Overview

Kowloon may not have the varied sightseeing attractions that can be found on Hong Kong Island but it's by no means lacking in interesting visual material. Visitors with an interest in history and local culture will find something to satisfy among the excellent museum venues that the district is home to. For fans of ancient Oriental architecture, the old temples in the area are sure to please.

Hong Kong Museum of History

Set in a spacious visitor centre, the impressive collection of this popular Hong Kong museum contains artefacts that cover 6,000 years of history. There are both regular and interactive displays among the exhibitions, with information offered in both Chinese and English. Themes covered include natural history, local history, archaeology and ethnography.

Hong Kong Science Museum

Located next to the Museum of History, the Science Museum is a favourite with family visitors and contains a wealth of interactive exhibits that are interesting and educational for children and adults alike. The permanent collection features some 500 permanent exhibits covering topics such as life science, transportation, communication, meteorology, geography and energy conservation.

Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum

The Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb is the oldest historical monument in Hong Kong, with experts speculating that it was constructed between 25 and 220 AD to house the remains of an imperial officer of the Han Dynasty. Archaeological excavations of the site have uncovered various historical findings, including various bronze and ceramic items that are now on display in the museum.

Wong Tai Sin

The most famous temple in Hong Kong territory is open to followers of Buddhist, Taoist and Confucianist philosophies and to non-believing visitors provided they show due respect. The devoted come to have their fortunes told via the popular ritual of shaking bamboo sticks, while others come for a relaxing walk in the temple grounds or to seek relief from illness at the clinic of a Chinese herbalist.

Man Mo Temple

The oldest temple in Hong Kong draws visitors from far and wide, many making pilgrimages in the hope that prayer and offerings made here will bring them their greatest desires in life. The devoted light giant coils of incense that fill the air with thick clouds of smoke and add to the spiritual ambience of this famous place of worship.

Hong Kong Cultural Centre

For the best in cultural entertainment in Kowloon, visit the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The minimalist building is the area's premier venue for the arts, presenting a steady program of exhibitions, festivals, musical performances and related events. Tickets should be obtained in advance to avoid disappointment.

Hong Kong Museum of Art

Located inside the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the Museum of Art is a must-visit for anyone with a passion for aesthetics or Chinese cultural heritage. Alongside traditional paintings and sculptures are ceramic and antique pieces, historically significant items of clothing, precious stones and calligraphic works. The museum's impressive collection is spread across five floors, with three displaying permanent exhibitions and two featuring changing exhibits.

Yaumatei

To get a real sense of the traditional side of Kowloon, a trip to this bustling area in Yau Tsim Mong district in the south of the region is essential. The busy public square known as Yung Shue Tau is filled with fortune tellers and old men playing xiangqi (Chinese chess), offering varied views of local life. The night market on Temple Street is also a good location for people-watching as well as for picking up bargains.

Overview

Kowloon's golf courses, bowling alleys and indoor and outdoor swimming pools are just a few of the purpose-built sporting venues that visitors can make use of during their stay. For something a little more typically Eastern, a tai chi class might be just what you are looking for. This is a great way to interact with the locals and free lessons in English are available.

Tai Chi

If you've ever fancied trying this graceful and allegedly health and longevity promoting martial art, then head for the Avenue of the Stars at 08:00 on Monday, Wednesday or Friday. On these days visitors can take advantage of free one-hour lessons delivered in English by practitioners employed by the Tourist Board.

Bowling

Fans of ten-pin bowling will find a number of venues in the Kowloon area dedicated to this sport. Whether you are an expert or a total novice, the region's bowling alleys offer everything necessary to enjoy a game or two of this fun pursuit. Hong Kong Bowling City in Kowloon Bay is one of the most popular venues along with the likes of Olympian City Super Fun Bowl, Thunder Bowl and Dragon Bowling.

Golf

There are several golf clubs in and around the Kowloon area, all offering high quality courses and fantastic scenery. The main public courses can be found at Kau Sai Chau, while private courses include Clearwater Bay Golf Club, Discovery Bay Golf Club and Hong Kong Golf Club.

Beaches

Though Hong Kong is not usually plugged as a beach holiday destination, it does have some excellent coastal spots where fun in the sun can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages. Around the Kowloon region, there are more than 40 official beaches that are manned by lifeguards and maintained by the local government. On sunny weekends and public holidays, you can expect big crowds of locals at many of the beaches.

Hiking and Walking

Kowloon has an abundance of locations suited to both relaxing walks and challenging treks, with 40 per cent of Hong Kong territory devoted to greenbelt areas. For a gentle stroll, any of the 23 public parks on offer present excellent opportunities, while those who prefer something a little more taxing might like to try the MacLehose Trail, stretching a lengthy 97kms or the 69km-long Lantao Trail loop.

