0900-0200: every 15-20 mins
0200-0600: every 30-60 mins
Sat:
0700-0200: every 10-20 mins
0200-0700: every 30-60 mins
Holiday:
0700-0200: every 10-15 mins
0200-0700: every 20-60 mins