Four highlights you can see during the Aberdeen sampan ride

Four Aberdeen sampan ride highlights

You can see four highlights during the Aberdeen sampan ride.

(1)Jumbo Floating Restaurant

If you upload the photo of this floating palace to your Facebook or Instagram, you can get lots likes. 

(2)Deep Bay Marina Club

Opposite to the Jumbo, that is the Deep Bay Marina Club, where you can find lots of rich people's toys, e.g. Jacky Chen's yacht. 

According to the old fishermen, the area was only a graveyard in the past. 

"Going to Deep Bay" was a curse!

(3)The floating fishermen community

Although the floating population is ever-reducing, you can still see their fishing boats, house boats, dragon boats, shipyards etc. 

Some of the fishermen even stop their work and pose for your photographs. 

(4)Ap Lei Chau, a world record island

The opposite side of Aberdeen is Ap Lei Chau Island. 

Its size is only 1.3 km² . As the government resettles lots of fishermen to this tiny island, it becomes the most densely populated island in the world (2011 figure: 66,755 people / km²!!!).

There are private tour options, which include the interesting sampan ride at Aberdeen. You may browse the attached links...

Hong Kong half day highlights tour

Hong Kong Kowloon full day city tour

You may also contact Frank the tour guide for private tour planning.

FOUR fallacies of the Chinese New Year celebration in Hong Kong

Four fallacies about Hong Kong's Chinese New Year celebration

Lots of travelers misunderstand the Hong Kong's Chinese New Year celebration.

(1)During Chinese New Year, most shops and restaurants don't open......

NO! Most shops and and restaurants in the malls still open and welcome you. 

Hong Kong is still the shopping paradise and dining capital during the Chinese New Year. 

Just some small shops may close for a few days for family reunion.

(2)There are a lot of New Year Carnivals during the Chinese New Year holidays......

NO! All Chinese New Year Carnivals close at the early morning of the New Year Day. 

Many locals do go to the carnivals before sunrise to buy the largely discounted flowers. 

Different from Beijing, Hong Kong has no temple fair during the New Year.

(3)Hong Kong's Chinese New Year holiday is long......

NO! Hong Kong is the World financial center. 

Hong Kong citizens can only enjoy 3-day holiday. 

Everything returns to normal after the public holidays. 

In some Mainland China's cities, the daily life just gets back to normal after the fifteenth day of the New Year. 

(4)Temples are the best sightseeing points during the Chinese New Year......

NO! Lots of locals go to make the wishes.  

You need to wait for a long time to go inside and are difficult to move in the crowded temples. 

You need to skip the packed TEMPLES. 

Please save your valuable time for other highlights!

You may browse the link for the easy Hong Kong Highlights private tour.

For private tour planning, please contact Frank the tour guide.

To individual travelers, 4 things to do on Hong Kong Island's Central & Western District

Things to do in Central and Western District for individual travelers

Apart from visiting Man Mo Temple, you have four other things to do on Hong Kong Island's Central & Western District to learn the history, enjoy shopping and local delicacies.

(1)Learn Hong Kong's public health history

There is the Taipingshan Medical Heritage Trail, which shows you the history of 1894 bubonic plague and Hong Kong public health. 

The Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences and the Blake Garden are the focal points of the trail.  

(2)Learn Dr. Sun Yat-sen's life

The Father of Republic of China, Dr. Sun Yat-sen studied medicine and got the enlightenment in Hong Kong. 

He then organized the revolution in the colony. 

You can learn his life by visiting the Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park and Dr Sun Yat-sen Historical Trail.

(3)Buy and eat like locals

Sun Yat-sen once studied in the Government Central School.

The site later became the first Police Married Quarter in Asia. 

Today you can go shopping at the 'PMQ' to support Hong Kong's talented designers. 

You can also go dining at different Taipaidong (outdoor food stalls) to taste the local delicacies.

(4)Visit different markets 

Apart from PMQ and malls, you can visit different markets.

You can go to the 'Cat Street Market' (Upper Lascar Row) for the curios. 

You can go to the Lei Yuen Street East and West for the souvenirs. 

You can still go to the Graham Street Wet Market to see locals' dining habits. 

But you must be quick. Hong Kong's oldest wet market may disappear soon due to the urban renewal project.

For further questions about Central and Western District, please contact Frank the tour guide.

Five busy places before the Chinese New Year in Hong Kong

Hong Kong's five busy places before the Chinese New Year

After saying 'happy new year', people will say 'gong hei fat choy' soon. Five places in Hong Kong are very busy before the Chinese New Year.

(1)Dried Seafood Market in Sheung Wan and Chinese restaurants

For making a good family reunion dinner, lots of old housewives go to Sheung Wan's Dried Seafood Market with their daughter in laws or domestic helpers to buy the precious and expensive dried seafood, abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin, fish maw etc. 

Some big families, which has no big apartment to accommodate many family members, just go to the Chinese restaurants to enjoy the all-included new year banquets. 

