Update: Please check your country’s travel advisories for Hong Kong.
Looking for a great destination to travel solo? Wanting a taste of Chinese culture but not quite ready to travel to Mainland China? Hong Kong is right up your alley. Not only an international shopping destination, Hong Kong is a city that never sleeps and one where East meets West in an explosion of neon lights. Hong Kong’s intrigue comes from it’s mixture of English and Chinese heritage and how it’s many green spaces meet high rises. Cultural experiences are everywhere to be found in Hong Kong. It’s easy to escape the madness of the city and find yourself on a beautiful island where time seems to stand still.
I thoroughly enjoyed my week in Hong Kong and found getting around solo was easy to do. It is a safe city to visit on your own as a solo female traveller. With so many things to see and do you will be hard pressed to be bored in Hong Kong. Of all the things I did in Hong Kong these were my absolute favourite:
Man Mo Temple
Man Mo Temple was on my list of must see things to do in Hong Kong, and it did not disappoint. Built in 1847, it is the largest of the Man Mo temples in Hong Kong. Man Mo stands for the God of Literature (Man) and the God of War (Mo), both gods were whorshipped by civil administration students in Imperial China. Famous for it’s giant hanging coiled incense, it is a truly special place where you feel a real sense of serenity. Your senses are hightened by the beautiful surrounds and the sights and the smell of incence burning in this beautiful temple. You can really see why it has been named a Declared Monument.
Lamma Island
If you are after a hike or to taste a different side of Hong Kong, Lamma Island is just the trick. It’s easy to escape the city in Hong Kong and it’s islands provide a great day trip and are easy to access by ferry. Ferries leave from Central Pier Terminal #4 and take you to either Sok Kwu Wan or Yeung Shue Wan. Sok Kwu Wan was the destination that interested me the most as it is the quiter of the two destinations on Lamma Island and it provides a glimpse into the past lives of the people of Hong Kong. It’s a place where people still fish for their livelihoods and the local cafes and restaurants that line the shoreline are just the place to go for fresh seafood and a cold local beer.
You can hike the island and their is a relatively easy hike across from Sok Kwu Wan to Yeung Shue Wan that takes about 1 1/2 hours. I chose the more challenging hike (The island is quite mountainous and I didn’t realise how challenging it would actually be) around the local area in Sok Kwu Wan. The journey takes you through Mo Tat Old Village to Yung Shue Han, Tung Ho and Shek Pai Wan Beach.
I was so pleased I challenged myself to this 2 1/2 hour hike as it afforded me amazing views over Hong Kong, stops at beautiful beaches and I got to see old villages where the people still live the way they did over 1 hundred years ago.
If you are not up to a hike Sok Kwu Wan is a great little village to spend an afternoon soaking up the sun and tasting the local fare.
Kowloon Walled City Park
Kowloon Walled City has an interesting history that dates back from the Song Dynasty (960–1279) when it was established as an outpost for the trade of salt. More notoriously known for it’s time as an over crowded and lawless community where the local Triad’s reigned over all sorts of criminal activity including prostitution, gambling and drug abuse, today the Kowloon Walled City Park hints at it’s former history. After the demolition of the Walled City, the modern park was opened in 1995. You can still see remnants of the Walled City’s past with the Yamen (restored) and remnants of the original south gate still remaining.
A visit to Kowloon Walled City Park provides an interesting glimpse into the history of Hong Kong. It’s tranquil ambience belies it’s infamous history.
Hong Kong is a great place to visit on your own. It’s a safe and welcoming place with lots to see and do. These were my favourites from my trip there. Find more things to do in Hong Kong here!
Happy Travels
@Julie
Just a short hop from Hong Kong you’ll find yourself in Macau, read about my day there here.
Comments
These are some fantastic tips! I think Hong Kong would be a great place to travel solo
Loved Hong Kong. Great recommends, I’ll have to do lamma island next time 🙂
I loved reading your post and seeing a different side of Hong Kong!
Interesting to see that you’ve not mentioned the usual things here, your suggestions are different from what you find most people suggest about visiting in Hong Kong. I’ve never had really considered visiting the city because I’m not a fan of past paces cities I like nature and landscapes more but if I ever plan to visit Hong Kong I’ll be sure to refer to your ideas, thanks for sharing !
We visited HK for the first time in January this year and loved it, as you say it’s a great first taste of East Asia and not at all daunting for solo travellers either.
Such a fascinating place! Your descriptions and images really make me want to visit! If only it was a bit closer to me 😀 But who knows? I might get there one day.
Happy travels – from another not-so-young traveling woman! 🙂
Ioanna
The first time I went to Hong Kong I did it on my own and I agree it is easy to get around and there are plenty of things to keep you busy. I would love to go back to Hong Kong again and do more hiking.
I got such a strong feeling of Hong Kong from this post! I visited a couple years back and it is exactly how I remember! For me the biggest surprise was that there is so much more than just skyscrapers, and amazing hiking opportunities was just the cherry on the top!
You have such unique suggestions for Hong Kong…certainly offbeat and my type 🙂 I’ve been to Hong
Hong and haven’t seen any of these…there is clearly so much to explore there. One more visit is needed
now 🙂
Man Mo Temple is undoubtedly worth a visit when in Hong Kong. To me, it was like climbing into the
Asian adventure from some old 40s or Tintin series books … Awesome experience and exciting to see,
smell and hear in contrast to the outside world.
Wow Lamma Island looks stunning!
It sounds like Man Mo Temple is the place to see in Hong Kong – I don’t know much about the area myself
but I have heard nothing but good things about it! Did you find that it was easy to navigate? (Did you have
a guide or anything like that?) I would love to know more information on how you got around there!)
Thanks for sharing your tips about Hong Kong for a female solo traveler!
Author
It is so easy to find your own way around in Hong Kong. I didn’t have a guide and found google maps useless in Hong Kong but managed to find the places I wanted to see.