Swimming

An international standard swimming pool can be found at Kowloon Park and is open all year round for public use, with the exception of occasions when it's used for competitions. The pool complex features a total of four indoor pools, all of which are heated and the largest of which is an Olympic-sized facility. There are also three outdoor pools.

Dining and shopping

Whatever part of China you choose to holiday in, eating out is an integral part of the cultural experience and likely to be one of the aspects that you remember most after leaving. Kowloon is no exception to this rule, presenting visitors with some truly fantastic local culinary offerings at a wealth of authentic Chinese eateries.

Cantonese cooking is the style most favoured in Kowloon and invariably involves the creation of dishes through flash-frying in woks with a small amount of oil; however, steaming is also a popular cooking method. With the sea close by, you can be sure that fish and seafood are common ingredients in Kowloon cuisine, with prawn, squid and crab among the most popular varieties. Also common in Kowloon restaurants is dim sum, light snacks that are usually eaten in the morning alongside a cup of Chinese tea.

Kowloon has numerous eateries and visitors can choose from everything from roadside food vendors to high-class restaurants. As a general rule, food prices are reasonable but if you order a banquet or a large mixed selection of dishes, the bill can quickly reach the realms of expensive so be careful if you are on a tight budget.

If you plan on dining in one of the city's more reputable restaurants at dinnertime, then booking a table early in the day is a sensible option as tables can quickly fill up. The lunchtime rush usually takes place between 12:00 and 13:00. Eating earlier or later than this is recommended if you want to avoid the crowds.

Kowloon's shopping scene is just as impressive as its dining scene, with the region offering everything from traditional markets to modern malls. Frequent the former if you want to find locally made goods and experience local culture or head to the latter if a day perusing imported branded goods is on your agenda.

Tsim Sha Tsui and Nathan Road are commonly considered to be Kowloon's principle shopping streets, the latter being an offshoot of the former. Tsim Sha Tsui is home to the largest selection of retail outlets to be found anywhere in Hong Kong and features both large department stores and smaller independent retailers.

For indoor shopping in a pleasant, modern environment, the excellent Harbour City has a wealth of bargains and cut-price goods while Granville Road has numerous factory outlets, making it a destination of choice. Come night-time, Temple Street Night Market in Yau Ma Tei district is best place to get a retail fix and soak up the lively atmosphere.

Kowloon is simply brimming with dining establishments and visitors will be spoilt for choice during their stay. For authentic Cantonese cuisine, frequenting the unpretentious venues that the locals favour is by far the best bet. If, however, you want a dining experience in which environment, décor and quality of service are important, then the restaurants in Kowloon's top hotels are sure to satisfy.

Overview

For most visitors, flying into Hong Kong International Airport is the easiest way to get to Kowloon. However, if you're already in China you can access the district by bus and train services from major Chinese cities. Once you arrive, getting around is easy, with taxis, buses, trains and ferries serving the district.

Airports

Hong Kong International Airport is the principle gateway into the territory and the means by which the majority of international visitors get to Kowloon. The airport is a huge, modern facility that serves flights to destinations around the world, care of around 40 major airlines. Cathay Pacific, the official airline for Hong Kong, handles a significant number of the flights at the airport.

The airport offers a wealth of modern services and facilities including essentials such as ATMs, bureaux de change, a post office, shops and restaurants. A business centre is on hand for business travellers with internet access and mobile phone rental available. Desks operated by the Hong Kong Tourist Board can be found in the Arrivals hall on level 5 and in the airport transit area.

There are a number of ground transportation options from the airport, with arguably the most efficient being the Airport Express light rail system. Trains operate to Kowloon every 12 minutes from 05:50 until 01:15 and make the journey in 19 minutes. A free shuttle bus service also operated by Airport Express runs between the airport and the majority of major hotels in the Kowloon area. Public buses also operate and are cheaper but slower than other modes of transport. Taxis can be hired from outside of the terminal building but are by far the most expensive travel option.

Public transportation

Air is the main travel option for the majority of Kowloon's overseas visitors. However, for anyone already in China, there are train services between the mainland and Hong Kong. A 26-hour service between Beijing and Kowloon is provided by Beijing-Kowloon Railway and concludes its journey at the East Tsim Sha Tsui Station. There are also options for reaching Kowloon by long-distance bus from most of China's major cities but journeys can be long and arduous.

For getting around, the Mass Transit Railway (MRT) is the speediest and most efficient transportation option, with its four lines covering a large proportion of the Kowloon area. This underground train system is cheap, convenient and easy to negotiate, even for those who don't speak any Chinese.

Taxis are also available for visitors seeking door-to-door service; however, as most drivers do not speak any English, it's necessary to get your destination written in Chinese by your holiday representative or a member of staff at your hotel. Larger taxis capable of carrying a dozen or more passengers also operate and can be flagged down anywhere and stopped anywhere for disembarking.