They use the lazy Susan to share the dishes, which have a lucky names.    

(2)Chinese New Year Carnivals

Hong Kong Government does organize many Lunar New Year Canivals, i.e. the new year bazaars, til the Chinese new year eve. 

People do want to leave their bad luck and get some good luck at the carnivals. 

So after enjoying the reunion dinner, lots of families just go shopping at the carnivals. 

(3)Temples

People make wishes at the temples at the beginning of the Lunar New Year. 

At the end of the year, no matter their dreams come true or not, they need to go back to the temples to say 'thank you' to the Gods.

(4)Flower Market in Mong Kok

Chinese people believe the beautiful blossoming flowers can bring good fortune and prosperity. 

So people go to Mong Kok's Flower's Market to buy the seasonable Narcissus, Peach Blossom, Kumquet , Sword Lily etc. to decorate their homes or offices before new year.

(5)Shopping malls

Although the stylish Hong Kong citizens buy and change new clothes and accessories all year round. 

They still believe that they should wear something brand new at the new year time. 

So the time before new year is the high season for retailing industry. 

Discount is waiting for you!

Want to learn more about the local culture of Hong Kong through the private tours, you may browse different private tour options.

You may also contact Frank the tour guide for private tour planning.

FOUR reasons for why Fa Yuen Street Market is better than the Ladies Market

Four reasons why Fa Yuen Street Market is better than the Ladies Market

The Ladies Market in Mong  Kok is famous, but the nearby Fa Yuen Street Market is better! WHY???......

(1) Fa Yuen Street Market is easier to walk 

Hong Kong Government helps the stall owners to renovate the market. The market becomes cleaner and spacious. It is easy to walk, so easy to shop. 

Fa Yuen Street Market

Ladies Market

(2) Fa Yuen Street Market is for the locals

A lot of Hong Kong citizens go shopping at Fa Yuen Street. They buy everything there. Apart from shopping, you can see the locals' life style. 

(3) Fa Yuen Street Market's goods are cheaper

Local citizens know where they can purchase cheaper things. Fa Yuen Street is their first choice. When you shop there, you can enjoy the local price. Bargaining is also acceptable. 

(4) Fa Yuen Street Market's goods are more practical

As Fa Yuen Street Market is NOT a tourist market. So you won't find the touristy souvenir there (like the 'Maobama' T-shirt, Mao Zedong + Obama ). You can actually buy something useful, practical, beautiful and reasonably priced. They can be good souvenir or for your own use.

Fa Yuen Street Market is only 5 mins walk away from the Bird Market and Flower Market. Don't miss the two interesting places after shopping.

Want to see Chinese culture and go shopping at Kowloon, please browse the Kowloon Private tour link.

You may also contact Frank the tour guide for private tour planning.

4 better alternatives for the Hong Kong must-go points

Hong Kong must-go points and the alternatives

Travel guide books and websites always recommend some must-go points to the individual travelers.  In this post, you can find the better alternatives.

Must-go: Man Mo Temple at Sheung WanBetter alternative: Lin Fa Kung Temple at Tai Hang

Man Mo Temple's incense coils for making wishes cause the temple to be too smoky. The smoke makes you 'cry' and cough.  

The half-octagonal shape Lin Fa Kung Temple is cleaner as it uses the electric lotus flower lamp.  You can also learn the history of Fire Dragon Parade at this temple for the Goddess of Mercy.

Must-go: Sky-100 Observation Deck at ICC buildingBetter alternative: The Peak, West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade and the highest bar in the ICC Building

The 175HKD ticket price for Sky-100 may be not reasonable.  The fixed windows cause reflection, which makes photo taking difficult.  

The traditional Victoria Peak or new West Kowloon Waterfront promenade are free of charge.  You can make 'one payment to get two enjoyments' (drink and view) at the highest bar in the World in the same ICC building. 

Must-go: Harbour cruise in the Victoria HarbourBetter alternative: Different public ferry rides

Harbour cruises sail around the Victoria harbour for about 2 hours.  After 15 minutes, you may feel boring.  

You can actually be a local to take public ferry rides to see more and learn more.  Like the North Point to Hung Hom Ferry ride, apart from the sea view, you can visit the seafood market at the North Point Pier and try the shopping and culinary options near Hung Hom Pier.

Must-go: Tai O Fishing Village on Lantau IslandBetter alternative: Sai Kung Fishing Village

Tai O's traffic is inconvenient.  The stream may have stench during low tide.  Some of you may not like the strong smell of the dried seafood.  The 'Venice in the East' may fall short of the reality.

Sai Kung Fishing Village is easily accessible from the city.  The reasonably priced fresh seafood at the 'Seafood Street' and beaches on the nearby Sharp Island with good water quality are waiting for you.

For private tour planning in Hong Kong, please contact Frank the tour guide.

You may consider the Sai Kung half day private tour, which brings you to the Sai Kung Fishing Village.