Okinawa & Taipei

After you arrive at Hong Kong’s airport on Lantau Island, see the enormous Tian Tan Buddha, measuring 112 feet tall and weighing over 200 tons. Then, take a harbor cruise to get your bearings and see Hong Kong’s modern architecture. Later, slurp noodles at the Temple Street Night Market. If you have an extra day, head out to Dragon’s Back portion of the Hong Kong Trail for some scenic hiking among mist-covered peaks.
The Peak Tram takes you up to Victoria Peak, Hong Kong’s 1,800-foot-high mountain. Less expensive buses will get you there, too. Once you’re up top, admire the views over the city from the hiking trails. The Peak also offers an escape from the subtropical climate below — the air here is cooler and less humid.

Stanley Harbour, on the other side of Hong Kong Island, will give you a taste of a different Hong Kong. It’s a fishing village on Repulse Bay with a lovely seaside walk (snap some photos of the fishing boats) as well as a famous street market. There’s lots of British history, a boardwalk and even a few beaches. You can take the bus from Central for a scenic trip, though the express bus is faster.

Naha, the capital and largest city of Okinawa Prefecture, boasts a unique Japanese culture. As the region’s transportation hub, Naha connects travelers with other parts of Okinawa, Japan and Asia; consequently, Okinawans have grown accustomed to openly sharing their distinctive customs with visitors from all over the world – right down to their very own dialect, Uchinaguchi.

Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, is a modern metropolis with Japanese colonial lanes, busy shopping streets and contemporary buildings. The skyline is crowned by the 509m-tall, bamboo-shaped Taipei 101 skyscraper, with upscale shops at the base and a rapid elevator to an observatory near the top. Taipei is also known for its lively street-food scene and many night markets, including expansive Shilin market

After you arrive at Hong Kong’s airport on Lantau Island, see the enormous Tian Tan Buddha, measuring 112 feet tall and weighing over 200 tons. Then, take a harbor cruise to get your bearings and see Hong Kong’s modern architecture. Later, slurp noodles at the Temple Street Night Market. If you have an extra day, head out to Dragon’s Back portion of the Hong Kong Trail for some scenic hiking among mist-covered peaks.
The Peak Tram takes you up to Victoria Peak, Hong Kong’s 1,800-foot-high mountain. Less expensive buses will get you there, too. Once you’re up top, admire the views over the city from the hiking trails. The Peak also offers an escape from the subtropical climate below — the air here is cooler and less humid.

Stanley Harbour, on the other side of Hong Kong Island, will give you a taste of a different Hong Kong. It’s a fishing village on Repulse Bay with a lovely seaside walk (snap some photos of the fishing boats) as well as a famous street market. There’s lots of British history, a boardwalk and even a few beaches. You can take the bus from Central for a scenic trip, though the express bus is faster.